Chapter 109

After the sketch work for the family portrait was finished, Enria and Caldeon headed to the parlor with Hayden in tow.

 

It was because Roseanne had suggested having tea together with Tearen.

 

Roseanne and Tearen, who had arrived first and were sitting side by side, seemed oddly tense.

 

They had probably taken those seats assuming Caldeon and Enria would naturally sit together but once they actually sat down, the atmosphere had become awkward for them in unexpected ways.

 

Enria smiled warmly, amused by the way Roseanne and Tearen kept fidgeting and glancing at each other, and took a seat by the window.

 

Caldeon, holding Hayden in his arms, naturally sat beside her.

 

The moment they entered, Hayden looked around and asked Caldeon,

 

“Windel yhere. Daddy, where Windel go?”

 

Because Hayden dragged out the “del” sound, trying so hard to pronounce it properly, everyone’s lips curled into smiles.

 

But Roseanne quickly lost his smile and wore a strange expression.

 

The last time he met Hayden, the boy had spoken with surprisingly mature sentences and fairly clear pronunciation.

 

Maybe it was just the mature phrasing that made it seem that way, but regardless, Hayden now sounded noticeably younger—enough for Roseanne to feel a bit unsettled.

 

“You want me to call him?”

 

“Mm!”

 

When Caldeon asked, Hayden nodded instantly, so Caldeon smiled and summoned Windel.

 

Windel appeared and greeted Hayden brightly.

 

“Hayden.”

 

“Kitty, kitty.”

 

Hayden urged him to hurry and turn into a cat.

 

Then his eyes widened slightly when Graum also appeared beside Windel.

 

Graum was bigger than Hayden but still had a childlike form—naturally drawing Hayden’s gaze.

 

“Big brother?”

 

Hayden pointed at Graum with his finger.

 

“You hear that? I’m the big brother.”

 

[You’re bragging to a toddler, Graum.]

 

Windel—who had shifted into his white tiger form because Hayden asked—looked at him in exasperation.

 

Hayden wriggled in Caldeon’s arms, wanting to go to Windel, and Caldeon gently set him on Windel’s back.

 

Hayden pressed his face into Windel’s white fur, giggling.

 

[Let’s go to the walking room, Hayden.]

 

Windel moved toward the door, gesturing at Graum to come along.

 

“Why me?”

 

[Because you look like a child like Hayden. Perfect for holding his hand and helping him practice walking.]

 

“You dare use me as a walking aid for humans?”

 

[It’s not like you have anything better to do. Come on. I want to see Hayden walk again.]

 

Graum clicked his tongue but followed.

 

And just like that, Enria, Caldeon, Roseanne, and Tearen were left alone— bringing on a faintly awkward silence.

 

“…C-Caldeon’s wind spirit handles the child very well,” Roseanne said, laughing awkwardly—the one suffering the most from the silence.

 

“Right? Hayden really loves Windel.”

 

“He likes Rahar’s wind spirit too, right?”

 

“Hm? Ah—yeah… but the size is…”

 

Enria explained that Hayden preferred Windel because his form was larger and more comforting.

 

Roseanne said she could understand that.

 

Then she kept sneaking glances at Tearen, who was quietly drinking tea.

 

“Tearen, are you usually a quiet person?” Enria asked.

 

Startled, Tearen blinked, then gave his usual gentlemanly smile.

 

“I wouldn’t say I’m talkative, but I don’t think I’m especially quiet either.”

 

“Oh, I only asked because you weren’t saying much.”

 

“The topic was Hayden. I don’t know him well yet, so I didn’t have much to add.”

 

“And what do you plan to do with information about my son?”

 

Caldeon suddenly cut in.

 

The attitude and expression were rude enough to offend anyone—but Tearen only chuckled softly, as though used to this.

 

“To get closer to him?”

 

“And what will you do after getting close to my son?”

 

“What else? Become the Empire’s one and only illusionist uncle.”

 

“You said you don’t like children because they’re a hassle.”

 

At Caldeon’s dry remark, Enria and Roseanne immediately turned to look at Tearen.

 

“Wh—when did I ever…!”

