Tears Of Joy

"Sauron Family."

"Sauron Family..." Azalea repeated, her brow furrowing as she tried to recall. After a moment, she said uncertainly, "One of the three founding families of the Liurnia Kingdom? The Great Crimson Sauron?"

"That's right," his father affirmed. His head was now completely bald—no longer just half-bald as it had been before. Probably due to the stress he endured in the past ten years.

Their mother stood silently beside him, her expression as calm and graceful as ever. She looked the same as she had on the day Lumien was born, not a single wrinkle or sign of aging to be found.

Lumien glanced at her, memories stirring. When he was little, he had once asked why she never seemed to grow older. She hadn't answered him for a long time, and he had started to think she wouldn't say anything. But just as he was about to drop off the topic, she whispered quietly, "It's because of a mistake I made."

Her vague answer had only made him more curious. But every time he brought up the subject after that, she brushed it off, acting as if she hadn't heard him. Eventually, Lumien stopped asking, figuring she didn't want to talk about it.

He could only hope the secret she carried would never bring her harm.

Returning to the present, Lumien noticed his mother opening her mouth to speak, her tone puzzled. "But why would the Sauron family invite us? We've never been close to them. In fact, we're practically strangers to each other."

"Mother is right," Azalea chimed in, frowning. "Their intentions are very unclear. With our limited information about the situation, I don't think we should go."

Lumien understood her concern. The title "Crimson" attached to The Great Crimson Sauron hadn't existed from the beginning. It was a name earned after the brutal war they waged against the primitive tribes in the eastern region of the Liurnia Kingdom two decades ago.

The title derived from the battlefield itself—a place where the soil, trees, and plants were soaked with so much blood. The air was thick with the smell of smoke from the fires, and the land was left stained crimson, both on the ground and in the sky.

Rather than calling it a war, people referred to it as a one-sided massacre. Alongside earning the title of "Crimson," the Saurons gained another name, meant to mock their brutal and unrestrained tactics: "Mad Dog."

From that moment on, the Sauron family became one of the most feared in the kingdom!

Rumors spread across the kingdom: if you valued your life and the safety of your family, it was best to avoid any dealings with the Saurons.

This was most likely what Azalea worried about.

"Even if we don't want to, do we really have a choice?" their father said with a helpless sigh.

The room fell silent. No one could argue with his words. As a Dukedom and one of the founding families of the kingdom, the Saurons wielded authority second only to the royal family. Refusing their invitation would be tantamount to declaring hostility toward them, a risk their family couldn't afford to take.

The answer was obvious.

They had to attend the banquet.

Suddenly, they heard a loud 'Bang' sound as Leonard slapped his fatty palm onto the table. "Why the long face?"

He leaned forward, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Like I said, we're just attending a birthday banquet, not walking into a wolf's den. There's nothing dangerous about it. I've looked into this. Duke Sauron extended his invitation to all the nobles in the eastern part of the kingdom. Even the royal family received an invite, and I hear one of the princes or princesses will be attending."

His mother exhaled deeply, visibly relaxing. "All the nobles in the east and including the royal family? Why didn't you mention that much earlier?"

Leonard chuckled. "Well, none of you asked."

Azalea, however, remained frowning, her arms crossed tightly. "Fine, but who exactly is this banquet for?"

"It's for the Duke himself. According to the letter, it's to celebrate his 70th birthday."

"Seventy?" Azalea's eyes widened in surprise. "And he's still holding the title of Duke?"

"If you saw him in person, you'd be shocked by his appearance. He looks younger than I do!" his father said enviously 

Azalea sighed, biting her lip as a look of reluctance shadowed her face. "But does Lumien really have to come? You know his condition. A trip like this could be too much for him. The journey will take days."

Leonard turned to Lumien for a moment before meeting Azalea's concerned gaze. "Truthfully, his presence isn't absolutely necessary."

"Then why bring him along?" Azalea pressed.

At her question, Leonard drew a deep breath before letting it out, admitting. "It's for his sake."

He continued. "On the surface, Lumien seems fine now, but we both know his condition is unstable. I've exhausted every connection I have trying to find the best healers in the kingdom, but the answers they've given us…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "Let's just say, none of them have been encouraging."

Azalea's frown deepened. "But how does dragging him to this banquet help?"

Leonard leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his bald head. "When I received the invitation, an idea came to me. The Saurons aren't just any noble family. They're one of the oldest in the kingdom, with a history stretching back centuries. Who knows what resources, knowledge, or connections they might have? If anyone could have access to something that might help Lumien, it's them. I plan to appeal to the Duke directly, to see if he can provide a solution for Lumien's condition."

Azalea looked at him, her expression a mix of hope and skepticism. "And you think the Duke would be willing to help us? The Saurons aren't exactly known for their charity."

