Kael and the maid took a horse-drawn carriage and left the Kaldras Castle. The castle itself was surrounded by towering circular walls. Inside were the academy, the student dormitories, the residence of the headmistress, and a few other buildings, making it the safest place in the entire White City.
Outside, the streets were bustling with carriages and elegantly dressed people—very different from the scene Kael had seen in the Gray District. After a long ride, they finally arrived at the house.
It was a two-story home with a wide yard, filled with grass and what seemed like children's toys—an old swing, for example.
Kael entered to find Silvana waiting joyfully at the door.
"Kael! How are you?"
Kael gave her a soft smile and bowed slightly.
"Hello, Mother. I wanted to visit you yesterday, but I couldn't make it."
She hugged him tightly before replying.
"Don't worry. It was your first day at the academy, so I didn't want to disturb you. How did it go?" she asked, visibly delighted.
'If only you had disturbed me… At least I would've escaped that unnecessary torture,' Kael thought to himself with a small laugh.
Still smiling, he said,
"It was good. Teacher Valdren is kind—though his sense of humor is strange. I also made a few friends."
"That's wonderful! Come, dinner's ready. And I'll introduce you to your little sister too."
'Little sister? That wasn't in the contract,' Kael joked inwardly.
At the dining table, a young girl stood waiting. Her face bore a striking resemblance to Silvana's. Next to her was a small Yorkshire terrier. It was Kael's first time seeing a real dog, though he had glimpsed them in the Guardian's memories. He smiled at her.
"Hi, I'm Kael."
She looked at his hand, then raised her eyes to him, curtsied slightly, and asked,
"Why are your eyes red like that?"
Before Kael could reply, she added,
"Mom, Kael smells awful," while covering her nose.
Kael's expression froze. Silvana, stunned for a moment, burst into laughter.
"Kael, you really need a bath. Freiren, you mustn't say things like that to someone older than you."
Freiren puffed out her cheeks and stuck out her tongue.
'To hell with my old dream of having kids. They'd ruin my sleep and my life,' Kael thought.
The maid showed Kael to the bathroom, where he washed up. Apparently, Silvana already had clothes prepared for him.
When he stepped out, the maid was waiting.
He blinked, surprised.
"Did something happen?"
She bowed slightly.
"I need to comb your hair, Master Kael."
Kael raised a hand and turned to the mirror.
"No need. I don't like neat hair."
He ran his fingers through his hair and messed it up a bit.
"See? Much better."
Before he realized what was happening, he was already seated on a wooden chair, the maid combing his hair.
' I'm supposed to be cursed by the gods, yet here I am being bullied by a maid.' he thought.
She's at least in the third stage, judging by her speed. She's definitely from Kaldras, he sighed.
When he finally stepped out, feeling like a fool, Silvana clapped.
"Elegant and handsome, haha!"
Freiren didn't even glance at him, still playing with her dog.
Kael sighed as he sat down.
"That wasn't necessary. The maid didn't have to comb my hair," he said while taking a sip of water.
"What are you saying? You should always look your best. Until you find a girl—"
Kael spit the water in shock. Seeing this, Freiren laughed and started mimicking him, spitting water as if it were a game. The maid rushed over, trying to stop her.
Silvana laughed softly.
"What? You need a girl. Handsome and strong like you… Oh! By the way, Liseria asked about you recently. She seemed a bit upset."
Why mention Liseria now? Kael grumbled internally.
He sighed.
"I…"
Before he could continue, Silvana added,
"Or maybe you like that girl Valdren is training?"
Kael finally lost it.
"Mom! Please stop. I'm not ready for any of that. I'm focused on my training. And besides, my friend has feelings for that girl."
Silvana sipped her red wine with a light, guiltless smile.
"Alright, as you wish."
Kael exhaled with relief. The maid brought in the dishes—meat, from the smell. Kael's hunger awoke the moment he laid eyes on it.
As they ate, Kael glanced at Silvana.
"Mother, do you know anything about Elmyra? She's always so reserved and quiet."
Silvana replied,
"Ah, the poor girl. A while back, not long after Selene became head of the family, her family was killed by some people. She was beaten so badly… they ruined her. She was just a child back then."
Kael was stunned—and furious.
"Monsters. I hope they're dead."
Silvana sighed.
"Unfortunately, no. No one ever found them. But investigators suspect they were from the Cult of the great demoness."
'The Cult of the great demoness? The one that believes she'll descend and bring the Fifth Torment?' Kael recalled grimly, heart aching for Elmyra.
After a few more conversations and finishing their meal, the clock struck eight. Silvana urged Kael to spend the night—she had already prepared a room for him.
*****
Silvana sat alone, a glass of red wine in hand. She clenched her teeth, lowered her head, and placed a hand over her hair.
"I can't do it. It's too hard…"
"And now my sister… how do I explain this to her?"
She looked up at the ceiling in confusion, her thoughts lost in what her sister had asked of her:
"Make my child my slave? Then how can he still be my son?"