“Is there a way?”
Ian looked at Bernaba.
However, Bernaba shook his head, indicating he was also unaware.
“The Dragon wouldn’t know either. This is something only passed down within the royal family.”
With a smile, Kura pulled something out of her pocket.
“A bracelet?”
As Ian had guessed, it was a bracelet woven from thin wooden twigs.
“The World Tree?”
“You recognized it immediately.”
Kura skillfully untied the knot and fastened the wooden bracelet around the wrist of the sleeping Fenrex.
“Since the imprint determines a lifetime mate, the deity of the beastfolk didn’t want it to be decided too early. So, at six years old—the age when one can consciously imprint—children wear bracelets woven from the branches of the World Tree to prevent accidental imprinting.”
“So, wearing that bracelet prevents imprinting?”
“Yes, exactly. And it can’t be forcibly removed. Once it’s put on, it stays until it naturally breaks on the child’s 18th birthday.”
Ian examined the bracelet, which had a small leaf attached, and asked,
“But Fenrex is only five, isn’t he?”
Kura gave a bitter smile.
“Yes. In the early days of the beastfolk, imprinting was possible from birth. However, as their bloodline thinned over generations, the imprinting age gradually increased to six. For Fenrex to have imprinted at five… it must mean his ancestor’s blood has grown strong again.”
Pride, regret, and worry mingled in Kura’s eyes.
A stronger ancestral bloodline meant stronger wild instincts.
“Then… does that mean the bracelet won’t work?”
“No, it will. Even the ancestors used these.”
Ian nodded in understanding.
“So, as long as he wears it, we don’t have to worry about him imprinting again?”
“Yes. There’s no need to worry about that.”
Ian let out a sigh of relief.
Though he didn’t like it, if Rose chose Fenrex when she grew up, he would have to accept it—albeit painfully. But if she didn’t, he saw no reason to accept Fenrex, who had treated Rose poorly in the past.
“Then, are you planning to leave the child here?”
Bernaba stroked his smooth chin with his small hands, like an old man deep in thought.
“My heart tells me to take him with me, but if the child wants to stay here, then, with all due respect to the Duke, I would like to entrust him to you.”
Ian’s eyebrows twitched.
‘Leave him here? Does she think the ducal estate is a daycare center?’
Kura noticed Ian’s expression and smiled wryly.
“Actually, there are some issues in the Beastfolk Kingdom. For now, it’s safer for him to stay here.”
Bernaba tilted his head in curiosity.
In the Beastfolk Kingdom, the royal family was revered as a divine lineage granted power by the gods…
Furthermore, for the wolf tribe—the royal family of the beastfolk—once an alpha wolf was established, no rebellion ever occurred.
But now, there was an issue preventing Prince Fenrex from staying in the Beastfolk Kingdom?
“What’s the issue?”
“Hmm…”
Kura glanced at Ian for a moment—a silent indication that she couldn’t speak about the Beastfolk Kingdom’s situation in front of the imperial duke.
Ian quickly spoke up.
“Let’s eat first, then.”
Bernaba agreed, understanding that Kura’s concern was not unfounded.
Kura opened a vial of medicine and slowly poured it into Fenrex’s mouth.
As Fenrex instinctively swallowed, Ian nodded at Bernaba.
Snap!
Bernaba snapped his fingers, and Fenrex’s eyebrows trembled before his eyes fluttered open.
“Fenrex?”
As he woke up, he could feel that something within him had disappeared.
“Ugh…”
Tears welled up in his eyes as he bit his lip.
Kura quickly pulled Fenrex into her arms, gently patting his back.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.”
Ian looked at Bernaba, puzzled by Fenrex’s sudden outburst of tears.
Bernaba waved his hand dismissively, as if it were nothing to worry about.
“It’s fine. It’s just his reaction to the loss of something that had been part of him.”
Kura nodded in agreement.
“Yes. He’ll be okay in a little while.”
For a while, the reception room was filled with the sound of a child weeping over his lost imprint.
***
Lying on her stomach with her hands propped under her chin, Rose pouted as she stared at the door.
“Fred.”
“Yes?”
Fred, buried under a mountain of paperwork, was instead helping Rose color in a princess’s dress on a piece of paper. He lifted his head.
“Since his mom is here, Fenrex will go home now, right?”
“…Most likely.”
Rose puffed out her cheeks slightly.
Fred put down his colored pencil and asked,
“Do you not want Prince Fenrex to go home?”
“…It’s not that I don’t want him to.”
“Then?”
Rose let out a deep sigh.
“I’m just worried he won’t come back.”
“Why would you think that?”
At Fred’s question, Rose sighed again.
“Uncle Fred, you really don’t understand anything.”
Fred tilted his head in confusion.
But Rose didn’t seem willing to explain further. Instead of answering, she simply sighed again.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and Ian entered the study.
“Rose.”
“Uncle!”
Rose immediately stood up and ran toward Ian.
“What were you doing?” Ian asked.
“I was coloring.”
Ian glanced at the sketchbook.
‘Is something on her mind?’
Coloring was Rose’s favorite activity.
Ever since he had started drawing princess series illustrations for her, she usually completed at least one or two pictures a day.
But today’s drawing had only a few rough patches of color—likely done by Rose—while the rest was neatly filled in, probably by Fred.
Noticing Ian’s gaze, Fred gave an awkward smile.
“Uncle, hug me.”
Rose stretched out her arms.
