BXBX NOVEL Chapter 68 I Can't Accept Your Gift
Agnus chuckled softly, recognizing the familiar banter that often ensued between Artemis and their daughter. He playfully defended Amelia, saying, "Well, she\'s just enjoying herself tonight. It was a special occasion after all."
Amelia, with a glint of fear in her eyes, jumped into the discussion, eager to defend her sweet tooth. "Father\'s right! And today was brother\'s fault, he pushed all his sweets on my plate"
She placed the blame on Rio hoping he would defend her too, otherwise looking at her mother\'s expression, she will have to forget about eating sweets for weeks again.
Amelia\'s eyes darted towards Rio, a glimmer of hope shining in them as she silently pleaded for him to take the blame for giving her the sweets. However, to her dismay, Rio burst into laughter and pointed at her accusingly, claiming that she had actually stolen his share of the sweets.
"Given you, more like you even stole everything from my plate. Saying I should just let you eat a little, only one bite and next thing I know it\'s empty."
Amelia\'s glare intensified as she realized her traitor brother wouldn\'t come to her rescue. Feeling a mix of frustration and desperation, she turned her attention to her father. With a pout on her face and her eyes welling up with tears, she silently conveyed her plea, hoping that he would intervene and save her from the impending ban on sweets. But sadly as Artemis coughed a little, her father too looked away.
Having no other choice, she finally looked at her mother, and said -"I promise not to eat more next time. Mother." her eyes and tired look making her look even more pitiful than every other day, Artemis sighed, pretending to be stern, but her eyes twinkled with affection. "Alright, alright," she relented, unable to resist Amelia\'s charm. "Just remember to brush your teeth extra well tonight."
Amelia beamed with victory, her bulging stomach momentarily forgotten. She couldn\'t believe her luck that her mother was willing to let her go that easily. "I promise, Mom!" she exclaimed, in a hurry afraid that her mother might change her mind. She looked at her father and brother with a sneer, a triumphant grin spreading across her face.
Artemis glanced at Rio, intending to have a private conversation with him and said "Your father and I needed to talk to you about something _ ", but before she could finish, Amelia swiftly intervened, coming up with a playful excuse to keep Rio by her side. She claimed that she needed his assistance to make it to her room or she might fall asleep right there at the dining table. Her words were delivered with a mischievous grin, hinting at her playful nature, but looking at how tired she looked everyone believed them to be true.
Artemis wanted to tell Rio to come talk to her tomorrow after waking up, but Amelia didn\'t give her the chance to finish, so helplessly she just agreed. Agnus chuckled and nodded in agreement to what Amelia said. He called for one of the maids, instructing them to accompany Amelia and ensure she reached her room safely.
Myra was the first to come in, and kindly volunteered to pick up Amelia and carry her to her room. With gentle care, she scooped up the tired little girl in her arms, cradling her securely. Amelia, in her exhausted state, didn\'t protest and simply rested her head against Myra\'s shoulder.
Rio looked at Artemis and when she nodded her head, giving him permission, followed closely behind as Myra made her way towards Amelia\'s room. He watched with a mix of amusement and fondness as Myra expertly navigated the corridors, ensuring Amelia\'s comfort as she sleepily clung to her. Looking at how Amelia was being silent, Rio looked closely and found that she even fell asleep. \'Just how fast did she pass out?\'
Upon reaching Amelia\'s room, Myra gently placed her on her bed, tucking her in and ensuring she was comfortable. Unlike Artemis, Rio remembered to put the toy bear on her bed, making sure she held it properly.
Before leaving, Myra whispered a soft goodnight to Amelia, her voice filled with warmth and care. Rio, lingering for a moment longer, gave his sister a gentle pat on the forehead, and went out too. "Good night Lia."
_.
Rio stepped out of the room and saw Myra waiting for him. He greeted her with a smile.
She nodded and said -"Congratulations on your awakening Rio."
"Thanks, Myra."
As they continued their walk towards Rio\'s room they started having some light conversations. "So, you were there on my awakening right?"
"Yupp, watched your whole scene. Quite a bold move, to use mana suction for elemental awakening, don\'t you think?" Myra said in an amused tone.
Rio chuckled, "Still better than doing it in an instant dungeon filled with monsters."
"But you could\'ve warned us before." Myra said as she met his eyes.
"Would you guys allow it?" Rio said without averting his eyes "and besides, I knew I\'d be fine."
"Have you said that to master?" Myra asked as they continued walking.
"Nope, I think she let it slide for today. Might have to explain everything tomorrow though." Rio said as he shrugged his shoulders. Remembering how she changed topics whenever it came to his awakening or those earrings, he could guess that even though she had doubts, she didn\'t want to ruin anyone\'s mood today.
Myra also understood her master\'s way of doing things, and she approved this approach too. Awakening was something that can only happen once a life, ruining such a big moment for someone doesn\'t feel right. "Thought of any excuses yet."
Rio shook his head feeling helpless. "Not like anything I say would change her mood, and my punishments."
"Yupp, you will regret it." Myra nodded gracefully, as she remembered something.
"Do you know anything? She seemed fine while giving out gifts." Rio asked, hoping to get any details on how mad she was, and how much lies he should prepare.
"That\'s even more bad. The calmer she looks.."
"The more mad she is." Myra started her sentence but Rio finished what she meant.
"Yupp, by the way, here take this." Myra said as she brought out something from her ring. Wrapped in a leather cloth was a dagger that she presented to Rio.
"My gift" Rio said as he removed the cloth and looked at the black dagger.
"Well despite your odd ways, you do deserve something. Congratulations Rio, and welcome on your new journey." Myra said happily as she noticed Rio looking at the dagger carefully, thinking if he liked it or not. This dagger was the last thing she had connected to her childhood, it was something she found in her broken house. She always kept it close, it was one of her favorites too, not because of any emotional value, she didn\'t even remember much of her family. She only kept this knife because it had always been useful for her.
The handle and blade were both made of the same material, its edges as sharp that just a slight touch could cut the hardest of metals, on the other side of blade some designs were made, some lines drawn to give it a fantasy look, is what everyone would\'ve thought, but Rio knew exactly what those lines were, what this dagger was. After all, it played a very important role in the novel\'s story.
\'Is this how he got it, in the story.\' Rio thought as he remembered this dagger was eerily similar to the one dagger Rio used later in the novel.
Rio traced his hand on the linear design in the center and on the words written in an unknown language. They looked just like some lines drawn nonsensically to everyone, but they were a spell written in the original demon tongue, a language which died down after the sealing of Demon king Ditail.
As Rio observed the pitch black dagger carefully, his brain had thought up stuff on an another level -
\'If it is hers, then something given by her was used to take her life.\'
\'Was the author making it ironic, saying this is what she gets for choosing his side.\'
\'Or is it some high heavens giving me a signal that I can\'t change anything?\'
[Host.. I think you...]
\'Well fuck your signs. Let\'s see who wins. I\'ll fuck it all\'
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A/N - If you forgot Demon king Ditail had killed all of the demon race himself. He was the last demon left alive, and since no one had the balls or strength to kill him, God Apollo had to come himself and seal him in a different realm, breaking the balance of the universe in process, which later resulted in Emergence of dungeons and portals, fuckint up world Arcadia.