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Chapter 05
[After disappearing for more than ten years, suddenly applying for exile. You really are something else. I thought the man I once knew had disappeared long ago after getting involved in political games that don’t suit you.]
“…Hah.”
Si-on let out a dry laugh as he read the letter sent by his old friend through a wind spirit.
To be honest, he himself was aware that he had no shame.
[Your daughter is still in my memory. I can’t forget her. I don’t like getting sentimental, but if she hadn’t been the princess of the Roshan Empire, I would have wanted her as my successor. And now you tell me she has a daughter? I’m looking forward to it.]
“This again.”
Si-on clicked his tongue.
It seemed his friend’s strange taste had started again.
[She’s an awakener, right? Not awakened yet? Or maybe not—thinking about you, that might actually be the case. I hope not though. Anyway, send me her name in your reply. Surely even you can understand this much. Exile request accepted. Hurry up and come.]
As expected.
Si-on sighed in relief and slowly stroked the forehead of the child sleeping in his arms.
“Mm…”
“…You really do resemble Mariette.”
Whenever the child slept, Si-on felt as if he was drifting between the present and a distant past.
Back when only his small, precious daughter remained in his arms after losing his partner.
At night, when darkness fell, grief that he had forced down during the day would come rushing back.
The only place Si-on could find peace was beside his sleeping daughter.
“Mariette…”
Idis was the only remaining bloodline left by the daughter he loved most.
…Father. Even though I am leaving like this…
“I will protect her.”
The dry voice from his memory felt like it was tearing his heart apart.
And yet, at the same time, it was unbearably precious.
That night again, Si-on swore to his dead daughter.
“No matter what happens… I will protect your child.”
His firm whisper echoed alone in the quiet room.
* * *
That night, Si-on Archaith Bastavan fled as planned with his granddaughter.
“Count Haldebart.”
Perion, who had been watching the darkened village after they left, glanced at his subordinate who approached him.
“Shall we proceed with the order?”
After a brief hesitation…
“Yes.”
The answer was already decided.
At his permission, the subordinate bowed deeply and disappeared.
BOOM—!
Then came the roar that shattered silence.
Screams filled the air. Buildings collapsed in flames. Despair echoed from those who could not escape.
“…It can’t be helped.”
Perion murmured to himself as he watched the destruction.
Even if the former duke had once been powerful, he was now just an old man—and the child was only a girl.
To ensure Roberic did not notice their escape, something like this had to be done.
He hoped Roberic would believe that even his only blood-related child had died in the fire.
Perion closed his eyes.
His light green hair shimmered strangely under the red glow of the flames.
* * *
“…Huh?”
In the middle of scorched ruins, where everything had turned black, the only figure in white stood frozen.
“…”
“Reporting, Your Grace. A massive fire broke out last night and completely burned down the village. The Bastavan estate was also destroyed. There are no survivors except those who were outside the village. The guards assigned to surveillance were found dead. It is believed to be deliberate arson.”
Perion delivered his report beside Roberic.
“…”
But something was wrong.
“Your Grace?”
No response came.
Before Perion could even react, Roberic started walking.
“Your Grace!”
Perion hurried after him, but Roberic walked without direction.
Where…?
A realization struck Perion, and he bit his lip.
Was he this shocked because he lost the child?
Roberic’s path was clearly leading somewhere.
Toward the house where Si-on Archaith Bastavan had lived.
Roberic walked without caring what expression Perion had behind him.
In his chaotic mind, images of the child he had recently met kept flickering.
His long-lost blood relative.
“Roberic, do not come out! You must survive! Promise me you will do nothing reckless!”
“Father! Father!!”
His father, lost to the mad emperor’s cruel hands.
His mother, who died in an unexplained accident while rushing back to the Grand Duchy upon hearing the news.
At only ten years old, Roberic lost both parents, leaving a hollow that never filled.
Si-on and Mariette had become his family—but they were not blood.
After choosing Shastia over Mariette, there was one thing Roberic came to regret.
Shastia could no longer bear children.
By choosing Shastia, he had given up the chance to have blood-related children forever.
Still, he told himself it was fine.
He loved Shastia, and he cherished Alea, who had become his child even without shared blood.
But when he met his real blood-related child…
The joy and overwhelming affection he felt were beyond anything he had ever felt for Alea or Shastia.
In that short moment, Roberic had already come to love Idis.
But the small child only kept pushing him away.
Refusing him coldly while clinging to memories of a woman who no longer existed in her memory.
“Still…”
I haven’t done anything for her yet.
As a father… as family…
I haven’t done a single thing I dreamed of.
“Are you leaving me like this?”
The small house he had visited just a week ago, full of hope and excitement, was now nothing but ashes.
Blood dripped from Roberic’s clenched hand.
Trees untouched by the flames screamed in the wind.
“Your Grace!”
Perion’s voice echoed from afar, but Roberic didn’t care.
A violent storm of wind surrounded him, as if warning anyone approaching would be cut apart.
[…Roberic…]
[There’s only us left now. Rely on us.]
[Let’s destroy everything. Make it as if it never existed!]
Countless spirit voices clouded his mind.
“No, Your Grace!”
Perion shouted in shock, but Roberic no longer responded.
And then—
[Snap out of it.]
Unlike the chaotic voices of malice, a clear and composed voice pierced through.
“…Aerial?”
Roberic whispered the name like waking from a nightmare.
WHOOSH—!
Wind gathered violently in response, forming a massive sphere that exploded outward.
When the storm finally calmed, Roberic slowly opened his eyes.
[Long time no see.]
The owner of the voice smiled faintly.
A slender young man floated in the air, long sky-colored hair braided and adorned with golden ornaments.
Feather earrings swayed gently like wings.
His sharp eyes matched the color of his hair—bright sky-blue.
The Wind Spirit King, Aerial.
“…Why are you here…”
Roberic held his aching head.
Then he suddenly looked around.
He had lost control and hadn’t noticed.
The house where Idis had lived was already gone—reduced to scattered ash.
“No… no!”
How could he lose control like that!
Roberic clenched his teeth, staring at the ruins.
“If there are no remains…”
[Disappointing, Roberic.]
The voice of the Spirit King who had once granted him blessing echoed in his mind.
“No, Illypia!”
Roberic screamed like a madman.
“Aerial, help me! I need to find my child’s remains!”
If he used the power of the Spirit of Life, he could bring Idis back.
If Aerial would only help him find her remains, he could summon Illypia and revive her.
Of course, the Spirit King who had already abandoned him would never answer.
But Roberic was no longer rational enough to think that far.
[Pathetic. I can’t watch this anymore.]
At that mocking voice, Roberic froze.
He slowly looked up.
And then he saw it.
Aerial, as if mocking him.
“…Aerial?”
And then—
[Your daughter is not dead.]
“…What?”
Roberic murmured, unable to understand.
Aerial leaned forward and said, delivering the final blow.
[She escaped before it happened. Together with her maternal grandfather.]
