Moonlight spilled quietly through the tall windows of the Emestrild Palace.
It illuminated Reinhardt's office in pale silver, casting long shadows across towering bookshelves and stacks of sealed reports. The palace was asleep—but Reinhardt was not.
He stood by his desk, a single candle burning low beside him.
In his hand was a thin bundle of documents, bound with black thread and marked with the seal of his shadow network. Fresh ink. Recent findings.
His emerald eyes moved steadily across the pages.
This was the report he had been waiting for.
Kael's bloodline.
Ever since Reinhardt ascended the throne, he had ordered countless secret investigations—quiet, meticulous, ruthless. He searched for any trace of Kael's parents, any sign of family who should have appeared once the world learned the Hero's name.
Yet no one came.
Not a single relative.
Not a distant blood tie.
Not even someone claiming false kinship.
It had always unsettled him.
A child chosen as a Hero, carrying such power, such notoriety—and yet no one stepped forward. Reinhardt had long assumed the simplest answers: they were dead, or Kael had been unwanted from the start.
Or worse.
That someone had erased them.
The reports confirmed what he already knew.
Black hair.
In this world, it was rare—unnaturally so. Unlike cursed children, whose red eyes or red hair were well documented, black hair among humans was almost nonexistent.
There were no official records of a human population bearing black hair and black eyes.
None.
Reinhardt's fingers tightened slightly on the paper.
Until now.
He turned the last page.
And froze.
His eyes widened as he read the heading.
A nation beyond Emestrild's known borders.
A land erased from most modern maps.
A people who worship the sun.
Dulcan.
Reinhardt inhaled slowly.
The report continued, detailing fragments recovered from ancient trade logs, religious manuscripts, and forbidden genealogical records.
Then his gaze stopped at a single line.
Only the Dulcan Royalty possess the most sacred trait of their bloodline.
Black hair.
The room fell silent.
Reinhardt stared at the words, his heart pounding—not with shock alone, but with grim clarity. Pieces he had never been able to connect suddenly aligned.
A forgotten kingdom.
A royal bloodline erased from history.
A child abandoned at an orphanage—far from any known border.
Kael.
Reinhardt's lips curved into a slow smile.
"Finally…" he murmured to the empty room. "I found them."
His grip tightened around the documents.
Dulcan.
If Kael truly belonged to a royal bloodline long buried by time, then his existence was not an accident. Not a coincidence. And certainly not something the world had simply overlooked.
Someone had hidden the truth.
And Reinhardt intended to uncover every last reason why.
Outside the window, the moon climbed higher—watching silently as fate began to stir once more.
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Elric and Kael walked side by side back toward Kael's chamber, the distant music of the ballroom fading with every step. The corridor was quieter here, lit only by soft lanterns and the moonlight filtering through tall windows.
Kael slowed, exhaustion finally settling into his bones.
"I want some rest," he said quietly. Then he glanced at Elric. "Can you tell them that I've retired for the night?"
Elric smiled and nodded without hesitation. "Of course."
She stopped in front of his door, leaned closer, and placed a gentle kiss on his lips—brief, careful, filled with warmth.
"Have a nice dream, Kael," she whispered. "I'll come back after I send the guests away. Don't wait for me—just sleep."
Kael nodded, his expression calm, and turned toward his room.
The door closed softly behind him.
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Elric walked beside Kael as they returned to his chamber, the distant echoes of the ball fading behind them. The corridor was quiet now, lit only by soft lantern light.
Kael slowed to a stop in front of his door.
"I need some rest," he said quietly. Then, after a brief pause, he looked at Elric. "Can you tell them that I've retired for the night?"
Elric nodded at once, a gentle smile forming on her lips. "Of course."
She stepped closer.
Before Kael could react, Elric leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against his lips—gentle, careful, unhurried.
Kael froze.
For a heartbeat, he didn't move at all.
Then he closed his eyes.
His hand rose instinctively, fingers wrapping lightly around her wrist as if to ground himself. Elric pulled back slowly, her smile warm and reassuring.
"Have a nice dream, Kael," she said softly. "I'll come back after I send everyone off. Don't wait for me—just sleep."
Kael nodded.
His hand lifted again, brushing her cheek with quiet tenderness.
"Thank you… for tonight," he murmured, his voice slow, almost a whisper.
Then he turned and entered his chamber, closing the door behind him.
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Elric descended to the ballroom just as the celebration came to its natural end. The music had stopped, laughter fading into contented murmurs. She stood where Kael would normally stand and politely bid farewell to the guests, thanking them in his stead.
Robert joined her, helping to see the nobles off.
Once the hall grew quiet again, Robert approached her, his expression earnest.
"How was Master Kael today?" he asked. "Was he happy?"
Elric smiled. "He was in a very good mood. Thanks to all of you." She turned slightly, addressing the servants nearby. "I hope you'll continue serving him like this."
The servants exchanged excited looks and slowly gathered around her.
"Did he like the garden?"
"What about the meal tonight—did he enjoy it?"
"And the flowers in his room? Did he say anything?"
Their voices overlapped, filled with anticipation.
Elric felt her chest tighten at the sight.
"Yes," she said warmly. "He loved all of it. Truly." She looked at each of them in turn. "Keep this up. I believe he'll grow healthier and happier during his stay here. Please… continue to care for him and serve him well."
The servants practically burst with excitement, some clasping their hands, others bowing repeatedly.
Elric smiled as she watched them scatter back to their duties.
She stepped out onto the balcony, the night air cool against her skin. Below, lanterns were being extinguished one by one. Robert joined her a moment later, standing at her side.
"I'm relieved," Robert said softly. "Everyone here truly loves Master Kael."
Elric nodded. "To them, Kael is their savior. They owe him their land, their lives. He saved Delcra from the Demon Kingdom, after all."
She took a sip of wine, then glanced sideways at Robert.
"And you?" she asked quietly. "You think I haven't noticed how you keep hiding your condition?" Her gaze sharpened. "I'd wager Kael noticed too."
Robert stiffened.
Then he smiled faintly, one hand pressing briefly against his chest. "I'm fine. For now. There's no need to worry about me. I've rested enough."
It was a lie.
He didn't mention the blood he had started coughing up. He didn't want anyone to know—least of all Kael.
"That's a relief," Elric said, unaware. "Still, don't overdo it. Kael still needs you."
Robert nodded, his smile thinning just a little.
Then—
A sudden sound echoed through the hall.
Something heavy struck the floor.
Both of them turned sharply.
Elric's glass slipped from her fingers, shattering as it hit the ground.
Her eyes widened.
Lying there, motionless on the stone floor below the balcony—
Kael.
Blood was already pooling beneath him, spreading rapidly across the tiles. His eyes were closed, his body unnaturally still.
"Kael!!" Elric screamed.
She ran.