The night air was cool as the moonlight bathed the garden in soft, silvery light. Aidan and Sophia walked side by side, the quiet only broken by the sound of their footsteps on the gravel path. After dinner, it had been Sophia's suggestion to take a walk, and Aidan, not wanting to refuse, had agreed without hesitation.
Sophia walked beside him effortlessly, her presence as calming as the night itself. She didn't speak immediately, her gaze drifting up to the moon, but Aidan could feel her awareness on him—sharp and steady.
He remembered their conversation from the afternoon, when, feeling cornered, he had resorted to making something up. He'd told her about Zane's newfound rank as a First Rank being and his distorted abilities. Though Sophia had been aware of Zane's strength, she'd been surprised to hear about the distortion, her brows furrowing.
Sophia had paused, her gaze sharpening as she sensed something different in Aidan's aura. It was subtle, yet undeniable. She used her mana sense. She took a slow breath, and in an instant, her eyes widened.
"Wait a minute... you're now an incomplete First Ranker?" she asked, her voice filled with both surprise.
Aidan, caught off guard, scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Ah, I forgot to tell you that... I guess it was something to be shared," he replied, his tone light.
Sophia blinked, her shock quickly turning into a wave of pride. She looked at him, her expression softening.
"You don't need to be jealous of Zane or anyone else. You have a rare attitude—your strength will come in time, Aidan. I know it."
Aidan remained silent. He didn't correct the misunderstanding. He was fine with her thinking he was jealous. He didn't have the words to explain it anyway, so he just let the moment pass, allowing her to comfort him.
Later, at dinner, Sophia couldn't help but announce what had happened and how her son was a true genius.
The room fell silent for a moment before everyone erupted in surprise and joy.
Erwin and Lily were the first to congratulate him, their faces bright with excitement.
"Keep up the good work, Aidan!" Erwin cheered, giving him a pat on the back.
Lily smiled warmly, her eyes filled with genuine pride. "You're making amazing progress. I'm sure you'll go even further."
Lady Charlotte and Liam, on the other hand, only offered faint smiles. Their gestures were polite but lacked the same warmth as Erwin and Lily's. Aidan noticed the difference but said nothing.
His father's smile, however, was the one that caught his attention the most. There was something different about it.
It was deeper, more contemplative. His father seemed lost in thought, his mind somewhere else—though his smile never faltered. Aidan couldn't quite put his finger on it.
But the most puzzling reaction came from Violet. She glanced at him briefly, her expression flat and emotionless.
"Congratulations," she said, her tone devoid of any real feeling. Then, just as quickly, she turned her attention away, as if the conversation had never happened.
Aidan was left staring at her, trying to make sense of it.
She acted totally different from that moment.
Now, walking under the cool night sky, Aidan couldn't shake the feeling that his mother knew he hadn't told everything. Her eyes were on the moon, and yet... he felt she was gazing at him.
The silence between them stretched for a moment before she broke it, her voice clear in the empty walkway.
"Aidan, you know, right?" she asked, her words soft but carrying weight. "That I'm always here for you."
Her gaze fell on him, and for a moment Aidan stopped. He turned toward her, meeting her eyes briefly before speaking softly, "Yes, Mom, of course I know that."
But just as quickly, he looked away again, not allowing himself to hold her gaze for long. The weight of her concern seemed too much to bear, and he found it easier to stare at the path ahead rather than her worried face.
Sophia smiled slightly, her hand reaching out to ruffle his hair before gently cupping his face. With a tender touch, she turned his face toward her and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
"Go, Aidan," she said softly, her voice warm. "You should sleep now. It's late."
Her fingers lingered for a moment, as if trying to convey more than words could, before she let him go—watching him for a moment longer as he turned back toward the house.
Aidan didn't dare meet her eyes. The guilt of deceiving her weighed heavily on his chest, a constant presence he couldn't shake.
He couldn't help but wonder, as he walked away, what would happen if she ever found out the truth. What if she learned that he wasn't the Aidan she thought he was? That the boy she believed in was actually a man she never knew—a man who had lived in another world.
As Aidan stepped toward the inner castle, Sophia watched his back in silence. She couldn't help but mutter her thoughts aloud:
"What is it, Aidan, that you carry so heavily? Why does it feel like your shoulders are bearing a weight so great... it's as if you're struggling just to stand?"
Sophia stepped forward, the events of the day replaying in her mind. At first, she had thought Aidan might be jealous of Zane for reaching the First Rank while he was left behind.
But after a moment of reflection, she reminded herself—Aidan had never been the kind of person to envy others. She was his mother. Living with him had taught her a thing or two about understanding her own son.
To cheer him up, she had even announced the news of his core formation, but he still seemed so preoccupied.
She sighed, her gaze drifting toward her room. In a flash, she flew up and landed on her balcony.
Liam looked up from the book he was reading, seated calmly in a chair. His expression was serene.
Sophia narrowed her eyes. "Tell me, Liam—what's going on with Aidan?"
Liam sighed, then let out a soft chuckle, amused. "If he didn't tell you, Sophia, do you really think he'd tell me?"
Liam looked away from her as he turned to the next page.
Sophia's eyes narrowed, lingering on Liam's face. He hadn't flinched—not even when she mentioned Aidan's name. Just calmly turned another page, as if the question hadn't unsettled him in the slightest.
She stepped closer.
Liam looked up, and his gaze met the shimmer of tears in Sophia's eyes.
Something changed at that moment.