Chapter 460: It’s Impossible for Dark Demon’s Family to Be So Cute (4k)
The Demon family has been a prominent clan since the founding of the kingdom, and they are one of the rare families that have remained active in the public eye.
Despite experiencing several ups and downs, the family managed to survive.
Before Alvaraite became a duke, the highest-ranking member of the Demon family was her father—a count.
After Alvaraite became a duke, she naturally inherited her father’s position as the head of the family.
With the heavy burden lifted, the count and his wife escaped to distant lands, free to soar like fish in the sea and birds in the sky. They sent letters back every time they moved, but these letters were merely to report safety, and they couldn’t even return home once a year for Christmas.
As for the other elders of the Demon family… at least they didn’t run away.
This generation of the Demon family wasn’t particularly large.
Above Alvaraite, there were only two uncles and one aunt.
And those two uncles and the aunt each had a few children, who then had their own children.
In total, the family consisted of around thirty people.
Moreover, half of them were still minors or just adults.
For a prominent family, this number was indeed very small.
However, under Alvaraite’s influence, everyone in the family saw an improvement in their social status.
Her two uncles both rose from viscounts to counts.
Her peers also received formal titles and gained corresponding power.
Since everyone benefited, there were no internal conflicts within the family.
The relationship between parents naturally influenced the next generation.
Dark Demon stood out among his peers, being the absolute center.
No matter what his peers thought behind his back, they dared not defy him openly.
A few who had been punished by his bad temper even felt afraid of him.
Tonight, at Dark Demon’s birthday party, all these people arrived before the event started.
They were all relatives, so they weren’t too formal with each other.
Dark invited them up to the second floor of the residential area.
Walking through the corridors filled with “Paradise” style decorations, these cousins looked surprised.
Dark led them into a fully equipped guest room and ordered the maids to serve tea and pastries.
Ten or so teenagers sat around a tea table on soft sofas.
Perhaps because Dark seemed so different from his past, the atmosphere was initially quite tense.
To ease the tension, Dark asked one of his older cousins, “Thomas, I heard you successfully joined the Griffin Knight Order this year?”
Thomas, with his light golden curly hair and some acne, had the typical handsome look of the Demon family.
When he mentioned the Griffin Knight Order, one of the five knight orders, Thomas couldn’t help but smile proudly. “You found out? I thought you wouldn’t notice such trivial things while at Saint Maryann Academy.”
“Of course, I care about my brother,” Dark said lazily, sinking into the sofa.
The fat cat named “Galileo” had escaped the torment of Claire and sought refuge in Dark’s arms after returning.
Dark skillfully used the “Eagle Hand” technique to make “Galileo” purr contentedly.
The atmosphere relaxed.
Those who had heard how Dark had transformed at Saint Maryann Academy finally believed it—Dark had become even worse!
If before he was bad on the surface, now it was worse inside, beyond his appearance.
Jon and Joey, who had suffered under Dark’s oppression, felt that the duke’s son had become even more terrifying. He must have hidden his wickedness beneath that deceptive exterior!
They knew Dark could fool his doting elders, but not them!
Dark glanced at the trembling twins hiding in a corner and remembered taking them swimming in the waterfall pool behind the house, where they had close encounters with cute water beasts.
Though those water beasts’ smooth bodies were very comfortable, especially in summer, the twins didn’t appreciate it and cried to tell on him.
Sure enough, they got spanked by their parents.
It wasn’t Dark’s fault!
“Speaking of which, Joey,” Dark suddenly said.
Joey, whose hair was styled into complex spiral curls, shivered and gripped his twin brother’s hand tightly.
Jon held his sister’s hand and bravely faced the demon.
Dark chuckled, “You two are twelve years old this year, right?”
The siblings, only a year younger than Dark, felt a sense of foreboding.
“If you’re lucky,” Dark continued, “you should receive an invitation to Saint Maryann Academy soon.”
Lucky?
That kind of luck, I don’t want it!
Joey clenched his lips tightly, while Jon, under Dark’s gentle gaze, felt a surge of instinctive warmth in his palm.
These two were the children of Dark’s mother’s uncle, showing extraordinary mana talent from a young age.
Normally, receiving an invitation to Saint Maryann Academy was almost certain.
Add Anna and Angie, two little devils, and this year’s first-year class at the Noble Academy will be lively.
But who knows which academy the vampire noble and the phoenix girl would be assigned to if they get accepted?
Dark pondered and looked at another peer of the same age, curious, “Kyle, I heard you were admitted to the Secret Rite Academy of the Saints when I entered Saint Maryann?”
Kyle, with a round face and slightly chubby, was the daughter of Dark’s mother’s aunt.
Because of his mana attribute leaning towards light and his father being a priest, he was specially admitted to the Secret Rite Academy last year.
Dark had seen his silhouette in the group photo taken by the Secret Rite Academy.
When called, Kyle’s eyes moistened, nearly crying in fear!
Back when Dark first built the small wooden cabin in the backyard, he dragged Kyle, who was visiting the duke’s mansion, to that secret base and left him in the cabin that night… terrifying him half to death!
