"Vaan! Bring another bottle for Teacher! We should drink together with her. Hehehe~ it will be fun~"
Elara spoke with a cheerful smile on her face.
Vaan blinked in surprise, he didn't think Elara would propose something like that. However, his eyes then fell on Astra and his head started moving.
Drinking with his mother…
He hadn't done that even in his last life.
'Wait, do parents even drink together with their children?'
Vaan wondered inwardly.
However, no matter how he thought about it, this didn't look like a bad plan.
'I mean, what could possibly go wrong?'
Vaan wondered inwardly and looked at his mother, waiting for her answer.
However, Astra quickly threw cold water on the couple's hope.
"That is not going to happen."
"What? Whyyy?"
Elara was still persistent.
"Teacher drinks in different events arranged by the family, then why can't you drink with us? Do you… hate me?"
Elara questioned, her eyes glittering.
Any being would be weak to that adorable gaze and would give into her demands, Astra, however, was not just any being,
In a firm tone, she looked at her drunk pupil and replied, "I drink because that lightens the overall mood of the event, my subjects wouldn't drink unless I take the first sip, so as the Family Head, it is my responsibility to maintain the lightheartedness of the event that is meant to be enjoyed."
"…"
Vaan didn't know how to counter that.
Drunk Elara, however, wasn't planning on giving up. The idea of drinking together with the teacher was so appealing that she decided to go all in.
"Aaaakkk! Teacher! Please drink with us!"
Elara jumped at Astra, burying her head into the latter's chest and started crying.
Yes, her grand plan to convince her teacher was to start crying and begging in front of her. Then, with moist eyes, she moved her head up, looking right into her teacher's eyes and,
"There are so many things I want to say to you."
"Then just say it."
Astra replied.
"No, I can't say it unless you drink together with me."
"That makes no sense."
"It will make sense if the teacher drinks with me!" Elara spoke. Then, with a small pout on her face, she continued, "I have been a good pupil, haven't I…? Can't you listen to me just this once…? I promise I will work even harder…"
"…"
Astra turned silent.
In front of her pupil acting like that, she couldn't counter anymore. The cards drunk Elara was playing were just too strong.
"Haahh…"
In the end, Astra sighed.
"Alright."
She gave in.
"However,
I will only drink together with you if both of you win the upcoming Elemental Clash."
Astra didn't become the Family Head by sheer luck. She knew how to get what she wanted even in the most disadvantageous of situations.
"…" This time, Elara was the one who turned silent.
"Then it is a promise, Mother." Vaan however, quickly stepped up the moment he saw the chance.
"You seem quite confident," Astra replied as she glanced at her son.
"Heh, beating 2nd Circle Mages? I can do it with my eyes closed." Vaan replied with a confident look on his face.
And he wasn't lying.
If he gives control over his Mana to the two little cuties flying around him, then let alone eyes closed, he could defeat his opponents even if he is sleeping.
"I don't even have to take my hands out of my pockets, well, that is unless I wish to punch them." Vaan laughed as he cracked his knuckles.
"I am not talking about you alone, Vaan." How could Astra not know about her son's ability?
"I want both of you to win the Elemental Clash." She said as she glanced at Elara.
Vaan, however, was still unbothered as before,
"As I said, just do not forget your words, Mother."
"I will not."
Astra smiled but then,
"Teacher…"
Suddenly, Elara called out.
"Hmm?" Seeing her expression, Astra frowned. Elara was looking at her with her eyes narrowed,
"You don't believe that I can win the Elemental Clash, right? You even made a bet with Vaan, betting against your own student in fact."
Elara spoke with an angry pout on her face.
Astra, on the other hand, furrowed her brows in confusion, "A bet?"
"Ah right, mother. I think Elara is tired now, after all, we did wake her up in the middle of her sleep. Yes, I know you don't want to go easy on her and do not like how she has been consuming so much alcohol lately, I promise this won't be repeated.
I will take the responsibility for my fiancée.
Anyways, how about we let her rest for today and leave her alone?"
"Vaan, I am still talking about the bet." Elara countered, however,
"There is no need to do that, Elara, you need to rest." Vaan hurried Elara.
