The Operator Between Worlds [ONGOING]

Chapter 59: The Quiet After

The morning sun filtered gently through the open windows of the Emerald Palace's sunroom, casting golden light across the long breakfast table set beneath a canopy of flowering vines. The scent of fresh bread, seared meat, and citrus jam hung warmly in the air, accompanied by the clinking of porcelain and soft laughter. It was a rare gathering that brought everyone together under the same roof, and today, for once, the talk was light, the smiles easy.

Mason sat at the head of the table, pouring hot tea into a cup while simultaneously bouncing a sleepy Luna in one arm. The little one clung to his shirt with her tiny fingers, eyes half-lidded, clearly resisting the urge to fall back asleep. Across from him, Masami held Lena in her lap with practiced grace, brushing the silver strands from the baby's forehead. Lena, wide awake, was already observing the room with quiet focus, as if trying to understand the social dynamics at play.

Aurora was seated to Mason's left, dressed in her traveling robe—still elegant despite the simplicity. Her signature snow-blonde hair was loosely braided over one shoulder. She sipped from a teacup, visibly more relaxed than the day before. "The garden is beautiful, Masami," she said with genuine warmth. "I can see you have put a lot of work into it."

Masami chuckled lightly. "There's not much else to do when you're nursing twins and avoiding politics. Gardening was easier than running off to hunt demons."

"Speak for yourself," Mason added dryly. "You almost turned the greenhouse into a spirit shrine."

"It needed atmosphere," she replied, raising a brow. "Besides, the spirits like it."

Across the table, Colette leaned back in her chair, arms lazily folded. "Well, atmosphere or not, I nearly tripped over a vine this morning."

"You looked like a drunken deer," Luca muttered with a smirk, earning a nudge from her older sister.

Luca, still getting used to the presence of the famed Saintess, kept glancing at Aurora's way when she thought no one was looking. Eventually, she broke the silence with polite curiosity, "You're very different from what the stories say about the blessed maiden."

Aurora turned toward her with a soft smile. "Hopefully better?"

"Less divine and more... normal," Luca said honestly, blinking. "But in a good way."

Mason leaned forward, amused. "That's probably the first time someone called her normal."

Aurora sighed in mock offense. "I suppose I should be honored."

"Don't worry," Masami said with a smirk. "You'll be glowing with divine mystery again the moment you open your mouth about fate and destiny."

The table erupted into laughter. Even the twins responded in their own way—Luna yawning with a squeak, Lena lifting a brow as if unimpressed by the adults' antics.

"See?" Mason said, patting Lena's back. "She gets it."

After a while, the meal was nearing its end, with empty teacups, fruit peels, and flaky crumbs from warm pastries scattered across their plates. It was one of those rare, unhurried mornings. The table had become a scene of soft laughter, cradled teacups, and relaxed smiles when Colette leaned forward with a mischievous grin and propped her elbow on the table.

"Alright, alright. I've got a game for us. It's called Who Knows Mason Best?"

Mason, mid-sip of his tea, gave her a slow, blank look. "Pass."

Masami rested her chin on her hand, already grinning. "Too late, my dear. You're the main character now."

Aurora tilted her head curiously. "A quiz... about Mason?"