Other People's Children

As soon as she agreed to Ogesha's request, Lux returned to her room. Looking at the ornate dress for young ladies, Lux could no longer maintain her smile.

Thinking of her mother's instructions, the little princess of the Crown Guard family finally couldn't help but frown. A banquet, socializing, etiquette!

Help!

Without a doubt, Lux was a kind and well-behaved child, so she was happy to see her parents' relieved smiles every day by being polite and obedient.

However, this did not mean that she herself was a girl who was willing to be well-behaved and follow etiquette.

In fact, Karya had already discovered that Lux's nature was quite lively and extremely energetic, with no resemblance to being quiet at all. Only such a person could awaken an astonishing talent for Light Magic in Demacia, a place that suppressed magic.

To ask such a child to maintain aristocratic demeanor meticulously and wear a mask to interact with people would be torture for Lux.

Moreover, this aristocratic demeanor had to be maintained under Karya's reminders, forcing Lux to multitask...

Tsk tsk tsk, it's pathetic just thinking about it.

Therefore, although she knew it was wrong, a certain scoundrel couldn't help but chuckle. Lux, annoyed, took off her mask of suffering and clenched her fists.

"Ka! Rya! Stop laughing!" Lux said through gritted teeth, "Quick, help me think of what to do tomorrow—Ahhhhhhh, just thinking about maintaining an aristocratic posture all day tomorrow under your nagging makes my face and legs feel numb!"

"It's the duty of nobility, Lux, you know that." Even though Lux was on the verge of going crazy, Karya's tone was still filled with undisguised teasing. "Our little princess must dress like a true princess and behave like a true princess—you should be grateful that a nine-and-a-half-year-old girl doesn't have to wear high heels yet, otherwise the suffering would double!"

"Wait, Karya, how do you know wearing high heels is painful?" Lux finally found a point to counterattack. "Don't tell me... you've worn them before?!"

"Setaqa said so," Karya replied innocently. "Even the Ascended Queen couldn't stand it, what do you think?"

Karya's words somewhat deflated Lux. Lux had participated in aristocratic banquets and events before, but she had always sat at the children's table, and it didn't matter if she messed around.

But this time, her mother said she would participate in social events for the first time as a noble lady.

(ಥ_ಥ)

"Karya, help me!"

Despite the teasing, after Karya had his fill of laughter, he still gave Lux a very effective solution.

"If you really find maintaining aristocratic etiquette too troublesome, I suggest you chat more with that young lady adopted by the Buweier family tomorrow—I know a bit about Ionia. If you can build a good relationship with her, then even if you don't strictly adhere to etiquette, it will still be considered a perfect performance."

"Can I do that?" Lux blinked her eyes. After thinking for a moment, she finally turned her sorrow into joy. "That's true... Then quickly tell me, what kind of country is Ionia? I asked Uncle Xin Zhao before, but he didn't tell me anything!"

"Ionia, it's a kingdom even older than Shurima, the birthplace and Source of Magic Power of Runeterra... Look at your expectant face. If you were this attentive during my lectures, you might already be learning to cast spells—today's evening study session is canceled for now. I'll briefly tell you about Ionia!"

"Haha, I knew Teacher Karya loved me the most!"

"But tomorrow's evening study session will continue. After the banquet, I will test the knowledge I taught you today. I hope you don't forget too much in these two days—"

"Ahhhhhhh, Karya, you big jerk! Stinky scoundrel!"

"..."

"..."

The next morning, Lux, who woke up early, seemed to be in good spirits.

After Karya's "cram session," it was no exaggeration to say that Lux was now one of the people in the Imperial Capital of Demacia who knew the most about Ionia.

Although Karya didn't teach much due to time constraints, and most of the information was outdated, Lux was already an "Ionia expert" compared to other nobles who only knew its name.

The initiation ceremony was held in the morning. After Lux did some light exercises and ate a little, she bathed and changed, then took a carriage decorated with the Crown Guard family crest to the Buweier manor.

After presenting the invitation, she was led by a servant into the incredibly luxurious manor, which covered an astonishing area.

Along the way, ladies and young ladies from various families greeted Lux proactively. Under Karya's guidance, Lux responded to everyone with perfect grace—she didn't look like a novice participating in social events for the first time as a young lady, but rather more composed than a veteran.

Therefore, even before the ceremony officially began, many people were already silently taking Lux as a benchmark and comparing her to their own children.

