After returning to the Duke’s residence, Sikar Blake ordered Durion to recruit more soldiers.

He also told Vika Lamberst that he did not need to perform spirit play for the time being.

Kian Blake’s spirit play could wait until after he had left—it would not be too late.

Sikar thought it more urgent to restore the daily routine of Yura Blake and Kian, who had become gloomy, before his departure.

Ever since returning from the snowy mountains, Yura and Kian had spent entire days sighing or slumping their shoulders.

Thus, Sikar instructed Andrea to ensure the maids thoroughly learned how to prepare the milk tea Yura enjoyed drinking.

He threatened Vika that if he did not obey Yura’s words, he would never break their sacred oath.

Though he reinforced the private guards to strengthen the mansion’s security and tried to spend harmonious time with his family before departure, he could not yet completely dispel the heavy atmosphere.

Eventually, to refresh the spirits of the mother and son, Sikar sent a letter to Reidox two days before departure, and the next day, Reidox arrived promptly at the Duke’s residence with the twins.

Just as Sikar had anticipated, the twins’ sudden intrusion into the house greatly improved yesterday’s gloomy mood.

Yura, feeling grateful to Sikar for doing something she had not even thought of herself, warmly welcomed Reidox for visiting the Duke’s residence.

“Welcome, Marquis. It feels like it’s been a long time since we last met.”

“It has indeed been a long time, Duchess.”

Sikar, still standing with arms crossed, looked at Reidox and said,

“Welco—”

He meant to say “—me,” but his next words were drowned out by the twins, so no one heard them.

“Wow! Hello, Duchess! I heard you also saw the Death Knight?! Is it true that Kian covered your eyes because you were so scared?”

“Luid! What are you doing, acting so uncouth!”

Lucy pulled Luid by the scruff of his neck to stop him, but Luid felt a deep sense of kinship—not only was he, a child, frightened by the Death Knight, but even the adult Duchess had been startled too.

Thus, Lucy’s words did not register in his ears. Luid simply felt delighted that the Duchess shared his fear.

After all, if even adults were scared, then his own fright as a child wouldn’t seem strange.

Luid waited expectantly for Yura’s reply, and Yura did not disappoint him.

“Yes. I was terribly scared back then.”

“Wow! Right, right! You saw it too, didn’t you, Kian? Even adults find that scary!”

Kian glanced once at Luid as if to say, “What of it?” but offered no reply, instead turning politely to Reidox and bowing.

“Welcome, Master. It’s been a long time.”

“Yes, indeed. You seem even more composed since I last saw you, Kian.”

Kian smiled bashfully, while Luid turned his head away with a sullen expression.

Sikar briefly considered kicking the twins out immediately, thinking they were utterly chaotic, but seeing Yura and Kian smiling brightly—unlike yesterday—he felt calling Reidox had been a very good decision.

Still, if he continued spending time with these unruly twins, he might truly end up expelling them.

So he summoned Vika, sent Kian and the twins up to the playroom, and then the three adults had tea time.

“Phew. Now I feel like I can breathe again.”

“It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when you’re with children.”

Sikar shot Reidox a sidelong glare as if his words were utterly nonsensical.

“Children from noble families, already seven years old, behaving so wildly—that’s clearly their parents’ fault.”

Reidox seemed completely unaffected by Sikar’s comment. After appearing to ponder for a moment, he turned to Yura and said,

“Excuse me, Duchess, I have a question I’m curious about.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Might I know where your hometown is?”

‘Jeremi Iker asked the same thing—why do they keep asking about my hometown?’

Of course, curiosity was understandable, but Yura could not fathom why they kept inquiring about her origins.

She even wondered if they knew something, but there was no way they could know she came from an entirely different world.

Fortunately, before Yura could respond, Sikar scolded Reidox.

“How dare you, of all people, question the origins of my wife? Both you and Jeremi are crossing the line with your questions.”

Though Sikar replied with clear displeasure, Reidox calmly responded,

“To question her origins? That’s an absurd remark. I merely asked out of curiosity regarding the Duchess’s hometown. Had I thought it impolite, I wouldn’t have asked. My apologies.”

“Good that you recognize it was impolite. By the way, my dear, I have matters to discuss with the Marquis—would you kindly excuse us?”

Yura whispered to Sikar, urging him not to make a mistake with Reidox, then stepped away.

Once Yura had left, Sikar spoke bluntly to Reidox.

“I have found the chancellor who served the deposed king.”

Reidox showed a hint of surprise, but soon nodded as if he understood.

“I see.”

“Therefore, I must leave the Duke’s residence for a while, and I am entrusting Kian and my wife to you.”

The Marquis answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“I will serve them to the best of my ability.”

“I trust you will. I’m counting on you—to protect Kian, who shall one day be sovereign of this kingdom, and my wife.”

Reidox could scarcely believe his ears. The Duke, who had never hesitated over anything, who had always viewed everything with disdain—now revealing the vulnerable side of a family man before his wife and child—was unbelievable.

Reidox spoke with utmost sincerity.

“I promise to serve His Highness the Crown Prince and the Duchess as I would my own family.”

Sikar could believe those words. Reidox was, above all others, a profoundly dependable man.

With Vika and Reidox beside Yura and Kian, he felt he could depart with peace of mind.

“I found the body of my late father.”

Luid, who had been teasing Kian for his gloomy face today, was so startled he stopped trying to scribble on Kian’s face and put down his crayon.

Luid fidgeted with his own hands, then extended one toward Kian as if offering a handshake.

“Dad said that when you meet someone you want to be friends with, you should offer your hand. So I’m offering mine. Want to be friends with me? Or not?”

Kian smiled faintly and reached out to take his hand. Then Lucy also extended her hand.

