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Chapter 25
“There are more places like this. If there’s anywhere you want to go, just tell me, Red. There’s nowhere you can’t go.”
Killian was always like this—gentle.
While he showed endless wariness toward others, even when we were young he was always warm toward me.
‘You really grew up well, Nocturne.’
Just then, a splash sounded from the distance.
I turned my head and saw Brown flailing about in the water.
“Brown!”
Startled by how suddenly it happened, I screamed.
“Brown can’t swim at all!”
At that moment, another splash sounded right beside me. Killian had jumped into the water and was swimming toward Brown.
But the distance was too far.
‘Ah!’
Before Killian could reach him, I stretched out both hands. A pillar of water shot up from the lake in an instant.
I gently lifted Brown out of the water with it and carefully set him down on the ground.
Coughing violently, Brown hacked up water. I ran straight to him. Killian grabbed the blanket he had left on the gravel and wrapped it around the soaked, trembling Brown.
“We need to take Brown back to the estate.”
Before I even finished speaking, Killian scooped up the shivering Brown and ran toward the mansion.
After the doctor finished examining him, Brown quickly fell asleep.
I felt someone place a hand on my shoulder. When I looked up, Killian was gazing down at me with an expression that said he had something to say.
“Mari, I need to talk to His Majesty alone. Can you watch over Brown?”
Mari nodded after looking between us. I left the room with Killian.
We went straight outside—to the very lakeside where Brown had fallen in.
When we arrived, I hesitated for a moment, unsure how to begin.
“Uh… so, Killian.”
“Since when?” he interrupted. “Since when have you been able to control water, Red?”
“Three years ago.”
“Who knows about your ability?”
“Only Mari and Brown.”
Killian let out a relieved sigh and pulled me into his arms.
“Thank goodness. Thank goodness I found out first, Red.”
“Why is that a good thing?”
He was holding me tightly, and with my ear pressed to his chest, I could clearly hear his heartbeat.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Killian pulled me slightly away, held my shoulders, and spoke with a grave expression.
“Red, listen carefully. From now on, no one must ever know that you can control water. Especially not the Empress Dowager’s people. If they find out, you’ll be in danger.”
“In danger?”
“I’m not completely sure yet, but for now, don’t let anyone find out.”
“What kind of person is the Empress Dowager?”
Killian replied with firm eyes.
“She’s someone who tried to kill me. And someone who could kill you too.”
Someone dared to try to kill the emperor of the great Oscaldea Empire? And could even kill me?
‘She was incredibly beautiful, though.’
“Remember this, Red. It’s not just the Empress Dowager. You have to be careful of all her people. They’re all in it together.”
Trying to kill the emperor!
‘Is this that palace power struggle people talk about?’
“Killian… is the reason you stopped growing at eight years old because of the Empress Dowager?”
Killian nodded and spoke.
“She placed a magic stone meant to kill me in my room. Nathan secretly swapped it out, so I didn’t die—but the magic stone caused my magic to go out of control, and that’s why I couldn’t grow.”
“So you lived under constant threat in the imperial palace?”
“Yes. That’s what the palace is to me. A place filled with people who want me dead.”
Only then did I truly understand Killian.
‘There was no one in the palace who truly protected him.’
Now I understood why that tiny eight-year-old had clung only to me. Thinking of everything he had endured alone all this time made my chest ache for him.
“You’ve been through so much, Killian.”
Killian took my hand and pressed it to his cheek.
“Red, you’re my only family. If I lose you, I have nowhere for my heart to rest. So stay by my side for the rest of your life. And my side is the safest place. The palace is dangerous. Let me protect you.”
“No. I’ll protect you, Killian. I’m the Empire’s best cleaner, after all.”
The Empress Dowager I had once encountered by chance in the garden was truly beautiful—beautiful enough to steal one’s breath.
‘They say beautiful roses have sharp thorns. To think someone that beautiful tried to kill Killian!’
My maternal instincts surged.
“Killian, trust only me from now on. I’ve got a broom made by a fairy craftsman! And I have the power of water! No one will ever hurt you! I will absolutely protect you!”
I would protect Killian no matter what—from the Empress Dowager who harbored such evil thoughts behind that lovely face!
‘Anyone who messes with my family will be punished just like Ethan was. Just trust your big sister, Killian!’
Perhaps my eyes were blazing, because Killian smiled and said,
“That’s reassuring. I really did well choosing a sanitation officer.”
‘Palace intrigue, huh? This is actually kind of exciting.’
Every book I borrowed and read from the pawnshop back in the duchy always had palace power struggles in them.
For some reason, I found myself looking forward to life in the imperial palace—it felt like it would be thrilling and full of twists.
‘I’ll rescue Killian in spectacular fashion. Eek!’
Fortunately, after falling into the chilly late-autumn lake, Brown seemed to recover after sleeping it off. I’d been worried he might catch a cold, but thankfully that didn’t happen.
The only problem was that he became glued to me afterward.
Brown wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and refused to let go.
“Big Sis, can I sleep with you tonight? You’re leaving tomorrow, and who knows when I’ll see you again.”
After not seeing me for a month and getting such a scare from falling into the lake, Brown just wouldn’t let go.
“Alright. Let’s sleep together in my room tonight.”
When I gently stroked his head and said so, a cold voice sounded behind me.
“I cannot allow that.”
I turned my head to see Killian glaring at Brown with clear displeasure.
Brown tightened his grip around my waist and stared back at Killian defiantly.
“She’s my sister. Hmph!”
Brown buried his face against me.
“Big Sis, I missed you so much this past month. I was scared without you—since you always slept with me every night. You’ll sleep with me tonight, right?”
His sulky tone was adorable, so I patted him and replied gently,
“Of course! I missed you every night too. I worried about whether my little one was having scary dreams or sleeping well. Let’s sleep together.”
“Red is the emperor’s personal sanitation officer now. She belongs to the emperor. You must sleep alone. A boy who says he’ll become the Empire’s great archer shouldn’t be saying such weak things.”
Killian snorted from the side.
Apparently hit right where it hurt, Brown’s shoulders twitched as he held me.
“Big Siiis…”
I turned to glare at Killian. When our eyes met, he quickly looked away and cleared his throat.
“Brown, don’t worry. No matter what anyone says, I’ll stay by your side all night.”
Brown’s expression brightened immediately.
After putting Brown—who still wasn’t fully recovered and had fallen asleep again—to bed, I came out to find Killian standing in front of the door. I walked over to him.
“Killian! Why do you keep saying things like that? Brown feels hurt.”
Killian looked at me strangely.
“It’s strange, Red.”
“What is?”
“Why do you allow another man into your arms so easily? Your arms were mine first.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“ I was the first man you ever allowed into your arms. So why would you allow some green little brat into them? Strictly speaking, I can claim ownership over your embrace. I was the first man to hold you.”
My jaw practically dropped.
“Killian, it’s ridiculous enough to call six-year-old Brown a ‘green little man,’ but when we slept together as kids, it was just because we were scared children sleeping together. What on earth are you thinking? Don’t go around saying things like that—people will misunderstand.”
At my expression, Killian raised one corner of his lips.
“Why? Are you afraid people will find out we used to sleep holding each other? I don’t mind. And Red—men are all wolves. Even a six-year-old is just a young wolf. Still a wolf.”
