(Five Years Later)
Five years had passed. Five long years.
Time had continued to move forward, whether anyone was ready for it or not.
Seasons changed, the kingdom healed from the wounds of war, and life slowly settled back into its rhythm.
Many things had changed during those years.
A year after their wedding, Luca and Aranel were blessed with twins—a boy and a girl. They named them Nolan and Nayra.
Their home soon became filled with laughter and small footsteps.
The twins brought endless chaos and joy, and despite the responsibilities they carried, Luca and Aranel's married life was warm and happy.
Meanwhile, after a month of rest following his awakening, Eyan had returned to his duties as king.
The war had ended, but ruling a kingdom was never simple.
Matters of the court, rebuilding the lands, and maintaining peace kept him constantly occupied.
His days were long and exhausting.
Yet no matter how busy he became, Eyan always made time for one person.
Leo.
No matter how late the meetings lasted, no matter how many documents waited on his desk, he would always return to Leo.
He bathed him.
Fed him.
Played with him.
And every night, when the palace grew quiet, Eyan would carry the small child to bed and let Leo sleep in his arms.
He did everything he could so that Leo would never feel the emptiness left behind by the mother he had lost.
For five years, the child grew up surrounded by love—from Eyan, Luca, Aranel, and everyone in the palace.
__________________________________
(Royal Palace — Velmoria)
(Emperor's Study)
The study was quiet, heavy with tension.
Eyan sat behind his desk, reviewing documents, while Luca stood nearby with his arms crossed and an irritated expression on his face.
Finally, Luca broke the silence.
"Eyan… you have to do something."
Eyan did not look up immediately.
Luca continued, clearly frustrated.
"Not even six months have passed since Leo started attending the Imperial Academy, and this is already the tenth time he has caused trouble."
Eyan finally lifted his gaze, his expression calm.
"Just let it slide," he said quietly. "He's still a child."
Luca stared at him in disbelief.
"Let it slide?"
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"You don't go there, Eyan. I do. I'm the one who has to listen to all their complaints."
His voice sharpened.
"And today he nearly killed five boys. They're ten years old."
Eyan's brows drew together slightly.
"It was nothing before," Luca continued, "but ever since he turned five and awakened his powers, he's completely lost control."
He leaned forward slightly.
"You can't keep letting it slide. You have to talk to him."
Eyan sighed quietly. Then he turned his head toward the man standing beside the door.
"Hans."
Hans straightened immediately.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Go and bring Leo here."
Hans bowed and left the room.
__________________________________
A short while later, the door opened again. Hans stepped inside.
"Your Majesty, I have brought the Crown Prince."
Behind him, a small figure slowly stepped forward. Leo had been hiding behind Hans's leg, but now he walked into the room.
The five-year-old boy bowed politely.
"Greetings, Father."
Then he turned toward Luca.
"Greetings, Master."
Luca rubbed his temple.
Eyan studied the child in front of him.
Leo stood stiffly, his head lowered, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Leo," Eyan said calmly. "Stand properly and raise your head."
Leo immediately straightened and lifted his face.
"Good," Eyan said.
He leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Now tell me."
"Why did you do that?"
Leo hesitated for a moment. Then he spoke quietly. "Father… I only hit them a little....I didn't know they would get hurt that badly."
Luca suddenly laughed incredulously.
"Hit them a little?" He looked at Leo. "I didn't know burning someone counts as hitting a little."
Leo shot Luca an annoyed glare.
Luca gasped dramatically and pointed again.
"Eyan! Look at this brat! He's glaring at me!"
"Leo." Eyan's voice was calm but firm.
Leo's expression instantly changed. He looked straight again.
Eyan leaned forward slightly.
"What was the reason?"
"If it was something foolish, be ready for punishment."
The room fell silent. For a moment Leo didn't speak. Then he finally said quietly,
"…They were making fun of me."
Eyan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"For what?"
Leo hesitated. Then he spoke.
"Because… I don't have a mother."
Silence filled the room.
Luca's expression instantly changed. Anger flashed across his face.
"What?"
He stepped forward.
"Why didn't you tell me that at the academy?"
Leo looked at the floor.
"I thought… you would get angry."
Luca frowned.
"Why would I get angry?"
Then he suddenly patted Leo on the back proudly. "You did great!"
"Burning them was a great move." He grinned. "Next time someone says that to you, do the same—"
"Luca!" Eyan's voice cut sharply through the room.
Luca froze.
Eyan glared at him.
"What exactly are you teaching him?"
"He just burned some children and you're encouraging him."
Luca frowned.
"But he had a good reason."
Eyan shook his head firmly.
"No."
"That is not a good reason."
"That is a foolish reason."
Eyan stood up from his chair and walked toward Leo. His expression was stern.
"I told you before," he said quietly, "if you did not have a proper reason, you would be punished."
Leo looked up nervously.
"Go back to your room....For ten days, you are not allowed to go outside."
Leo's eyes widened. "But Father—"
"That is an order." Eyan's voice hardened. "And if you break it, you will not receive food for ten days."
