"Dad, we must be the first ones to wake up today. We'll definitely beat Grandma!" Karina said excitedly as she walked with her father toward her grandmother's room…
"Of course we'll win, the light just came out," Theobald said confidently with a smile, then knocked and opened the door…
Osana… was already standing there… dressed, her hair neatly styled, holding a set of gifts she hadn't even given to her husband…
Karina was shocked… and Theobald too… They were sure they woke up first… but… Osana beat them…
"Mother, when did you manage to do all this?" Theobald said in shock…
Osana laughed and said: "I couldn't sleep… I was just imagining what my dear son looks like… I missed him…" She placed her hands on her heart, her eyes shining… imagining Yuri as a baby… turquoise hair just like hers… white eyes… features mixed between Asian and European…
Karina laughed… while Theobald glanced sideways and said: "Yes… I forgot your favorite son is Yuri…"
Osana's expression immediately changed, her brows furrowing: "I love my children equally!"
He looked at her directly and said: "Yes, clearly… especially when you said yesterday the table was boring and annoying without Yuri… you didn't even mention Father…"
Karina looked between them curiously… Osana gasped: "You accused me! Are you saying I don't care about your father!? He is my crown, my soul, my everything!"
Theobald cleared his throat and whispered: "Even after what your father did?"
Osana's eyes widened, and she lightly hit his cheek: "Karina is here, you idiot!!"
Karina looked between them… her thoughts racing… "What are they hiding from me?… And what's the story of my grandfather ending my grandmother's father…?"
Osana shook her head quickly: "Karina, he's just saying nonsense… your grandfather didn't do anything! I swear if he did, I would be the first to reject it!"
Karina nodded as if convinced… but for a second… she looked at her grandfather's portrait… Wow… he looks ugly… …
In the city streets… where winter festivals are held… snow began falling across the empire… People gathered as soon as they saw a massive noble convoy… luxurious… organized… bearing the Vershi crest…
The Magic Tower convoy…
The return of James Edward… and Yuri Vershi…
People gathered in large numbers, cheering and watching… And when the open carriage passed… two young men appeared…
James… And Yuri…
He wore an elegant black suit… his turquoise hair catching attention… his white eyes stealing breaths… Handsome… undeniably so…
He smiled… and waved to the people… And in an instant… the place exploded with cheers and joy… He is one of the heads of the Magic Tower… the mage known for his intelligence…
The carriage stopped in front of the tower… James and Yuri stepped down… entered… Everyone bowed to them… welcoming them…
But…
The atmosphere suddenly shifted…
"You… give me the attendance record."
Tension spread… fearful whispers rose… In Yuri's presence… absence is unacceptable… negligence… is punished…
During his absence… many had become careless… But now…
Everyone pays the price…
He took the record… his eyes sharp… flipping through the pages slowly…
One of the mages whispered nervously: "Sir… your family missed you… maybe you should go to them first…"
"You're the one who spoke… come here."
The mage's heart stopped… his face turned pale… he stepped forward slowly…
Suddenly… Yuri grabbed him by the collar and pulled him harshly: "You slow one… what is all this absence?"
The mage trembled… unable to respond… The others behind him… waiting for their turn…
As for James and the other heads… They were laughing and chatting… as if nothing was happening…
"Sir… please forgive me…"
Yuri's eyes locked onto his… a cold… sharp gaze… Then…
He threw him away forcefully…
Next…
Then the one after…
One by one…
Each of them… On the verge of tears…
Yuri continued reviewing absences… flipping pages slowly, his eyes moving precisely between names until he suddenly stopped at one…
"Where is that boy?… Even today he didn't come!?" he said in a low but sharp tone…
He slowly raised his gaze… Only then did the others notice what was around them…
90% of the mages were lying on the ground… their breaths uneven… some clutching their chests… others trying to stand without success… exhaustion clear on their faces… after Yuri had drained them without mercy…
James stepped forward a few steps, glanced around quickly, then whispered calmly: "Don't you think you overdid it?… Anyway… this will make them work harder…" He smiled sideways as if enjoying the scene…
Arno stepped forward firmly and said: "Ron is very busy and cannot come… I'm the one who gave him leave."
Yuri's eyes fixed on him… his brows slightly furrowed, a brief look but enough to make the air heavier… then he said: "I'll ask Karina… she must know why he's busy."
Arno nodded without اعتراض… Yuri handed him the attendance papers, then raised his hand and placed his hat on his head calmly: "Now I must go to my family… they must be waiting for me."
The four heads nodded, and Yuri left with steady steps… his footsteps rhythmic on the floor… his features returned calm… but… a wide smile began to form on his face… clear longing… hidden excitement… after nearly a full year…
…
In front of the palace… Karina, Theobald, and Osana stood with composure, waiting… The cold air passed around them… light snow falling gently… the moment itself filled with a beautiful tension…
The large gates slowly opened… their deep sound filling the place… A luxurious elegant carriage entered… its details shining under the morning light… it gradually stopped before them…
A brief moment of silence…
Then the door opened…
And Yuri appeared…
He stepped down calmly, holding his hat in his hand… The moment his feet touched the ground… he raised his gaze…
Their eyes met…
And in that instant… He smiled…
A real… wide smile… lighting up his entire face… And his eyes… shimmered with unmistakable longing…
Osana's body trembled… Tears immediately gathered… her lips quivered… she could barely stay standing… As for Theobald… he stepped closer and gently patted her back, his smile calm but full of longing…
Karina…
She was just watching…
But inside… It wasn't calm…
The memories that returned… Were not all beautiful…
His treatment of her… in the past…
Yuri stepped forward first toward his mother… Without hesitation… he hugged her tightly: "I missed you, Mother."
Osana closed her eyes, her tears finally falling as she held onto him tightly… as if afraid he might disappear…
Karina felt something in her chest… Tears gathered in her eyes…
Only one thought… How beautiful it is… to have a mother…
As for her… She had never seen her mother…
She steadied herself… lightly clenched her fingers… trying not to get carried away by the feeling…
Yuri pulled back slightly… Then turned to Theobald…
They shook hands firmly… the sound of impact clear… Genuine smiles… eyes filled with old longing…
"Ah, brother… I missed you so much…"
Their looks alone… were enough to explain everything…
Karina smiled as she watched them…
But suddenly…
Memories flooded back strongly…
Yuri bending down to talk to her… Hiding sweets for her… smiling as if keeping a secret… Carrying her on his back and running through the halls… Dancing with her childishly… singing her silly songs and laughing… a pure laugh… As if her presence alone… made him happy…
And his voice…
"Even if the future comes… and I have a child… they won't be like Karina."
…
The present returned suddenly…
He was in front of her…
Very close…
He noticed her tears immediately…
And without thinking… he hugged her tightly:
"Little Karina!… I missed you so much, my princess!"
She froze for a second… Then… she hugged him tightly…
As if she became a child again…
Her tears fell endlessly…
She missed him… truly…
He laughed softly as he pulled back slightly, looking at her with warm eyes: "I thought you'd grow up… and stop being such a crybaby…"
He took out a handkerchief and handed it to her, wiping a tear from her cheek: "Come on… wipe your tears… and be our brave heir."