The one who walked in through the door was Edelmar.
He entered confidently and sat down beside Ian, crossing his legs.
With a haughty expression, he spoke.
“You dare drag a Duke of the Empire off to do manual labor? Does the Beastfolk Kingdom’s king not know of the treaty between our two nations?”
“… Grand Duke Edelmar. You’re still eavesdropping on other people’s business, I see.”
Edelmar curled up one corner of his lips.
“When you become a Swordmaster, you hear things whether you want to or not.”
Napharoa clenched his teeth.
“The situation in the Beastfolk Kingdom is tragic, but I can’t approve. Go back.”
Napharoa glared sharply at Edelmar.
“This isn’t something the Grand Duke should be interfering in, is it?”
Edelmar scoffed.
“I’m a member of the Imperial Family and a Grand Duke of this nation—what could possibly be outside my purview?”
“This isn’t an official request as the King of the Beastfolk—it’s a personal favor. So I’d appreciate it if neither the Imperial Family nor a Grand Duke got involved.”
“If it’s a personal matter, then all the more reason to refuse. The Duke and I have somewhere we need to be.”
Edelmar glanced at Ian as if seeking confirmation.
Ian nodded.
“He’s right. I have somewhere to go with the Grand Duke.”
According to the original plan, they were supposed to leave in search of the Sacred Relic as soon as Bernaba returned. However, Bernaba had suggested they cut the imprint first before departing, so they delayed the journey slightly.
Now that the imprint had been severed, Ian planned to leave that evening with Edelmar to search for the Sacred Relic.
“Please, Duke. Think of the Beastfolk. If it’s not you, there’s no other mage who will help us. Do you not realize how much mages hate us?”
“Then blame the ancestors who caused that hatred—not a Duke who’s done nothing wrong.”
“If you help us this time, I’ll support anything you ask for in return.”
“Hmph. You sound like you’d even back a rebellion.”
“Grand Duke. Please refrain from such remarks.”
“What? Did I say something untrue?”
Ian gave Edelmar a slight glare, then turned to ask Bernaba.
“If the Beastfolk Kingdom doesn’t fall, would that break the balance?”
Bernaba shook his head.
“No. The balance is only disturbed when I directly interfere.”
‘Then… should I help them?’
Ian hesitated.
Using his powers put more cracks in his already fragile soul. So from that perspective, not helping the Beastfolk Kingdom was the wiser option.
‘But still…’
“What are you hesitating for? Just refuse.”
Ian let out a sigh.
“No. I’ll go.”
***
“Are you out of your mind?!”
Edelmar snapped at Ian after they returned to the study.
“I’m not crazy.”
“Then why did you say you’d go?!”
“It’s connected to dark mage.”
Ian answered as he quickly skimmed through the documents.
“So you’re going because it’s related to a dark mage?”
“To be precise, I’ve seen this disease before—in the ‘Flow.’”
“Then that’s even more reason not to go, isn’t it?”
“That’s exactly why I have to go.”
Edelmar frowned.
“What?”
“I don’t think they spread the disease just to lure me out. There are other mages out there besides me.”
While organizing the documents, Ian continued.
“And I think the King of the Beastfolk is hiding something.”
“Hiding something?”
“Yes. The Magic Tower and the Beastfolk Kingdom being enemies is old history. Ever since a mana stone mine was discovered in the Beastfolk Kingdom 20 years ago, the tower has been trading with them.”
“Hah…”
Edelmar let out a dry laugh.
“Then why are you being called?”
“That’s what I don’t know either. Queen Kura hid what happened in the Beastfolk Kingdom from me. But the king didn’t. I suspect the king discovered something after Kura left that made him want to call me.”
“And that has something to do with the dark mage?”
Ian shook his head while sorting through the signed paperwork.
“I can’t be sure. It might be something personal. Or it might be related to dark mage. The only way to know for sure is to go.”
