Chapter Six – A Warmth I Never Knew

The evening air in the grand dining hall was filled with the soft clinking of silverware against porcelain, the quiet hum of servants moving in the background, and the warm laughter of a family basking in their small, precious moment together.

I sat comfortably on my mother's lap, feeling her warmth surround me as she gently lifted a spoonful of food to my lips.

"Mother, your son can eat by himself, you know…" I thought to myself. But saying it out loud would ruin this moment, wouldn't it?

Across from us, Father sat at the table, but instead of eating, he seemed far more interested in watching me get spoiled by Mother. His emerald eyes gleamed with amusement as he observed us, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Ah, he's enjoying this way too much."

"Say ahh," Mother said softly, her voice as gentle as the touch of a feather.

Resigning myself to my fate, I opened my mouth, letting her feed me another spoonful. The food melted on my tongue, warm and rich with flavors I was still getting used to in this world.

Among the maids standing nearby, Sylvie and the others watched the scene with knowing smiles, their eyes filled with warmth. I could almost hear them thinking, "How adorable."

Father, unable to contain himself any longer, cleared his throat. "My darling," he said, leaning slightly toward us. "Why don't I feed Kibo too?"

Mother didn't even glance at him. "Nope, not happening," she said with a teasing smile as she scooped up another spoonful and guided it toward my mouth.

Father clutched his chest dramatically.

"You must have it tough, Father," I thought, suppressing a laugh.

"Why, my dear wife?" Father tried again, his voice dripping with exaggerated heartbreak. His emerald eyes shone with a pleading look that was almost pitiful.

Mother, however, was unimpressed. She set down the spoon, her lips curling in amusement. "Do I need to remind you about the 'peanut butter incident'?"

I almost choked.

"No… not that memory."

Father straightened up immediately. "Ah, come on, love… Our son looked adorable with a peanut butter mustache!" he defended himself.

"Adorable?! Do you know how disgusting it was to have you try and lick it off my face?!" My skin crawled just remembering it.

Mother covered her mouth as she laughed. "Adorable, you say? He looked like a tiny old man!"

Father sighed dramatically, defeated. "Alright, alright. But why don't we feed him together, hmm?" he suggested, leaning closer.

Mother smirked.

I nearly gasped.

"Is this what they call flirting? Are you two seriously flirting right now?! In front of the maids?! With me right here?!"

Sylvie and the other maids, by the way, were thoroughly enjoying this exchange. I could see the way they were barely holding in their laughter.

"This is getting out of hand. Time to put a stop to it."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my tiny baby lungs… and then—

"Hik-hic."

The room fell silent.

Mother gasped. "Does my baby have hiccups?" she asked, immediately setting the spoon aside and patting my back gently.

Father chuckled, watching us with soft eyes. His playful teasing melted away into something more tender.

I felt the warmth of Mother's hand against my back, the soothing rhythm of her pats. I let myself relax into her touch.

"Yeah… go ahead and keep spoiling me, Mother. I don't mind at all."

Father leaned in again, his voice softer this time. "Now then, my little boy, what would you like for your birthday?"

My birthday?

I thought about it for a moment. In my past life, birthdays were nothing special. Just another day, another reminder of how alone I was.

But here…

Here, I had them.

"Nothing, really. Just having you and Mother is enough for me."

Before I could think of how to express that, Mother suddenly beamed. "What my adorable baby wants… is his mama!" she announced dramatically. "Say it! Ma-ma!"

Father immediately frowned. "What? No, he doesn't. He wa—"

"He wants his mama," Mother interrupted with a teasing grin.

I stared at them.

"Oh, for the love of— They're flirting again."

I sighed. Fine. If saying the word would end this madness, then—

"Mama."

Silence.

Mother's eyes widened. She stared at me, completely frozen.

"Mama," I repeated, watching her reaction.

Tears welled up in her blue eyes. Then, without warning, she crushed me against her chest in a tight embrace.

