"Mister! Mister!"
“Michael, don’t run. You’ll fall.”
Cabelenus raised his head in a stiff motion, like a rusted machine.
He saw Michael dashing down the hallway, full of excitement, with Alicia following behind, unsure of what to do.
“Mister, you promised to show me the dog today, right?”
Michael ran up and suddenly grabbed the hem of Cabelenus’s coat.
“The dog?”
“Last time, you said you'd show me, but you just blew it off. So this time, I brought my mum with me so you can’t weasel out of it.”
“You’ll probably cry if you see it.”
"I won’t cry."
Michael stuck out his lips in a pout.
Cabelenus quietly stared at the wrinkled imprint left by the small hand.
"...I still don’t understand.”
“Huh? What did you just say? You’re not trying to talk your way out of it again, are you?”
“Michael, that’s enough. You’re making His Highness uncomfortable.”
"But that man keeps making promises and never keeps them. Promises are meant to be kept!"
With his face buried in Alicia’s skirt, Michael let out a sob.
Alicia looked at the small, sniffling head and smiled awkwardly.
Ever since meeting Cabelenus, the child had become noticeably more whiny.
It wasn’t entirely a good thing, but for the first time, Michael finally seemed like a child his age, so she couldn’t bring herself to scold him.
It was better for him to throw a tantrum than to pretend to be an adult and constantly watch others' reactions.
“If you want to see the dog, I’ll show you. ”
While Alicia hesitated, Cabelenus strode forward in long strides.
Michael burrowed into Alicia’s arms but kept his wary eyes fixed on Cabelenus.
“You’re not lying this time, right?”
"Instead, come here."
"Why?"
“No talking back. Hurry up.”
Michael rolled his eyes but cautiously stepped toward Cabelenus.
Cabelenus crouched down until he was eye-level with Michael.
“Try calling me ‘Dad’ once.”
“...”
“...”
"...Mister, are you sick?"
In the silence, Michael furrowed his brow.
“There’s something I want to check, so just say it once.”
"Why do I have to do that? I don’t want to.”
"Even if you don’t want to, just say it once.”
“This kind of approach won’t work. I told you, I have no intention of accepting you as my dad, remember?”
Michael blatantly shook his head from side to side.
Cabelenus was the one who first said he wasn’t Michael’s biological dad.
And Michael had not the slightest intention of affectionately calling someone like that ‘Dad.’
“Then what would make you call me that?”
“I told you. You have to prove you’re worthy of being my dad.”
“Huh?”
“If you don’t want to, then fine. I have nothing to lose.”
Michael snorted loudly and dramatically shook his head from side to side.
Cabelenus looked at the small head and rubbed his chin with his fingertips.
Alicia wasn’t like that, so he couldn’t understand why the child was so shameless.
“How exactly do I prove it?”
“Are you going to take the test?”
“Let's at least hear what you’re asking for.”
Cabelenus replied half-heartedly, ignoring the gleam in the boy’s eyes.
He couldn’t shake the thought that matching the boy’s pace was bothersome, but from what he’d seen, Michael was stubborn.
He would only yield once he got what he wanted.
“First, show me the dog.”
"Just the dog?"
“And then, you have to grant me three wishes.”
Michael smugly held up three fingers.
“Why three?”
“Haven’t you ever read fairy tales? You’re supposed to get three wishes.”
“...”
“What? You don’t want to?”
“For now, I’ll give it a try.”
He didn’t think this would really tell him anything, but trying something was better than doing nothing.
Cabelenus didn’t hide his subtle expression and nodded vaguely.
・・・・・
"Mum, do you see that dog over there? It’s so—whoa!"
“Your mum’s having a hard time, so take it easy.”
Clicking his tongue, Cabelenus lifted Michael from Alicia’s arms.
Dangling in midair, Michael kicked his feet restlessly — then broke into a wide, goofy grin as the dog came into clear view from his new, elevated perch.
“Mister, since you’re already holding me, can’t I get a shoulder ride too?”
“Shoulder ride?”
“That way I’ll be able to see the dog better!”
“You sure ask for a lot.”
Though he frowned, Cabelenus bent down and let Michael climb onto his shoulders.