"But Teacher placed a bet aga-" Elara wanted to retort, but then, Vaan suddenly sealed her lips and her eyes widened in surprise.
Astra blinked in surprise as well.
"Alright, now sleep." Vaan spoke.
"…" Elara turned silent. Vaan quickly tucked her into the bed and then,
"That was too quick,
Do it again."
Elara spoke, Vaan froze, he momentarily glanced at his mother, then, he just sighed and sealed Elara's soft lips again. This time, going for a slow, much more sensual kiss.
Of course, he wasn't shameless enough to involve the tongue right in front of his mother.
He just felt Elara's lips for a while, before kissing her nose, her eyes, and then her forehead.
"Goodnight, my future wife."
Vaan whispered into Elara's ears.
"mm"
Elara muttered as she closed her eyes.
Vaan finally stood up, then glancing at his mother, a fearful smile appeared on his face and, "L-Let's leave, mother."
Without waiting, Vaan quickly walked out of Elara's room. Astra followed him.
As the mother and son walked out of the room, Vaan's body trembled in fear as he smiled weakly.
"You are quite shameless," Astra commented.
"W-What?" Vaan tried to feign ignorance.
"What bet was that girl talking about?"
"B-Bet?"
"Are you treating me like a fool?" Astra narrowed her eyes.
"Mother, it was nothing. I was just trying to motivate her. I said that the two of us placed a bet and that if she doesn't win the Elemental Clash, I would need to give you 150 Elemental Stones, and if she won, you would give me 100 Elemental Stones.
You already know, don't you?
That girl pushes herself more for my sake than her own, so I was just giving her a reason to do her best."
"And in that process, you decided to make me the bad one?"
"Uhh… I had no other choice…"
Vaan answered.
Astra continued to stare at her son for a while, Vaan stood there in silence, ready for another lecture, or even an ear twist, but then,
"If Elara actually does win the Elemental Clash,
Come get your 100 Elemental Stones from me."
Saying those words, Astra started walking away.
"Huh? What? Are you actually betting with me?"
"Why would I bet against my own pupil? I am just setting a reward for you in case she wins. This will motivate you, which in turn will affect her performance.
You don't have to give me anything if she by any chance loses."
Astra replied without stopping.
Hearing those words, a small smile appeared on Vaan's face.
His mother really did care for her pupil, didn't she?
"Don't worry, Mother.
She won't be losing, I promise you that."
Astra momentarily paused, then, she glanced at Nux and, "Elric is quite a strong Mage, you know? Elara will be standing against him if she wants to win.
Not to mention the two of the-"
"She will kick his ass."
"Language."
Astra warned before finally walking away, "Anyways, all the best for the Elemental Clash, I am looking forward to how the two of you will perform."
Vaan nodded then, once he confirmed that his mother is gone, he sneaked into Elara's room again.
Spending time together with his Mother and Fiancee was cool and all, however, he still wanted some time alone with his future wife.
Even if the future wife was currently sleeping.
…
"Lady Astra seems happy."
As Astra walked into her room, a black shadow appeared behind her and turned into Eliza Vesta, her trusted subordinate.
"I am. I saw some good things today."
Astra replied with a smile on her face.
"Is this perhaps related to Young Master Vaan and your Pupil?"
"That is correct." Astra's smile widened.
"I still believe Elara's talent is being wasted on Young Master Vaan.
Even if he has changed, Young Master Vaan does not deserve someone as talented as Elara.
The only thing he does is go around harming other mages and has low self-control. Not to mention he also involved himself with the Dreamweave instead of reporting it to you, it could have gotten you into trouble if Lady Risia or Lord Draven noticed that."
Maybe Eliza was the only person in the entire world who could say such a thing right to Astra's face.
"The Mages he 'harmed' were 2nd Circle Mages who picked the fight with him. It was a 3v1 yet he still won, do you still think he is as untalented as before?"
Astra questioned.
"Even you couldn't do that when you were 2nd Circle Mage."
"I was already a 3rd Circle Mage before reaching 20."
"Oh? And where is the Advance Magic Circle you researched?
