Morning light spread softly across the Asheville Estate.
The rain from the previous night had finally disappeared, leaving behind cold silver mist drifting through the western gardens while droplets still clung to the mansion windows like remnants of unfinished memories.
Inside the upper reception chamber—
Silence remained heavy.
Several enormous black containers rested atop the long noble table while terrifying mana pressure leaked faintly from the dragon materials hidden within them.
Dragon blood.
Dragon marrow.
Ancient organs.
Bones capable of forging legendary weapons.
Treasures kingdoms themselves would wage wars to obtain.
And Kel—
Simply handed them away.
The black-haired young man calmly stood near the window beneath the pale morning light while adjusting the black gloves covering his hands. His expression remained relaxed as always, as though the horrifying treasures surrounding the room carried no particular importance to him.
Meanwhile—
Reina remained motionless near the opened boxes.
Silver eyes reflecting the monstrous wealth resting before her.
Even now—
She still struggled understanding it.
The sword manual.
The territories.
The guidance.
The countless protections.
And now this.
Every time she believed she finally understood how much Kel had done for her—
He quietly shattered that understanding again.
The silver-haired matriarch slowly touched one crystallized dragon bone resting inside the container.
The mana flowing from it alone felt ancient.
Overwhelming.
Alive.
Inside her mind—
One thought repeated endlessly.
"Why?"
Eventually—
Reina slowly lifted her gaze toward Kel.
The morning light illuminated half his face softly while cold mist drifted outside behind him.
Then quietly—
She spoke.
"…Sometimes…"
Her voice sounded softer than usual.
"…I wonder if I even deserve this much grace."
Kel slightly glanced toward her afterward but remained silent.
Meanwhile—
Reina slowly closed the box lid before continuing.
"I cannot find a reason why you continue giving me everything."
Another pause.
"You already elevated me to matriarch."
Her fingers tightened slightly against the dark container.
"You restored House Asheville."
"You protected me."
"You guided me."
"You handed me territories."
"And even after all that…"
The silver-haired matriarch lowered her eyes briefly.
"…you still continue wasting your resources on me."
The chamber fell silent afterward.
Cold morning winds brushed softly against the windows.
Inside his mind—
Sairen quietly muttered:
"She's finally saying it aloud."
Kel calmly looked toward Reina afterward.
And for once—
His expression softened slightly.
Then slowly—
He walked toward her.
His footsteps echoed quietly across the marble floor beneath the silent chamber atmosphere.
Eventually—
Kel stopped directly before her.
The silver-haired matriarch quietly looked upward.
Then—
Kel finally spoke.
"Don't you remember?"
His voice sounded calm.
Quiet.
Yet strangely warm.
"When everyone avoided the cursed heir…"
Another pause.
"…you still chose to follow him."
Reina's eyes slightly widened afterward.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly continued.
"You followed someone everyone considered already dead."
The pale morning light reflected softly within his dark eyes now.
"My own family abandoned hope for me."
Another pause.
"The Empire saw me as a burden waiting to die."
His expression remained calm while saying it.
Not bitter.
Not angry.
Only factual.
"But despite all that…"
Kel quietly stared toward her.
"…you still made your choice."
Reina slowly lowered her gaze afterward.
Because she remembered.
The weak cursed boy.
The endless coughing blood.
The pale skin.
The freezing hands.
The child everyone pitied silently.
And yet—
Even then—
Something inside him never looked broken.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly continued speaking.
"You followed me without selfishness."
Another pause.
"Not for power."
"Not for influence."
"Not for political gain."
The room remained silent except for distant winds outside.
"You simply didn't want to see a cursed boy die meaninglessly."
The silver-haired matriarch quietly clenched her hands afterward.
Because hearing those memories spoken aloud now hurt strangely deeply.
Meanwhile—
Kel softly exhaled afterward before continuing.
"So…"
Another pause.
"These are merely the consequences of your choice, Reina."
The words settled heavily inside the room afterward.
The consequences of your choice.
Not repayment.
Not obligation.
Consequences.
Kel slowly looked toward the dragon material containers resting nearby.
"You chose to stand beside someone with nothing."
Another pause.
"A dying child."
"And because of that…"
His dark eyes returned toward her again.
"…you became someone who deserves far more than you realize."
The silver-haired matriarch quietly stared at him afterward.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly continued.
"I'm not doing this because I want political support from House Asheville."
Another pause.
"I'm not investing in you for future gain."
His voice remained frighteningly sincere.
"I simply believe…"
A faint silence followed.
"…that you deserve everything you can possibly reach."
The morning winds outside slowed softly afterward.
"And if I have the ability to help you reach that pinnacle…"
Kel slightly smiled faintly.
"…then why shouldn't I?"
Reina's breathing quietly faltered afterward.
Because somehow—
Those words affected her far more deeply than confessions ever could.
Not romance.
Not obligation.
Recognition.
Pure recognition of her existence itself.
Inside his mind—
Sairen softly sighed.
"You say dangerous things without realizing how much weight they carry."
Kel ignored her quietly.
Meanwhile—
Reina slowly lowered her gaze again.
A faint trembling appeared within her fingers.
Because honestly—
She never truly believed herself worthy of any of this.
Not after being discarded by her own family.
Not after losing everything.
Not after becoming someone constantly surviving through desperation alone.
Yet Kel—
The very person once abandoned by fate itself—
Continued looking at her like someone valuable.
Someone capable.
Someone worthy of standing higher.
And perhaps—
That was exactly why she could never leave his side emotionally.
The silver-haired matriarch quietly laughed once afterward.
A soft fragile laugh.
"…You really are unfair."
Kel slightly tilted his head.
"How?"
Reina slowly looked toward him again.
"Because you say things that make people unable to walk away from you."
The chamber became quiet afterward.
Then unexpectedly—
Kel laughed softly himself.
A rare sound.
Low.
Genuine.
"…That sounds troublesome."
Reina smiled faintly afterward.
"It is."
Silence returned gently afterward.
Yet unlike before—
The silence no longer felt heavy.
Only warm.
Bittersweet.
Like two people quietly understanding something neither wished to say directly.
Meanwhile—
The cold morning winds continued drifting through the estate gardens beyond the windows.
Tomorrow.
No—
Today now.
Kel would leave.
Return to House Rosenfeld.
Return to the Empire's center.
And the silver-haired matriarch quietly realized something painful.
No matter how much power she gained—
No matter how many territories she conquered—
The empty space left behind after his departure would likely remain impossible to replace.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly turned slightly toward the window afterward.
The distant skies beyond Citadel stretched endlessly beneath pale silver dawn.
And somewhere far away—
The Rosenfeld Main Estate awaited his return.
The cursed heir who once departed quietly…
Was finally coming home as something entirely different now.