Soon the duel ended.
Vincent turned toward them, walking with light steps through the grass. Roman, who had fallen onto his back, stood and followed. As they approached, Aurora waved her hand. A round table appeared in front of her, followed by two more chairs. The wind stirred the long grass gently around them.
With another wave, a beam of gentle light descended upon Vincent and Roman, instantly clearing away the sweat and dust from their bodies. The air sparkled faintly where the beam touched them.
"Oho… look who we have here," Vincent said with a grin as his eyes fell on Austin. Then he turned to Aurora, teasing, "How did this guy let you carry him?"
"He's my son. Of course I can carry him," she replied with a grin, hugging Austin close.
Austin didn't resist.
Vincent froze mid-step, blinking in disbelief.
'Is this the same kid who never let anyone touch him?'
"Did he lose his memory?" he asked seriously, looking at Aurora.
"Why would he lose his memory?!" she snapped, her voice instantly cold.
"Then how do you explain this?" Vincent pointed at Austin, visibly trembling.
Roman stood beside him, equally stunned.
Over the past two years, he'd tried everything to connect with Austin — games, stories, even carrying him — but was always pushed away. Outside the library or dining room, Austin had practically been a ghost.
Everyone waited for Aurora's reply.
But Austin answered instead.
"What is there to explain, Dad? Can't I be hugged by my mother?" he said with a grin, tilting his head.
"You… who are you?" Vincent blinked. "You're an imposter, aren't you? What did you do to Austin?!"
'Dad?! Not Duke?!'
Vincent's mind reeled. For two years, Austin had refused to call him "Dad" no matter how many times he asked.
And now… he said it so casually?
Before he could speak again, Aurora cut in sharply.
"Vincent. Cut it out. It's not funny."
"…Okay," he muttered. Then added hopefully, "Then… can I hug him too?"
"No," Austin replied immediately, his face twisting into a look of disgust.
Vincent sighed, shoulders slumping.
>'Yeah… that's definitely Austin. No doubt about it. I don't know what changed, but I'm glad they're closer now.'
"So why did you come out here? You rarely leave the library," Vincent asked as he took his seat.
Austins pov
"Mom brought me. I don't really know why," Austin shrugged, glancing at her.
Vincent and Roman sat down beside Aurora. She had already served glasses of fruit juice; the cups shimmered faintly with cold, dew-like condensation.
The breeze carried the sweet scent of ripened fruit and fresh earth.
The servants weren't allowed in this part of the forest. Aurora had done the serving herself.
Sensing the glances directed her way, she turned and spoke.
"I called you to inform that you will be going with Roman to his awakening ceremony at the capital," she said, her gaze on Austin.
Austin nodded calmly.
'It must be for me to experience the ceremony,' he thought.
He glanced toward Roman, who sat beside him, gripping a glass of juice with both hands like it was something fragile. The rim trembled softly against his lips before he took a slow sip. A tightness lingered in his jaw. His fingers tapped lightly on the glass before curling inward.
'So he's nervous about the ceremony. Well, it's only natural. Talent doesn't depend on bloodline. In this world, even a commoner can have greater talent than the king .'
Shifting his gaze, Austin looked at Vincent, whose expression had hardened as he stared at Aurora.
"That's it? You came all this way just to tell us that?" Vincent asked, a frown forming on his lips.
"No," Aurora answered. "I received information from a spy in another duchy. It seems like Wensor and Foster are preparing to declare war on us."
Austin's eyes shone suddenly.
>'Wensor Duchy and Foster Duchy… both border our Starwill Duchy.'
Vincent's golden eyes sharpened. The lightheartedness disappeared from his face, replaced by deadly seriousness.
"How sure are you of it?" he asked, his voice cold.
A shiver ran down Austin's spine.
> 'I've never seen that look on his face before…'
> 'But it makes sense. He's not just my father — he's one of the strongest on the continent. A former commoner who rose to power after defeating the Demon Cult and founding Starwill Duchy…'
Aurora's voice carried a firmer edge now as she continued speaking. "It wouldn't have been a problem if they hired one or two mercenary companies... but they're gathering all they can get their hands on."
Austin narrowed his eyes.
