It was well known that Count Basilian had three sons from his deceased wife.
However, the three brothers of the count’s family were not known to the public.
This was because they had never shown themselves outside.
Even before infiltrating the count’s household, Chesha had worked hard to gather information from the underworld, but she had little success.
She had barely managed to find out their ages, names, and brief descriptions of their appearances.
The eldest son was thirteen this year.
The twin younger brothers were said to be eleven.
She widened her eyes and carefully observed the boys in the distance.
‘They all look like they have strong personalities.’
Moreover, the twins didn’t seem to resemble each other much.
As she leaned forward to get a closer look, Kierne let out a quiet sigh.
He closed the window and placed Chesha back on the desk.
Then, suddenly, he retrieved the sword that was placed on one side of the office.
Srrrng—
The low, chilling sound of metal being unsheathed sent a shiver through the air.
The dark blade, as if it absorbed even sunlight, was strikingly unique.
Chesha, momentarily captivated by the unusual sword, blinked.
It was unfamiliar to see Kierne examining the blade against the light.
His eyes, which she had seen all these past days—always languid like the afternoon sunlight—were now sharp and gleaming.
The flicker of red in his gaze was chilling.
A primal sense of unease ran down her spine.
However, the strange atmosphere quickly dissipated.
“Chesha.”
Kierne smiled softly as he looked at her.
“I think I’ll be busy for a while…”
His eyes curved thinly, like a crescent moon, as he asked,
“You’ll be fine on your own, right?”
That was exactly what she had been hoping for.
“Yes!”
Chesha nodded enthusiastically.
At that moment—
The sound of neat, measured footsteps could be heard.
Following those deliberate steps, there was a polite knock.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
With his permission, the door opened.
A boy in a knight’s uniform stepped into the office.
He exuded an entirely different aura from Kierne, who carried a relaxed and leisurely air.
This boy was like a finely honed blade.
His gaze fell directly upon Chesha.
In those pigeon-blood-red eyes, a tiny baby was reflected.
His cold, straight-lined eyes narrowed slightly.
A brief silence passed.
As they quietly locked eyes, Chesha tilted her head.
‘…What?’
Why was he staring like that?
She pouted her lips slightly, puzzled, just as Kierne lazily greeted him, letting the sword dangle to one side.
“Welcome back, Belzeon.”
The boy was the eldest son of the count’s family—Belzeon Basilian.
Instead of responding to his father’s greeting, Belzeon delivered his report in a stiff voice.
“You must go to the Black Forest.”
His voice carried no warmth.
After delivering his emotionless report, Belzeon turned as if to leave immediately.
Had Kierne not spoken, he would have surely walked out without hesitation.
“They look alike, don’t they?”
“…….”
The short and cryptic question hooked the boy like a fish on a line.
His body froze mid-step, still facing away.
As if he had taken in a deep breath, his shoulders subtly rose.
Slowly turning around, Belzeon let out a short, hollow laugh.
His composed expression twisted into a sharp scowl.
Cold fury flickered in his once-emotionless eyes.
“If you’ve gone mad, please do so quietly by yourself.”
His voice, as sharp as frost, cut through the air like a blade.
“And don’t drag innocent people into it.”
With that, Belzeon left the office.
Kierne let out a soft chuckle.
“The eldest brother is a little cold, so I wonder if Chesha was startled?”
A little cold? He was practically an ice statue.
Any colder, and the Serpent’s Castle would have turned into a Castle of Ice.
However, Chesha, acting as mature as a baby could, replied,
“I not scared.”
“Oh, my daughter, how brave.”
Fastening the buttons on his hunting attire, Kierne spoke soothingly.
“The eldest, and the others too—they’re all not quite sane, but… they’re not bad kids. They’ll all come to like Chesha soon enough.”
“…….”
Not quite sane, huh.
That was certainly reassuring.
Chesha sat on the sofa, her round eyes watching Kierne as he put on his light armor.
After straightening his outfit in the mirror, Kierne finally approached her.
He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
“I’ll probably be back by tomorrow morning, so go to bed first.”
“Yes, Daddy. But…”
Chesha looked up at him and asked.
“Who do I look like?”
It was already the second time she had heard this.
Once at the orphanage, and once earlier today, in front of Belzeon.
She couldn’t help but ask what it meant.
Kierne’s smile deepened as he gazed down at her large, pink eyes.
“I’ll tell you when I get back.”
His long fingers gently pinched Chesha’s plump cheek before letting go.
“So, wait patiently for Daddy, okay?”
“Yes.”
Chesha stood by the window and watched as Kierne left.
At the spot where the three brothers had been earlier, Kierne now stood with his knights behind him, talking side by side with his eldest son, Belzeon.
Belzeon was composed.
His expressionless face made him look less like a son speaking to his father and more like a subordinate reporting to a superior.
The intense emotions he had briefly revealed in the office were nowhere to be seen.
Observing them, Chesha clicked her tongue.
‘I don’t know what’s going on, but this family is definitely a mess.’
Well…
It would be stranger if the black mage and his sons, living in this pitch-black castle, were actually sane.
After a brief conversation, Kierne swiftly mounted his horse alone.
He lifted his head and looked directly toward Chesha’s window.
Even from a distance, their gazes aligned perfectly.
It seemed he had known all along that she was watching.
Kierne smirked and playfully blew her a kiss with his hand.
‘Ugh, how childish.’
Cursing inwardly, Chesha still mimicked his gesture, sending a tiny kiss back with her small hand.
Kierne chuckled in amusement, then spurred his horse forward.
Leading the knights, he departed from the castle.
Chesha watched the orderly procession until the very end.
Once the knights had completely disappeared and the servants who had seen them off had scattered…
Once even Belzeon was gone…
Chesha moved swiftly.
Forget waiting patiently.
She was finally alone.
There was no way she was going to waste this precious opportunity.
‘Today is the day I completely investigate the count’s household!’
With a determined heart, she stretched her hands into the air.
Even though her fully extended hands were no bigger than autumn leaves, they reached out firmly.
And from the ordinary, carpeted floor, colorful flowers began to bloom.
A small butterfly fluttered up from the freshly blossomed flowers.
A breeze from somewhere made her short hair sway gently, and her clear pink eyes sparkled like stars.
Just as she was about to get serious and use her power in earnest—
“……!”
Chesha immediately withdrew her magic.
The flowers and butterflies that had been vividly unfolding vanished in an instant.
Only the faint scent of flowers lingered in the room.
She pressed her lips together tightly.
There was an intruder.
A presence, filled with pure malice, was approaching her.
The Serpent’s Castle, located in the middle of the Black Forest, was not a place anyone could easily stumble upon.
It was likely an outsider who had entered today along with the returning knights.
She didn’t know why they were targeting her, but it was infuriating.
‘Why did they have to come now, of all times?!’
She was about to waste the rare opportunity she had secured.
Her eyes glinted sharply.
‘Should I just feed them to a man-eating flower?’
Creeeak—
As she was considering punishment, the door slowly creaked open.
Through the gap, she heard ragged breathing.
And the moment she saw who stepped inside—
“…Huh?”
She completely forgot about killing or sparing them and let out a genuinely surprised sound.
The creeping presence suddenly rushed forward.
Thump!
A large hand clamped over her mouth.
A young man growled in a low voice.
“Make a sound, and I’ll kill you.”
Chesha’s eyes grew wide as she stared at him.
And for good reason—she knew this face.
With trembling hands, the man shoved a wad of cloth into her mouth and tightly bound her body.
He was from the underworld.
And the moment he recognized Chesha, his eyes also went wide in shock.
“R-Ritesha?!”
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
