The morning light filtered through the large office window, casting a golden glow over the polished wooden desk where I sat. Alys sat across from , her hands resting uneasily in her lap, while Kai perched beside , his blue eyes gleaming with curiosity. Nox, comfortably nestled on my shoulder, let out a soft chitter as if sensing the tension in the air.
Alys looked different now—clean, well-dressed, and free of the gri that had once coated her skin. Her golden hair, now washed and neatly combed, cascaded down her back in waves, a stark contrast to the frail, malnourished fra hidden beneath the elegant yet simple dress she wore. The bruises, cuts, and scars that once marred her skin had vanished after last night’s healing, but the weight of her past still lingered in her hesitant posture.
"I’ll be off with this Big Sister and Lyall for a while," I inford Kai, breaking the quiet.
Kai’s sharp gaze lifted to , his expression unreadable for a mont before he asked, almost too quickly, "Where?"
I smiled. "To Fairisles Mansion."
His eyes flickered with recognition, a glimr of understanding settling in. "Are you going to that Grandfather’s house?" he asked, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and caution.
I nodded. "Yes. Do you want to co along? There’s a nice Aunt there who would give you sweets."
At the ntion of sweets, his face instantly brightened, the shadow of wariness vanishing as excitent took over. "All right!" he agreed, a rare mont of childlike enthusiasm slipping through.
I turned my gaze to Alys, who still seed unsure, though the stiffness in her shoulders had eased ever so slightly. I could tell she was still apprehensive about everything happening around her, but at least she no longer flinched at my words.
I stood up, prompting the others to follow. Kai slipped his small hand into mine without hesitation, and to my surprise, he reached for Alys’s hand as well. She blinked at him in surprise before hesitantly allowing him to hold onto her. On her other side, Lyall extended his hand, and after a mont’s hesitation, she took it.
With my free hand, I plucked the teleportation device from my pocket, feeling the familiar pulse of mana within the stone. Before activating it, I cast a glance at Alys.
"Miss Alys," I said, and she looked up at , her red eyes wide.
"Yes?"
"The person we’re about to et might look scary, but don’t worry—he’s on our side."
Her grip on Kai’s and Lyall’s hands tightened. "Scary?" she echoed, eyes flickering with unease.
I gave her a reassuring smile before pouring my mana into the teleportation stone. A soft hum filled the air as the magic activated, and the ground beneath our feet was engulfed in a brilliant blue light.
Kai let out a small yelp, and Alys gasped as the world blurred around us. Nox, securely nestled in the fabric of my vest, clung on tightly as the teleportation pulled us through space.
Then, with a sudden shift, we landed.
Kai stumbled, but I steadied him quickly. Alys, however, wasn’t as lucky. She landed with a light thud, falling straight onto the polished marble floor.
In front of us stood Grandfather and Lady Elise, both waiting with poised expressions.
Alys slowly lifted her head, her face turning crimson with embarrassnt as she realized she had fallen in front of them.
"Ah..."
Lyall imdiately bent down, offering her a hand. "Apologies, Miss Alys. I should have held onto you more securely."
Flustered, Alys quickly took his hand and scrambled to her feet, avoiding everyone’s eyes as if that would make the situation disappear.
Grandfather, his silver hair neatly combed back, observed us with a calm, unreadable gaze. His sharp, wise eyes flickered from to Kai, then to Alys, assessing her with quiet scrutiny.
Beside him, Lady Elise was staring at Alys—not with re curiosity, but with sothing deeper. There was recognition in her eyes, a sense of familiarity that made the air between them heavy with unspoken emotions.
I decided to break the silence.
"Should we sit and talk?" I prompted, gesturing towards the parlor.
At my words, the tension broke slightly, and Grandfather gave a nod.
We moved into the parlor, a spacious room adorned with high ceilings and intricate golden chandeliers. The rich scent of aged books and freshly brewed tea filled the space, adding a sense of warmth to the otherwise formal atmosphere.
Alys sat stiffly beside , her fingers curled into her lap as she absorbed the weight of her new reality. Across from us, Grandfather’s expression was unreadable, but the slight clench of his jaw betrayed his thoughts.
Beside him, Lady Elise remained frozen, her posture rigid, though her hands, folded neatly in her lap, betrayed the slightest tremor. I could see it—the mont of realization settling into her gaze as she looked at Alys.
Nox, ever the observant one, curled up comfortably on my shoulder, his tiny body rising and falling with each steady breath.
As we settled in, Lyall stood behind us as always, his presence a silent but reassuring one.
"This is Lady Alys, daughter of the late Prince Soros," I said, gesturing toward the girl beside .
A sharp silence followed my words. Grandfather exhaled through his nose, his fingers tightening ever so slightly on the armrest of the couch he was sitting on, while Lady Elise’s entire body grew still.
