Morning had long passed, yet the quietness around Kael's chambers remained unchanged.
Sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows, casting pale golden reflections across the carpet and furniture. The soft scent of flowers drifted in from the garden outside, mixing with the faint fragrance of old paper spread across the table before him.
Kael sat silently in the adjoining guest room connected to his chambers. His gaze wandered toward the doorway for a moment.
Robert still had not appeared since yesterday evening.
Usually, Robert would already be beside him by now—bringing medicine, reminding him to eat, or nagging him to rest properly. The absence felt strange.
But Kael pushed the thought aside when Sebastian stepped closer and carefully placed a stack of documents before him.
"Here is the information you requested, my lord."
Kael lifted his eyes toward the old butler before slowly taking the documents into his hands.
The papers were old.
Some corners had yellowed with age, while several pages carried faint ink stains from years ago. Kael carefully opened the first page, scanning each line in silence.
Sebastian remained standing respectfully nearby.
"Lord Theodore was married when he was young," Sebastian began calmly. "It was an arranged marriage. From what I gathered, people believed they lived as a rather ordinary noble couple."
Kael turned the page.
A portrait sketch appeared.
A younger Theodore stood beside a girl who looked far too young to be called a woman. Theodore looked perhaps in his late twenties, while his wife seemed barely old enough to even understand marriage.
Kael's brows furrowed slightly.
"His wife, Viscountess Margaret," Sebastian continued, "was only twelve years old when they married. She was a distant cousin of the former queen."
Kael blinked.
"Twelve...?"
Even his voice carried disbelief.
Sebastian nodded slowly.
"It was considered normal among nobles at the time. Especially before His Majesty changed many of the old laws."
Kael lowered his gaze toward the portrait again.
The girl in the picture looked fragile.
Small.
Young.
Too young.
For some reason, the image made his chest feel uncomfortable.
Sebastian continued quietly.
"Their marriage was rather short. Public records state that they never produced an heir because the Viscountess passed away not long after."
Kael flipped to the next page.
His eyes scanned the report carefully.
There was no official explanation for the woman's death.
Only silence.
"Did she die from illness?" Kael asked quietly.
Sebastian slowly shook his head.
"It was never written formally in any public document. However..." He paused briefly. "I managed to obtain information from one of the former servants who once worked in the Valdran mansion."
He pointed toward another page.
Kael's eyes widened slightly as he read the statement.
The Viscountess died during childbirth. The newborn child was immediately taken by the Queen herself.
Kael's fingers tightened faintly against the paper.
He kept reading.
Then his gaze stopped completely.
The child possessed red hair and red eyes. Proof that he was a cursed child.
Silence filled the room.
Kael slowly lowered the document.
A faint scoff escaped him.
Now he understood.
The resemblance between Theodore and John was not coincidence.
John... was Theodore's son.
One of the children from the orphanage whose family Kael had promised to find.
His chest tightened strangely.
"Does... Lord Theodore know about his child?" Kael finally asked.
Sebastian shook his head again.
"He does not."
His tone remained calm, but even Sebastian himself seemed disturbed by the truth.
"The Queen concealed the child's survival from him entirely. I believe Lord Theodore was never informed the baby was born alive."
Kael stared silently at the papers.
"And perhaps..." Sebastian added carefully, "he never dared question the Queen either."
The room became quiet again.
Kael slowly rose from the sofa.
His weakened body still felt heavy at times, but he ignored it as he walked toward the wooden chest near the corner of the room.
Inside rested the documents he had taken from the ruined Taylor Orphanage.
He searched quietly before finally pulling out one worn file.
John's record.
Kael returned and handed the paper toward Sebastian.
The old butler accepted it respectfully.
But the moment his eyes landed on the picture attached to the file, Sebastian visibly froze.
His eyes widened.
"This..."
His voice faltered.
He looked between the picture and the earlier portrait of Theodore.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
The structure of the eyes.
The jawline.
Even the expression carried similarities.
Sebastian slowly lifted his gaze toward Kael.
"Is this man truly Lord Theodore's missing son...?"
Kael leaned back against the sofa slowly.
"I don't know for certain," he answered honestly. "That's why I asked you to investigate."
His crimson eyes lowered toward the papers again.
"If possible... I don't want to ask Elric or Robert about this."
Sebastian listened quietly.
"They both become uncomfortable whenever Lord Theodore's name is mentioned."
Kael's voice softened further.
"Before I go to the Southern Port... I want to know more about his lost child."
The command was calm.
But Sebastian could hear the determination behind it.
For a brief moment, emotion crossed the old butler's face.
This was the first time Kael had entrusted him personally with something this important.
Sebastian placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply.
"Your command will be carried out, my lord."
Kael nodded faintly.
Then his gaze lingered on Sebastian himself.
Theodore and Sebastian were around the same age.
