Gods

After the birthday party ends, Cassius should have already fallen asleep, but the gifts sent by the nobles keep him wide awake

Lana stands amidst a mountain of presents stacked high, carefully selecting a few boxes to bring to Cassius. All of these gifts have been thoroughly inspected for safety, though it seems unnecessary - no one would be foolish enough to provoke a Level 9 Mage

She gently walks toward the large bed in the middle of the room, where Cassius and Celeste are opening gifts together

Cassius is nestled comfortably in Celeste's embrace, resting his head against her soft chest. Both of them have changed into matching black sleepwear, looking no different from a peaceful mother and child in the darkness

The little boy eagerly looks at the wrapped presents before him, his tiny hands struggling to peel off the paper. But what catches Lana's attention the most… is the fact that Cassius is sucking on Celeste's index finger

Yes. He is sucking on her finger

Lana is already too familiar with this sight. Most of the time, Cassius drinks Celeste's blood from a specially crafted vial, but occasionally, the duchess allows him to drink directly from her fingertip. She sits leaning against the headboard, one hand firmly held by Cassius, while the other either cups his cheek or helps him open presents

Her face is visibly gentle

Cassius receives a variety of gifts - from adorable stuffed animals to rare gemstones. But among them, the most valuable gift comes from the Century royal family: a black sweater

At first glance, it looks ordinary, but it is actually a magical item

The sweater has multiple special properties: it automatically adjusts its size to fit the wearer, generates warmth in winter and coolness in summer, and most remarkably - it can absorb mana from nature to function, without requiring the wearer to supply their own mana

Cassius hugs the sweater, his face beaming with joy

Then, Celeste lightly pats his cheek, making Cassius look up at her

"Now, it's time for my gift" she says

Cassius blinks, his face filled with anticipation. Lana, having received Celeste's silent request, obediently steps out of the room and closes the door behind her

Celeste does not open a gift box. Instead, she gently lifts Cassius into her arms, leaves the bed, and walks toward the window

Outside, the moon is still shining brightly

Celeste slowly raises her palm toward the high-hanging moon. At the same time, her platinum hair and silver eyes begin to glow, radiating a soft, ethereal light

"Luna, I summon you" she whispers

Immediately, the moonlight filtering through the window begins to ripple

It gradually gathers, taking the form of a shadowy figure resembling a woman

The figure glances around the room before letting out a soft chuckle

"Celeste, it's been a while. What do you need from me?"

The voice flows like a gentle melody

Cassius shivers and immediately buries himself deeper in Celeste's embrace

"Mom… there's a ghost…" he mumbles

Celeste looks down at Cassius, the corners of her lips curving slightly

"Luna, I want you to grant Cassius your blessing" she says

The figure momentarily freezes

"This child… is Cassius?" Luna murmurs

But before she can ask further, Celeste cuts her off

"Just do it. I have no intention of chatting with you all night"

"Tsk, still as cold as ever" Luna chuckles

Without further delay, she approaches Cassius

Cassius is still slightly tense, but his small hands clutch tightly onto Celeste's nightgown

Luna places a hand on his head

"&%:•́ ✧☆⌒(＾…"

A gentle silver glow radiates, enveloping Cassius's small frame. His golden eyes widen as Luna murmurs words he cannot understand

The moonlight flares brightly before slowly dissipating

Luna withdraws her hand, smiling softly.

"It's done"

"Thank you" Celeste replies

"It's nothing, just a small favor" Luna shrugs "I'm also happy to see you both again. But now… I'll be going"

As she finishes speaking, her form gradually dissolves into the moonlight

The room returns to its previous quiet state

Cassius blinks, then tilts his head up to look at Celeste

"Who was she?"

Celeste gazes at him for a moment before replying gently

"Just an old friend"

—

Inside the quiet room, only the dim glow of the lamp and Lana's gentle storytelling voice remain

Cassius sits obediently in her lap, listening intently to every word. Lana wraps both arms around him, holding a children's book as she slowly turns each page

Her warm, soothing voice blends with the comforting embrace of her arms

"Once upon a time, when the world was still chaotic with misguided love, heartbreak, and separation, Cupid grew weary. He watched countless lovers suffer because their hearts did not resonate, because their love was unreturned, or because fate cruelly kept them apart through time and distance

One day, Cupid had an idea. If humans continued to lose their way in love, then perhaps destiny should intervene. And so, he decided to create a red thread that would bind together those who were meant to be. It was not merely a connection, but a declaration that these two souls would harmonize perfectly - as if the universe itself had decreed it

Cupid then sought the help of Nona, the goddess of fate, who weaves the thread of life for every person. He said

'Please help me create these red threads, so that those who love will no longer stray'

Nona smiled, carefully pulling a small portion from the threads of destiny and weaving them into thin yet unbreakable strands. She then tied them to the fingers of those truly meant to be together

From that moment on, every person born into the world carries a red thread that connects them to the one destined for them"

Lana finishes reading and gently closes the book

Cassius blinks for a moment, then looks up and asks

"So… only people connected by the red thread can love each other?"

Lana shakes her head, a soft smile on her lips

"Not necessarily. The red thread ensures that two people will be compatible in love, but it doesn't guarantee that their life together will be happy"

She pauses briefly before continuing

"Imagine a red thread connecting a commoner and a noble. They may truly love each other, they may feel happiness when they are together… but their worlds are too different. Family opposition, social status, deep-rooted prejudices - all of these things could bring them pain. Even if their hearts beat as one, life may not be so easy for them"

Cassius blinks, pondering her words

"Then… what if someone doesn't have a red thread?"

"You can still find your other half without it" Lana answers gently

"Because the red thread only becomes visible when two people are close to each other, there are those who realize it very late. And some… never realize it at all, because their destined one has already left this world before they could ever meet"

"That's why, if you find someone who suits you, cherish them. Fate is not the only thing that decides love"

Cassius falls silent, deep in thought

After a while, he looks up again, curiosity glimmering in his eyes

"Nana, have you found your other half yet?"

Lana pauses for a brief moment

Then she smiles softly, though a hint of sadness flickers in her eyes

"Even though I'm already twenty-one… I haven't found them yet"

She stays quiet for a moment, then suddenly reaches out and pinches Cassius's cheek

"But maybe…" She squints at him playfully "The reason I haven't found my other half is because I'm too busy taking care of you, little rascal"

Cassius blinks, then bursts into laughter

He leans into Lana, feeling the familiar warmth of her presence

But deep in his mind, another thought arises

A question about the red thread he sees every day

A red thread that stretches from his wrist to… Celeste's neck