🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 78
Dania woke up.
Rani cried her eyes out once again, but at least life returned to normal.
The very first thing Taibern did in the morning was send Sornia back to Ites.
Sornia, of course, left with a delighted expression—as if she had not the slightest attachment to Katieron.
Taibern gazed at her retreating figure with a faint sense of futility.
He couldn’t help but worry what those children would see and how they would grow up in Ites.
But it was no longer something that concerned him.
The next thing Taibern did was visit Herden. When he was summoned, Herden came out to the office looking worn out.
“What is this task you absolutely need me to do?”
“Tsk. How long are you going to keep looking like that?”
Herden frowned. He was about to argue back, but the moment he met Taibern’s eyes—harsh words paired with genuine concern—he shut his mouth.
It struck Taibern anew that he was also a father.
“…I’ll be fine soon enough.”
“Make sure you take your medicine. You look like death warmed over—like a corpse getting up to ask for a friendship.”
“Yes, I will. Then, Father, please tell me what you need.”
Herden made it clear he wasn’t in the mood for more nagging. Taibern clicked his tongue and finally spoke.
“Get divorced.”
At those words, Herden lifted his head. In noble families, divorce was rare. Even the temple seldom recognized it.
So even if he couldn’t divorce, he had resolved never again to see Kiera or the children.
But if Taibern himself intervened, things would be different. Even the temple could not disregard the Hero of the Empire and a Sword Master.
Until now, Taibern had told him not to divorce for the children’s sake. But he had changed.
“…What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
“I just realized all the things I’d been clinging to were meaningless. Sornia and Karte—through and through, they were children of Ites’ blood.”
Taibern let out a cold laugh.
“Since I can’t see any hope, the only choice is to cut them off at the root. If I or you were absent again, they could bring harm to Katieron once more.”
“You’ve thought well.”
Herden answered with a face entirely devoid of regret.
“I’ll divorce her.”
It was something he had been waiting for all along. Looking at his son’s desolate face, Taibern sighed.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Father, what do you have to be sorry for?”
“For using the excuse of protecting the Empire and failing to protect you.”
Saying something so sentimental felt awkward for Taibern.
“I failed to protect Amy.”
Herden’s eyes shook violently. It was the last thing he had expected his father to say.
“Looking back on that time, I realize I even thought you were incompetent for not protecting your wife.”
“…It was the truth.”
“No, it wasn’t. You’re my son, and I had the duty to protect you too. Foolishly, I completely forgot that.”
Through recent events, Taibern had learned a bitter lesson—that not everyone was like him, and that some people needed protection.
Back then, Herden hadn’t only been exposed to Kiera and Ites, but also to his own mother’s violence.
The fact that he hadn’t restrained his wife but let it happen was also Taibern’s responsibility—something he was only now realizing.
And he’d also learned from Rani that being a Sword Master was not the sole measure of strength.
Though Rani wasn’t a Sword Master, she was a strong child.
Herden, too, may have had other strengths Taibern had never recognized. A realization that came far too late.
The truth was, Taibern had never expected Karte to become a Sword Master. He had known early on the boy lacked the talent. What he had hoped for was that Karte, with all his ambition, would learn diligence, persistence, and patience.
But he had failed there too.
And so, before more regrets piled up, he wanted to apologize to Herden.
“I did not protect you.”
“Father…”
“And I never tried to see you for who you are. For that as well, I am sorry. Truly.”
Herden bit down hard on his lip. For the first time, he was truly facing the father who had denied and ignored him his entire life.
He could feel the knot of resentment in his heart finally melting away.
Bowing his head, Herden whispered:
“Thank you, Father.”
His voice was rough and choked. Taibern smiled bitterly.
Through all that chaos, Taibern had realized one more thing:
If he wanted to protect Rani, he had to act quickly.
He called Rani and Hilden together.
“Rani. Do you remember how I once promised to give you a great reward for helping prepare the banquet?”
“Yes. I was curious what it was.”
Rani, who had regained her cheer after Dania’s recovery, beamed brightly.
“Hilden. Are you ready?”
Hilden nodded, though looking a little sulky.
“Rani. I want to give you a new identity.”
Rani’s eyes widened. An identity? She hadn’t even imagined such a thing.
Taibern continued seriously.
“A title may sound silly, but it will serve as a strong shield for you. Villains like Ites can mistreat a maid, but they wouldn’t dare touch a noble’s daughter.”
“Uh, I’m fine as I am…”
Rani bit her lip. She was already planning to leave once the contamination spread through the east.
The system window might try to keep her here, but she had learned something through this ordeal:
Even the system could be defied in the end.
Leaving before her feelings for Hider grew deeper seemed best.
“No, it is not fine at all. You must think of what could happen if I am absent. Your ability is far too dangerous. More people like Ites will surely come. That is why Hilden will adopt you.”
Rani turned to look at Hilden, who was watching her with an awkward expression.
“Hilden is commander of the Katieron Knights. He was granted a countship for his service.”
Hilden grimaced.
No matter how many times he heard it, it still felt strange. He had never wanted to become a noble.
But Taibern had persuaded him it would be useful to have a proper title to keep the arrogant noble-born knights in line.
He hadn’t expected Taibern to make use of it like this.
“He even has a fief, though he leaves it to a steward for now.”
“You should at least give me time to visit my lands before making these decisions.”
“In any case, he’s a count, Rani.”
Rani blinked.
“Well? Do you like your new father?”
At Taibern’s teasing, Hilden let out a sigh.
Rani thought it over.
The truth was, nothing Taibern had said was wrong. Status would indeed become her first shield when danger struck.
And she had also learned something important: her special powers did not mean she could always protect her friends.
It was better for her to be in a position of greater strength.
Whenever Taibern had come up with this plan, he must have known it would be the best possible gift for her.
And he had carefully chosen Sir Hilden for the role.
“Alright. I’ll be in your care from now on, Sir Hilden!”
Hilden nodded awkwardly.
“Yes… I’ll be in your care too.”
At over forty, he suddenly had a daughter for the first time. He had long thought he would never have a family in this life, and now here one was, dropped into his lap like a pumpkin.
It felt strange now, but soon he would get used to it. Rani and Hilden shook hands.
“Don’t worry about the paperwork, Hilden. I’ll handle everything.”
He had never once worried about such things anyway. Watching Taibern beam with satisfaction, Hilden only shook his head.
He thought to himself: no one can ever stop Taibern.