Michael cheered out loud at the widening view, but as he kept rising higher and higher, he hurriedly grabbed a handful of Cabelenus’s hair in panic.
“…Let go.”
Feeling his scalp being pulled, Cabelenus spoke in a low voice.
But even so, Michael couldn’t bring himself to loosen his grip.
“I-if I let go, I’ll fall down!”
“You asked for a shoulder ride, so how come you’re scared now?”
“Mister, you’re so tall that—ahhh! Don’t move!”
“Then come down.”
“No, no! If I come down now, I’ll look like a coward!"
“You already look like a coward.”
Annoyance crept into Cabelenus’s voice.
It was the first time someone had ever pulled his hair like this.
"I told you not to move!"
“If you’re just going to scream, then come down already.”
“If you put up with it for a little longer, it will get better.”
"I’m not fine. If you don’t let go right now, I’ll put you down as is."
Unable to hold back any longer, Cabelenus growled low in frustration, but it only made things worse.
Michael tightened his grip even more and pressed closer to Cabelenus.
“I can’t let go! I’ll fall if I do!”
"You won’t fall. I won’t let that happen."
“How can I trust you, Mister?!”
“...”
Cabelenus’s grip tightened.
When Cabelenus reached out to grab Michael’s waist, the boy suddenly raised his voice in panic.
“Hold on! Hold on! I’ll let go! That’s what you want, right?”
“...”
“I said I’m letting go, okay?”
“Let go first and then talk.”
Though annoyed, Cabelenus didn’t put Michael down.
Michael only relaxed his body after realising that even if he let go, he wouldn't fall, and that Cabelenus’s hand on his leg was firmer than he had expected.
“…Hey, mister.”
"What?"
“Is that really a dog?”
“Now you’re finally noticing the dog, huh?”
Cabelenus let out a dry laugh and tilted his head to the side.
“I wanted a shoulder ride to see the dog, so of course I’m looking.”
“You sure know how to talk.”
“Enough with the chatter — so, is it really a dog?”
Michael quietly tried to smooth down the messy hair without Cabelenus noticing.
“If it’s not a dog, then what is it?”
“What kind of dog looks like a bear? Where in the world is there a dog that big?"
“It’s right here.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“Dogs in Schwarhan are naturally big. Their thick fur makes them look even larger.”
It wasn’t just humans who had grown stronger to survive the harsh winter.
All living beings on this land have evolved and grown stronger to survive.
“Still, that thing’s way too big. I’m not just saying it — it really looks like one of those bears I read about in books.”
“He and his siblings actually once took down a bear together.”
“Really?!”
Michael’s mouth dropped open.
Even after rubbing his eyes and looking again, the sheer size of the dog was enough to leave him breathless.
“So, what’s his name?”
“Rex.”
“Huh? Did you see that? His ears just perked up! He knows his name!”
“Of course he does.”
Cabelenus replied flatly as he patted Rex’s head when the dog came closer.
Michael kept staring in awe, letting out small gasps.
At first, the dog had seemed scary, but watching it nuzzle Cabelenus’s palm and gently wag its tail made Michael’s fingers twitch with curiosity.
He couldn’t help thinking that thick, fluffy fur must feel amazing to touch.
“Can I pet him too?”
“No. You can’t.”
“Why not?”
“You’re too small — Rex might mistake you for prey.”
“I’m not that small!”
"If you’re going to say things like that, come back when you’re at least this tall.”
Cabelenus lazily waved his hand around at about chest height.
“Don’t worry! I’ll grow soon! I’m definitely going to be way, way taller than you, Mister!”
“Say that again after you’ve actually grown.”
“Were you big from the moment you were born, Mister?”
"I was big since birth.”
“Liar.”
"I’ve never been smaller than kids my age — not even once. I was always the tallest among them."
“Mister, do you know you’re really annoying?”
Cabelenus grumbled under his breath but didn’t put Michael down, and Michael made no effort to get down either.
Watching them, Gazeff quietly stepped up beside Alicia.
"Contrary to your worries, they get along better than you thought, don’t they?”
“Yeah, that’s right. They get along much better than I expected."
Alicia smiled faintly.
