Exhausted?

Exhausted?

Regina shot him a mock glare, though a slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She uncrossed her arms, letting them fall to her sides, the gesture both casual and confident.

Julian leaned in closer, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Well, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were enjoying this little game of ours."

He paused, letting the playful tension hang between them. "Besides, what's wrong with appreciating beauty? It's a talent of mine, after all."

Regina rolled her eyes, though she couldn't hide the soft blush creeping onto her cheeks.

"Just remember, young man, I'm still your mother." But the way she spoke, with a hint of laughter, made it clear that the banter was only fueling the playful spark between them.

Julian shrugged, feigning innocence. "And a very beautiful one at that. How could I not admire my own mother?"

The room filled with a light-heartedness that seemed to wash away the seriousness of the earlier conversation. In that moment, it was just them, mother and son enjoying a playful exchange that danced on the edge of boundaries, laughter echoing softly in the cozy room.

Julian stood up, a playful grin still on his face as he took Regina's hands in his own. He brought them to his lips, kissing her knuckles gently.

The gesture was both charming and affectionate, a mix of reverence and teasing that left a warm glow in the air between them.

"Such elegance deserves a kiss, don't you think?" he said with a wink, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Regina's cheeks flushed a deeper shade, a mix of surprise and amusement flooding her features.

"Julian!" she exclaimed, trying to sound reprimanding but failing to suppress a smile. "You're impossible."

Regina shook her head, laughter dancing in her eyes. "You really are too much. One of these days, you'll push your luck too far."

Julian shrugged, a playful challenge in his gaze. "And one of these days, you might just find that you enjoy it."

Julia glanced up first, her expression brightening with a smile, though there was still a hint of yesterday's tension in her eyes. Isabel, sitting beside her, looked slightly shy but gave him a small nod.

Marcus was the last to notice Julian's presence, and his face lit up with a wide grin as he waved.

"Ah, finally awake, Julian," Marcus called out, his voice cheerful. "I was beginning to think you'd sleep through the whole day."

Julian walked over, pulling out a chair and sitting down with a smirk.

"Well, after everything that happened yesterday, I think I deserved a little extra rest, don't you?"

Julia and Isabel exchanged a glance but smiled in agreement. Julia leaned forward slightly. "We didn't want to wake you. You seemed... exhausted."

"Exhausted, huh?" Julian chuckled, raising an eyebrow teasingly.

Julian leaned in with a mischievous grin. "How can I be more exhausted than you two?" he teased, his eyes dancing between Julia and Isabel.

Both women immediately blushed, their gazes dropping to the table. Julia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, avoiding eye contact, while Isabel's cheeks turned a deep shade of pink as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

Marcus, noticing the awkward tension, furrowed his brow. "Wait... what exactly are you talking about?" he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

Julian just laughed, giving Marcus a playful wink. "Oh, nothing you'd understand."

Marcus narrowed his eyes, clearly irritated by Julian's playful evasiveness.

"You always talk in riddles," he muttered, shaking his head in frustration. Without another word, he stood up abruptly and left the table, his annoyance evident in the way he stormed out of the banquet hall.

Julian chuckled to himself, glancing at Julia and Isabel, who still looked flustered. "He really can't take a joke, can he?"