The conclusion was... their own children couldn't compare.

A normal nine-year-old child—even a precocious young girl—could not perfectly respond to everyone with different etiquette, greetings, and gestures like Lux. It was even more impossible for her to identify all the family crests and emblems at a glance. This way of interacting with people could no longer be described as merely "precocious."

So, upon seeing Lux, many people couldn't help but sigh in low voices, "As expected of the princess of the Crown Guard family!"

These compliments, half intentional and half sincere, were heard by Lux, causing her cheeks to redden slightly—she actually knew very well that it was all thanks to Karya.

Lux, making her perfect debut, thus became the "child from another family."

Then, just as she was about to thank Karya, she heard his reprimand.

"Don't try to flash a silly smile, it will ruin all your previous efforts! Now, turn left sixty degrees. The envoy from the Lightshield Family has arrived. Although Jiawen III did not come in person, he has sent his royal seal, so you need to pay your respects!"

The gratitude that had just arisen vanished in an instant with the merciless reprimand. Lux maintained a perfect smile on her face, but inwardly she snorted indignantly, "Only you are so capable!"

The next moment, Lux, maintaining her perfect etiquette, stepped forward towards the Lightshield envoy.

The envoy from the Lightshield Family, bearing the royal seal, had clearly timed his arrival to be last.

After receiving greetings from various noble families, it was time for the ceremony.

As the bell rang, the entire hall fell silent.

On the second-floor platform, the curtain of the arched doorway was pulled open, and the Buweier couple walked out with smiles. Behind them was their daughter, Kashina—and behind Kashina, a timid little girl was led out by her hand.

She had long, ice-blue hair and wore a sky-blue dress, looking gentle and lovely.

The little girl held Kashina's hand with one hand and clutched a large zither tightly with the other. As she walked out from behind the curtain and saw the dense crowd of nobles, her face flushed—but even so, she bowed to everyone according to Demacian etiquette.

The banquet hall erupted in thunderous applause.

Mr. Buweier, walking at the forefront with a beaming smile, cleared his throat after the applause subsided and loudly introduced the newest member of his family.

From Mr. Buweier's introduction, Lux learned that this adorable little sister's name was Sona. She was a few months younger than Lux and came from an orphanage in Ionia's Galin province. She was a very gentle and lovely young girl.

However, it was a pity that she was born unable to speak. She could understand others but could not speak herself.

As for the zither she held tightly in her arms, it was found with her at the orphanage. According to Mr. Buweier, it was an ancient zither that she relied on, which was why she always held it.

The nobility present expressed their understanding of this explanation.

Although the initiate should hold the family's ceremonial artifact during the initiation rite, considering the little girl came from Ionia, holding an ancient zither... it could barely be considered acceptable!

After Mr. Buweier finished his introduction, a highly respected Bishop from the Illuminati arrived on the second-floor platform.

This Bishop personally baptized Sona and, in the presence of all the nobility, asked in a clear voice:

"Mr. Barrett Buweier, Patriarch of the Buweier family, do you accept Miss Sona into the Buweier family, granting her the treatment of family and the glory of Buweier?"

"I do!"

"Miss Sona from Ionia, do you agree to join the Buweier family, become a member of the family, and uphold the honor of Buweier?"

Sona nodded.

With affirmation from both sides, the Bishop picked up a pre-carved seal bearing Sona's name with one hand, and then raised the parchment recording the Buweier family tree high with the other, imprinting Sona's name below Barrett Buweier's.

And so, witnessed by everyone, Sona gained a surname for the first time – Buweier.

From this day forward, she was Sona Buweier!

Applause rang out again, and Sona, with a blush on her cheeks, descended the spiral staircase to the first floor to receive greetings from everyone in the hall.

She appeared very shy, lowering her head several times, but ultimately responded with a smile and practiced, albeit unpolished, etiquette to everyone who offered her blessings.

At this moment, Lux finally realized an incredibly awkward problem.

Sona couldn't speak; how was she supposed to build a relationship with her?

If she couldn't complete the mission this way, would she have to endure this inevitably long banquet until the very end?

At this moment, Lux froze in place. The thought of having to stay in such a rigid environment until evening made her legs feel phantom pains.

Helpless, Lux could only maintain a smile on her face while desperately calling for backup.

"Karya, Karya! The plan isn't working, quickly use your invincible ancient wisdom to think of a solution!"