Though they themselves were completely unaware, the bickering between father and son looked as natural as any ordinary, everyday scene.
“They’ll do fine without any problems. As time passes, it will get even better than now.”
"…Sir Claude, you want me to stay here, don’t you?"
“I’m someone who can’t help but be loyal to His Highness.”
Gazeff smiled openly, revealing his feelings, but that expression didn’t look bad at all.
Alicia watched the two still bickering and clasped her hands together as if in prayer.
“Also, there’s something I want to ask you, my lady.”
“Something you want to ask me?”
“I heard the young master no longer has any power. He had power before, but it disappeared."
“That’s right. Michael is just an ordinary child now.”
Alicia nodded firmly.
“If you don’t mind, could you tell me how the power disappeared?”
“Why do you want to know that?”
"Because it could be the key to saving His Highness."
“…The key to saving His Highness?”
Alicia’s eyelashes quivered slightly.
“Do you remember the shackles I mentioned before?”
“Yes. I remember.”
“Those shackles basically respond to the power of the monsters.”
“...”
“In other words, if we can eliminate the power of the monsters, the shackles might be broken.”
Gazeff’s eyes gleamed sharply.
The answer to the shackles that had tormented Cabelenus so cruelly might have been closer than expected.
“…If that’s the case, I’m sorry. I don’t know why Michael lost his power either.”
"Is that so?"
“However, I do have a suspicion.”
"Is that really true?"
Gazeff quickly turned to her.
It felt like finding an oasis in the heart of a barren desert.
“After recently hearing about His Highness’s story, I started looking into the temple.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“But while I was researching the temple, I came across something strange.”
"Something strange?"
Whenever she had time, she read every book about the temple she could find, but honestly, most of the content was unfamiliar.
Even after living in Empire’s territory for years, the temple’s teachings were the kind of thing one wouldn’t know unless they made an effort to seek them out.
But there was one thing that stood out — something strange.
“The Temple of Prime doesn’t use the empire’s common language.”
“Yes, that’s correct. The temple uses an ancient language, which they claim to be the language of God, to reflect divine will.”
“The ancient language?”
“It's quite literally an ancient language that's no longer used nowadays, but the temple refers to it as the language of God.”
Gazeff raised one corner of his mouth.
To be honest, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all just for show, but having their own unique language did create an undeniable sense of mystery.
“…So, what would you say if I told you I knew that language?”
“You, my lady? But you’re clearly from the South, and you’ve never received a proper education..."
Gazeff stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realising what he was about to imply, and quickly covered his mouth.
“It’s fine. I’m not offended by that. What bothers me is that I somehow know the ancient language taught only by the temple.”
“…If you don’t mind me asking, who taught you the ancient language?”
“My mother.”
Alicia bowed her head.
She never imagined that someone she could never forget would become prominent in a place like this.
“My lady’s mother?”
Gazeff let out a faint breath.
The moment Alicia mentioned her mother, a long-forgotten memory suddenly resurfaced.
The power to grant wishes.
When he had investigated Alicia’s past, he had definitely come across such a story.
And that phrase — the power to grant wishes — was something often mentioned by the Temple of Prime.
‘I dismissed it at the time…’
Alicia had seemed ordinary.
At least, the Alicia Gazeff had known in the past was like that.
She was far too small and fragile to be someone with such great power.
But what if that wasn’t the case?
What if she had a secret hidden from everyone?
Just the thought of it made his breath catch.
A long-buried possibility was rising to the surface.
"…I once investigated you, my lady. And I came across something hard to believe.”
“...”
“Your maternal lineage is known as the ‘Vessels of God,’ said to possess the power to grant wishes.”
“...”
"Back then, it sounded like something too unbelievable to be true. And since I didn’t know much about His Highness, I wasn’t particularly desperate for the power to grant wishes. But if you truly do possess such power, my lady…”
'Could you possibly remove the shackle restraining His Highness?'
Gazeff’s voice had grown thick with tears.
Translator's Corner:
Hope everyone's doing well! I apologise for the lack of updates! >_< I'm feeling better now, so don't worry! I'll do my best to catch up with my original post schedule so that this can be completed by mid/end-August!
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