95.

At Von’s murmured admiration, Archie tilted his head with curiosity.

“Are there a lot of ponds like this in Diazi?”

“Yes. The gardens at Diazi are quite unique. The land has a lot of natural ponds and streams, and the ancestors who disliked artificial changes decided to leave everything untouched. It’s a place where you wouldn’t be surprised to encounter fairies,” Von replied, his gaze still transfixed on the massive trees around them.

“Since it’s untouched by people, in a way, this place might actually feel…,” Von hesitated.

“Might feel…?” Archie prompted.

“More like it could truly grant a wish.”

Archie burst into laughter a moment after Von finished, clearly finding Von’s innocent remark amusing. Irritated, Von frowned.

“Sir Bains, you can be so… naïve for your age. There’s no way a wish could really come true. Life isn’t that simple.”

The twelve-year-old’s words and expression were almost villainous.

When he played with Archie, Von often felt as though he’d found a long-lost younger sibling. But moments like this reminded him of the cultural gap between them.

“An old legend is just a legend. If you want something from the goddess, it’d be faster to donate at the temple.”

“Oh, I see. Then the wise young master must not be making any wishes today?” Von replied, teasing.

Archie glanced around, then leaned close to Von, whispering just loud enough for him to hear.

“Well, we’re here, so I might as well make one. Besides, the real reason I came today was to make Uncle happy.”

Archie was fully immersed in his little ‘mission’ to bring joy to his uncle. Still, he couldn’t hide the excitement of being out of the castle for the first time in a long while.

‘Of course, he’d be excited,’ Von thought, watching the boy’s nose wrinkle in enthusiasm. He finally let out a chuckle and shook his head.

Just then, a soft voice called out to the pair.

“Don’t go too close to the water. It’s dangerous.”

“Uncle!” Archie exclaimed, reacting to the voice as if they’d been separated for days rather than a few seconds. His response was enthusiastic but still awkward, as he wasn’t entirely accustomed to calling Norma “Uncle.”

“Come on up.”

Norma smiled and extended his hand toward Archie, who was standing a bit lower on a rocky ledge.

A hand.

Archie loved Norma’s hand—big, warm, and especially because it reminded him of the white light he’d seen from it the first time they met, a radiance described in books about Sir Lantus himself.

‘Someday, my hands will be as big and strong as Uncle’s, right?’

To Archie, Norma’s hand was a visible measure of the growth he aspired to. While calling him “Uncle” still felt strange, taking his hand never did.

Eager to take the hand before him, Archie started to get up, but after crouching for so long, his legs were numb. Like a newborn foal, his balance wavered, and his body tipped sideways.

“Huh?”

“Young master!”

The knights cried out in alarm, and Von and Harry both reached out to grab the boy as he teetered toward the water.

Archie shut his eyes, bracing himself for an unceremonious dunk in the pond. But instead of the shock of cold water, he felt himself lifted up.

“I did say it was dangerous. You really keep me on my toes,” Norma’s voice came from above, laced with amusement.

Archie blinked his eyes open, realizing that Norma had caught him mid-fall. Relieved, Harry let his hand drop, thankful for the timely intervention.

‘When did he move?’

Von, who had been standing right next to Archie, was left frozen, hand outstretched, his heart still pounding.

“Uncle!” Archie shouted belatedly, finding himself scooped up in Norma’s arm—not quite a ‘princess carry,’ but close enough to feel slightly humiliated.

“Put me down, please!”

“That pond is deeper than it looks. At least three times your height, I’d say. You’re still much too small, Archie.”

Archie’s eyes widened at the revelation, and Norma laughed, setting him carefully back on the rock. With a swift motion, he leapt up beside the boy.

Von, feeling somewhat like a ghost in this scene, followed up without complaint.

Archie glanced back at the pond. “But it looks like it’d barely reach my knees.”

“Looks can be deceiving; it’s deeper than it seems. Now, take my hand,” Norma said, offering his hand again. Archie grasped it without hesitation.

Harry, who had been anxiously watching, finally relaxed, seeing the young master safely in Norma’s grasp.

‘So it only reaches my knees, but it’s actually taller than Uncle. And Uncle is really tall. How mysterious.’

Despite his near tumble into the pond, Archie’s eyes roamed in fascination over the enchanting surroundings. He craned his neck, peering down at the pond as though searching for something he might have left behind. The pond’s shallow edge looked harmless, but the murky center hinted at greater depths.

Norma watched Archie’s small head moving restlessly as the boy took in his surroundings, his curiosity making him look like an eager puppy. He found Archie’s boundless fascination both endearing and nostalgic.

Walking hand-in-hand with Archie reminded him of when Nicholas was just that small. Of course, Nicholas had been a very quiet child, quite unlike the bouncy, lively Archie.

The contrast between the two children tugged a quiet laugh from him.

“I really can’t take my eyes off you,” he remarked softly.

