Two weeks had passed since the council meeting. Leo sat in the academy canteen, poking at his food without much interest. The meals here couldn't compare to Liana's cooking—her perfectly balanced meals had spoiled him.
But today wasn't just about the food. Across from him sat Lucian, his younger half-brother, and Lucian's fiancée, Velmira. They had invited him to lunch, and though he didn't particularly want to come, he couldn't turn them down.
Leo saw the two of them smiling warmly at him as he ate, which only added to his discomfort. With a sigh, he leaned back and glanced between them. "You know," he said bluntly, "you two should spend time together alone. Why am I being dragged into your date?"
Lucian's face went red immediately, and Velmira giggled softly, hiding her smile behind her hand. Flustered, Lucian stammered, "It's not a date! I just… I wanted to have lunch with you, Brother. And… I thought it was time to introduce Velmira to you."
