Later that night during dinner, as everyone was there at the Vaude estate:
Licht said, "Hey Sis, how have you been? How is work?"
Rosa said, "OK, I guess."
Licht said, "Hello, brother-in-law. I'm Licht."
Ross said, "Hello, sir. Mr. Licht. Boss man. Sir. Lord."
Licht said, "Umm, that's a bit much."
Rosa said, "You are the one who told him to call you that."
Licht said, "When?"
Rosa said, "During my wedding, you literally threatened him with a sword, harassed him. The poor man peed his pants during our vows. You literally kissed him. Almost."
Jewel said, "Yeah, I know, right? It was hilarious."
Rosa said, "Dad, please don't encourage him."
Licht said, "Come on, I wasn't that bad."
Rosa said, "If you want, I can show you the video. After hearing your words, the priest fainted. And the priest was literally the Grandmaster of your Knights, Asten Chronous."
Licht said, "How bad did things really go?"
Rosa said, "You were at the wedding for 30 minutes. And in the 30 minutes, Liebe had to drag you out. And during the 30 minutes, you caused half the people to faint. You vomited on my dress literally during my vows—not before or after, literally during. Just before I was about to say yes, because of you, I became the first bride in literal history to say 'Oh hell, fuck no!' instead of a 'yes' in my vows."
Licht said, "Now I'm curious. What happened during the gender reveal party or the baby shower?"
Rosa said, "Well, Liebe had you sleeping. He brought you. He painted eyes over your eyelids, and thankfully nothing happened."
Licht said, "Ohhhh."
Rosa said, "You sound disappointed."
Licht said, "Just a little."
Elodie said, "No fighting during dinner."
Jewel said, "Your mother is right. You two are supposed to be adults. We do the brawling after dinner."
Mia said, "Umm, sorry, what?"
Licht said, "Mia, join us. It's going to be fun."
Rosa said, "So how has work been?"
Licht said, "OK, I guess."
Mia nervously thought, That's putting it mildly.
Licht said, "Honestly, I'm kinda bored. You got something to do for me tomorrow?"
Rosa said, "Let me think. Ross and I are busy at the hospital since nowadays the acting captain is trying to enable everyone for healthcare."
Jewel said, "Told ya. Liebe was working on making things better."
Licht said, "Yeah, Liebe, right. The hospital might be busy. By the way, you guys run the Black Rose 5th Branch of CKH, yeah?"
Rosa said, "Yeah, why?"
Licht said, "I actually need a favour. Can you like visit the main branch and visit room 305, patient Alysa Bouduin, and just check how she is doing?"
Rosa said, "Might be tough since that's about 50 km away, and Ross and I can't fly as much like you."
Licht said, "Is that so? OK then, it's alright."
Rosa said, "By the way, since you are free, why not look after and babysit little Rom here? He is just 3 months. It will be good uncle-nephew bonding."
Licht said, "I can do that. Easy. By tomorrow, we will be best bros. Like brothers."
Mia said, "Like you were with the Fleet Admiral?"
Licht said, "I don't know."
Mia said, "I'm sorry. It's sensitive."
Licht said, "It's alright."
Elodie said, "Now let's look on the bright side. Since you are home and on vacation, first get married, then you can settle down."
Licht said, "Mom, I'm not really in the mood for marriage. It just doesn't feel right right now."
Seeing this, Mia nervously thought, A wedding without a best man seems awkward. Perhaps.
Meanwhile, in the Vale Estate, as Liebe, Lichee, Isurugi, Fate, and Mavia sat down for dinner:
Liebe said, "How is everyone doing?"
Fate said, "Alright."
Isurugi said, "Good."
Lichee said, "Great."
Isurugi said, "Alysa is recovering, so it's going great. And every other work is well as well."
Fate said, "Currently it's decided: in 25 days, the final round will be held in Eldoria. It's a 1v1 against the leader of each team."
Liebe said, "That is comforting to know. And Mavia, where were you today?"
