Carver.
He was still dressed in the white suit Will rembered, wearing his goldrimd glasses, standing out starkly among the crowd of n in black suits.
Will wasn’t surprised to see him here. After all, it was only natural for a “good father” to attend his child’s “engagent” ceremony.
But...
No, no, no.
This guy, this guy showing up here can’t an anything good.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, Will instinctively took a few steps back upon seeing Carver, as if trying to distance himself from this “father” with a deep sense of aversion.
And yet...
His brain issued commands that forced him to smile and address Carver as though he were a “kind and loving” elder—
“Father?”
That’s not what I should call him... How could I let myself say that?
But in my mories, Carver is exactly like this...
What’s wrong? Where did things go wrong...?
Carver’s expression shifted into one of surprise when he heard Will’s greeting. His wine glass trembled slightly in his hand.
A flicker of disdain crossed his face as he muttered under his breath:
“Hmm? What is this? A surprise from Her Majesty? Or perhaps... a gift? Or maybe she just thinks soone like her forr self is easier to control?”
Carver sighed before adopting a playful tone, as if he were enjoying the current situation:
“Never mind.”
“What do you an?” Will asked, watching Carver’s smile as his own fingers began to tremble.
At the sa ti, the “unease” that had been building within him since he woke up that morning reached its peak.
Because of what Carver said next:
“Hmm. It seems you’ve completely forgotten my advice... and ssed up, haven’t you?”
ssed up?
“Hah... Let think. Cleaning up after soone in the royal family... isn’t an easy task...”
Cleaning up?
Will opened his mouth but found himself unable to refute Carver’s words.
The coronation and engagent ceremony venue, adorned with white decorations and flowers, began to darken at the edges of his vision, the blackness creeping inward.
The “loving father” in the white suit started to look increasingly grotesque...
Will felt dizzy. His vision blurred with overlapping images...
He couldn’t tell if he was “falling asleep into a dream” or “waking up from one.”
He reached out with trembling hands, searching for sothing nearby to steady himself.
Could it be...
But...
The mont didn’t last.
A pair of hands—cool and reassuring—gripped Will’s shoulders, steadying him before he could collapse.
They were cold, but Will could feel the strength in their fingertips, stopping his trembling.
A voice—cold yet commanding—spoke from behind him:
“Mr. Carver, forgive for being blunt, but you need to learn how to keep your distance.”
Treya’s tone was sharp, cutting off whatever Carver had been about to say.
She stepped forward, placing herself between Carver and Will.
“Treya...”
Strong and dependable.
This was a new “experience” for Will.
For the first ti, soone stood between him and a difficult situation he couldn’t handle, taking full responsibility for it.
“As a father, no matter how ‘indulgent’ you are, you should keep your distance from soone who already has a family.”
“You’ll have to accept that with by his side... he’ll be happier than he ever was under your control.”
After saying this, Treya turned to look at Will.
Her usually calm pale blue eyes were filled with extre worry and concern.
She sighed softly and murmured under her breath—
“I forgot about Carver being such an unstable factor. Looks like I’ll need to ‘reinforce’ things.”
“I... I feel like I’ve been halfasleep all day. Treya, what were you just saying...” Will began but was interrupted as Treya leaned in close—just as she had that morning and at noon, suddenly closing the distance between them.
He stared at her expression, her pale blue eyes locking onto his.
In Will’s vision, Treya—dressed in her black gown—appeared brighter than ever. Once again, the world returned to the warm and familiar place he knew.
“Yes, you need rest,” she said softly, her words like a gentle lullaby.
“...Is that so? I feel like I was just starting to wake up...” Will murmured.
Treya didn’t wait for his response. She took his hand firmly and led him away from Carver and the entire banquet hall.
Watching their retreating figures, Carver raised his wine glass again.
“Oh dear, I forgot. In a way...”
“I’m the one who told her where Will was and gave her more information. Hmm...”
“Does that an I sold him out?”
Will followed Treya as she walked briskly ahead of him. Despite her wearing black high heels, he found it hard to keep up with her pace.
The sound of her heels striking the floor echoed in his ears.
She moved with purpose, her silver hair swaying slightly with each step.