The thought came suddenly.
"Sebastian..."
The butler lifted his head.
"Yes, my lord?"
Kael hesitated briefly before speaking again.
"Do you... perhaps have your own family?"
Sebastian looked slightly surprised by the question.
But then a gentle smile formed across his aged face.
"Yes," he answered softly. "I do."
His expression slowly dimmed afterward.
"My wife passed away during the demon invasion years ago."
Kael lowered his eyes immediately.
Guilt flickered across his face for asking something painful.
But Sebastian noticed.
"It's alright," the old butler reassured gently.
Then his smile returned—smaller this time.
"I still have a son and a daughter. They are both around your age."
Kael blinked faintly.
Then, after a moment of silence, he quietly asked:
"How does it feel... losing your wife? Your family?"
The question slipped out before he could stop himself.
Sebastian looked at him carefully.
Slowly, understanding appeared in his eyes.
"May I ask you something first before answering?"
Kael looked back at him.
Then nodded slowly.
Sebastian smiled gently.
"What do you think of the Duchess?"
Kael blinked.
"Elric?"
The butler nodded.
Kael looked genuinely confused.
All this time, his relationship with Elric had simply flowed naturally.
Her touch.
Her hugs.
Her kisses.
The warmth she gave him whenever his world felt like it was collapsing.
Sebastian smiled faintly at Kael's clueless expression.
"Then let me answer your question this way."
The old butler's voice became quieter.
"If the Duchess were suddenly gone one day..."
His eyes softened.
"I believe your world would crumble as though it had reached its end."
Silence.
Kael stayed completely still.
The words settled heavily inside his chest.
For some reason, merely imagining it made his breathing feel strange.
Sebastian watched him quietly before bowing once more.
"I will continue gathering the information you requested."
He stepped backward politely.
"May I excuse myself?"
Kael slowly nodded.
Sebastian left the room silently, closing the door behind him.
And once again, Kael remained alone.
The documents rested in his hands.
His crimson eyes slowly lowered toward Theodore's records again.
Then Theodore's voice from yesterday echoed inside his mind.
'If I had my own child... he would probably be around your age.'
Kael stared blankly at the paper.
Would Theodore have cherished John if he had known the truth?
Would things have been different?
Would John still have ended up inside that orphanage?
Inside those experiments?
Inside despair?
Kael did not know.
Not yet.
But for the first time since beginning this search...
He had finally found one answer.
And this was only the beginning.
-----------------------------------------
The days passed quietly one after another.
A week had already gone by since Theodore's visit to Delcra Castle.
Unlike before, the castle no longer carried the suffocating tension that had followed Kael's awakening from his coma. The servants slowly returned to their lively routines. The hallways became brighter with chatter once more, and the atmosphere around the estate finally began feeling alive again.
And Kael... slowly recovered together with it.
Not fully.
Not yet.
But little by little, he was getting better.
As Elric had promised, she remained at Delcra instead of returning to the North.
"I want you to heal properly first, Kael," she had told him firmly. "Until then, I won't return to Vaelthorn."
And she truly kept that promise.
Every day, she stayed beside him.
Sometimes helping him with paperwork.
Sometimes sitting quietly beside him while he read reports.
Sometimes simply remaining there without saying anything at all.
And strangely enough... Kael found himself calmer whenever she was near.
The first thing Elric insisted on was helping him recover his strength.
At the very least, she wanted him able to hold his sword properly again.
Robert also helped with the training despite his increasingly exhausted appearance.
Every morning, Kael practiced basic movements in the courtyard while Robert guided him carefully.
"Don't force your body all at once," Robert reminded gently while adjusting Kael's posture. "Your muscles are still recovering."
Kael gripped the wooden sword tighter.
Even lifting it for long periods still strained his weakened arms.
Sweat rolled slowly down his neck as he practiced another stance.
Elric stood nearby watching him with folded arms.
"You're leaning too much to the left," she commented calmly.
Kael adjusted his footing immediately.
Robert smiled faintly seeing Kael seriously trying despite how frustrated he often became.
At times, Kael's body trembled from exhaustion.
At times, he nearly dropped the sword entirely.
But unlike before...
He no longer gave up halfway.
And every time he stumbled, Elric was always there beside him.
"Again," she would tell him.
Or—
"You're improving."
Or sometimes simply:
"I'm proud of you."
Small words.
Yet enough to keep him moving.
Still...
The blood lake never disappeared completely.
Even after a week, the visions continued.
Rarely.
But enough to terrify him.
Sometimes only once every few days.
Sometimes twice in one night.
And each time it happened, Kael's body reacted more violently.
His breathing would stop.
His hands would shake uncontrollably.
His face would lose all color.
The visions lasted longer now too.
Five minutes.
Sometimes more.
Long enough for fear to completely swallow him.