"I wasn’t planning on bringing her here imdiately," I continued, my voice steady, "but considering her circumstances, she has assassins on her trail now that the Golden Serpent knows of her existence."
Grandfather’s gaze darkened at the ntion of the Golden Serpent. He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. "Do you want her to stay here?"
I shook my head. "That is her decision. My place is just as safe as this one, but since Lady Elise is here, I thought it best to introduce them." My eyes flickered toward Lady Elise, who still had not spoken a word. "She is family, after all. She is His Highness’s cousin."
Lady Elise’s hesitation was evident, and I understood why. Alys was the daughter of Prince Soros so, she was naturally a legitimate heiress to the throne. If word got out that she was alive, it would undoubtedly shift the power struggle.
I looked at Kai and gestured for him to step forward. He swallowed hard, his small hands tightening at his sides before he took a hesitant step toward Grandfather and Lady Elise.
"I-I’m Kai Nereus Ryujin of the Ryujin household," he introduced himself, his voice quiet but firm.
Lady Elise’s eyes widened in recognition, and she let out a soft gasp. "Oh, my! So, it’s you!" She clapped her hands together, her expression shifting into one of delight.
Kai straightened under her gaze, his back stiff with nervousness.
"Marquis Fairisles has spoken of you," she said warmly. "You really are quite adorable."
I could feel the tension radiating from Alys beside , her posture growing even more tense.
I cleared my throat, standing up. Both Alys and Kai turned to with pleading eyes, their silent gazes asking not to leave them alone. I smiled, resting my hands on both of their heads before turning to Lady Elise.
"Lady Elise, a word."
She hesitated but eventually nodded, standing up to follow toward the far end of the room.
Even with the short distance between us, I could still hear Grandfather, Alys, and Kai talking, but I knew they wouldn’t be able to hear us.
Lady Elise was the first to speak. "I understand that you want us to act like a family, Master," she said, her voice laced with careful restraint.
I turned to her fully. "If you trust my word, then believe when I say she will not hinder Prince Eric’s ascension."
Lady Elise’s lips pressed into a firm line, her eyes flickering toward Alys.
"Accepting soone else’s child is difficult," I continued, my tone softer, "but that girl has spent fifteen years without a parental figure. I assu you know she deserves so comfort."
Lady Elise’s expression remained guarded.
I sighed. "If you cannot accept her, then I will take her back. You will never have to see her."
Her gaze flickered back to Alys, who was quietly answering Grandfather’s question about whether she could read or write.
"I... might harbor so doubt about her intentions," Lady Elise admitted.
"As of now, she only wants to survive," I clarified.
Her eyes snapped back to mine. "What if she grows greedy for the throne?"
I smiled faintly. "Lady Elise, I told you from the beginning—I will make your son the King. You chose to place your trust in . If you doubt that now—"
She inhaled sharply, raising her hands as if to stop . "It’s not that I don’t trust you, Master. I have full faith in you. It’s just..."
"Settle your worries, Lady Elise," I reassured her. "I have already decided who will take the throne. That will not change."
She studied for a long mont before finally nodding. "I will do as you say."
When we returned, Kai was happily nibbling on a cookie, his feet swinging under the couch while Grandfather watched over him with an unreadable expression.
Alys, however, had drawn closer to , as if instinctively seeking my protection. Lady Elise, now visibly more relaxed, reached forward and gently pushed the tray of sweets toward her.
"Why don’t you eat sothing, Miss Alys? You look quite frail."
Alys flinched slightly at the unexpected gesture and turned to for guidance. I nodded encouragingly.
Hesitantly, she picked up a cookie and took a small bite. Her eyes widened instantly, and before she realized it, she was nibbling at it faster, savoring the taste.
Lady Elise watched her with an expression that was not quite fondness but sothing close to it—a hesitant tenderness.
I glanced at Kai, who now sat comfortably beside Grandfather, looking completely at ease.
Grandfather set his teacup down. "Should we start talking now?"
I glanced at the others before turning my gaze to Alys and Kai.
"Kai, Lady Alys."
They both turned to mid-chew, blinking.
"I need to talk to Marquis Fairisles about sothing important. Will you be all right speaking with Lady Elise until then?"
Alys stiffened, her pale face betraying her unease. Kai, however, looked at Grandfather, then at Lyall, as if assessing the situation.
"Will you be back soon?" Kai asked.
I smiled. "Yes. In the anti, don’t trouble Lady Elise and don’t eat too many sweets. Understood?"
He nodded, grinning.
I turned to Alys. She must have sensed the hostility in Lady Elise’s gaze earlier, making her wary.
"Would you like to co along?" I asked.
Her pleading gaze told everything before she even nodded.
"All right. Co along."
I plucked Nox from my shoulder, placing the little creature in Kai’s hands. "Take care of him. Don’t feed him anything solid."
Kai grinned wider, cradling Nox carefully.
With that, Grandfather, Alys, and I left the parlor, making our way toward his office.
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