(Orlax’s POV)
I raised my hand and gently touched the rough skin on the right side of her face, a scar from a burn that happened four years ago.
"Does it hurt?"
I asked quietly, looking into Riana’s eyes, which were gazing back at .
"Well, sotis. It itches now and then."
Riana leaned her face against my hand and closed her eyes.
"Hmm, your body temperature is really low. Are you sick?"
Riana asked with concern as she felt my temperature.
"I have no issues. It’s just a side effect of one of my special abilities."
"If you say so."
Riana slowly lowered her hands and finally let go of my neck.
’Hmm, I think I forgot sothing?’
I started to feel like I had overlooked sothing while I was busy with Riana.
’Ah, right—Alex! Don’t tell he saw all of this?’
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called Alex to find out where he was.
"Alex, where are you right now?"
"Your Majesty, I returned to the palace the mont I saw you arrive. Do you need anything?"
’Looks like you’ll live a bit longer, Alex.’
"Nothing. I’m heading back to the palace now."
I ended the call after hearing the answer that saved Alex’s life.
"Alright, Riana, let’s head back to the palace now."
As I turned toward Riana, curiosity struck , and I activated the loyalty gauge.
[Loyalty: Unasurable]
’Unasurable? What is this? Is the system malfunctioning?’
I started thinking about the possible reasons the loyalty reading might be unasurable, and then I rembered one of Riana’s traits.
’Don’t tell ... that trait has activated.’
I quickly focused on the system and opened Riana’s status screen.
Na: Riana Tirshtain (Elin)
Age: 19
Health: 100% (Feeling energetic)
Mana: (Locked)
Aura: 100%
Attributes:
- Strength: 60 (Affects physical power overall)
- Speed: 60 (Affects movent speed and reaction ti)
- Wisdom: 19 (Affects mana control, aura managent, and reflexes)
- Intelligence: 19 (Affects mana capacity, aura levels, and intelligence)
- Endurance: 60 (Affects stamina and defense)
- Charm: 96 (Affects appearance and aura)
(The average person has a score of 5 in each attribute.)
Status: Active, Healthy
Personality Traits:
- [Sword God]
- [Honor]
- [Patience]
- [Courage]
- [Obsession]
Skills:
- Sword Skills: Level 8
Unique Skill:
- Hyper Focus
- Sword Spirit
’Damn it... Her [Obsession] trait is no longer locked.’
I started watching Riana carefully for any signs of obsession, but from my perspective, she looked completely normal.
’She seems fine, but I better be careful. That trait might flare up suddenly.’
I pushed the thought aside, deciding to leave that problem to my future self.
I stepped closer to Riana and swiftly picked her up in a princess carry before she could react.
"Huh? Why did you pick up so suddenly? Warn before doing sothing like that!"
"Alright, alright. Just protect your body. I’m going to move very fast."
I ignored Riana’s complaint and activated my control magic and fire magic. Wings of fire appeared behind , imdiately catching Riana’s attention.
"Wow... What’s that? They’re so beautiful!"
Riana tried to touch the wings on my back, but her hand passed right through them, feeling only warmth.
I began to ascend slowly, then shot off at full speed.
BOOM!
A shockwave blasted out as I broke the sound barrier, and Riana scread in my arms due to the intense speed.
"Slow down a bit!"
Riana clung tightly to out of fear, but I ignored her cries and finally arrived at the palace, descending slowly in front of the main door.
I gently lowered her to the ground and helped her stand since her legs were shaking.
"Remind never to do that again."
Riana’s voice was trembling as she recalled the terrifying ride.
"Impossible. We’ll be doing that a lot more in the future."
Riana rolled her eyes at but a small smile appeared on her lips.
I stepped forward, opened the palace door, and we both entered.
"Go to your room first. I’ve got things to take care of."
"Yeah, yeah."
Riana waved her hand at and went upstairs toward her room.
’Alright, I’ve got three things to deal with right now.’
I sat down on a couch in the first-floor living room and began organizing my thoughts.
’First, Catherine’s issue—she’s refusing to leave her room.
Second, Sera—she was sad because I’ve been gone for a long ti.