Elric noticed everything.
Even when Kael tried hiding it.
Especially because he never explained what he saw.
One afternoon, while Kael, Elric, and Robert were discussing merchant route reports inside the office, it happened again.
Kael had been quietly reviewing documents while Robert explained trade movements from the western border.
"The southern merchants are requesting lower transportation taxes," Robert explained while sorting papers. "Lord Albert believes it could strengthen trade with—"
Kael suddenly froze.
His hand stopped moving completely.
The paper slipped slightly from his fingers.
Elric immediately noticed.
"Kael?"
But Kael no longer heard her voice.
The office disappeared.
The blood lake returned.
Vast.
Endless.
Dark red water stretched beyond his sight.
This time the water had risen to his waist.
Cold.
Heavy.
Something beneath the lake suddenly wrapped around his legs.
Kael's eyes widened.
Then—
He was dragged downward.
The blood swallowed him whole.
He tried to breathe.
Nothing came.
His lungs burned violently.
He tried screaming, but the blood flooded into his mouth before any sound escaped.
Darkness surrounded him.
Something beneath the lake was pulling him deeper.
Deeper.
Deeper—
Suddenly—
"Kael!"
The world snapped back violently.
Kael gasped sharply for air.
His body trembled uncontrollably as he nearly collapsed from the chair.
Half his body was already limply hanging toward the floor.
Elric had caught him before he fell completely.
Her arms wrapped tightly around him.
"It's alright—Kael, breathe—"
Her voice sounded panicked but gentle.
Kael's breathing came out broken and uneven.
His fingers desperately clutched Elric's sleeve as though anchoring himself to reality.
Robert hurried toward them immediately.
A calming potion was already in his hand.
"Master, drink this slowly."
Robert carefully supported Kael's chin while guiding the potion to his lips.
Kael's trembling was so severe that some of the liquid nearly spilled.
After a few moments, his breathing finally slowed slightly.
But his face remained pale.
Too pale.
Together, Elric and Robert carefully brought him back to his room afterward.
Neither forced him to explain.
Neither asked what he saw.
But both of them knew.
Something was terribly wrong.
And Kael was hiding it from everyone.
That night, Elric stayed beside him again.
The room was quiet except for the faint sound of rain outside the windows.
Kael slept peacefully at last after the potion calmed his body.
Elric lay beside him silently.
Her hand remained intertwined with his while she watched his sleeping face carefully.
The moonlight softened his pale features.
He looked exhausted even in sleep.
Her fingers brushed gently against his knuckles.
What are you seeing, Kael?
The question never left her mind.
Slowly, Kael's eyes opened.
Drowsy crimson eyes wandered around the room before finally settling on her beside him.
Elric smiled faintly.
Her hand rose slowly toward his cheek, brushing it gently.
"Kael..." her voice softened immediately, "you didn't push yourself too hard again, did you?"
Kael blinked weakly.
The potion still lingered heavily in his body.
Slowly, he lifted his hand and placed it over hers against his cheek.
His fingers trembled faintly.
"I'm..." His voice cracked softly. "...scared."
The confession came out barely louder than a whisper.
Yet hearing it made Elric's chest ache painfully.
Kael rarely admitted fear aloud.
Especially not like this.
Elric slowly leaned closer until their foreheads touched gently.
"There's nothing to fear here," she whispered back. "I'm right here."
Her thumb softly stroked his skin.
She could still feel his trembling.
Tears slowly slipped from Kael's eyes as he closed them again.
He had promised everyone he would stay strong.
Promised he would recover.
Promised he would stop worrying them.
But even now...
A mere vision was enough to shatter him.
Elric carefully wiped away his tears.
Then she slowly leaned down, pressing soft kisses against his forehead.
His cheek.
The bridge of his nose.
Gentle touches.
Tender reassurance.
"You don't have to tell me what you saw," she whispered softly between kisses. "I just want you to know... I'm here."
Her lips brushed against his skin again.
"We're all here for you, Kael."
Kael opened his eyes slowly and looked at her.
Searching.
Uncertain.
As though checking whether her warmth was truly real.
Then gradually, he leaned closer toward her himself.
Their lips met softly.
Not desperate.
Not heated.
Only searching.
Seeking comfort.
Reassurance.
Something real.
Elric immediately understood.
Kael was clinging to her warmth to escape the fear swallowing him.
Her hand slid gently along his back while Kael's trembling fingers slowly wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.
The kiss deepened slightly.
Still gentle.
Still soft.
But filled with fragile emotion.
Kael kissed her as though she was the only thing grounding him to reality.
And Elric allowed him to.
Without rushing him.
Without teasing him.
Only holding him closer while quietly returning every kiss he gave her.
-----------------------------------------
Robert stood quietly outside the bedroom door.
The faint light from the bedside candle slipped through the small opening of the doorway, enough for him to see the scene inside.