Leonard gave a small, wry smile. "That's why it's important for all of us to attend this banquet. With the right approach, the right words, and perhaps a little luck, we might just get what we need. For Lumien, it's a chance we can't afford to pass up."

As the conversation went on, Lumien realized that no one had asked for his opinion even once.

In this situation, even Lumien was helpless. Without the necessary power or worth, he knew he had no place in the discussion.

His older sister had always seen him as a sickly, fragile, and insecure little brother who needed constant care and protection.

His father's attitude, on the other hand, was much harder to read, often vague and almost lukewarm. At times, Lumien felt that his father resented him for contracting terminal illness in the first place. Yet, moments like now showed a different side, where his father seemed genuinely concerned and wished for his quick recovery.

It reminded him of his high school group projects, where he often found himself in similar situations. Back then, his group was typically made up of bright, diligent, smart students. He, along with a few others who were more average, rarely had the chance to contribute or were ever asked for their thoughts.

"Shouldn't we ask for Lumien's opinion first?"

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Lumien's mother suddenly decides to speak up, her words causing the conversation to come to an abrupt halt. Both Leonard and Azalea turned their heads toward him in surprise, as though they had truly forgotten the subject they discussed was present as well in the room. 

She then looked at him with a gentle smile. "What do you think of your father's proposal, dear?"

Caught slightly off guard by the sudden question, Lumien took a moment to gather his thoughts before replying. "Asking for a favor at the very first meeting might be a bit too forward. Why not use this birthday banquet to make a good impression on the Saurons instead? Once we've built a stronger relationship with their family, we can bring up any requests in the future."

Hearing Lumien's words, both his father and sister fell into deep thought. After a moment, his father gave a nod of approval.

The conversation continued for a while, covering various topics; what gift they should bring, the best route to avoid bad weather, and how to ensure Lumien's condition wouldn't worsen during the journey. Despite his earlier input, Lumien returned to his usual role as a quiet observer for the rest of the discussion.

The meeting lasted for nearly an hour before his father finally spoke. "Alright, you two may leave."

As soon as Lumien and Azalea exited the room, she turned to him, frowning. "Why are you still insisting on coming along? You said yourself that this banquet is just to build a good rapport with the Saurons. There's no need for you to go too."

Lumien gave a small, honest smile. "I've been cooped up in the mansion my whole life. I just want a chance to travel for once."

Although Lumien's words sounded casual, they struck a chord deep within Azalea's heart. Without warning, she pulled him into a tight embrace. Her voice softened as she whispered, "Let's travel a lot together in the future, alright?"

Lumien was momentarily surprised but then returned her hug, feeling the warmth of her affection. "Okay..."

...

That night, after dinner, Lumien returned to his room, feeling the weight of the day's events settle over him. He collapsed onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as he let out a weary sigh.

What an eventful day... Lumien thought tiredly. From morning till night, Azalea had never left his side, watching over him with an almost protective fervor. It was as if she feared he might disappear if she took her eyes off him for even a moment.

Lumien closed his eyes, feeling exhaustion pull at him. Yet, despite his fatigue, sleep didn't come easily. His mind buzzed with the day's conversations, the upcoming banquet, and the promise he had made to his sister.

Traveling together... he mused. It was a simple idea, yet it felt monumental to him. For so long, his world had been confined to the walls of the mansion, his days filled with the same monotonous routine. The thought of venturing beyond, even just for a little while, filled him with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

It was every man's dream to explore the unknown, and Lumien was no exception.

When he first reincarnated, he had imagined himself as the protagonist of the era. Believing he'd explore various dungeons, became the pirate king, slaying goblins, goblins, gobli- ahem, dragons, orcs, and other mythical creatures.

His confidence soared even higher when he discovered the existence of a cheat in the form of a system.

But fate had a different plan. Instead of embarking on grand adventures, he was struck by a terminal illness that confined him to the mansion for years. It felt like a cruel joke, as if the universe was mocking his ambitions.

Even so, he didn't lose hope. Not when many people wanted him to live in this world.

Maybe things will change. Maybe this birthday banquet trip will be the start of something new.

He exhaled slowly, finally allowing his tired body to relax. With that last thought, he drifted off into a deep sleep.

...

Later that night, Lumien suddenly stirred awake. He sat up abruptly, his cheeks flushed and beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

For a moment, he was caught off guard by the lingering sensation.

Did I just... dream of doing the 'deed'? And what's more, it's with my sister?! Damn, I'm going to hell. 

Instinctively, his gaze dropped to his lower body. To his surprise, he found himself aroused, the erection pressing against his pants. He could feel a warm, sticky sensation as liquid seeped from the tip, staining the fabric.

When he takes off his pants to confirm, his eyes were immediately graced by the sight of his erect penis and semen flooding out of its tips.

"I... I've finally had my first wet dream."

Tears of joy streamed down his face immediately.