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The capital was still trembling.
Not from collapsing buildings anymore—
But from fear.
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The shattered sky remained suspended above the kingdom like a scar that refused to heal. Knights guarded the streets nervously while nobles whispered behind closed doors.
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Because everyone knew one thing now.
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The Grand Duke had returned.
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And the world itself reacted to her emotions.
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Inside the ruined palace courtyard—
Rosy stood silently near the broken fountain.
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The cold night wind brushed against her dark hair while violet-black light flickered faintly around her fingers.
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She looked calmer now.
But only barely.
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Azrael leaned against a shattered pillar nearby, watching her quietly.
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"…You've been staring for ten minutes," Rosy muttered without turning.
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A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"…And you counted."
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She clicked her tongue softly.
"…Annoying."
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But she didn't tell him to stop.
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Which was already dangerous enough.
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Before Azrael could answer—
A knight suddenly rushed into the courtyard.
Pale.
Panicked.
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"G-Grand Duke!"
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Rosy turned slowly.
The poor knight almost forgot how to breathe for a second.
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"…What."
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"There's… there's someone approaching the capital."
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Azrael frowned slightly.
"…And?"
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The knight swallowed hard.
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"…The northern barrier froze."
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Silence.
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Rosy's brows narrowed.
"…Froze?"
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The knight nodded shakily.
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"In seconds."
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A pause.
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"Entire watchtowers are covered in ice."
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The atmosphere shifted instantly.
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Azrael straightened slowly.
"…Ice magic?"
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Her father appeared from the ruined hall behind them.
Expression unreadable.
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"…Impossible."
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Rosy glanced toward him.
"…You know something."
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A long silence followed.
Then—
"…Only one person alive should possess that level of ice affinity."
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The wind suddenly grew colder.
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Much colder.
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Frost slowly spread across the broken courtyard floor.
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The knight's eyes widened.
"…H-he's here."
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A distant sound echoed through the ruined capital.
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Clack.
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Clack.
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Footsteps.
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Slow.
Calm.
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The temperature dropped further with every step.
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People in the distance gasped as snow began falling from a clear shattered sky.
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And then—
He appeared.
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Tall.
Elegant.
Wrapped in long silver and black robes trimmed with frost patterns.
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Snow-white hair fell over sharp icy blue eyes that glowed faintly in the darkness.
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Beautiful.
Dangerously beautiful.
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Every noble nearby immediately froze.
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Because the man walking through the collapsing palace looked less like a human—
And more like winter itself.
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Ice formed beneath his boots with every step.
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Azrael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So he finally came."
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Rosy stared at the newcomer carefully.
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And the man—
The terrifying ice magician—
Stopped directly in front of her.
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Silence.
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Everyone held their breath.
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Then suddenly—
His cold expression cracked completely.
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"…Aunt."
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Silence.
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Complete silence.
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Rosy blinked once.
"…What?"
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The nobles nearby nearly fainted.
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One noblewoman whispered frantically—
"…Aunt?!"
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Another looked between them in horror.
"…Wait— then who is he?!"
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Unfortunately—
The man ignored everyone else completely.
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His icy eyes scanned Rosy carefully from head to toe.
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"…You're alive."
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His usually emotionless voice shook slightly at the end.
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Rosy frowned.
"…Do I know you?"
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The man froze.
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For the first time—
Real emotion appeared on his face.
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Pain.
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"…You forgot."
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Azrael quietly looked away like he already expected this.
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Rosy crossed her arms slightly.
"…That doesn't answer my question."
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The man exhaled slowly.
Trying to calm himself.
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"…My name is Kael."
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A pause.
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"Kael Blackwell."
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Rosy's eyes widened slightly.
"…Blackwell?"
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The man nodded once.
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"…Your nephew."
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The entire courtyard exploded into whispers.
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"NEPHEW?!"
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"Then how old is he?!"
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"Wait, why does he look older than half the nobles?!"
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Kael ignored all of them.
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His eyes never left Rosy.
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"…You disappeared for fifteen years."
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A pause.
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"We searched everywhere."
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Something about his voice made Rosy's chest tighten unexpectedly.
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Not romantic.
Not obsessive.
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Familiar.
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Like hearing echoes of someone who had cried for her once.
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Rosy looked at him carefully.
"…How old are you?"
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Kael answered calmly.
"…Twenty-six."
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She blinked slowly.
"…And I'm supposed to be your aunt?"
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"…Technically."
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Azrael snorted softly behind her.
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Rosy immediately looked at him.
"…What's funny?"
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"…Nothing."
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A pause.
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"…It's just entertaining watching you process family relationships."
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She glared at him instantly.
"…You could have warned me."
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Azrael shrugged lightly.
"…I wanted to see your reaction."
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"…I hate you."
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"No you don't."
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"…Shut up."
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Meanwhile—
Kael silently watched the interaction between them.
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The air around him suddenly became colder.
---
Much colder.
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Ice spread violently across the ground beneath Azrael's feet.
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Azrael looked down once.
Then slowly smiled.
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"…Oh?"
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Kael's icy gaze sharpened.
"…Who are you."
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The question sounded polite.
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It absolutely wasn't.
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Rosy immediately noticed the tension.
"…Wait."
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She looked between them suspiciously.
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"…Why does this suddenly feel like two territorial wolves staring at each other?"
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Neither answered.
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Which answered enough.
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Kael spoke first.
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"…You're standing too close to her."
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Azrael looked amused now.
"…And?"
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The temperature dropped another degree.
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"…Move."
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Rosy stared blankly.
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"…Why are you acting like an angry husband."
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The entire courtyard went silent again.
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Kael froze instantly.
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Azrael nearly choked trying not to laugh.
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And Rosy—
Still completely unaware of the chaos she caused—
Looked genuinely confused.
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"…What?"
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Kael pressed a hand against his forehead briefly.
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"…Aunt."
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"…Hm?"
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"…Please stop speaking."
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Azrael burst out laughing openly this time.
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Rosy immediately looked offended.
"…What did I even say?!"
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The nobles nearby looked seconds away from collapsing.
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Because the terrifying ice magician—
The rumored northern monster—
Was blushing.
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Very slightly.
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And Azrael noticed immediately.
Which meant he would never let it go.
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"…Interesting," he drawled lazily.
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Kael's icy glare could have frozen oceans.
"…You want to die."
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Azrael smiled beautifully.
Dangerously.
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"…You can try."
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The air instantly exploded with pressure and freezing magic.
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Rosy grabbed both of them by the collars before either could move.
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"…No."
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Silence.
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One terrifying woman held two insanely powerful men still like misbehaving children.
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"…I already destroyed half the capital," she continued coldly.
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"…I am NOT dealing with whatever this is."
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Kael immediately calmed.
"…Understood."
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Azrael sighed dramatically.
"…You always ruin the fun."
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Rosy glared at him.
"…You are the fun."
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The moment the words left her mouth—
Silence dropped again.
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Azrael blinked slowly.
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Kael looked horrified.
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Rosy realized what she said.
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"…That came out wrong."
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Azrael's grin slowly widened.
Dangerously.
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"…Too late."
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And for the first time in days—
Despite the fractured sky.
Despite the fear.
Despite the monster inside her—
Rosy felt something dangerously close to normal.
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Which, honestly—
Might have been the most terrifying thing yet.
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End of Chapter 24