From then on, he developed an unerasable psychological shadow.
But Dark swore, he really didn’t know there were so many evil beasts in the backyard!
He had always thought the backyard was a beautiful place for a picnic.
Occasionally encountered beasts were actually pink bunnies bought by the old butler to add excitement to his adventure journey…
Looking back, the old butler’s methods were truly impressive.
He turned a dangerous place into a garden.
But how could Kyle believe that Dark didn’t know what their backyard was like?
Although he was actually protected by maids at night, he was terrified by the ghostly wails.
In any case, Kyle never visited the duke’s mansion again after that.
Today was a rare reunion.
…
Talking about the Secret Rite Academy of the Saints, Dark couldn’t help asking, “Kyle, did you see any angels in the academy this year? I really want to keep one.”
He recalled the celestial beast created by the moon goddess’s residual soul and couldn’t help feeling envious.
“I’ve seen some…” Kyle tried to say, “but they were just golems controlled by the candidates for saint son and maiden. True angels… have long been extinct, haven’t they?”
Dark teased, “Kyle, saying that might be considered disrespectful to the church. How can angels be extinct?”
“Ahh!” Kyle immediately realized his mistake and looked pale, eyes wide with fear at Dark.
Dark curiously asked, “Are you that scared?”
Kyle quickly shook his head, “Our school rules are strict. Serious mistakes result in severe punishment.”
Dark: “How severe?”
Kyle: “Cleaning the toilets!”
Dark: “Just that?”
Kyle’s eyes widened in fear, “Isn’t there anything worse?”
Dark laughed, “Like being stripped and tied to a cross for public humiliation? Just kidding, just kidding. Come on, eat something and chat, wouldn’t it seem rude if no one talks?”
“It won’t, your family’s pastries are always delicious.”
“This lemon tea is great!”
“The weather today is wonderful, the wind is gentle and the sun is shining.”
Gradually, the atmosphere improved.
…
The evening clouds were layered, gold and red intertwining, creating a unique charm.
Princess Eliza, along with Anna and Angie, dressed formally for the ball, their carefully groomed appearances stunning.
Eliza wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about tonight’s ball.
She would have been casual if it weren’t for the fact that the Gretebail family was also invited.
But with the Bear family’s involvement, the ball took on a deeper meaning, requiring her to prepare accordingly.
As for Anna and Angie, they didn’t care about these details.
They just wanted to see Dark and dance with him.
One peak surpasses another.
With their princess status, they weren’t afraid of Dark.
In fact, they had completely broken ties with him when he was seven, only easing tensions last Halloween.
Thus, they hadn’t had much contact with the increasingly reckless Dark after he turned seven.
Their falling out was due to Princess Anna’s overwhelming magic power, which caused toys to float and hit Dark one day during playtime.
Dark then nicknamed her “Old Witch” and frequently shouted at her, leading to their final estrangement.
Afterward, Dark became worse, and the little princesses grew more mischievous.
Both sides unknowingly walked down parallel paths.
…
“Tonight, tonight… it will happen…”
Inside the carriage, Princess Anna gritted her teeth, muttering to herself.
Princess Angie chuckled, “What’s wrong, Anna? Thinking about revenge?”
“None of your business!” Anna glared at her and continued plotting.
She vividly remembered the kick she gave at the Halloween dance.
She must take revenge!
Angie, remembering Anna’s predicament, feigned concern, “I’m trying to help, do you want me to assist?”
Anna suspiciously looked at her, “How?”
“Like this,” Angie whispered in her ear, “During the dance, I’ll invite him to dance, bring him to you, giving you a chance.”
Anna felt something was off but reluctantly agreed, “What if you can’t invite him?”
Angie confidently replied, “That’s impossible!”
Now, the biggest obstacle was removed!
Angie couldn’t help but smile.
…
On the other side…
The Flotte family and the Gretebail family were on their way.
This invitation was hard to refuse.
Given Flotte’s current strength, they had no choice but to accept.
The Gretebail family, having a choice, chose to follow their precious daughter’s wishes.
…
The sunset dimmed, and lights flickered throughout the duke’s mansion. The exotic water creatures in the pond leaped, their smooth skin reflecting the moonlight.
Family members of the Demon clan gradually arrived by carriage. Once they disembarked, guards led the carriages to the stables, feeding the horses the finest hay.
Not all thirty family members attended; many had their own lives and couldn’t spare the time or were ill.
But most of the close friends came.
Among them, the royal carriage drew the most attention, followed closely by the Bear family’s carriage.
Almost simultaneously, news of their arrival spread.
As for the Flotte family’s carriage, it was mentioned but didn’t attract much interest.
The late-arriving family of four cautiously descended from the carriage.
Lady Flotte repeatedly warned her son not to talk too much or run around, still worried and repeating her instructions.
Rose’s cousin, however, only curiously turned his eyes, seemingly ignoring her warnings.
Their attire was modest, though they were wealthy, choosing a low-key style.
For this family, tonight’s ball was a pivotal moment that could bring significant changes.
These changes might be too much for them to handle.
So, they needed to be particularly cautious!