Edelmar gave him a look of disbelief.
“Do you have more than one life or something?”
Ian let out a small chuckle.
“Are there people like that in this world?”
“Looking at you, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were.”
Edelmar shook his head and asked.
“Are you taking Rose with you?”
“Yes. Of course.”
If it were just half a day or even a full day away, maybe he could leave her. But if he’d be gone for several days, he couldn’t leave Rose behind.
It wasn’t about safety—Bernaba would be with her, after all.
The moment he found out Rose was Yoori, he had made a decision.
He wouldn’t repeat the past of leaving his child alone under the excuse of earning money to make her happy.
So, Rose absolutely had to go with him.
“Tch.”
Edelmar clicked his tongue, clearly displeased with Ian’s decision.
“When are you leaving?”
“Since the situation over there is urgent, I’ll go as soon as things are in order. Oh, if you have time, why don’t you come with me? The Sacred Relic is located near the border between the Beastfolk Kingdom and the Duke’s territory, so I was thinking of stopping by on the way back.”
Ian looked over at Edelmar, who hadn’t replied.
“You’re not coming?”
“…Fine. I’ll go.”
Grinding his teeth, Edelmar stormed out of the study in frustration.
‘What a temper.’
Ian shook his head and picked up the rest of the documents.
There wasn’t much time left.
***
Rose tilted her head, puzzled.
Fenrex had been acting strangely ever since returning from meeting his mom.
“Fenrex?”
“…….”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“….…”
He didn’t answer. And with how off he seemed compared to usual, Rose tilted her head again—right as Hamil entered the restaurant.
“Sister Hamil!”
Rose jumped down from her chair and ran toward Hamil.
“Oh my! Isn’t this our little lady? Did you sleep well, Rose?”
“Yes! Did you sleep well too, Sister Hamil?”
“Of course, of course!”
As Hamil nodded, Rose beckoned to her.
Hamil tilted her head in curiosity and bent down to Rose’s level. Rose leaned in and whispered.
“I dreamed about Mommy last night.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. It was amazing.”
Covering her mouth with both hands, Rose giggled with pure delight.
“Did you tell your uncle?”
Rose shook her head.
“Nope. I didn’t.”
“Why not?”
Rose shook her head again.
It seemed she didn’t want to say, so Hamil didn’t press the matter and just nodded.
“I see. Then Rose must’ve been really happy.”
“Yes. Mommy told me, ‘I love you, my baby.’”
Rose’s blushing cheeks were so adorable that Hamil scooped her up and playfully pretended to nibble on them.
“What a sweet little peach we have here!”
Rose burst out laughing and wriggled in her arms.
“Kyaa! Sister Hamil! I’m not a peach!”
Hamil was joking around, but suddenly felt like something was missing.
‘By now, he should’ve come charging over…?’
She looked down beneath her legs, puzzled.
“Why isn’t he here?”
“Who?”
“You know… the one who usually demands I put you down.”
“Fenrex? He’s right over there.”
Following Rose’s pointing finger, Hamil turned and saw Fenrex, who was staring intently at Rose.
“Is he sick or something?”
Rose shook her head.
“But why is he just sitting there?”
Already noticing something strange, Rose added.
“He’s been acting weird today. He doesn’t say anything and just keeps looking at me.”
Hamil, still holding Rose, walked over to Fenrex.
At that moment, Fenrex sighed and set down his fork.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Just like Rose, Fenrex hopped down from his chair and turned his back without hesitation, leaving the dining room.
“What’s up with him?”
“I don’t know.”
Hearing their voices behind him, Fenrex let out another sigh.
The imprint was gone.
He already knew that. But this morning, the reality of it hit him hard.
Even when he looked at Rose, his heart no longer raced like it used to. Her attention didn’t make him feel like he had the world.
It didn’t upset him when Rose talked to other people, nor did it annoy him.
And yet…
He stopped walking and placed a hand over his chest.