Ian gestured at Fred before lifting Rose into his arms.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
What’s wrong?
“She’s probably thinking about Lady Marianne.”
Fred silently mouthed the words, and Ian understood.
Patting Rose’s back, Ian left the study.
Rose, usually talkative, clung to his neck in silence.
Ian didn’t ask.
This was something she needed to open up about on her own. Pressuring her wouldn’t solve anything.
He walked out of the estate and headed to the greenhouse.
With spring in full bloom, the greenhouse was brimming with vibrant flowers.
As he strolled inside, Rose murmured softly,
“…Will Fenrex leave with his mother?”
Ian stopped walking and replied in a calm voice,
“Well… I’m not sure. His mother didn’t just come here to take him back.”
Rose lifted her head.
“Then why is she here?”
Ian smiled softly.
“She came because she missed him.”
Hearing this, Rose’s expression fell, and she buried her face against Ian’s shoulder again.
Ian resumed walking, gently patting her back.
“…I miss my mom too.”
Ian felt dampness spreading on his shoulder.
“I see.”
His voice carried deep regret.
Even when he was the top-ranked favorite of the constellations, and even now as a master swordsman, he still couldn’t bring back the dead.
Back on Earth, photos and videos could at least offer some comfort. But in this world, such things didn’t exist.
Even if she wanted to see her mother, there was nothing to show her.
‘What if there’s a portrait?’
A sudden thought struck him, and he turned to go find Sebastian.
But then he hesitated.
Ian’s parents were cold-hearted people. If they had forgotten her, maybe—but if they remembered, there was no way they would have kept a portrait of the daughter they had erased from the family registry.
‘No… I should ask when Rose isn’t around, just in case.’
Suppressing his urgency, Ian continued walking slowly.
As Rose’s sobs grew softer, they eventually faded into the quiet rhythm of her steady breathing.
She had trained in the morning and was already exhausted. Now, having cried herself to sleep, it was only natural that she drifted off.
Still, Ian did not stop walking.
He paced around the greenhouse several times before Sebastian approached him.
“My lord.”
Sebastian reached out to take Rose from him, but Ian shook his head and spoke softly.
“Is there any portrait of Marianne left?”
Sebastian thought for a moment before answering.
“The late Duke never mentioned anything about Lady Marianne’s portrait.”
“Then search the portrait hall and the storage. See if you can find one.”
“Understood.”
Sebastian quickly issued orders to the servants.
Ian carefully left the greenhouse, making sure not to wake Rose.
The warm late-spring breeze ruffled her soft hair, but she didn’t stir.
After laying her down in her bedroom, Ian gently wiped her hands, feet, and tear-stained face with a warm cloth.
Then, he whispered,
“Er.”
— Errr?
Spinning elegantly in midair, Ermenia landed gracefully on the bed and looked at Ian.
“Can you create an illusion from a painting?”
— Errr!
Ian sighed.
That response meant illusions couldn’t be created just by looking at a painting.
If Ian had met Marianne, he could have perfectly reconstructed her. But he had never seen her before.
Even in the <flow>, the descriptions of Marianne were brief and didn’t reveal much about her personality.
Sigh…
Ian had wanted to let Rose see her mother, even if only through an illusion.
Noticing his frustration, Ermenia, who had been idly licking its paw, turned to look at him.
“Rose misses her mother.”
【Then just show her. What’s the problem?】
“I can’t show her someone who’s already dead.”
Ian’s answer made Ermenia’s pupils narrow.
【Did you forget who I am?】
“…What?”
With an annoyed flick of its tail, Ermenia tapped the bed.
【I’m the Grand Spirit of Illusions! I can create not just visions, but dreams too!】
“…Dreams?”
Scoffing, Ermenia elegantly strutted toward Rose’s face.
Then, placing its fluffy paw on her forehead, it murmured,
【I can create an illusion using her own memories.】
A faint glow shimmered where their skin touched before fading.
Ian hurriedly grabbed Ermenia’s paw.
“What are you doing?! The Marianne in Rose’s memory—”
Ermenia bared its teeth, hissing.
【Do you take me for a fool?! Do you think I would hurt my master?!】
“…What?”
【The illusion I show will be of the past that Rose buried deep inside her heart.】
“…A buried past?”
As Ian hesitated, Ermenia pulled its paw away roughly, licked it, and continued.
【Yes. Memories from birth to when she first learned to walk.】
As if to prove the spirit’s words, Rose, still asleep, smiled faintly and murmured,
“…Mom.”
【See? I was right.】
Ermenia spoke triumphantly.
Ian nodded in acknowledgment.
He stood by her bedside, looking down at Rose with a sorrowful gaze, unable to reach out for fear of waking her.
***
“Yawn… Did I eat too much?”
Standing in the hallway, she let out a huge yawn and muttered to herself.
This ducal estate was strange.
Even though it wasn’t her home, it felt comfortable—more so than anywhere else.
Even in the palace where she had been born and raised, she had never felt such ease. Her body felt relaxed, almost sluggish.
“I wonder what Master is doing.”
Trying to shake off her drowsiness, Hamil started walking, intent on finding Julius.
That was when she spotted a woman she had never seen before.
The stranger wasn’t dressed in a maid’s uniform, so she didn’t appear to be a servant of the household.
Nor did she move like an assassin or spy—her behavior was far too suspicious for that.
She was tense, hunched over, as if afraid of being caught.
Who is she?
Hamil strode toward her and tapped her shoulder.
“Who are you?”