"My baby boy finally said his first word… me!" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

"T-Too tight!" I struggled slightly, but her warmth was comforting, and I couldn't bring myself to complain.

The maids, including Sylvie, looked on with soft smiles.

Father, meanwhile, crossed his arms and let out a loud sigh. "So it's like that, huh? Your first word is 'Mama,' but no 'Papa'?"

I turned to him, amused. Well, I supposed I owed him something.

"Papa," I said gently.

Father's eyes widened. Then, just like Mother, he completely melted.

"My son called me Papa," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Before I knew it, he stood up from his seat, strode over, and embraced both of us in his strong arms. "My little boy can talk," he murmured, his voice shaking slightly. I felt something warm fall onto my head—Father's tears.

Mother tightened her embrace.

And just like that, we stayed there, the three of us wrapped in warmth that filled the entire room.

I closed my eyes.

"This… this is what I never had before."

"Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Father. I promise, one day, I'll grow strong enough to protect you both."

The sound of the dining hall doors opening broke the moment.

Tanaka entered, his expression calm but sharp. He had just returned from his mission, his presence a reminder of the world outside this warmth.

Father lifted his head slightly, acknowledging him. Then he turned to Mother and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before doing the same to me. "Excuse me, my love. I'll meet you in the bedroom soon," he whispered before pulling away.

"Where are you off to now, Father?" I wondered as I watched him go.

The maids bowed as he and Tanaka passed. The warmth in the room shifted, slightly dimmed, but it did not fade.

Mother turned back to me with a playful smile. "Now, my baby, say, 'I love you.'"

I blinked.

I had just spoken for the first time. She wasn't satisfied with that?

She leaned in closer. "I loooove you~" she sang.

I sighed. There was no way out of this, was there?

"…Mama."

Mother gasped dramatically before wrapping me in another tight embrace. "My baby!"

"T-Too tight again!"

But I didn't mind.

For now, in this fleeting moment, I just let myself be loved.

The Study Room

The study was dimly lit, the scent of parchment and ink hanging in the air. Shelves filled with books, maps, and important documents lined the walls. This was where Ryuu handled the affairs of his nation, where the weight of leadership rested heavily on his shoulders.

Seated at his desk, Ryuu leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping against the wood. Across from him stood Tanaka, his most trusted aide, waiting patiently.

"Have you found the runaway criminal?" Ryuu's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

Tanaka hesitated for a brief moment before answering. "Yes, my lord. But… he is dead."

Ryuu's fingers stilled. His sharp gaze met Tanaka's. "Dead?" He didn't raise his voice, but the word carried weight.

Tanaka nodded. "Yes, my lord."

Tanaka recounted the events—the masked man and the boy

Ryuu exhaled slowly, his mind racing. That's unusual. Who needed the Aurum Fortuna, and why? And the masked man… No. It couldn't be...

He pushed the thought aside for now. "What about the citizens injured in the explosion? Have they been treated? How many deaths?" His voice was serious, measured.

"There were no deaths, my lord," Tanaka assured him. "Only injuries."

Ryuu frowned slightly. "That can't be right. What about the people in the store with my wife?"

"They're safe. Lady Sylvie protected them during the explosion."

Ryuu let out a slow sigh. She did well.

"Make sure those who were injured receive the best possible treatment. No exceptions."

"Of course, my lord. I'll see to it first thing tomorrow morning."

Ryuu nodded. "Good. As for the properties damaged in the explosion, we'll cover the repairs with the mansion's funds. Do not touch the public funds—we'll need those for the next phase of development."

Tanaka bowed. "Understood, my lord. I'll arrange it accordingly."

Ryuu leaned back, exhaling. "This... feels like the beginning of something worse."

Before he could dwell on that thought, Tanaka cleared his throat. "My lord, a letter arrived for you."

Ryuu raised a brow as Tanaka pulled a folded letter from his pocket and handed it to him.