All the mercenaries? It's definitely suspicious. The Fosters are greedy people. They aren't the type to use money unless they're sure of gaining something.
As if echoing his thoughts, Vincent spoke in his firm voice. "That's definitely suspicious. The Fosters won't move unless they have something to gain. And no matter how many mercenaries they gather... mercenaries are still mercenaries. In the Dark Corridor, no one weaker than rank 5 can survive. There's no need to hire complete companies when there are only a handful of rank 5 mercenaries in the entire continent."
Aurora nodded in agreement, her expression sharpening.
Austin's eyes drifted to Roman. The younger boy took another slow sip of his juice, clearly tuning out the heavy words around him. When Aurora mentioned the "Dark Corridor," Roman puffed his cheeks slightly and took another sip, as if it might shield him from the boring storm of adult talk.
He doesn't understand anything. Well, it's only natural. Even if his body is taller than most ten-year-olds... he's still a kid.
A warm smile touched Austin's face as he watched his brother. But his mind quickly returned to the looming topic.
"But Mom," Austin spoke up, his voice firmer than usual, cutting through the heavy air, "there are two dukes attacking this time. Can we handle them both? Isn't Father—and you—just rank 5? Can you really defeat them when they're both rank 6?"
He paused, hesitating, then added,
"They must have other rank 6s in their ranks too…"
The wind stirred the branches above, casting scattered patterns of light and shade on the table. A moment passed.
Aurora turned her head slowly, golden strands catching the sunlight, and looked at her son. A teasing smile curved her lips.
"Oh? Do you think we'll lose?"
Austin met her eyes, understanding immediately that she was teasing him. Still, he couldn't shake the logic.
Shouldn't two rank 6s be much stronger than two rank 5s? Vincent and Aurora are still at rank 5...
His gaze shifted to his father.
Vincent had remained silent, but his cold expression had melted. A faint smile rested on his lips, and his sharp eyes shimmered with quiet amusement.
Considering his confident smile, Austin thought, I think there are still things I don't know about. They seem confident about winning this.
A proud smile slowly formed on his face as he looked at them—his parents, calm and unwavering beneath the whispering tree. The air no longer felt so heavy.
"Of course, Mom and Dad will win. How could my mom and dad lose to anyone?" he said.
Their smiles widened.
Roman also nodded. "Austin is right! Mom and Dad are the strongest in the world!"
Aurora reached out, ruffling Roman's hair.
Vincent puffed his chest and smirked. "Of course your dad won't lose — no matter who the opponent is. After all, your dad's the strongest in the empire."
Austin tilted his head. "But Father, you're still Rank 5. How can you be the strongest in the empire?"
Aurora answered gently, her voice proud.
"Aus, your father is different from others. His concept is far stronger than theirs. As long as he doesn't face someone with a stronger concept, he won't lose."
That pride — rare from someone like her — softened her cold aura.
"But Mother… what is concept?" Austin asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Roman was also looking at her with bright eyes.
Aurora smiled. "I can't tell you now. You'll understand after awakening. If I explain now, you won't understand anything."
Austin nodded, a bit disappointed.
'Five more years…' he sighed.
Then he looked at Roman, sitting beside him, who looked even more excited.
'Well, he'll awaken in a few weeks. Of course he's happy.'
Then Austin turned his head to Vincent, who still wore an amused look while watching Roman.
"Dad… can I not awaken now? Do we really have to follow the noble rules?"
Vincent sighed. "Sorry, Aus. We have to follow the royal order. It's compulsory for nobles to awaken at the Royal Capital, in the king's presence, after age ten."
'He seems troubled by the rule too…' Austin thought.
A gentle silence settled around them, broken only by the rustling of leaves.
Then Aurora reached out and lightly tapped both of Austin's cheeks.
"Don't be so gloomy," she said with a light smile. "It's only five years. They'll pass before you realize."
She leaned back, her expression turning serious again.
"Now, coming back to the topic of war. Austin, you don't need to worry. Even if all the dukes attack us together, we will win. Just go with your brother to the capital, enjoy the ceremony, and see it for yourself."
Austin nodded in understanding.
They talked for sometime before leaving the forest— back to their own paths, unaware of how the wheels of fate had already begun