Chapter 99: Appetizer

There wasn't much for Zach to prepare other than freshen up a little and get dressed, which he could do even without Nora since he still had Yanael. But he was a little worried when she didn't show up as she had promised.

It wasn't like she would have had an accident or gotten snatched since it was the Evandiel Manor, and she was Nora. The worst thing that could have happened to her was her mother. But that wasn't necessarily a good thing.

If Nora hadn't returned because her mother had stopped her, it probably was not because she had to praise Nora so much that she wasn't allowed to attend the person she served.

'I will see you in the next life, Nora.'

Zach dedicated a prayer in his heart to Nora before leaving his room ahead of time. He was pretty confident he would find the dining room. If it came to it, he could ask one of the servants. But he absolutely didn't want to be late.

Fortunately, Zach just had to follow the sound and feeling of his family members to find the dining room. He arrived before the food was served, but not before the rest of his family had arrived.

"Zach!" The first to point out his arrival was a tall young man with short, fiery hair and a happy but tired smile.

"Leonidas!" Zach returned the greeting with a cheery smile of his own.

"Zach." The next to greet him was a young woman similar to Lilo and Lily, the only difference being the darker shade of her hair. She was the only one sitting next to an empty chair. Zach's place. S~eaʀᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Lexi." Zach returned the nod, and when Lexi extended her hand, Zach grabbed it and shook it. Although he had expected it, he couldn't fight back, and Lexi pulled him into a hug. He wasn't sure if he could call it a hug, though. She held him in place with one hand and frenziedly rubbed his noggin with the knuckles on the other.

"That's enough of that." The calm voice of a mature woman reached across the table and put an end to Lexi's bullying.

"Fiiine." Lexi let go of Zach but not without ruffling his hair one final time.

"Greetings, Mother." Zach nodded in greeting and gratitude toward his mother, a beautiful woman with long, dark red hair.

"Welcome home, honey." Calserra Evandiel gave Zach a smile that to others would be surprising and almost seductive, but to the Evandiels, was simply full of affection.

Zach finally turned his head to the tall, muscular man at the head of the table with a head of thick, clear orange hair. He looked like an older version of Leonidas with significantly more experience under his belt.

The Duke of Evandiel still had smooth skin with the only wrinkles from a couple of scars. He was also clean-shaven. He didn't look aged. He just appeared experienced as he rested his elbows on the table with interlocked fingers as he looked at Zach with an undiscernible gaze.

"Father."

"Son."

"..." Zach didn't hold his father's gaze for long before nervously avoiding it by looking down at his lap.

"Haven't you forgotten something?" Zach looked up in confusion. Was he supposed to apologize for being late or something?

"I'm sor—"

"Not that." Zach's father immediately waved away Zach's apology and gestured for him to come.

Zach glanced at his mother for help of some kind, but she shrugged as if telling him he was on his own.

Zach sighed and got up and walked over to his father with worried steps. When he was within grabbing distance, the Duke reached out and put his large hand over Zach's head. His palm alone almost covered Zach's scalp.

"Mm. Good." The Duke patted Zach's head gently a couple of times before taking back his hand and then patting Zach's shoulders with both hands.

"Welcome home, son." The Duke turned around Zach and nudged him back toward his seat. Zach walked back to his seat in defeat.

"Let's eat." At the Duke's order, the servants brought in food. And as if they had been waiting for the floodgates to drop, the Evandiel children almost threw themselves over the table toward Zach.

"So, why were you late, Zach? Were the roads bad?"

"Roads? I'm betting he was busy getting cozy with the noble young ladies of the capital."

"Why would he when he has Nora?"

"Speaking of Nora…"

"Yeah, did she grow a little or is that just me?"

The only one who didn't throw out a question like she was fishing was Leonia, but she was still looking curiously at Zach and Yanael behind him.

Calserra shook her head.

"That's not, Nora, Lilo, so you don't need to be jealous." She looked at her daughter's baggy shirt.

"Hey!"

"That's someone—something else." Calserra narrowed her eyes as she looked at Yanael.

Zach nodded at the implication of his mother's words and under the gazes of his family.

"You're right. This beautiful lady is not Nora. Very astute, you guys." Zach gave his siblings a look of utmost respect for their incredible observational skills.

"She is the familiar I summoned. Yanael. She's an angel and very happy to meet all of you."

Zach's family listened intently, but their eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"It's fine if you couldn't summon anything Zach and have been living a debauched life in the capital, but lying to your family like this? I won't stand for it." Leana scowled at her younger brother, who was clearly taking advantage of a beautiful woman.

"Yeah, how did you get Nora to agree to this?" Lilo tilted her head curiously, more interested in how Zach was pulling it off than why or reprimanding him for it.

"Are you blowing your entire allowance on this woman, or what? And aren't you too young?" Lily narrowed her eyes in suspicion. That allowance was for him to focus on his studies. It was not for him to do his part in squandering the family wealth.

"Nice job." Lexi high-fived Zach by grabbing his wrist and forcing it before he could react.

Leonidas and Leonia were quiet as they looked at Yanael. They didn't ignore their mother's words.

"An angel, you say…? Literally or metaphorically? " Leonidas leaned forward, skeptical but interested.

"Both."

"I don't see any wings, though."

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Zach quickly turned around in shock and looked at Yanael with a horrified expression.

"Oh no! We must have forgotten them!" He grabbed his head with both hands in panic.