Chapter 337 Seeing your life in danger is quite exciting
It was lunchtime when everyone returned to Gaius Castle.
The House-elves brought out a variety of delicious foods, and Vico, Lisanna, and Adrian ate with relish, but Aaronand Leon seemed distracted and much more reserved.
"Is that the dragon you're raising?" Adrian looked at Abeywith interest. "I've never seen it in any animal encyclopedia."
Hearing this, Aaron quickly gave a meaningful look to the Holy Dragon, who was devouring its food.
Abey remembered the task his master had given him earlier, and the photo of the beautiful older sister. After a moment of internal struggle, he abandoned the delicious food in front of him and flew over to Adrian.
The charm of a cute pet was evident, and the smile on Adrian's face instantly deepened.
Aaron and Leon exchanged glances, feeling a slight sense of relief.
They hadn't gotten to the main topic yet, but the pressure from a cheerful older sister and a stern older sister was completely different.
After lunch, Vico and Lisanna tacitly left the dining table, leaving the first-floor space to the younger generation.
The atmosphere gradually became serious. Adrianunhurriedly fed Abey, and only after a few minutes did she speak: "Uncle Gines, please have someone prepare my room first. I have some matters to discuss with my two younger brothers."
Gines smiled and nodded, ignoring his young master's pleading look, and Apparated away from the spot.
"Um... Sister, I still have something to do," Leon stammered. "I have an appointment with Lord Diat, the teacher at the Gaius Library, so..."
"Leave if you want, I won't stop you," Adrian said flatly.
Leon gave an awkward laugh, "How can I leave when my sister is here!"
Aaron gave him a look of disdain, thinking, 'I gave you a chance, but you're useless!'
"Sister, is there anything specific you came for this time?"
"What do you think?" Adrian looked at Aaron with a half-smile. "A while ago, I was traveling across the ocean, visiting famous mountains and rivers to cultivate my mind, but the arrival of an owl disrupted my plans.
My dearest younger sister actually has someone she likes, and that person happens to be one of my younger brothers. Their parents have even met and had a very pleasant conversation.
Aaron, tell me, what are you thinking?"
"Actually... it's a misunderstanding," Aaron said sheepishly. "This was arranged by my mom and dad while I was at school; I didn't know anything about it."
"They were just worried you'd drag your feet," Adrian said pointedly. "Aunt and Uncle know you best. They're well aware that if they don't push you, this matter could drag on indefinitely."
Aaron opened his mouth. What he hadn't understood before, he finally understood now.
Vico and the others had considered too much. Everyone was currently in agreement, and even Leon, the doting brother, had chosen to abstain under various pressures. In such a situation, how much longer could he delay?
"That's so mean, to scheme against your own son to this extent," Aaron said, on the verge of tears. "Thinking about it, this really caught me off guard."
"So, tell me, what are you thinking?
If you like her, then it's a happy outcome for everyone. If..."
"I've always seen her as a younger sister," Aaron interrupted. "And these kinds of things are about mutual consent, so... no matter how great the pressure, if I don't agree, I don't agree."
"Hey, hey, hey! I'm still here as your older brother!" Leon pouted unhappily. "Watch your tone, don't force me to fight you."
"Sorry, but I'm stating the facts.
He who hesitates is lost. What I urgently need now is a way to refuse," Aaron said, looking troubled. "How can I make it clear without hurting her?"
"That's not important."
"No, Sister, it's very important.
She's still young, so it's understandable that she might be impulsive in her thinking.
When she grows up, she might change her mind."
"Heh heh!" Adrian scoffed. "Still young, but the things in her mind are more than what all of us combined have.
Also, don't deceive yourself. The owl also brought me a ten-thousand-word essay on marriage; she has thought this through carefully."
"An essay... she even showed you," Leon's mouth twitched. He hadn't expected his younger sister to actually send an essay.
"I haven't even talked to you yet!" Adrian glared fiercely at Leon. "Even if you're her older brother, you don't need to watch your sister that closely!
Her letter to me clearly stated that you almost brought out that book. Were you trying to kill Aaron?"
"At most, I just wanted to scare him," Leon said guiltily.
"Does anyone use their family's heritage to scare people?" Adrian said, exasperated. "If there's a next time, I'll break your hand, and that book won't be able to protect you."
Leon involuntarily shivered, "Understood, I won't dare again."
"Let's get back to the main topic, Sister," Aaron interjected. "Since you're back, help me come up with an idea."
"I said that's not important," Adrian said impatiently. "You just need to tell me if you're willing to make a place for her in your heart."
"Huh?"