Kael and Elric were still close together on the bed.
Elric's arms remained wrapped gently around Kael while Kael leaned against her as though trying to calm the storm inside himself. The earlier trembling had finally eased. His breathing no longer sounded panicked.
Robert let out a slow breath of relief.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
At least... he finally calmed down.
Carefully, Robert stepped back and quietly closed the door without making any sound.
He did not want to disturb them.
Especially not now.
Not after seeing how much Kael depended on Elric's presence to steady himself.
Robert stood silently in the hallway for a moment before chuckling softly to himself.
"I never thought Master Kael would become this close with Lady Elric..."
The thought strangely warmed his chest.
For years, Kael had pushed everyone away.
Even kindness.
Even affection.
Yet now...
He was allowing someone to remain beside him willingly.
Robert could still remember the old days, when Kael would freeze merely from someone touching him unexpectedly. Back then, even offering help could make Kael uncomfortable.
But now he was kissing Elric on his own.
Holding her close.
Searching for comfort from her.
Robert's smile widened slightly.
"Maybe... I should start looking for a proper date for their wedding ceremony."
The image immediately appeared inside his head.
Kael dressed in formal wedding attire.
White and black robes embroidered with Delcra's crest.
Elric standing beside him.
For a brief second, the thought genuinely made him happy.
"They really do look good together..."
Still smiling faintly, Robert walked across the living room connected to Kael's chambers.
In his hands rested several medicine bottles and calming potions prepared earlier for Kael.
He planned to arrange them properly inside the cabinet so Kael could easily reach them himself later.
The room was quiet.
Only the ticking of the clock and the distant sound of rain outside could be heard.
As Robert approached the cabinet near the bookshelf, his steps suddenly slowed.
Something caught his attention.
A stack of papers had been partially hidden between several books on the table.
Poorly hidden.
As though someone had quickly shoved them there without organizing them properly.
Robert blinked.
He had cleaned the room earlier himself.
Those papers definitely had not been there before.
Meaning...
Kael must have placed them there afterward.
Curious, Robert slowly reached out and pulled the papers free.
At first, he only intended to tidy them up.
But the moment his eyes landed on the contents, his expression changed.
"These are..."
The papers were old.
Investigation records.
And judging from the handwriting along the margins, Robert immediately recognized Sebastian's notes.
So Kael asked Sebastian to investigate something.
Robert quietly scanned the documents.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
A portrait sketch stared back at him.
A young boy.
Perhaps ten or twelve years old.
Thin.
Red hair.
Red eyes.
Even from the old sketch alone, the child looked fragile.
Beside the image, a note had been written carefully.
Theodore Valdran's long-lost child.
Robert froze.
"Theodore... had a child?"
His brows slowly furrowed.
He knew Theodore's marriage had been short.
Knew his wife had died young.
But beyond that, Robert had never cared enough to investigate the old noble's personal life.
Slowly, Robert continued reading.
Then realization struck him suddenly.
His eyes widened further.
John.
Theodore resembled John.
And Kael had mentioned it before.
That strange feeling of familiarity.
Robert's grip on the papers tightened faintly.
"So that's why..."
Now it finally made sense.
Kael must have noticed the resemblance subconsciously after meeting Theodore.
And because Kael had personally witnessed John's memories...
He connected the two.
Robert lowered the papers slowly.
A complicated feeling settled inside his chest.
So this was why Kael had avoided asking him directly about Theodore.
Because Kael noticed his discomfort.
Of course Robert would feel uncomfortable hearing Theodore's name.
Theodore Valdran.
The man connected to the nobles responsible for his mother's death.
Robert's breathing slowed slightly.
Old memories surfaced without permission.
Blood.
The cold floor.
His mother's unmoving body.
The smell of iron filling the room.
And Reinhardt standing beside him in silence.
Robert closed his eyes briefly.
Even after all these years, the memory still hurt.
Slowly, he opened his eyes again and turned toward the bedroom door.
Beyond it, Kael was still with Elric.
Probably calmer now.
Probably finally asleep again.
Robert's gaze lowered toward the papers in his hand.
Why is Master Kael investigating Theodore this deeply?
The question lingered heavily in his mind.
It was not merely curiosity anymore.
Kael was searching seriously.
And Robert knew Kael well enough to understand one thing—
Kael would never investigate someone without reason.
Especially not Theodore Valdran.
Robert slowly exhaled.
Then carefully, he gathered the papers together again.
His eyes lingered once more on the portrait of the young red-haired boy.
John.
The orphan child who died in despair.
The child Theodore never even knew existed.
Robert's expression dimmed faintly.
"What are you trying to find this time, Master Kael...?" he murmured quietly to himself.
But no answer came.
Only silence filled the room while rain continued falling softly outside Delcra Castle.