“What’s going on here?”
Chase scowled at Raphel and Aileena, who appeared in a mess.
“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I should have been more careful…”
Fortunately, neither Raphel nor Aileena was seriously injured, but their appearance was a disaster.
Both had wild, unkempt hair, and their once pristine clothes were dirtied with mud.
“Aileena.”
Erden was also surprised.
It was the first time his daughter fought with someone.
She was always the one to yield and be patient, like an older sister or a grown-up. Her behavior today was unfamiliar.
“Raphelion, explain yourself. Why did you do it?”
Chase stared down at Raphel.
Startled by his cold tone, Raphel trembled before finally bursting into tears.
“Waahhh! She said I was childish after looking at this!”
Raphel pointed with his small finger at the snow globe in Tia’s hand.
Chase now understood what happened.
The snow globe was a gift from Lizelle to Raphel, who loved stars, and it was his most treasured possession.
For Raphelion, it was invaluable.
Being called childish over such a cherished item must have been unbearable.
“Sniff, Lizelle gave it to me! Lizelle!”
What hurt Raphel more than being called a baby was having the snow globe mocked.
The snowball was a gift from Lizelle, who had left.
It was even something that Raphel left on the table next to his bed while he was sleeping.
Because it was a gift filled with precious memories of Lizelle, Raphel always carried the snow globe with him wherever he went.
Calling such a precious thing childish…
“Waahhh!”
Raphel burst into tears, sobbing loudly. It had been difficult containing everything he had been holding back until now.
“Raphelion.”
Chase sighed and picked up Raphel.
“Sniff, uncle…”
Raphel wrapped his arms around Chase’s neck and buried his face in his shoulder.
“It’s okay, don’t cry.”
Chase awkwardly patted Raphel on the back.
“Haha…”
Erden let out a dry laugh at the unexpected tenderness of his friend.
He’d heard that Chase found his nephew and would also be getting married soon, but Chase’s appearance was so unfamiliar that it made him wonder just how much a person could change.
“…”
Meanwhile, Aileena silently watched Raphel crying in Chase’s arms.
Her hands gripped her skirt tightly, and her lips were pressed into a thin line.
Aileena did not like seeing Raphel crying like a child.
But what she disliked even more was the feeling of wanting to cry herself.
“Aileena.”
Erden crouched down in front of Aileena. He held his daughter’s hands tightly with both his hands and looked into her eyes affectionately.
“Why did you do it? That wasn’t like you.”
“…”
Aileena looked at her father.
Her delicate eyes trembled like a butterfly’s wings, and her chin quivered.
“It’s okay. I’m not angry. Why were you upset with Raphelion when you don’t usually get angry at others?”
“…It’s because…”
Aileena lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Hmm? Say that again.”
“He got dirt on my shoes.”
“Your shoes?”
Looking down, Erden noticed Aileena’s pink shoes were dirty with mud.
He’d thought they were dirty from rolling on the ground, but it seemed Raphel had gotten them dirty.
“Was it because of your shoes? These shoes?”
At his words, Aileena raised her head sharply, her eyes filled with resentment.
Tears were welling up in her eyes.
“They were picked out by Mother…”
“…”
“Mother chose them herself for today because she said we were going out together. Waaahhh!”
Finally, Aileena burst into tears she had been holding back.
The room was filled with the cries of two children.
Erden was startled by his daughter’s sudden tears.
He quickly pulled her into a warm embrace.
“I see. I was too thoughtless.”
“Mother… sniff… even though she’s sick… sniff… chose these for me…”
Aileena burst into tears in the arms of her father.
She must have been holding back so much based on how she kept shedding tears.
Unlike Chase, who seemed uncomfortable, Erden felt strangely pleased.
His daughter, who usually acted so mature, now seemed like a child her age.
The room was flooded with tears.
The children, clinging to their family, poured out the emotions they had kept bottled up.
Time passed.
Raphelion’s loud cries eventually quieted down.
In their place, Chase could hear soft, steady breaths.
“He’s asleep.”
Completely worn out from crying, Raphelion had fallen asleep in Chase’s arms.
“I’ll take him.”
Rohan carefully took Raphel from Chase, ensuring the child wouldn’t wake.
He bowed to Erden and left the room with the sleeping boy.
“Whew. When Raphel wakes, I’ll tell him to apologize to Aileena.”
Chase ran his hand through his hair, as if his worries had been relieved.
“It seems neither of them is entirely innocent. Isn’t that right, Aileena?”
“Sniff, yes…”
Aileena, who had mostly stopped crying, wiped away her tears and answered sullenly.
“Raphelion was wrong to dirty your shoes, but you were also wrong to call his belonging childish. Right?”
“Yes… I’ll apologize.”
Erden gently wiped his daughter’s tears with his thumb before hugging her tightly.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“Are you leaving so soon?”
“I must. I can’t be away too long—I’m worried about Sylvia.”
Chase personally opened the door and saw them off.
While waiting for the carriage, Erden turned to Chase.
“Congratulations again on your wedding.”
Erden congratulated Chase on his wedding once again.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to feel burdened by what I said. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“Okay.”
Chase patted Erden on the shoulder twice.
Soon, a dazzling carriage arrived.
Aileena climbed down from her father’s arms and gave a polite bow to Chase.
“I’ll apologize to Raphelion next time.”
Her bright blue eyes sparkled with determination.
Chase smiled at her resolute expression.
Her confident gaze reminded him of Wilhazelle.
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to tell Raphelion as well.”
“Yes. Sorry for the inconvenience. Goodbye.”
Aileena, who had been polite to the end, got into the carriage with Erden.
Chase, watching the departing carriage, recalled Erden’s earlier request.
Normally, he would decide immediately, but now he wasn’t alone.
He needed to discuss it with Wilhazelle.
He went into the mansion, thinking that he would bring it up when he saw her tomorrow.
A smile appeared on his lips, as if he were already married.
* * *
“Still no contact?!”
After losing contact with Hazen, the man became furious.
His name is Brax.
He is Hazen’s master and employer.
“I’m sorry, sir… There’s still no communication.”
Despite dozens of attempts to reach Hazen’s communication device, there had been no response.
This had never happened since the day Brax and Hazen first met.
“Damn it!”
Brax threw down a glass he was holding.
There was a loud crash and shards of scattered everywhere.
“No one can contact Hazen?!”
“I—I’m sorry!”
The guild members dropped to their knees.
Brax paced anxiously.
There was no way Hazen wouldn’t contact him for this long.
Something must have happened to him.
There was a high possibility he was caught by the Duke.
“Find Hazen immediately. Find out what happened!”
Brax shouted at his subordinates while still wearing his mask.
As soon as the order was given, the men hurriedly ran out of the underground room.
Meanwhile, Hazen remained trapped, unable to escape his cat form due to the magical restraint.
