The Million-Dollar Heart

After the photo shoot, Vivienne was left speechless.

Out of the dozen people, she and her mentor, Dawson, stuck out like sore thumbs.

And of course, they had been placed right in the middle.

Like two overly festive "clowns" in a sea of subtlety.

The rest of the group, however, lit up at the sight of the photo, eagerly asking for copies.

Dawson, ever the eccentric, and Vivienne, not much for frivolities, made this gathering a first for their group, Emerald Mountain. This photo was, in a way, their "family portrait." Dawson glanced at the photo now set as his screensaver, nodding in approval, "Leopold, well done, lad. Much appreciated!"

"I'll have to get this printed and hung by my bed. Leopold, you've outdone yourself this time."

Leopold beamed with pride.

Seeing the leftover tear streaks on Leopold's face from the ceremony, Griffin's heart softened. She passed him a tissue under the table, "Here, wipe it off before the others start teasing." Finnian, overhearing, let out a hearty laugh, "Oh, come on, we all know Leopold's strengths. Nothing we haven't seen before."

Leopold's cheeks flushed, "Master, could you not bring up my past blunders today, especially not in front of Griffin!"

Finnian laughed even harder, "Alright, alright."

A student grows, and pride must be preserved.

But as a mentor, Finnian felt certain responsibilities, especially with Leopold being the first among them to get married. He had to share some wisdom.

"Leopold's partner..."

Griffin straightened up, ready to listen, "Yes, Master?"

most guileless-naive, to put it bluntly. If he ever gives you trouble, don't hold back. A good scolding or

agreement, solidifying her

mentors joined in

just reach out. If Leopold

home. If Leopold ever slacks

for assigning him

for the first time, understanding why Leopold was the way he was. Percival, going a step further while serving Vivienne some food, casually

much

was just a wedding, not a mission to Fariana

him wonder if they remembered he was the vulnerable one in

new use for the tissues,

the table, she said, "Thank you, Master, Vivienne, and all my brothers-in-law. You might have heard of me; I'm straightforward. I genuinely love Leopold, and chasing him for

her glass of

stop her in time, shocked at her

spirits, not something one should

table, except for Vivienne and

glares

him for twenty years and was so

soon too drunk to hold his

be, knowing he was surrounded by loved ones, a happiness worth savoring. The others, seeing Leopold's state, eased off, focusing on their own drinks and conversations. Percival, ever attentive to Vivienne, sampled

nodded, offering him some of her

the food directly from her hand, sharing

eventually called away, leaving Leopold regretting not

a testament to the strong bonds formed within this