“Who do you want to be friends with? That idiot, or me?”

Since it was a choice between the two, Kian suddenly felt as if standing at a crossroads, deeply conflicted. Then Lucy spoke threateningly.

“Choose wisely.”

‘Yes. I must choose wisely.’

Kian stretched out both hands and took both Lucy’s and Luid’s hands.

Luid grinned contentedly, but Lucy scowled as if dissatisfied.

“No. This is invalid, invalid!”

“But I want to get along well with both of you.”

“Luid is an idiot. You’ll suffer if you befriend someone that dim-witted, you know?”

Kian scratched his cheek, looking unsure.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m always suffering.”

Vika, standing nearby, rubbed his ear as if unable to bear the noise and said,

“If you keep chattering, I’ll report you to the Duke and take you back to the training room.”

At that, the twins clamped their mouths shut. Yura, just then climbing up to the playroom, saw this and smiled brightly.

It felt like the Duke’s residence had regained its liveliness after a very long time.

After Reidox and the twins had all left, Sikar quietly called for Kian.

Since this was the first time Sikar had summoned him to the study, Kian walked in hesitantly, his expression uncertain.

Sikar sat calmly on the sofa, waiting for Kian.

“You’ve come.”

“Yes. But what is it, Duke?”

“I called you because I have a request. Will you grant my request?”

“Let me hear it first.”

Sikar’s tone was markedly different from his usual intimidating manner. It had softened slightly, and though Kian’s tone remained a bit grumpy, it too had grown gentler.

“Kian. I must leave now.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t return too late.”

“Where are you going?”

“I will find the enemy who sought to bring ruin to my house and hold them accountable. One day, when you’ve grown, you’ll understand me.”

‘Enemy…’

Kian clenched his fists tightly.

“No. I understand even now! I too will find those who did that to my father and one day, without fail, hold them accountable!”

“That, I will handle for you.”

Kian looked at Sikar as if asking what he meant.

“Yes?”

Sikar wanted to say, “I will make you king without fail,” but instead, he gently stroked Kian’s head.

“Can you believe in me?”

Kian, staring intently at Sikar, now confirmed that the cold chill had completely vanished from him. A faint crimson glow shimmered around him.

Kian nodded firmly, with conviction.

“Yes. I believe you.”

“Kian. While I am gone, I entrust your mother to you. For that, you must grow up bright and healthy. Can you promise me? Promise to grow up bright and healthy.”

Kian knew what adults meant when they spoke like this—they said such things when leaving for faraway places, when dying, or when departing permanently.

Kian felt anxiety overwhelming him.

“Are you going far away? Or are you leaving us entirely?”

“I will never leave you. I am merely going away for a short while. I won’t die, so don’t worry. Without you, there’s no one to suppress the manifestation of my curse—but since it’s still mild, it’s not yet at a worrying level.”

“Then why do you speak like that—as if you’re leaving very far away…”

“Because it might take a little longer.”

“Longer?”

“Yes. If I leave now, it might take a year, or even two—I can’t be sure. So until then, I entrust your mother to you.”

“I promise. Go safely and return with peace of mind.”

He knew Kian was not the kind of child who would do anything to worry Yura, even without being told.

But since Kian was still young and emotionally tender, there was a chance he might become weak-hearted. Thus, Sikar had firmly impressed upon Kian the duty of looking after Yura.

“Do you remember what I said before—that to protect the family, you must become strong?”

“Yes. I remember, Duke.”

“While I am gone, you must care for this household. Therefore, no matter what happens, you must never become weak-hearted. Only then can you protect your mother. Do you understand?”

“Yes… There will be nothing for you to worry about, Duke.”

“Good. Now I feel I can depart with peace of mind. Go upstairs.”

Kian did not leave immediately—he stood hesitating for a moment, so Sikar looked at him as if asking why.

“Is there more you wish to say?”

“I… thank you.”

“For what?”

“For finding and properly handling my father’s body. Then, I’ll go upstairs now.”

Kian bowed his head bashfully and slipped out of the room. Sikar realized only now that Kian had begun to open his heart, even just a little, to him.

Somehow, he felt tomorrow his feet would not easily find the strength to depart.

The next day, as Sikar set out on campaign, many thoughts filled his mind.

When he had executed the deposed king, he had been filled solely with venomous resolve to punish the traitor once he caught the chancellor. But now, his departing steps felt as heavy as if weighted with boulders.

Yet he could not postpone this task—he must see it through with his own hands.

“I’ll be back.”

Sikar took Yura’s hand as she stood watching him with a wistful expression, and kissed the back of it.

“Don’t go mingling with just anyone while I’m gone. Always take care of yourself, understood?”

“Don’t worry about me—go carefully.”

“Travel safely, Duke.”

Sikar, not wishing to prolong the farewell, gave a faint smile, then mounted his horse without looking back. At his vigorous kick, the horse began galloping swiftly.

Yura and Kian stood watching Sikar ride toward the morning sun.

Yura felt a strange ache in her heart as she touched the ring Sikar had bought for her himself—the very ring that had caused her so much indecision the previous night, wondering whether or not to wear it while seeing him off.

‘He didn’t even notice I’m wearing this ring—what’s so urgent that he rode off without even glancing back?’

Unable to hide her resentment, Yura kept fidgeting with the ring.

Then, Sikar turned his horse and rode back toward her. He smiled brightly at Yura and said,

“Oh, right—you were wondering last night whether to wear that ring or not? You wore it well. It suits you. Don’t take it off until I return.”

Then, he spurred his horse again and rode away.

Yura, feeling her previously aching heart now fluttering with excitement, smiled as she watched Sikar ride toward the sun.

‘Please, return safely.’