Rafael, on the other hand, was just about to join in when Zhane shot him a warning look, silently reminding him not to move too much or risk aggravating his wound.


    Rafael halted in his tracks, blinking in surprise. He never would have imagined that the ever-stern Zhane could act like a strict mother, managing him with such authority.


    But Rafael knew better than to argue—Zhane wasn’t just being overbearing; he simply didn’t want Hera’s efforts to go to waste.


    If anything, he wanted Rafael to recover quickly so Hera wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore.


    <i>Knock...</i>


    <i>Knock...</i>


    With the deepening night unfolding in a surprisingly harmonious manner, Amy arrived right on cue, her impable timing as sharp as ever.


    She knocked gently on the door and called out, "Young Miss, dinner is ready. Please have a meal before you continue resting, will you?"


    Before anyone else could react, Zhane strode over and opened the door, positioning himself strategically to block Amy’s view of the room. With a light smile, he assured her, "Thank you. Everyone is awake now—we’ll be down soon."


    Amy, ever the professional, didn’t attempt to peek inside. She knew better than to pry into her master’s privacy, so she simply gave a respectful nod, offered a small bow, and silently made her way back to the dining room to assist Hannah in setting out the food. Once she was gone, Zhane stepped back inside, shutting the door behind him.


    "Shall we?" Zhane asked, his voice smooth yet expectant.


    With a reluctant sigh, Leo and Dave finally loosened their hold on Hera. However, Dave—ever the troublemaker—wasn’t quite ready to let go of his frustrations just yet.


    Instead ofining, he redirected his energy toward a new target: the peacefully sleeping Xavier.


    Without hesitation, Dave shifted his position, angled himself just right, and delivered a swift kick—sending Xavier tumbling off the bed.


    No one intervened, not even those who saw iting. In fact, Luke, watching from the side, let out a quiet snicker, clearly amused by the spectacle.


    <i>Thud!</i>


    The sudden thud of something heavy hitting the carpeted floor startled Hera, making her jolt just as Zhane and Leo were gently helping her off the bed. The dim lighting in the room made it hard for her to see what had happened—until a furious Xavier emerged from the side of the bed, his expression dark with rage.


    His sharp gaze immediately scanned the bed, searching for the culprit, and it didn’t take long before his eyes locked onto Dave.


    Dave, ever the troublemaker, was doing a terrible job of feigning innocence, awkwardly trying to slip out of bed as if nothing had happened. Unfortunately for him, his awful acting only confirmed his guilt.


    Without hesitation, Xavier lunged at Dave, and in seconds, the two were entangled in a scuffle—rolling around on the bed like a pair of bickering children, neither willing to back down.


    "It’s you again, huh?! Seems like you never learn your lesson!" Xavier growled as he swiftly maneuvered his body, wrapping his arms and legs around Dave’s long limbs in an attempt to pin him down.


    He aimed to make Dave feel enough difort to force an apology—maybe even squeeze out a whimper of regret—but Dave, ever the resilient troublemaker, refused to go down without a fight.


    He twisted against Xavier’s hold, preventing him from fully restraining his arms, and soon enough, the two were rolling across the bed in a chaotic struggle.


    Meanwhile, Leo, Hera, and Luke—who had wisely stood up just in time—watched the familiar scene unfold.


    It was almost amusing how quickly Xavier and Dave had forgotten their own promise: <i>No more roughhousing in front of Hera.</i>


    "Why the hell are you so sure it was me?! It could’ve been Luke or Leo!" Dave protested, grunting as he struggled to untangle himself from Xavier.


    He attempted to lock Xavier’s arms instead, but since both of them were trained in martial arts and regrly worked out, neither could overpower the other.


    Their battle quickly devolved into an endless cycle of rolling across the bed, neither gaining the upper hand.


    "<i>Other</i>? Please. There’s only <i>one</i> man-child among us," Xavier shot back with a snort before expertly kicking Dave off him.


    "What are you talking about?! That’s not true!" Dave huffed, now pouting indignantly. He refused to ept beingbeled a man-child—especially by someone just as stubborn and reckless as him.


    "No, it’s definitely true. Or maybe... you’re just trying to get back at me for kicking you off the bed before. Is that it?" Xavier said, then immediately mped his mouth shut, realizing his slip-up. The more he spoke, the deeper he’d dig his own grave, so he decided it was best to shut up.


    But it was already toote. Dave had caught on, and something clicked in his mind—like a puzzle piece falling into ce.


    "Ah-ha! So you <i>did</i> kick me off the bed back when we all slept in my chateau! And here I was, thinking I just rolled off on my own!" Dave sounded thoroughly aggrieved before he doubled his efforts, using his newfound purpose to overpower Xavier. "Hah! You <i>deserved</i> to be kicked out of bed just now!" he added triumphantly.


    Xavier sneered, barely managing to hold his ground. "So you just admitted it <i>was</i> you who kicked me."