Holding Will’s hand tightly, she led him through the crowd without caring about the voices calling after her to stop.
“...Wait a second. Where are you taking ?” Will asked breathlessly.
“You’re not suited for this place. I think you need sowhere comfortable to rest.”
“I... I think I’m fine...”
“No.”
Her response was simple, direct—and oddly difficult to argue with.
For a mont, Will felt this version of Treya carried a faint sense of familiarity. But then he quickly understood her reasoning.
She was deeply worried.
Her expressions, actions, and tone all conveyed her concern.
She might be the only one who noticed sothing was off with him and realized he needed rest.
That must be why she was so adamant about pulling him away from the event.
She...
She was probably just worried that he wasn’t comfortable in such an environnt or wasn’t feeling well enough to handle it. Right?
Yes...
This was part of their “understanding”—after knowing each other for so many years, Will could interpret her thoughts and intentions just by observing her gaze and words.
She genuinely wanted him to rest.
Will nodded and quickened his pace to match hers.
Finally, they stopped in Treya’s room.
Her room was filled with stuffed animals, piled high on her bed.
Treya didn’t pay them any mind. She reached out and swept them all off the bed in one motion.
“Treya... why did you suddenly bring here?” Will asked hesitantly.
“It’s closer.”
She drew the curtains shut, blocking out the afternoon sunlight with deep red fabric.
Before Will could react further, she turned around and gently pushed him by the shoulders until he lay flat on the bed.
Then...
Treya raised her left hand in front of her eye.
But what she saw through her “left eye” wasn’t what she expected.
“Huff—”
Will obediently sprawled out on the bed like a starfish and closed his eyes contentedly.
“......”
—He wasn’t like before. Now, he listened to her every word.
Treya watched him silently for a mont, her hand hovering midair without making another move.
“Will, aren’t you going to ask... why I so forcefully brought you here? What I plan to do?” she asked softly.
Her tone suddenly softened; she seed more surprised by Will’s “obedience” than concerned about him anymore.
“You probably noticed I’m tired and need rest. That’s why you brought here to relax—though I don’t know why I feel even weaker than usual today,” Will replied casually.
—He wasn’t like before. Now, he saw himself as soone who needed protection.
“I...” Treya began but stopped herself midsentence. “Do you really think that?”
“Yes. Why? Am I wrong? After all, it’s you, Treya—you’d never lie to , right?”
—He wasn’t like before. Now, he trusted her unconditionally.
Treya stood over Will, slowly lowering her hand.
“Will... up until now, what kind of person do you think I am?” she asked quietly.
“Why ask that all of a sudden?”
“Just confirming sothing.”
“Hmm... maybe...”
Before Treya realized it, Will had reached up and grabbed her left hand as she lowered it. He gently pulled her into his arms and hugged her lightly.
Treya’s pointed elf ears turned bright red instantly.
As silence filled the room, Treya listened to Will’s breathing near her ear and knew he was “searching his mory.”
“You’re colorful,” he finally said softly.
Treya knew he was recalling mories of being “lost and helpless at a banquet until Treya found and saved him.”
“You’re soone who lights up my life...”
Treya knew he was thinking about being “misunderstood because of his Hysterm family status until Treya comforted him.”
“The highest form of color...”
Treya knew he was piecing together mories she had carefully crafted for him—mories designed to be absolutely perfect and heartwarming.
As sunlight shifted slightly across Will’s face...
He reached out and stroked Treya’s silver hair gently.
“Today, you stood between and my father. You didn’t hesitate to pull away when I wasn’t feeling well. So now I know...”
With actions full of “love,” he spoke words filled with affection:
“You’re soone I can safely love.”
—He wasn’t like before. Now...
—He treated her with genuine love...
—As if it were natural to do so.
Treya let out a sigh of relief and hugged Will tightly. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered softly enough to tickle:
“Good. Once again, I’ve confird...”
“My choice was correct.”
“Now rest well.”
“My dear Will.”
“When you wake up... you’ll love even more.”
Suddenly, Will felt his mind grow heavy with exhaustion...
“Huh? Love you even more...”
Don’t fall asleep.
Don’t fall...
Asleep...
......
..................
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