“......”
“Khal? Why are you like that? What’s wrong?”
Rubian tilted her head.
“Hey, you okay?”
She ran up and waved her palm in front of the boy’s eyes.
Khalid had been frozen for so long, he looked like he might turn to stone.
When Rubian shook his shoulders hard, his gray-blue eyes barely moved, tracing her face.
“Ah.”
When Rubian’s reflection appeared in his eyes, she finally realized why he was frozen.
‘See? I knew I looked weird! He totally froze!’
Her lips pressed tight, she stepped back. Her cheeks puffed slightly.
“...You can laugh.”
“...What about crying?”
“Huh? Why cry?”
“I don’t know. I just feel like crying...”
Khalid buried his face in both hands. Rubian’s eyes went wide—it was the first ti she’d ever heard soone say that.
“What! Who bullied you? Tell who!”
“You... I think it’s you.”
“Huh?”
“Looking at you... it feels like my heart is being squeezed so hard...”
Before he could finish, Khalid clutched his chest and collapsed.
“Khal!”
Rubian panicked and dropped down beside him.
“...Am I still breathing?”
“Yes! You’re breathing just fine, okay? Just don’t lose your grip on reality!”
“Impossible...”
“Mom! My friend broke!”
Finally, a cry for help.
When Rubian turned around, Rosetta, who had been holding back laughter, cleared her throat.
“Ahem. Worse than I thought.”
She stepped closer. Khalid lifted trembling eyes, and Rosetta whispered teasingly in his ear:
“Rubian is unbelievably adorable, right, Khal?”
Khal’s face flushed all the way to the top of his head.
“Lo... love.”
Fatal dose. Complete knockdown.
“Khaaal! Did you just say ‘love’ or ‘dead’? You said ‘dead,’ didn’t you?”
Khalid hung his head, lifeless. Rubian waved her arms around, circling him like a frantic colt.
“My friend’s dying! What do I dooo?!”
Bang! The door burst open.
“You’re late. Why aren’t you all coming down—”
Leviathan and the rest of the dark-haired n of the house crowded in.
Rubian spun around at once.
“Dad! Grandpa! Brothers! My friend’s not moving!”
“Rubian, you—”
“......”
“......”
“What! Again! Why!”
“Ah, my heart...”
Maybe it was from that mont on...
The Zebret household began complaining of mysterious heart pain.
Ipsun Church was just as grand and vast as the capital’s great cathedral. Every large and small northern event took place there.
This morning, colorful carriages lined up in front. They belonged to nobles from all over the Empire.
The great hall was packed.
And everyone’s focus was the sa:
“They say the Zebret dukedom will attend today’s Verdant Festival prayer service?”
A noblewoman whispered behind her fan.
The entire front row was empty—reserved for them. Many had co all the way north just to see who would sit there.
“It’s been years...”
A nobleman stroked his mustache.
“They say even the old duke will be there.”
“Truly? What could this an?”
“I hear... they adopted a new child.”
Curiosity rippled.
“Really?”
“Yes. Rumor says she’s from the south, but her bloodline is uncertain.”
Gasps and murmurs spread.
“Maybe the dukedom wants to show generosity? But isn’t that too reckless?”
“Exactly. At least Liam and Void still have so branch family blood. What does this girl even have?”
Whispers grew louder.
From the second row, a marquess’s wife, eyes closed until then, smiled gently and turned.
“Everyone, it’s unseemly to gossip in the sanctuary.”
“Oh, sorry, Lady Averich...”
She gave a charming smile, then added as if suddenly rembering:
“But what I’ve heard about that child is—”
Her ornate fan hid her lips.
“—she’s very small and fragile. I wonder if she can even survive in that harsh dukedom.”
Nods of [N O V E L I G H T] agreent spread.
The north was brutal. Surviving there was no easy feat, let alone under that old duke and that duke.
“I only pray... that the duke won’t be utterly embarrassed today.”
The marquess’s wife clasped her hands with feigned grace.
At best, the child might have adapted a little to the north. But surely she knew nothing of noble society.
‘If she doesn’t burst into tears under all this attention, it’ll be a miracle.’
Oh, goddess above, watch over her.
Her red lips curled upward.
At that mont, a commotion stirred at the church entrance.
Monts later, the doorman shouted at the top of his lungs:
“The Duke of Zebret is entering!”
Heads whipped around. The heavy church doors opened slowly.
“......”
Fresh air swept in.
Backlit by sunlight, the duke appeared like a towering shadow.
Step. Step.
Neither hurried nor slow, his stride echoed on the marble floor. Under the chandeliers, his form ca into view—
“......”
“Is that...”
The duke carried what looked like a soft, white doll.
But no—
“Gasp, there are so many people! Did we co late?”
It was a small child.
She hesitated, then tucked shyly into his arm. When he shook it playfully, she glared and clung tighter.
“Let down.”
“No. Not if you keep hiding.”
“But... are there always this many people?”
“I wouldn’t know. It’s been too long.”
His curt reply softened with each word. The longer he spoke to her, the gentler his sharp gaze beca.
Who was this?
Everyone thought the sa thing:
‘What’s with the duke’s kind expression?’
“You can’t just pick and choose what you want to do.”
“And you can’t keep leaving your veggies, either. You did it again this morning.”
“I’m a kid, so it’s fine.”
“No, because you’re a kid, it’s not fine.”
“Ugh! You’re teasing again!”
Their voices carried softly across the vast hall.
The duke poked her cheek sternly.
“Didn’t I tell you not to say ‘ugh’ to your father?”
“Eek.”
“That one’s cute, so it’s fine.”
His face broke into a proud smile.
Everyone was stunned.
Walking together to the front, they looked the perfect father and daughter.
‘But... why is the girl covering her face?’
The pale blue cloth over her nose and mouth only added mystery, drawing more eyes. Was it political? A deliberate move to spark curiosity?
Boom!
Half the church door blew off its hinges. All thoughts vanished.
“My, Father. Your punch has grown stronger.”
“This is nothing.”
Balrok strode in, hair gray but body vigorous, looking stronger than before his injuries.
“What are you staring at? Never seen a door break?”
And that terrible temper, unchanged.
“Oops. Scared you, did I, Mr. Doorman?”
The duchess set the door neatly back in place, smiling sweetly. The poor doorman just blinked.
“Oh, you’re thanking for helping? Don’t ntion it.”
Her honeyed tone hid barbs as she glided forward.
“Little one! Grandpa’s here! The carriage was so slow I almost puked! Now, co to Grandpa. Didn’t I only braid half my beard last ti?”
Balrok rushed forward, hand outstretched for Rubian. Leviathan instantly whisked her aside.
But that wasn’t the end.
“Ruby! Why haven’t you read my diary? I gave you the key!”
The second prince barged in, impeccably dressed.
“And youngest fairy, in my monster codex, there are no locks. Like the gods, it’s always open to you...”
The first prince entered too, equally dressed up.
“Whoa, Liam. That was cool.”
“I know. I think it’s called a disease of so kind...”
“Feels like sothing’s missing in the middle, though.”
The people gave up trying to understand.
The once-solemn church turned chaotic with noise.
Was it the dukedom’s overwhelming power, or just their sheer loudness? Confusion spread.
“Everyone...”
A small voice slipped through.
It was the family’s youngest son, still hiding his face in his hands from earlier.
Shaking all over, he finally shouted:
“This is a public place! Be quiet, please! Hyaaah!”
Silence.
As if by magic, the noise stopped at once.
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