🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 150
“Didn’t you say we wouldn’t get caught?”
“Your Highness, liar!”
The twins, caught by Ludwig, immediately blamed Pession.
“Let’s run.”
“One, two, three!”
The twins tried to escape by cutting their losses, but Ludwig’s shadow guard caught them.
“Hmm.”
Seeing the scales embroidered on the twins’ clothes, Ludwig recognized them as Sperom.
‘Sperom crest, white hair, golden eyes… direct line of Sperom?’
The question of why a direct descendant of Sperom would be here remained unanswered. But what truly caught Ludwig’s interest was another presence.
‘Strange.’
Pession, who once spent more than half of his day at Halbern, was immediately wary of the unfamiliar face.
“Who is this uncle, here?”
“Uncle?”
Ludwig’s expression shifted slightly. He had never heard this title before. Not only Arel, but another fearless kid had dared to call him that.
“And who might you be?”
Though he asked the question, Ludwig had already figured out the answer from the Alermann crest and silver hair with red eyes on Pession’s clothing. Only direct descendants could bear the Sperom and Alermann crests.
“I’m Arel’s friend.”
“Oh.”
Ludwig had expected the conversation to revolve around status, but the answer made his eyes flicker with interest.
“A very close friend, huh?”
“That’s right!”
“We’re friends too!”
The Sperom twins tried to interject but went quiet when Ludwig turned toward them.
“This uncle is scary.”
“Yeah…”
Unlike the twins, who seemed to have met a natural enemy and went quiet, Pession boldly asked again.
“Who exactly are you, uncle?”
“Me?”
Ludwig twisted his lips into a small smile.
“I’m Arel’s dad.”
“…?”
“…well, a candidate for being dad.”
He wanted to boldly declare himself as her father, but realized he hadn’t yet earned that right. As Ludwig suppressed his bitter feelings, the twins were left confused.
“…?”
“…??”
Suddenly, dad?
“Ciel, can anyone just decide to be dad?”
“I… don’t really know.”
“If we pay money, can I become Arel’s dad too?”
“Let’s go ask Arel.”
“Buy the dad spot with money! Like this?”
“If we pool our money, maybe it could work?”
Unlike the twins, who had begun dreaming of a new goal, Pession’s expression darkened slightly.
“…something feels off.”
Watching these tiny kids openly challenge and display hostility toward him, fearless as they were, Ludwig suddenly seemed to understand something and smiled.
“Ah, so that’s it.”
These kids clearly cared deeply for their daughter. Ludwig felt an impulse to keep them away but held it back.
Now was the time for restraint. Now was the time to show Arel his best side.
Reconsidering his own low rank in the household, Ludwig gathered all the friendliness he could muster.
“So, you’re Arel’s friend? I’ll take you there.”
“Arel—!”
“Arel!”
I looked up at the voices breaking the peace.
The twins ran toward me immediately upon spotting me. Even after so long, their energy was impressive.
“I missed you!”
“Me too!”
“Okay, okay. I get it, now back off.”
I hadn’t heard anyone mention visitors—why were the twins here?
Curiosity gave way to realization as I slowly looked at Pession, standing beside them.
“Oh, you brought them.”
He looked like he wanted praise for his actions, and it made me feel strangely amused.
Why was this uncle here? With Pession and the twins it made sense, but now the Regent too? What a strange combination.
“Uh… thank… you?”
“Not at all.”
The Regent retreated, satisfied by my bewildered greeting. Had he always been this way? His image had changed drastically since pleading by my side, sobbing, just ten days ago.
‘Did he eat something wrong?’
People say sudden changes in personality can mean death is near.
“Arel, Arel!”
“Uh, yes.”
The twins’ energetic calls brought me back to attention.
“Are you in a lot of pain, Arel?”
“Did you rest properly?”
“Rest?”
“Yes, I heard you went to a city for recovery because you were sick!”
“Oh, that.”
I vaguely remembered Mehen saying they covered it that way so that news of the kidnapping wouldn’t escalate into a bigger international issue.
“Yes, I rested well.”
“Did your health worsen again?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Even though D-day was steadily approaching, I thought it would be okay.
But I wanted to confirm.
[Next question reuse waiting period: 19 days 22 hours]
At this moment.
‘But why is Pession so quiet today?’
It was strange. Usually, he would rush to me, fussing about my health, or confront the twins in warning. Yet today, he remained unusually calm.
“Zion?”
“Arel…”
What was this atmosphere?
“Shy because it’s been so long since we last met?”
“No.”
Pession quietly observed me and shook his head.
“I’m glad you look healthy.”
“….”
I noticed his hand tremble slightly while holding mine—it felt strange. He had always been cheerful, as if he had no worries or problems, but now his expression suggested otherwise.
Something about him had changed without warning. There was an inexplicable shadow over Pession, a subtle distance that hadn’t been there before.
…Must be my imagination.
“I missed you.”
His open expression made me smile without thinking. Yes, it must just be my imagination.
“I did too. I guess I missed you.”
Perhaps he had missed the commotion while alone.
“!”
I wasn’t expecting him to say the same, so when the twins quickly jumped in, I laughed quietly.
“Arel, I missed you too!”
“Me too!”
“Yes, we missed you too.”
“!”
The twins blinked, surprised that I answered so easily, glancing at each other.
“Arel!”
“Areliririn!”
Why did they suddenly call me that? Perhaps they were overwhelmed with emotion. I patted their backs as they rushed toward me.
Next to them, for some reason, Pession was unusually calm and quiet. I met his gaze.
He definitely felt different today.
“Can you come to the music gathering?!”
“I want to play with Arel!”
“Uh, maybe not for a while?”
The twins looked worried.
“Are you really sick?”
“Hmm.”
Before taking the special medicine, it had been unbearable, but now I felt okay. Without the medicine, it might hurt again.
“Maybe. Seems like it hurts.”
“I’ll try harder.”
I tilted my head at Pession’s words. He was the one giving encouragement, yet it was me who was sick.
The twins explained why:
“Your Highness got a special elixir for Arel!”
“Something like an elixir, they said.”
“Elixir?”
I suddenly laughed.
“Why are you laughing?”
Both the twins and Pession looked confused as I laughed freely for the first time in a while.
It was just ridiculous and cute—this clumsy attempt to help. An elixir? There was no way such a thing really existed. Even in the novel, there had been no such item; if it existed, I would have obtained it immediately.
‘Still…’
The effort, done under the pretense of caring for me, was just endearing.
Strange—it used to annoy me, but now it seemed nice.
‘Ah, they say when a person changes, it’s a sign of death.’
Is the end really coming?
“Elixir sounds good. I’ll look forward to it.”
I wiped the tears from my eyes as I spoke. Pession clenched his fists and responded firmly:
“Yes! I’ll get it for you, no matter what!”
“We will too! We’ll help!”
“Arel, we’ll make sure you’re healthy.”
Watching the twins clench their fists with determination, I couldn’t help but smile.