Aaron blinked blankly, momentarily at a loss.
"Alright, no need to say more. Your hesitation has already told me the answer," Adrian sighed. "I don't know what kind of luck you've had, boy. I knew she had a crush on you when she was little, but I never expected her to lower her standards for you to this extent."
"No, I..."
Aaron was roughly interrupted by Leon before he could finish his sentence, "Actually, I might know why, Sister. You should remember the Darwin Family's talent."
"Hmm?" Adrian's face showed understanding. "The future? It seems it's destined!"
"I don't believe in fate," Aaron said irritably.
"We'll see," Adrian smiled, but this smile made Aaron's hair stand on end. "I don't care at all whether you can change fate.
Just one thing: don't make that girl sad, or I promise you won't have an easy time."
"Well said," Leon applauded enthusiastically. "That's absolutely right, I think so too."
Aaron:...Motherfucker!
The pressure was already great enough. Not only did you two not help me, but you also added fuel to the fire.
"Cough, cough!
Sister, you didn't specially come all this way just to support Clea, did you?"
"Otherwise?" Adrian looked at Aaron meaningfully. "I've gone to great lengths for this silly younger sister.
You'll have to perform well then; don't disappoint me!"
Aaron's heart sank. "Sister, I'm timid, don't scare me."
"If you're timid, then no one is brave," Adrian patted his shoulder and said with a serious smile, "If you perform well, I can act as a lubricant and buy you more time.
But if you don't perform well... I will unconditionally stand with my younger sister."
"Understood," Aaron gave a strained smile. "Then at least tell me what you want me to do!"
"You'll know when the time comes.
Also, I must remind you, don't try to hide your abilities, or your life might be in danger."
With that, Adrian stood up and walked upstairs on her own.
"Sister," Aaron pointed at the young dragon she was holding, hesitant to speak. "Abey, it..."
"I quite like it. I'll keep it for a while.
Do you have any objections?"
Aaron shook his head, on the verge of tears.
He had had this idea before: having a cute pet by his side would keep his older sister in a good mood, and they could communicate in Dragon Language, essentially planting a spy next to her, which would make it easier for him to adapt.
But these days, he found that he really couldn't do without Abey. Without it to heal him, relying solely on Lant's elixirs, it would still take an hour or so of pain to recover.
"Be mentally prepared!" Leon said gloatingly. "Big Sister has never lied to us. Life-threatening danger, just thinking about it is exciting."
"Pfft!" Aaron scoffed disdainfully. "Look at your lack of ambition."
"No, no, no, you misunderstood.
It's not that I haven't experienced life-threatening danger; after many times, it's not as exciting anymore.
What I mean is, watching you be in life-threatening danger is quite exciting."
Aaron's mouth twitched. Speechless, he turned his face away, lamenting his poor choice of friends... After Adriansettled into the Castle, she didn't concern herself with how Aaron was doing with his tutoring. Aside from the Library, she didn't set foot in any of the other Chambers.
This was tough on Leon Darwin, who was studying in the Library. Under the bloodline suppression of his older sister, his study efficiency plummeted by thirty percent, to the point where even Diat couldn't bear to watch.
However, according to information leaked by a certain traitorous dragon, owls were sending her messages almost every day, and they were different owls. No one knew what she was busy with, but it was certainly not a minor matter.
The only thing that brought Aaron comfort was that after friendly negotiations, his parents ended his holiday tutoring class early before they left home.
Although only two weeks remained until Hogwarts started, half a month of free time was like a long-awaited rain after a drought for him. At least he no longer had to endure the elemental baptism of Ancestor Wehert.
"The Quidditch World Cup is coming soon," Aaron said, sitting on the sofa. "Originally, I just wanted to use this grand event to escape tutoring, but now it seems unnecessary. With this time, I'd rather just lie around at home."
"Cough, cough!" Gines coughed awkwardly. "Young Master, is it really appropriate to say that in front of me?"
"Who do you think I'm saying it to?" Aaron rolled his eyes irritably. "Uncle Gines, I know every decision you make is for my good, but I'm the one getting hit, not you!
Fire, floods, thunderstorms, earthquakes, hurricanes—you might have experienced those, but you definitely haven't experienced things like intense light and darkness.
It's only because I have good psychological resilience, and Flo is also quite reliable; most people would have gone crazy by now."
Gines raised an eyebrow and said confidently, "I have great faith in the training methods of the esteemed adults. Hasn't Young Master's strength also improved greatly?"
Hearing this, Aaron felt helpless. While it was true that he was now very skilled at elemental magic, it had all been bought with blood and tears.