Mavia said, "Me? I was looking for a sleeping corpse. It was rather bothersome, really."
Liebe said, "Don't bother. He left of his own free will."
Mavia said, "Sure. And he may just return of his own free will as well."
Liebe sighed and said, "We need your help. Elizabeth still isn't well yet, and neither are you. I told you to take rest, not go around."
Mavia said, "This is rest for me."
Liebe said, "OK then."
Later after dinner, as Liebe was sitting by the pool, Lilith came by and joined him.
Lilith said, "Mind if I join?"
Liebe said, "Sure. But isn't it time to pick up Markus or something?"
Lilith said, "I had someone else handle that. But I wanted to ask: exactly how big is the pool?"
Liebe said, "About 300 cubic metres."
As everyone was watching from afar:
Isurugi said, "Mai, what's happening?"
Mai said, "Apparently the Lord is having a heart-to-heart with his mother."
Lichee said, "Looks nice."
Fate said, "I would advise against interrupting it."
Lichee said, "It's alright. I'm good seeing for today."
Lilith said, "So how big is the mansion?"
Liebe said, "About 10 acres."
Lilith said, "So that's exactly how big?"
Liebe said, "Mathematically, 7.5 times as big as the Faust Estate."
Lilith said, "Looks nice. Why don't you stay here?"
Liebe said, "I can't become the strongest in the world if I stay here."
Lilith said, "OK then. How are you doing nowadays? I heard about Licht and thought you might want to talk about it."
Liebe said, "What's there to talk about? That was his choice."
Lilith said, "Talking helps. It lightens the burden, you know. Who taught me that? You did."
Liebe, tearing up, said, "Mom, I just hate it. All of it. I don't know what to do. I won't see Alysa ever again soon. I have a few days. My team is divided. Licht is gone. Mavia and Elizabeth were—we lost. I just want to give up. I just want to give up for once."
Lilith said, "If that's really that hard for you, why not come back home with me? Back to the Faust Estate?"
Liebe said, "No. No matter how much I want to give up right now, it isn't right. Because I'm happy with them. I always have been. Giving up is far too weak."
Lilith said, "Well, that's the Liebe Alysa loves. Now keep at it. It's OK to cry once. Let it out." As she hugged him.
Liebe said, "Mom, it's hard. I just—"
Lilith said, "The hardest choices cause the most pain."
Liebe said, "How can I live without her? My life is meaningless."
Lilith, tearing up, said, "I know it's the hardest, but you must live on to be the only one to carry the memory of your days together. Living is the hardest. It's OK to cry once in a while."
Liebe said, "Even if it's tough?" As he just tried.
The next morning, as Liebe and his team were at the hospital, Liebe's communicator buzzed.
Liebe said, "Go for Liebe."
The voice said, "Liebe, it's Rosa."
Liebe said, "Yeah, Sis. How are you?"
Rosa said, "It's Licht. He has testicular cancer. He is at CKH Branch 5."
Liebe cut the call.
Meanwhile, on the other side:
Licht said, "Told you, Sis, he wasn't coming. That's just Liebe."
As Isurugi said, "Sir, what's wrong? The meeting is being delayed."
Liebe said, "我最好的朋友需要我." (My best friend needs me.) As he flew off fast.
Meanwhile, in CKH Branch 5, as Licht was sitting with Rosa at her office, Liebe burst through the wall saying, "Where is he? Where is the bastard?" As he was short on breath.
Licht said, "Here."
Liebe said, "Are you alive? Thank god you are alive. Did you start chemo yet?"
Rosa said, "Liebe, that was a lie. He doesn't have cancer. I just wanted to test a theory—if you would show up."
Mia said, "Fleet Admiral, some cold water?"
Liebe said, "Thanks, Mia." As he kicked Licht in the nuts and left.
Rosa said, "You were saying about Liebe not coming?"
Licht said, "I take that back. And it still hurts in the nuts."
Rosa said, "And then you said you were strangers."