She was dressed in a different set of robes this time and Lord Leah had to ask. “How many times do you change clothes a day?”
Clan Leader Hina’s smile only widened as she met Lord Leah’s gaze. “Depends on the day but a couple times per day.”
Lord Leah’s shoulder slumped as she had received the answer she didn’t want to. Without another word, she returned to the meal, leaving the others to themselves.
Clan Leader Hina quickly entered the room, nodding respectfully to the two other Lords who’d remained silent when she first appeared.
“So, what exactly wants my brother dead?” She asked with a playful tone matched equally by Elder White Fang’s response.
“Your meal. I choked on the meal you cooked.”
“I wasn’t even present when the maids were preparing it.” Clan Leader Hina said with a playfully sad tone to her words.
“Your maids, your cooking. Take responsibility for it.” Elder White Fang chuckled again. It was obvious from the conversation that the two were quite close.
“You know, you should really tell us about your past sometime soon.” Lord Lwah was back in the conversation once more, intrigued by the relationship both siblings shared. “And how’s she your sister despite looking so young? How old were you when she was born? Fifty?”
Elder White Fang looked between the two ladies, his eyes going back and forth between them. “Just so you know, she clocked fifty a few years back.”
“Hey! Don’t just go revealing my age like that!” Clan Leader Hina glared at her older brother, her eyes almost digging holes through him.
“No way!” Lord Leah turned to Clan Leader Hina who barely looked thirty. With glowly large eyes that drew on the Clan Leader’s attention, Lord Leah asked. “What’s your skincare routine? I need it too!”
Clan Leader Hina blushed lightly at the words, her cheeks flushed slightly red.
She looked at all four in the room with her and she noticed the other Lords seemed curious as well. It was only a given as they’d tried asking a certain old woman before, Lord Shena of the Shena Family, who’d simply given them a one-word reply.
“Mana!” One word was all that left Clan Leader Hina’s mouth. The same one word that Lord Shena had told them.
“What?” They were confused. All three of them.
On the other hand, Great Elder White Fang was laughing at their reactions. He had expected it.
Clan Leader Hina ignored the men and turned to Lord Leah. “When the time is right, you’ll understand what I mean. Enlightenment will come naturally.” That was all she said to the young Lord.
“Thank you then.” Lord Leah bowed politely to the Clan Leader who’d been revealed to be way older than her despite looking the same age.
“Ahem!” Great Elder White Fang cleared his throat, drawing all attention to himself as he prepared to speak.
“Let’s get right back on track. Hina, I need your help with something.” The old man spoke and his sister turned to him with a charming smile.
“How may I help you, big brother Shiro?” It sounded like thunder to the ears of the three family Lords. She’d just casually revealed the old man’s real name. A name he’d been gatekeeping for years. None of them knew his real name besides Lord Shena and she had also refused to tell them too. And yet, Clan Leader Hina had done just that.
Elder White Fang slapped his forehead in regret. ‘I shouldn’t have called her name so casually. She’s still as pretty as ever!’
What was done was done and so with a frustrated sigh, the old man spoke. “I’ll need your help with two teleportation scrolls that’ll send the users back here.”
Pointing to Lord Terrace and Lord Acheon, Elder White Fang continued, “I’ll need your help sending those two to the Elderglow Academy since it’s quite far away and we’re short on time. As for the scrolls, they’ll need them to return here quickly too.”
Clan Leader Hina looked between her brother and the other two who needed to go to the academy. “I’m guessing you both are heading there to see your kids but,” she turned to her brother with raised brows. “Is that all?”
The old man nodded at her question. “That’ll be all for now, dearest sister of mine.”
Clan Leader Hina thought for a brief moment, her eyes widening and shrinking every few seconds. Suddenly, she turned to the two male Lords. “Are you prepared to leave now or should I go get the scrolls while you get ready?”
Lord Acheon looked between the Clan Leader and the delicacies on the table that were getting cold by the second. “Well be ready by the time you return.”
It seemed he truly wasn’t done eating and surprisingly, Lord Terrace picked up his plate and spoon as well. “Yeah, we should be ready by the time you’re back.”
Clan Leader Hina smiled as she understood what they meant. They weren’t done eating and needed a little more time.
She met eyes with her brother once more and grinned. “It seems like my meal has won the heart of a few good men. Very well, I shall return in thirty minutes with the scrolls.”
Elder White Fang rolled his eyes at his sister’s remark but said nothing else. At this point, he wanted her gone from there.
Clan Leader Hina turned to address Lord Terrace and Lord Acheon. “You will be prepared by then, right?”
As though in sync, both Lords answered the Clan Leader’s question.
“Yes!”
“Indeed.”
One was Lord Acheon who was eager to continue his meal and the other was Lord Twrracw who already had a spoonful of porridge halfway on the path to his mouth.
Clan Leader Hina nodded and slid the door open, walking out and closing it once again.
Now, there were only four of them in the room again. “Feels peaceful.” Elder White Fang murmured and went back to the meal with the others.
Lord Leah had almost never stopped eating as she had nothing to add to their earlier discussions.