Archie suddenly felt self-conscious. ‘Did I look like too much of a kid just now?’ He quickly composed himself, replying with an adult-like seriousness.

“I’m not a child, you know.”

“I know,” Norma replied simply.

Archie pursed his lips, unable to think of a good retort, and turned his head away, a faint pout on his face. Norma couldn’t hold back another chuckle.

‘I remember that feeling. Being teased but not having a comeback for it.’

Von, watching from behind, gazed at Archie’s back with sympathy, understanding the young master’s frustration all too well.

After a while of silent walking, Archie found himself, out of habit, stealing glances at Norma. Watching his uncle’s face had become his new favorite pastime.

‘…What were you just looking at?’

Though it lasted only a second, Archie, ever observant when it came to Norma, couldn’t help but notice something.

At first, Archie thought Norma had merely been admiring the scenery. But there was nothing in the direction of Norma’s gaze; it was as if he had been staring into empty air.

Though it was only a brief moment, Archie was sure he’d caught a glimpse of a rare expression on Norma’s face—a blank, rigid mask he hadn’t seen before.

‘So that expression… he must be sad. Even though he said he was happy, he still can’t hide when he’s upset, can he?’

The sharp-minded boy’s thoughts whirred with urgency.

‘I need to show him something fun, quickly…’

Determined to lift Norma’s spirits, Archie spun around, searching for the bridge. His eyes landed on the largest pond they had encountered in the forest, spanned by a bridge.

With a gleeful voice, Archie shouted, “There it is! The bridge!”

“The first bridge,” Norma said, smiling.

The bridge was roughly thirty paces long and narrow enough for two men to walk side by side. The pond was deep, and crossing the bridge with eyes closed would be a test of courage for anyone without exceptional balance.

But Archie McFoy knew no fear.

“I’ll go first!” he declared.

“Be careful. Even in early summer, falling in might give you a nasty chill,” Norma called, waving casually.

Unlike an overprotective guardian, Norma was the sort who believed in nurturing independence and courage.

“Don’t worry!” Archie replied, already halfway across the bridge.

Once again, Harry was the one feeling flustered, racing after the young master, who’d darted off with barely a backward glance.

As Archie made his way across the bridge with his eyes closed, the McFoy knights, used to watching over him with protective caution, felt their hearts tighten. But to their relief, the young master walked a straight line with ease, reminding them that he was no stranger to wielding both sword energy and divine power.

“Oh! Magnificent, young master!” Von exclaimed, clapping with genuine admiration. Archie, now safely across, turned to flash them a triumphant grin.

“Uncle, it’s your turn!” he called out proudly.

Norma waved back at Archie, stepping up to the bridge with a steady smile.

But as he stood at the edge, staring at the deep water below, Von felt an odd pang of unease. He knew about the struggles Norma had faced, the nightmares that left him sleepless and the vacant gazes at things unseen. Though Norma had seemed almost entirely free from these troubles since his marriage, Von knew he still slept fitfully.

‘Considering he spent those long years sealed in water, this feels too risky.’

The idea of Norma crossing a bridge over water, with his eyes closed, didn’t sit well with Von. He couldn’t hold back his concern and asked, “Sir, are you sure you’re all right?”

Norma glanced over his shoulder, meeting Von’s gaze with a faint smile.

“I suppose we’ll see.”

His reply, casual but ambiguous, left Von momentarily speechless. In the next instant, as Von’s face creased in worry, Norma closed his eyes and took his first step onto the bridge.

“No, wait—!” Von began, but Norma interrupted with a quiet murmur.

“With him waiting for me like that, how can I refuse?”

Looking across the bridge, Norma caught sight of Archie’s expectant violet eyes, his lips lifting into a gentle smile.

“Nothing for it. I’d better get going.”

Muttering to himself, Norma began crossing the bridge, his steps light and assured.

‘Maybe I was worried for nothing. He’s been doing well since the marriage, after all.’

Von watched as Norma crossed the bridge with ease, reaching the other side in no time. Laughing, Archie slapped hands with him, both of them chuckling in shared delight, and Von finally relaxed.

With each bridge, Archie grew bolder, his steps more confident. The knights held their breath as he dashed across the second bridge, but he completed the crossing in mere seconds.

Finally, they arrived at the third bridge, and once again, Archie led the way.

“Well done, young master! So impressive!” The knights cheered and applauded, and none were louder than Von Bains.

Responding to their encouragement, Archie dashed across the third bridge, practically showing off as he moved with ease.

Once he reached the other side, Archie didn’t forget the tradition. He took out a gold coin and tossed it into the pond ahead. Then, contrary to his earlier scoffing at Von, he closed his eyes and made a wish, lingering longer than anyone expected.

When he was done, Archie turned back, his face flushed with excitement, waving his arms at Norma.

Norma approached the third bridge with the same relaxed demeanor as before, stepping onto it with steady, graceful strides.

But as he reached the middle of the bridge, he came to an abrupt halt.