Leo slowly lowered his head.
Luca immediately protested.
"Eyan, that's too much—"
"That is not too much," Eyan replied coldly. "He needs to learn discipline."
He looked down at Leo.
"Now go back to your room."
Leo didn't move. Instead, he spoke softly.
"…I wish I had a mother."
The words froze the room.
Eyan's expression changed slightly.
"What did you say?"
Leo looked up at him, his eyes beginning to fill with tears.
"Father… if I had a mother, they wouldn't make fun of me." His voice trembled. "I want a mother too…"
Eyan's expression softened. Slowly, he knelt down in front of Leo and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Leo…" His voice was quieter now. "I know it hard to live without a mother."
"I know that better than anyone." His gaze lowered briefly. "But there is nothing that can be done....You have to be strong."
Leo sniffed and shook his head.
"No....There is something you can do."
Eyan looked at him.
Leo spoke with innocent hope.
"Father… get married again. That way i will get a mother too."
Eyan's face instantly hardened.
"NO."
Leo frowned slightly. "Why not?"
"Father It has been so long since Mother died." He spoke innocently. "You should forget about her now—"
"LEO!" Eyan's voice exploded through the room.
Leo flinched violently.
Eyan's eyes were sharp with anger.
"No woman can ever take your mother's place."
"Remember that."
"I will never marry again."
His voice was firm and absolute.
"This is the first and last time I will say this."
"I do not want to hear that question again." He stared directly at Leo. "Do you understand?"
Leo lowered his head quietly. "…Yes, Father."
Eyan straightened. "Good....Now go."
Leo bowed silently and turned toward the door and left the room quietly. The door closed behind him with a soft sound.
For a moment, the study fell silent again.
Eyan stood there for a few seconds, staring at the door where Leo had disappeared. Then he turned and walked back to his desk, lowering himself into his chair.
He picked up a document, though his eyes did not truly focus on the words.
Across the room, Luca watched him. After a moment, Luca spoke.
"You should consider it."
Eyan didn't look up. "Consider what?"
"Marriage."
That made Eyan lift his eyes.
He stared at Luca for a moment before speaking calmly.
"You too, Luca?"
"Leo is a child, so I understand why he would say something like that." His voice hardened slightly. "But you… you know better than anyone else....No one can take Eva's place in my heart."
Luca sighed.
"I'm not telling you to love another woman...I'm only saying you should get married… so Leo can have a mother....It would simply be someone to fill that role for him."
Luca shrugged.
"You don't even have to share a real relationship with her.....It would be no different than having a personal nanny for Leo."
Eyan leaned back in his chair, studying Luca carefully.
"Do you truly believe a woman exists who would accept something like that?"
"A woman who would willingly marry under those conditions?"
Eyan's gaze sharpened.
"A marriage with no love....No place in her husband's heart...And only the duty of raising a child that is not hers."
Luca crossed his arms confidently.
"Of course there are women who would accept it."
Eyan shook his head faintly.
"I don't believe it."
Luca narrowed his eyes slightly.
"If I find someone like that… will you marry her?"
Eyan looked at him.The room grew quiet again.
Then slowly leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk he spoke.
"Fine....I'll give you two weeks."
"In two weeks," Eyan continued calmly, "if you can find a woman who knows these conditions and willingly accepts them…"
He met Luca's eyes. "…I will marry her."
Luca's face lit up. "Really?"
"But remember one thing," Eyan added firmly. "That woman must know everything beforehand."
"The conditions."
"The truth."
"And she must accept it willingly."
Luca grinned. "Of course...I'll handle everything."
He pointed at Eyan.
"You just don't back out of your word."
Eyan leaned back in his chair again.
"You have my word." Then he added, "But if you fail to find someone within two weeks...you and Leo will never bring up the topic of my marriage again."
Luca smiled confidently.
"Deal."
Eyan waved his hand dismissively.
"Good....Now go."
Luca turned toward the door, already excited.
"I should go tell Leo!"
And with that, he hurried out of the study, he left the chamber with visible excitement.
Now the study was quiet again.
Eyan picked up the documents on his desk and began reading them. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Hans, who had been standing beside him the entire time, noticed it. After a moment, he spoke carefully.
"Your Majesty… are you really going to get married again?"
Eyan didn't even look up.
"No."
Hans blinked.
"But Your Majesty… you just gave your word to Master Luca...You cannot take your words back."
Eyan finally lifted his gaze and looked at Hans calmly.
"Hans....Do you truly believe Luca can find a woman like that in just two weeks?"
Hans paused.
Then he shook his head.
"…I doubt it."
Eyan leaned back slightly in his chair. A faint amused smile crossed his face.
"Exactly....There is no way he can find someone like that."
He closed the document calmly.
"So in the end… he will give up....And Leo will give up as well."
Hans allowed himself a small smile.
"That seems likely, Your Majesty."
The matter clearly did not concern Eyan any further. He returned his attention to the documents in front of him. After a moment, he spoke again.
