After the invitation, Yuto, whom Marni and Shery swarmed, managed to escape to the living room.
It was a calm space.
The spacious room was adorned with modest decorations: no glittering gold or silver, only art, vases, and paintings with deep history.
Yuto and Gonzo sat side-by-side on a soft sofa. In front was a grey granite table, facing a fireplace that looked well-maintained.
With a wave from his hand, the ring on his finger glowed, and a small wooden box appeared; then he placed it on the table.
"Yuto, this is your reward."
Yuto glanced at the box, wondering what might be inside.
After a moment of hesitation, he picked it up and opened it. Inside was a white, pristine ring, untouched by human hands.
"Is this a storage item?"
"Yes, that's right."
Hearing his assumption was spot on, Yuto nodded, unsure how to feel.
A surge of disappointment and gratitude mixed in his chest.
This was because he already possessed a storage item left by his deceased senior.
However, he didn't mean to belittle someone else's gift. Yuto felt thankful, knowing the item in his hand must be quite expensive and difficult for him to obtain at the moment.
"Try channeling your mana into it."
The old man's voice snapped him from his daze.
"What?"
"That ring is an advanced-tier item."
"!?"
His eyes widened. He had never expected Gonzo to be so generous with his gift.
Without thinking twice, Yuto channeled his Qi energy into the ring. His finger trembled as faint white light pulsed from it.
This process was commonly called imprinting.
Once complete, the item would become bound exclusively to its user until death.
It cannot be tampered with by others.
Anyone foolish enough to try would trigger its self-defence system, causing it to shatter to dust or zap them with punishment, depending on what safety net the user has embedded.
Yuto's face wrinkled as sweat began to trickle down his forehead. Even though he had two different powers inside, the ring greedily consumed his aura.
After a few seconds that felt like minutes, the ring emitted a blinding glow, flooding the living room with its holy light.
Then, a glimmer of blue and red crawled in, consuming the white light until the ring was conquered.
Once the light subsided, his eyes narrowed. The ring turned a deep red, with unique blue lines coiling around it.
"It seems you're succeeded."
"Yeah. Thanks, Gonzo."
For now, Yuto stored the ring in his small pouch and stood up, intending to leave.
"Where are you going?"
Gonzo quickly grabbed his hand to stop him.
"I want to search for an inn. It's getting late."
Yuto shifted his gaze to the window beside him. Far on the horizon, the sky turned orange with a crimson hue, casting a warm, ethereal glow.
"Don't bother. You can stay here for the night."
"Hu!? There's no way I can do…"
"Dear, Yuto, go take a bath. Dinner will be ready soon."
Marni's voice echoed from the next room, making Yuto stiffen in place. He shot the man with a sharp look.
"Have dinner with us."
Gonzo parted his stiff lips, putting on a bitter smile.
The boy turned to the window and the room next to it before letting out a long sigh.
"Then, I'll take you up on your offer."
"Good!"
After that, Yuto was led to the bathroom. For the first time, he could soak in the warm water prepared by the house.
As he dipped his body into the bathtub. The warmth seeped through his skin, loosening his tense muscles.
He wanted to soak longer, but realized he was just a guest.
The boy stepped out of the bath. He quickly dried himself off and changed his clothes.
Although he changed, all his outfits were the same.
With damp hair, Yuto stepped towards the dining room, which connected to the kitchen.
His nose twitched, catching the creamy scent from a pot shimmering on a low heat.
A cheerful hum filled the room, coming from Marni and Shery.
"Mommy, is this ready?"
"Yes, sweetheart. You can put it on the dining table. Be careful"
"Okay~."
Shery carried a wooden bowl filled with sliced loaf.
"Oh, big brother. Have you bathed?"
The little girl tilted her head sideways, wondering why Yuto was still wearing the same clothes.
Yuto smiled and approached her. He gently patted the girl's head.
"I've bathed, and these clothes are new. I happen to have several of these clothes."
"I see! Then sit down, big brother. Mommy's stew will be ready soon."
"Alright, I'm sorry for the trouble, Ma'am."
He addressed Marni, who was busy stirring the pot to keep it from burning.
"Oh, don't worry. Just treat this place as your own."
Not wanting to sit idly, Yuto went to the kitchen to help Shery bring plates and other utensils for dinner.
Shortly after, Gonzo arrived in his casual clothes.
Yuto felt that the man in front of him was like a regular father who adored his family.
Somehow, that thought made him smile.
Marni walked over, carrying a medium-sized pot with a smile on her face.
"Everyone, the stew is ready."
"Finally."
"Yay~."
"..."
Gonzo and Shery cheered at the sight of a steaming pot placed at the centre of the dining table.
One by one, Marni scooped the creamy soup into a bowl and handed it to everyone.
After everyone sat down, the four of them ate the savory soup, filled with a variety of vegetables and tender meat that satisfied their hunger.
With Gonzo there, the dining table lit up with his jokes. Shery's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she kept the conversation lively, while Marni watched them with her motherly gaze.
That night, Yuto once again felt the warmth of a family.
Although this was common back in the orphanage, something about this was different.
It was very clear when he unconsciously clutched his trembling chest.
'Oh,… I almost forgot this feeling'.
As the warmth of the creamy soup flowed down his throat, Yuto's vision blurred.
Again, Gonzo and Shery, who knew him longer, tried not to delve deeper and let the boy eat in silence.
Marni, who noticed the change, glanced at her husband and answered with a shake of his head.
She clenched the wooden spoon in her hand. Marni brought the stew with trembling hands and took a sip.
It tasted bland.
***
Far from the family comfort that Yuto felt.
In a spacious room where a woman of royal dignity was resting. Her figure sat on a wooden chair, right next to an open window that showed the scenery.
The black sky was adorned with stars that glittered like diamonds, but the princess's gaze was fixed on a piece of paper in her hand.
"...Elias."
Her voice was weak, and the paper crumpled under her grip.
"What happened to you, Elias?"
Unable to read the report sent by one of her guards. Dahlia turned her gaze outside.
Her chest throbbed in pain, remembering the last time she met Elias.
'Why didn't I talk to him more? Maybe then...'.
Dahlia's breath turned shallow. She was plunged into bottomless regret.
To think that she had to obey her family's ridiculous doctrines.
Of course, combat ability was important. But in Dahlia's opinion, there was something more important than all of that, which was knowledge or wisdom.
As the youngest son of a Duke, Yuto had been educated strictly and was considered a genius with intelligence that even surpassed her.
A member of the royal family.
Her vision blurred. She immediately shook her head to drive away the grief.
"Gena."
A black shadow manifested behind her.
"Your highness."
"I want you to infiltrate the empire and find Elias. If possible, make contact."
"Understood."
The shadow knelt.
"Don't get caught. Now go!"
In an instant, moonlight illuminated the princess's chamber, but there was no one there except her, staring at the east.
However, she was not yet aware that her actions would spark the flame between the two nations and awaken a monster that lay dormant.