Third, Armanthor—he wants to discuss so important matters in the office.’
I rubbed my head, overwheld by all the things I had to do, and sighed.
’Alright, let’s start with the easiest one.’
I slowly stood up and headed to my room.
There, I found Sera sitting on the floor while Lira stood nearby, watching her play with dolls.
As soon as Lira saw , she bowed slightly, and I motioned for her to leave with a wave of my hand.
I walked quietly up to Sera, who was deeply focused on playing, and lifted her up from behind.
"Waah!"
She was startled by the sudden lift and scread in fear.
I turned her around so she could see my face.
"How’s my little princess? Did you miss ?"
When Syra saw that it was holding her, her eyes welled up with tears and she hugged tightly.
"Daddy!"
"Yes, yes, princess. I’m here, don’t worry."
I gently rubbed her back to calm her down, feeling a deep sense of guilt.
’Everyone’s been neglecting Sera because of their own problems. She must have been so lonely all this ti.’
As I focused on calming Sera, a white-haired girl quietly entered the room.
"Oh, you’re here. Did Riana return?"
I heard Alice’s voice behind and turned around while still holding the sad Sera.
"Yes."
Alice suddenly walked up to , took my hand, and closed her eyes.
I let her do it, allowing her to see everything that happened during the trip.
When Alice opened her eyes, her lips were trembling slightly.
"Seriously? Are you going to bring back a new girl every ti you leave?"
Hearing that made chuckle, and a faint smile appeared on my face.
"Are you jealous?"
"Of course I am."
I was a little surprised by Alice’s honest answer—it ward my heart. I decided to stop teasing.
"You don’t need to worry about her. She’ll only work as my assistant, nothing more."
I sat on the bed while still holding Sera and watched Alice, who was still pouting.
"Yeah, your assistant during the day... and sothing else at night."
My lips twitched at Alice’s words, and I looked at her strangely.
"Who taught you these things?"
"Books, of course."
I wondered what kind of books Alice had been reading in the past.
"Sight ,Nothing like that will happen. Don’t worry."
"Yeah, treat like a child who knows nothing, like always."
Alice stomped the floor in frustration and headed for the door.
’Why does solving one problem always create another?’
I sighed, then quickly stood up and grabbed Alice’s arm to stop her.
"Alice, just hold my hand and look into my heart."
Alice froze, overwheld by my emotions, and her face gradually turned red with embarrassnt.
"You..."
She turned her head toward , watching shyly.
"Are you calm now?"
"Yes, yes... Now let go of my hand!"
I did as she asked—I thought she might faint from embarrassnt at any mont.
"Phew, this is dangerous for my heart. I thought I was going to pass out."
Alice raised her head and glanced at .
"Alright, alright. I get it, I’m not angry anymore. I’m going back to my room."
She quickly ran out, and I returned to the bed, still holding the now-calm Sera.
’Thankfully, dealing with Alice is the easiest. I don’t even need to talk much, and she understands everything.’
I lowered my head to look at Sera, who had cald down, and stared at her gently before speaking.
"I’m sorry, Sera, for leaving you alone. How can I make it up to you?"
Syra lifted her head from my chest, her eyes still red from crying.
"Carry up high."
Her childish voice, still tinged with tears, brought warmth to my heart.
"You want to lift you high? Alright, then."
I stood slowly, opened the room’s window, and leapt outside with Sera in my arms.
[Control Magic Activated]
I began to float upward, slowly rising hundreds of ters above the ground.
I could feel Sera trembling from fear in my arms, so I gently patted her back.
"Don’t be scared, Sera. I’m here. You’ll never fall. Open your eyes and look."
She cald slightly after hearing my words, opened her eyes slowly, and looked around cautiously.
"Wow..."
She gripped my clothes tightly as she saw how far the ground was, but she kept her eyes open.
"Look, Sera. This is the capital of the empire."
I pointed to the city beneath us, letting Sera take in the view.
She stared at the city in awe, clearly amazed by what she saw.
"It’s so beautiful."
A smile spread across my face when I heard her words.
"Isn’t it? That’s why I want to protect it—because I don’t want such beauty to be lost."
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