"Hans."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Did you find anything about the thief roaming around the capital?"
Hans immediately stepped forward and handed him a file. "Yes...Our knights have been tracking him."
Eyan took the file and opened it. His eyes scanned the reports inside. Then his finger began tapping lightly against the desk.
"…He escaped again."
Hans nodded.."Yes, Your Majesty....He is extremely sharp. Our knights have failed to capture him several times."
Eyan closed the file with a soft thud. A faint smile appeared on his face. "Looks like I'll have to catch him myself."
Hans straightened.
Eyan stood up from his chair. "Prepare for tomorrow....We'll go find him ourselves."
Hans bowed respectfully. "Yes, Your Majesty."
__________________________________
(Leo's Chamber)
The door suddenly burst open.
"Leo!"
Luca stepped inside with excitement written all over his face.
"My dear nephew, I bring good news! Your father said he wil—"
His words stopped abruptly. The room was empty.
Luca blinked.
"…Leo?"
He stepped further inside and looked around. The bed was empty. The window was open slightly, letting the afternoon breeze move the curtains gently.
Luca walked around the chamber, checking behind the bed, near the desk, even behind the curtains. But Leo was nowhere to be found.
Luca frowned.
"…That brat." Realization suddenly hit him. "Did he sneak out of the palace?"
He rubbed his forehead in frustration.
"If Eyan finds out about this, he'll be furious."
He immediately turned and stepped out of the chamber. Several knights stood guard in the hallway.
Luca looked at them seriously.
"Listen carefully."
The knights straightened.
"Go and find the Crown Prince."
The knights exchanged quick glances.
"Prince Leo has escaped from the palace." He lowered his voice slightly. "And make sure His Majesty does not find out about it."
The knights bowed immediately.
"Yes, Master Luca."
Without another word, they hurried down the corridor to begin their search.
__________________________________
(Velmoria Market)
(Inside a Small Shop)
A glowing teleportation circle suddenly appeared in the middle of the quiet shop.
A small figure stepped out of it.
The moment his feet touched the ground, Leo froze.
He looked around in confusion.
"…Wait."
"Where am I?"
His brows furrowed as he looked at the unfamiliar shelves filled with goods.
"I teleported to the palace garden…"
Then he looked down at his tiny hands.
Leo clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Tsk… I failed again."
He had been trying to teleport somewhere very specific.
Clearly, his control over his powers still wasn't perfect.
"But more importantly…"
He slowly turned around, scanning the shop.
"…what is this place?"
Just then, the door of the shop opened with a creak.
A middle-aged man walked inside, humming softly.
The moment his eyes landed on Leo standing in the middle of the shop, he froze.
Leo immediately smiled politely.
"Hello, mister. Can you tell me where I a—"
"A thief!!"
The man suddenly screamed at the top of his lungs.
Leo's eyes widened.
"No—please listen to me!"
But the man had already rushed outside.
"A thief entered my shop!"
"Knights! Help! Catch him!"
Leo's heart dropped.
"Ah—!"
Without thinking, he threw his hands in the air and bolted out of the shop.
"Great…!"
"If Father finds out about this, he's going to kill me!"
Behind him, the sounds of armored footsteps quickly began to echo through the market.
"Stop right there!"
Leo glanced behind him and nearly panicked.
Several knights were already chasing him.
"Why does this always happen to me?!"
He turned sharply around a corner and ran into a narrow alley.
But the moment he reached the end—
He froze.
The path was blocked by a tall wall.
"There's no way…"
His heart began pounding wildly in his chest.
His breathing grew heavy.
Footsteps grew closer.
Just as panic began rising inside him—
A hand suddenly grabbed him from behind.
Before he could react, another hand clamped tightly over his mouth.
"Mmph!"
Leo's eyes widened as he was pulled into the shadows between two buildings.
A moment later, the knights rushed into the alley.
"Where did he go?!"
"He turned this way!"
The knights looked around quickly, scanning every corner.
But the alley appeared empty.
After a few seconds, one of them sighed.
"Split up. He can't be far."
Soon, their footsteps faded into the distance.
Silence returned.
Slowly, the hand covering Leo's mouth moved away.
Leo stumbled forward and fell onto the ground.
He immediately scrambled backward, fear flashing across his face.
"Stay away!"
"Who are you?!"
From the shadows, a figure slowly stepped forward.
They wore a black hood that hid most of their face. A mask covered the rest.
Leo narrowed his eyes.
"You're that thief, right?"
"The one causing trouble in the capital."
The figure took another step toward him.
Leo quickly crawled back.
His hand lifted.
Magic surged around him.
His eyes began to glow faintly.
"Stay back."
"Or you'll regret it."
The figure suddenly raised both hands.
"WAIT! WAIT!"
Leo paused.
Slowly, the stranger reached up. First, they pulled down the hood. Then they removed the mask. Light from the alley finally revealed their face.
Leo stared. Shock spread across his face.
"…You…"
His eyes widened.
"YOU'RE A WOMAN?"
.
.
To be continued—