The bedroom door wasn't just kicked open—it was left hanging precariously by a single hinge, a testament to Emilia's "maximum violence" wake-up strategy (established in Chapter 1).
But just as the trio charged for the hallway, eager to implement Emilia's "filthy rich" schedule—
WHOMP.
Someone stood in their way. Camilla, the ever-dutiful Beastfolk maid of the Zennon household, with her tail swaying with menace.
"Where do you three chaotic elements think you're going this early?" she asked, her voice sweeter than any of Liliana's preferred snacks.
"To the fare! For business purposes!" Emilia announced.
"Fair," Camilla corrected gently. "And not until you're all properly changed and eat the breakfast I poured my love into today, you know."
Kirian, attempting to be smooth and cool (and failing): "You can pour your love into me any day, Camila."
WHACK.
A flying slipper of justice nailed him squarely in the ear.
"Stop harassing people and get your lazy butt downstairs!" came a strict, motherly voice from the stairwell.
Kirian clutched his head. "OW! Good morning, Mom…"
"Good morning, Auntie!" Emilia chirped.
"Good morning, Lady Dominique," Camilla said respectfully.
Dominique, tall, fierce, and terrifyingly motherly, stood behind them with arms crossed and slipper reloaded.
After a series of groggy wardrobe changes, they made it downstairs to the long table. The smell of warm, buttery croissants, eggs, and something sickly sweet filled the air.
Dominique sat at one end of the table like a queen. Emilia and Kirian took their usual seats, while Liliana plopped herself neatly beside Kirian, already stacking her toast into a perfect, buttered cylinder.
Kirian dramatically stabbed a sausage with his fork. "A true hero needs fuel for the day! I need proper sustenance to maintain my legendary physique!" he declared loudly.
Emilia snorted. "Legendary physique you use to chase imaginary boobs? Eat your 'spicy tomato' eggs, Kirian." She was already mentally flipping through schemes.
Kirian jumped up, rattling the chipped ceramic plates. "That's different! Once I've secured my destiny, I'll marry a hundred princesses! No! Two hundred! And they shall all admire my mastery of the legendary, world-saving sword!" He struck a terrible pose, accidentally knocking his mug over.
"Do I look cool? Is that intensity beginning to shine through?!" Kirian whispered, half terrified and half excited.
"No, you're just messy," Emilia shrugged. "When I get rich, I'm buying a castle and filling it with people who don't spill tea."
Liliana, always calm, finished building her buttered cylinder and spoke dreamily. "And I will have a unicorn join us for breakfast. We'll give him little hats made of sprinkles."
Dominique sighed. They'd stumble and crash, but they'd also learn.
"Just don't come back hurt," she muttered, setting down her cup.
The trio didn't hear her. The adventure to the fair was about to begin.