Ric only paid her mother a short visit and proceeded to Dragon Mansion.
Since he will have the week to come home to his mother, he chose to arrive early at Dragon Mansion to catch up with his Senior Vivi and to play with his nephew and niece.
He first checked if the gifts he bought from City M were on the car before starting to drive.
When he arrived, there were already two cars near the mansion's main gate so he decided to park his car on the other side of the street just under a tree he couldn't distinguish.
Butler Ru was already waiting at the gate. "Let me help you with it, young master Ric."
"It's alright. These are for my nephew and niece. The gifts for the older people are back in the car. Please help me have some people carry it inside." Ric then gave the car key to the butler and proceeded inside.
"Ric!" Ric heard the voice of the woman he was quite familiar with. When he raised his head after changing his shoes to house slippers a maid gave him, he grinned widely.
"Wow! I don't think that I would be able to still distinguish you if you didn't call me first, Senior!" The two hugged afterwards and Veronica led him to the living room.
"Ric is here!" Veronica announced.
The Sy Madam is early because she no longer needs to do other things. Since Rawlf and Ric's relationship turned better, naturally, the Sy Madam also became polite to Ric.
After all, she realized that the young man is kind natured and didn't pose a threat to her son so slowly over the years, she accepted Ric as part of the family.
"Auntie, how are you?" Ric greeted the Sy Madam with a bow. The Sy Madam smiled.
"Good boy, it's good that you're back. How is City M?"
"It's alright Aunt. Oh, I only brought the gifts for my nephew and niece. The rest are in the car, I'm sorry. I didn't expect that you would be here much earlier than me." Ric apologized good naturedly.
"It's alright. Come and sit. The children are still in their room changing. They'll be here soon. You're older brother on the other hand is still in the study. He'll be downstairs soon as well."
Ric nodded and sat down at the end of the couch. A maid gave him a glass of cold apple juice. "Thanks."
"Edward is here with us."
"Wow, I never knew that the guy was back here as well."
"He's in the kitchen messing up with people there." Veronica frowned in exasperation,
"Wait, since you're here, I'll call him so that you guys could talk while the children aren't here yet."
"It's okay, Senior. I better call him myself."
Ric then excused himself to the Sy Madam and to Veronica. "Alright."
After Ric was gone to the kitchen, Rawlf went downstairs.
"Ric arrived early?" Rawlf asked while on the last steps of the staircase carrying the twins in both arms.
"Yeah, he went to get Edward out of the kitchen", Veronica sighs.
"Young boys as always. Naughty and full of energy. Just let them be." The Sy Madam said.
"Oh my lovely grandchildren!" The Sy Madam exclaimed as she looked at the powdery and fresh look of the twins.
"Put me down daddeh", Rawlf put the twins down. While Baelfire walked to sit like an obedient child beside his mother, Baelfair on the other hand walked at the center of the living room.
"Grammah, Mammeh, Daddeh, look look, my skirt is pweety (pretty)!"
The little girl then turned left to right to show off the plaid in her pink, pastel skirt. Indeed, she is such a lovely girl that the two women, Veronica and the Sy Madam ``aww" in unison. While Rawlf held a proud smile on his lips. He was about to scoop his adorable daughter in his embrace when in a flash, someone outdid him.
"Such kawaii!" Ric exclaimed as he danced around, this confused Baelfair in his embrace. Rawlf's mouth twitched while the two women laugh loudly over Ric's antics.
"Hey dude, stop doing that. Fair might throw up." It was Edward who was leaning on the kitchen's entrance. His arms crossed in his chest. Indeed, their niece is very adorable but he has seen how scheming his niece is that he's quite a bit resistant.
'Ric on the other hand is a newbie so it's still understandable.' Edward thought.
Contrary to Edward's words, the little girl giggled while Ric danced her around in his embrace. On the other hand, the father sulked beside Veronica as if he suffered from a grievance.
'He was already like this while Baelfair is still a little girl and he only competes with the little girl's uncles. How much more if he is going to deal with their daughter's suitors?' Veronica thought as he pinched the man's arms.
A bottle of vinegar already spilled against the uncles. What more will spill against the future suitors? Veronica shivered.
Meanwhile, Baelfire was silently watching the play from a corner, analyzing his position in the family against his twin sister. The little boy 'hmm' in silence.
This is the sight that caught the Sy Madame's attention so she called him. "Baelfire, come sit beside grandma."
The little boy obeyed and the Sy Madam put him in her lap.
"Do you feel bad when sometimes your dad, your grandpas and even your uncles pay too much attention to your little sister?"
The little boy shook his head, stating a wordless 'no'.
"Girls, especially like mom, grandmas and Baelfair should be treasured. Boys need to be strong for the girls in the family. Don't worry grandmah, Fire understands."
"Oh, our Fire is the kindest and smartest!"
The Sy Madam then kissed the young boy on both cheeks. Baelfire acted like it was nothing but his ears turned red from a little shyness.