"Who is it from?"

Tanaka hesitated. "Your father, my lord."

For the first time that night, Ryuu looked genuinely surprised. "That old man?"

Unfolding the letter, he read through it, his expression shifting from intrigue to disbelief. Then, suddenly, he laughed. Not out of amusement, but out of frustration. With a sigh, he crumpled the letter and tossed it into the nearby bin.

"Who does that old man think he is?" he muttered under his breath.

Tanaka observed him carefully. "My lord, if I may—"

"Not now, Tanaka," Ryuu cut in, rubbing his temples. "Not now."

Tanaka nodded, stepping back.

"...How are the preparations for Kibo's birthday going?" Ryuu asked after a long pause.

"Everything is proceeding as planned, my lord."

Ryuu gave a small nod. "Good. You may leave."

"Goodnight, my lord," Tanaka said respectfully before stepping out of the study.

Once alone, Ryuu leaned back in his chair, his eyes drifting to the bin where the letter sat crumpled.

"Sigh... what does that old man want now?"

The Bedroom

The corridors were quiet as Ryuu made his way to his bedroom. The flickering torches cast long shadows along the walls, adding to the weight in his chest.

As he stepped inside, he found Luna sitting up in bed, her soft blue eyes filled with concern.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" he asked, closing the door behind him.

Luna's lips curved into a gentle smile. "I can't sleep without my darling husband beside me."

Ryuu sighed, a small smile touching his lips as he climbed into bed. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, feeling her warmth as she rested her head against his chest.

"Is something wrong?" she asked softly, looking up at him.

"Nothing, just... tired from dealing with some documents," he replied.

Luna tilted her head slightly. "You know you can't lie to me."

Ryuu chuckled, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "How do you know me so well?"

"Because I'm your wife," she answered playfully, her eyes sparkling.

"You really are cute," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Luna's face turned red as she quickly covered it with her hands. "W-Where did that come from?" she stammered.

Ryuu let out a soft laugh before his expression darkened slightly. "My father sent a letter..."

Luna lowered her hands, her expression turning serious. "What did he want?"

"He wants to take Kibo."

She stiffened. "Wouldn't that be… a good thing? With everything going on?" Her voice was soft, hesitant.

Ryuu stared at the ceiling for a moment before answering. "Maybe. But my father... he wasn't a good father."

Luna gently cupped his face, her touch warm and grounding. "I know it's not easy, my love, but your father isn't a bad person either."

Ryuu's jaw tensed. "I know. But I don't know what he's planning for Kibo. Have you forgotten what people call him?"

Luna's voice was barely a whisper. "The Reaper."

Ryuu nodded. "Exactly. He's suddenly asking to take Kibo away from us... It doesn't sit right with me."

Luna stroked his hair, trying to soothe him. "Dear, everything will be okay. When is he coming?"

"...Tomorrow. On Kibo's birthday."

Luna's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly masked it. "Kibo will be okay," she whispered, resting her head against his chest.

Ryuu held her close, his grip tightening slightly. I don't trust you, old man. If Kibo doesn't want to leave... I'll fight.

"What about Kibo?" he murmured.

"He's sleeping," Luna whispered.

Kibo's Room

The room was quiet, save for the faint rustling of sheets. Kibo lay in bed, his small frame tense as he focused on circulating mana through his body. Sweat clung to his forehead as he pushed himself to the limit, feeling the energy course through his veins.

His breathing was uneven. His heart pounded. Just a little more—

The strain hit him all at once. His body trembled before he finally let go, gasping for air.

"Sigggghh... That almost killed me," he muttered. His muscles ached, but beneath the exhaustion was something else.

Progress.

He stared up at the ceiling, his mind drifting.

My birthday, huh? Not like I care... but still...

His eyelids grew heavy. With one final exhale, Kibo closed his eyes, letting sleep take over.

Tomorrow would come soon enough