 

Tearen flailed, shaking his head at them, but Caldeon raised one corner of his mouth smugly.

 

“You said you like marriage but not children, so you wouldn’t be having any.”

 

“That was ages ago! H-Haha…”

 

Tearen laughed awkwardly, glancing nervously at Roseanne.

 

Caldeon smirked again, and Enria thought the effortless back-and-forth between long-time friends was hilarious.

 

“But how’s the light-attributed mage doing?” Tearen abruptly asked Enria—clearly trying to change the subject.

 

“Oh, she’s recovering more and more. But…”

 

Enria paused, debating internally.

 

Should she tell them about Belona’s vow for revenge?

 

After thinking that the black mage would probably act soon and they ought to know, she spoke again.

 

“I think she’s only thinking about taking revenge on the black mage.”

 

“…Well, that’s understandable. If someone I love was killed in front of me, I wouldn’t leave the killer alone either,” Roseanne said.

 

“Revenge isn’t a wise choice,” Tearen replied, turning to Roseanne. “No matter what kind it is, a life lived solely for revenge becomes barren.”

 

“But the one he loves was murdered right before his eyes. There’s no way he could just let that go.”

 

“The light mage might not. But you shouldn’t seek revenge.”

 

The sudden statement made both Enria and Roseanne widen their eyes.

 

“Yes, revenge is not good. Enria, if I ever die, don’t you dare think about revenge.”

 

“Die—! Why would you even say something like that out of nowhere?”

 

“I’m saying if, just if. If someone ever hurts you, I’d spend my life getting revenge for you—but you mustn’t do the same.”

 

“…You can do it but I can’t? How does that make sense?”

 

Enria scoffed, and Tearen spoke calmly: “I’d be fine. But the person I love… I’d want them to live happily, not consumed by revenge. That’s how I feel.”

 

‘Ah… so that’s what Caldeon meant earlier… Wait—does that mean Tearen doesn’t want Roseanne to fall into revenge because she’s someone he loves?’

 

Enria’s eyes sparkled.

 

“Tearen.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“You don’t want Roseanne to become like Belona, obsessed with revenge?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

‘Instant answer.’

 

Enria’s eyes sparkled again.

 

“And why not?”

 

“Huh? Well… because—”

 

Tearen abruptly realized this conversation was steering into dangerous territory and shut his mouth fast.

 

He tried to act normal, but his ears were burning bright red.

 

Enria now had no doubt: Tearen also had feelings for Roseanne.

 

“Tearen—”

 

“Actually, come to think of it, Rahar’s been asking unusually often about the light mage’s condition,” Tearen interrupted quickly, changing the topic once again.

 

“Oh right, why has he been doing that?” Caldeon frowned, as if only now remembering how odd it was.

 

“He keeps asking morning and afternoon through the communicator.”

 

“He asks you too?”

 

“He asked me as well.”

 

Enria and Roseanne spoke at the same time, making Caldeon and Tearen stare at them.

 

“About once every three hours, my communicator rings. When I’m in the infirmary, Chavel answers for me, and every time he asks very specific questions about Belona’s condition.”

 

Enria added that when he contacted her directly, he asked things like how much Belona had recovered, whether she seemed depressed, whether she was going outside for walks, and so on.

 

Roseanne also said she’d gotten similar messages.

 

“I told him I didn’t know much because I’ve been busy and haven’t been to the infirmary often, and he got mad at me.”

 

“Rahar got mad at you?”

 

“Exactly! He said I was being cold. That I should care more about Belona.”

 

Tearen’s expression turned thoughtful.

 

“…Don’t tell me Rahar has feelings for the light mage…”

 

“What?”

 

“No way!”

 

Roseanne and Enria rejected the idea immediately.

 

“That’s probably not it. He’s always had a soft spot for people who are pitiful or in trouble,” Caldeon said.

 

Tearen and Roseanne both nodded—yeah, that made sense.

 

Just then, the door burst open and Rahar walked in.

 

“Enria, how is Belona doing?”

 

At that one sentence, everyone turned to stare at him with peculiar expressions.

 

Rahar froze, then looked at Roseanne and asked cautiously, “What… Did I say something wrong?”