“Why do I feel so empty?”
It was like he had simply returned to life before the imprint—but something felt off.
Even if his heart no longer beat wildly at the sight of Rose, he still felt like he might cry.
Her attention didn’t make him euphoric, but if she ignored him… he thought that might hurt.
Even if her conversations with others didn’t make him jealous or irritated anymore, it still felt wrong somehow.
“Something’s wrong with me.”
Muttering without realizing it, Fenrex suddenly turned and ran to his room.
“Mom!”
The door burst open, revealing his Mom, Kura, and his Dad, Napharoa, who scrambled apart in a panic.
“Huh? Oh—Fenrex! You done eating?”
“You little brat! No sense of timing—ugh! Kura!”
Napharoa tried to scold his son, but Kura elbowed him in the ribs and, a little flustered, smiled as she welcomed Fenrex.
Ignoring his father completely, Fenrex ran straight into Kura’s arms.
Seeing his drooping ears and tail, Kura gently stroked his head and asked.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Why do you look so down?”
“Mom…”
Fenrex nuzzled his face into Kura’s chest and said:.
“Something’s wrong with me.”
“Hmm?”
“I feel… empty. Like I’m about to cry, and my chest hurts. Like something’s just not right.”
Kura looked at her son with deep sympathy.
The symptoms Fenrex was describing were the same as those experienced by beastfolk who had lost their imprinted partners.
The only saving grace was that while others suffered and sometimes died when their imprint was forcibly broken, Fenrex’s bond had been reversed—unbound voluntarily. It wasn’t as severe, and he’d recover with time.
“…It’s okay. You’ll be alright, sweetheart.”
At Kura’s gentle reassurance, Fenrex finally burst into tears.
“Mom…”
Tears welled up in Kura’s eyes too.
Why did her youngest, her precious baby, have to be born with such strong blood from their ancestors—just enough to suffer this kind of pain?
She wanted to curse the beastfolk gods.
“Kura, honey, my love—why are you crying? Don’t cry, okay? Is it because of this brat? This brat! I’m gonna spank that butt of yours!”
Seeing the imprint’s tears, Napharoa panicked and bared his teeth.
“Who are you calling ‘this brat’?! And who said you could just spank him!?”
Kura snapped at Napharoa, even though she herself had spanked Fenrex before.
“But! He made you cry!”
“And don’t call him ‘this brat’ either, you damn mutt! Is that what you say to your own kid?! Huh?!”
Among the beastfolk royalty, especially the wolf tribe, the imprinted partner always took priority—even over parents or children.
But even so, no one took it to Napharoa’s ridiculous extremes.
After Kura’s scolding, Napharoa drooped his ears and rolled his eyes like a guilty pup.
Yet his claws were still slightly unsheathed—he was clearly still mad that Fenrex had made Kura cry.
‘Don’t tell me this kid’s genes really are like our ancestor’s…’
Kura shook her head.
“No way. That can’t be. Our ancestor was such a legendary wolf.”
Even though Kura was of the lion tribe, she had grown up hearing stories of the great wolf who founded the Beastfolk Kingdom.
He was courageous, noble, and nothing like carefree, easygoing Napharoa. Comparing the two felt like an insult to the founder.
‘Yeah. I’m just overthinking.’
She glared at Napharoa and said.
“Stop fooling around and go find the Duke. Ask him when he’s leaving. Time’s not on our side.”
“But it’s only been 16 hours since we reunited…”
“Not going? Want to sleep alone tonight?”
She smiled sweetly as she said it, and Napharoa flinched in horror.
“No way!”
“Then get moving. Go ask when they’re heading out.”
“Tch.”
Grumbling to himself, Napharoa trudged out of the room.
Kura shook her head at her childish husband, but just as she was turning back around, the door suddenly burst open again.
>“What? Why are you back?”
With a confused look on his face, Napharoa answered.
“They’re leaving now.”
