“Levon.”
Levon’s eyes widened as Kyriel walked in, carrying both children. They had fallen asleep in the carriage, exhausted from their day out.
It was hard to reconcile this scene with the man who usually refused to leave his room or the temple—let alone the dukedom grounds—and who avoided all human contact. Yet, here he was, having taken the initiative to spend the entire day and night away.
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Levon took Alan from Kyriel and laid him on the bed.
Kyriel carefully placed Bunny down beside him, then spoke.
“I need you to look into Bunny.”
“About Miss Bunny…?”
“I need to know the circumstances of how she ended up in that orphanage. What kind of person she was, who dropped her off, and if possible, every detail from her birth until she arrived at the dukedom.”
Kyriel spoke in his characteristically languid voice as he shed his coat and handed it to Levon.
“I will verify it.”
“Good. What about the villa?”
“Since it was neglected for so long, there was much to be done. We are remodeling the entire interior; it should be ready by the end of the month.”
As Kyriel nodded and began to undress, Levon caught a glimpse of him, took something from his inner pocket, and walked quietly toward the bed.
*Click. Click. Click.*
Kyriel turned at the sharp sound to see Levon photographing Bunny. He captured her from several angles as she slept, then snapped a photo of her huddled against Alan, who was sleeping in the exact same pose.
“What are you doing?” Kyriel asked, his voice sharp with disbelief.
Levon didn’t even look up. “Taking photos. Children grow up in the blink of an eye. You can only preserve these moments while they’re this small.”
“Why are *you* the one taking them?”
“Well, you wouldn’t, would you? I was considering quitting—I’m tired of working every day—but honestly? It’s starting to feel like I’ve gained children.”
Kyriel’s brow furrowed at Levon’s flat, emotionless tone. He glared at him, clicking his tongue in exasperation.
“They are *my* children.”
Levon paused, blinked a few times, and then shrugged, tucking the camera back into his pocket.
“You haven’t secured legal guardianship yet.”
“I’m heading to the Imperial Palace soon to finalize the adoption.”
“Shall I go to the Imperial Palace and file the papers before you?”
“Do you want to die?”
“No.”
Even at Kyriel’s chilling tone, Levon didn’t blink. He remained stoic.
“Still, it’s a pleasant sight. At first, I wondered, ‘What is a hopeless person like that doing, trying to play house and making such a fuss?’ But…”
“Levon. Your tongue is becoming dangerously loose. Are you truly looking for a death sentence?”
“Oh, I hate that. *Gasp*. It’s so scary.”
There wasn’t a hint of sincerity in Levon’s voice, which he had pitched to a mock-soprano while keeping his face entirely blank.
Kyriel’s expression turned icy.
“Still… my thoughts have changed. It seems people really can change when they meet someone. That Miss Bunny chose you, of all people, instead of me that day—it must be some grand destiny.”
“You believe in destiny now?”
“No. I was just setting the mood.”
“…….”
Kyriel waved a hand, dismissing him with a tired expression.
Levon, a member of the collateral line of the Judia Dukedom, had grown up with Kyriel in the Mansion Of Trials like a childhood friend. While others called Kyriel creepy or ominous, Levon always approached with that same indifferent face, spilled his mind, and left as if his duty were done.
He was, and always had been, a man who moved at his own pace.
“I’m going to wash up and sleep. You can go.”
“Yes. Oh, right. An invitation for Miss Bunny arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
“An invitation?”
“Yes. They wish to convey their gratitude and requested she visit once she has recovered. The Crown Prince wrote the letter, and the Emperor sent a courier. What shall I do?”
Kyriel’s eyes narrowed.
If he had his way, he wouldn’t send her. The risk of her getting caught in political turmoil was too high. However…
“I’ll ask Bunny. If she wants to meet them, she will. If not, she won’t.”
“Oh.”
“Do you have something to say…?” Levon sensed a faint, fatigue-induced irritation in Kyriel’s voice.
“I expected you to say no. You usually loathe being dragged into storms, Your Excellency.”
“Bunny likes things that are thrilling,” Kyriel scoffed.
He lowered his gaze to the children.
“And… I believe parents are a guide, not a controller. I will let her go where she wants. If it’s dangerous, I will be her windbreak. I will explain, I will try to dissuade her, but I won’t dictate her path.”
“…….”
“I want these children to do what they want. Whatever that may be. I want to give them options, not just the single path they were forced onto from the start.”
There was a strange, heavy resolve in his voice—something Levon hadn’t heard in years. Kyriel, still shirtless, walked over and gently stroked the children’s hair.
“You have wonderful intentions as a parent. Though I wonder how long that mindset will last.”
“…What?”
“Children never go the way you plan. Just as parents who control them always have their own ‘reasons.’”
When Kyriel glared at him, Levon bowed politely and stepped back.
“I will take my leave.”
“Just make sure you actually look into what I asked for.”
“Yes.”
“And leave those photos.”
*Clack.*
The door closed without a response.
Kyriel clicked his tongue under his breath. The man was perfect at his job, but the problem was that he had zero fear of his master.
Soon after, Kyriel went into the bathroom to wash up, then collapsed onto the bed beside the sleeping children.
* * *
“The left side is empty! Don’t collapse the display! Do you want to die?!”
Kline Yudia roared.
Inside the dark dungeon, the path leading downward was so deep its end was unfathomable.
“…Tsk, how far down does this go?”
They had claimed they’d conquered the deepest part of the dungeon—all nonsense. They simply hadn’t been able to find the path. It meant the Imperial subjugation team had barely scratched the surface before abandoning it.
“That’s why I told them, time and again, not to enter without us! Tsk.”
If they had waited, the Judia Dukedom could have claimed half of all byproducts, relics, and artifacts unearthed. But the Imperial family was greedy, often forming their own teams to avoid the split.
But a dungeon is, by nature, a lair for beasts and monsters.
The only force that can truly exert power against such creatures is divine power—the specialty of the holy knights of the Judia Dukedom.
‘The Imperial family must have had something specific in mind to try to conquer this so desperately.’
Kline Yudia clicked his tongue.
That was when.
*Sparkle!*
The crystal in his hand flared.
Only after reaching the deep, unknown reaches of the dungeon did it finally react. Kline stared at the light leaking from the stone, wiped the sweat from his brow, and narrowed his eyes.
*Haha.*
He burst into a low, ecstatic laugh.
“It seems our niece candidate has pulled off another one.”
Looking at the light pulsing from the crystal, Kline muttered to himself.