Chapter 77
After that, the two began laying the groundwork for their move to the capital.
They doubled the number of informants they had already planted, and selected northern nobles to send to the capital to establish a foundation.
They were also receiving help from the Holy Kingdom and the Hook Merchant Guild.
In truth, if it hadn’t been for the demonic cycle every hundred years, they might have headed to the capital a bit earlier.
Reina’s power was immense. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say the north endured thanks to her.
“It’s not time yet.”
With all her nerves focused on finding her brother and the fight for the throne, she had no room to tend to her own heart just yet.
The only reason he could remain at peace was because he felt that her feelings were no different from his.
Unless one was made of stone, it was impossible not to notice.
Her gaze had changed at some point.
Even so, lately, even that was constantly sweeping him away, making it hard to hold back.
He quenched his parched throat with wine.
“So don’t you push me too.”
At that moment, Kaiden’s gaze turned toward Reina, who was being congratulated.
Feeling that fervent look, Aiden let out a deep sigh.
“With that expression, it’s not convincing at all, brother.”
Whether or not, Kaiden’s eyes remained fixed on Reina.
When Reina spotted him belatedly and waved her hand, her brother’s expression crumbled.
Aiden, finding the sight foolish, drank his wine with a somewhat lonely face.
Her brother’s frustrating appearance seemed a little enviable.
Today, of all days, he missed Amy.
* * *
After the banquet ended, Dalia sought out Reina’s bedroom.
“Dalia? What brings you here at this hour?”
Reina, who had been washing up and preparing for bed, greeted Dalia with a surprised face.
Dalia entered hesitantly, still in her pajamas.
“Are you here because you’re scared to sleep alone?”
She shook her head no.
Dalia entered the room silently and sat on the sofa.
Then, she patted the spot next to her, gesturing for Reina to sit.
“What’s going on that you’re hesitating like this?”
Dalia fidgeted, fiddling with the box in her pocket.
At the banquet today, Reina had received many gifts.
Seeing all those extravagant items made Dalia feel her own gift was pitiful, so she couldn’t bring herself to give it.
Carrying the unclaimed gift and agonizing over it, with Reina’s birthday not far off, she had mustered the courage to come.
“Reina, happy birthday. This…”
Dalia shyly held out the small box. Reina asked with a bright face.
“Oh my, is this for me?”
“Y-yes.”
“Thank you. I was actually looking forward to a gift from you, Dalia.”
At her words, Dalia flinched. Worry surged that she might be disappointed.
“Can I open it?”
Dalia nodded, averting her gaze.
A moment later, as the sound of the ribbon being untied echoed, Reina let out an exclamation.
“Goodness, Dalia! Did you make this yourself?”
“Does it show that much? It’s probably too shabby…”
It was the moment Dalia looked up in alarm.
Reina slipped the bracelet onto her wrist and smiled broadly.
“Look at this. Doesn’t it suit me perfectly?”
Dalia’s worries were for naught; Reina looked genuinely delighted.
She fiddled with the thread bracelet before suddenly pulling Dalia into a tight embrace.
“Thank you, Dalia. I love it so much.”
“Hehe.”
Dalia laughed as if she’d never been tense at all. Taking advantage of the moment, she acted spoiled in Reina’s arms.
“Then, can I sleep with you tonight, Reina?”
“Of course.”
“Wait just a minute! I’ll go get Tosuni!”
Dalia dashed out of the bedroom energetically. Once she was gone, Reina’s smile faded, and she toyed with the thread bracelet again.
“She can already use her power.”
A faint aura emanated from around the bracelet.
True to the Crencia bloodline, it seemed she had unconsciously manifested aura.
Normally, this would have been cause for joy, but Reina grew serious.
In the past, Dalia had been unable to control her power, leading Aiden to research it—and ultimately to his death.
Dalia took after her frail mother, making it difficult for her to wield aura freely.
As she frequently made mistakes due to poor control, she ended up spending more time alone.
Especially after Aiden was severely injured while shielding Dalia.
Witnessing that, Aiden scoured the land for any remedy that might help.
Then, upon hearing that a certain monster’s core could stabilize aura, he went to retrieve it himself and met with disaster.
Afterward, Dalia punished herself by wearing restraints to suppress her aura.
Even so, when her power wouldn’t be contained, she reportedly endured it by inflicting wounds on her body.
“I need to hurry things along a bit.”
Reina recalled the magical device she had requested from Aiden.
Fortunately, the materials needed for Dalia had been acquired long ago.
The Medusa’s core, the golem’s core, and even the divine stone.
This was why Reina had been so fixated on the Medusa’s core.
In the past, Aiden had obtained the golem’s core but failed to get the crucial Medusa’s core.
By then, the Medusa had already established its own kingdom, making subjugation impossible.
Kaiden had known about Dalia’s issue at the time. He was preparing to subdue the Medusa.
It was Aiden who ignored his advice to wait.
As a result, Aiden died, and Dalia resented Kaiden for sending Aiden to his doom.
Kaiden didn’t clear up Dalia’s misunderstanding. He couldn’t take away even that outlet for resentment from his grief-stricken niece.
In the end, those who exploited Dalia’s fragile heart plotted a rebellion, and Kaiden lost the last of his family.
This time, she would absolutely not let that happen.
“Reinaaa.”
A short while later, Dalia entered the bedroom, hugging a pillow and her Tosuni doll.
As if she’d never been serious, Reina opened her arms wide to welcome Dalia.
* * *
The next day, Reina informed Kaiden about Dalia’s situation.
“Dalia’s already using aura?”
Kaiden looked immensely pleased at his niece’s growth.
He fiddled with Dalia’s thread bracelet and murmured.
“Considering Aiden manifested at ten, this is quite early.”
“Earlier than you?”
At Reina’s innocent question, Kaiden pointed to himself.
“Me?”
Then, with a grin, he shrugged his shoulders.
“I could use aura right after turning one.”
“Goodness… You were a genius.”
Reina’s obvious admiration made him immediately look embarrassed.
He scratched his chin and said,
“Ahem. Hearing it from you makes me shy.”
“Manifesting at such a young age—didn’t it burden your body?”
“Not at all. Using aura felt as natural as breathing to me. Come to think of it, Aiden took quite a while to wield it freely.”
“I see.”
Kaiden was the one among the Crencia who had inherited the dragon’s blood most strongly.
His starting point was different from the start.
That’s why, in the past, he couldn’t help even when Dalia struggled with her low aura sensitivity.
“Aiden will be thrilled when he finds out.”
Kaiden’s mouth itched with the urge to tell Aiden right away, his expression showing it.
If Reina hadn’t known the past, she would have shared in the joy.
But the happier Kaiden seemed, the heavier her heart felt.
She couldn’t explain Dalia’s condition to him right now.
She didn’t want to worry him over something that hadn’t happened yet, especially when he was so delighted by his niece’s progress.
Fortunately, there was a solution.
She planned to tell everyone once Aiden completed the magical device.
Until then, she just hoped Dalia’s condition wouldn’t worsen.
‘Hold on until then, Dalia.’
Reina pushed aside the unease that inexplicably welled up.
