Chapter 50: Chapter 50

The warmth and strength in Karsus’ voice wrapped around Tiel’s wounded heart like a protective cocoon.

It felt like a small light was blooming deep inside her chest.

"Yes!"

Tiel’s golden eyes sparkled.

The frightened girl who had once trembled under Nestian’s abuse and the bitter cold was nowhere to be found.

Everyone in the room, including Karsus, felt a quiet warmth at the sight.

And then—

BANG—!!!

The door burst open with such force that it was a miracle the hinges didn’t snap off entirely.

Everyone in the room jolted in surprise, whipping their heads toward the entrance.

A moment ago, there had been a massive, sturdy door in that space.

Now, it was gone, and in its place stood a single man.

"……."

"……Father?"

"Grandfather?"

"Seriously?"

"Grandpa…?"

Everyone stared in disbelief.

Alpheus’ face was so red it looked like it might explode. His expression flickered between shades of crimson and purple, causing Ludian to swiftly cover Tiel’s ears.

"THOSE NESTIAN BASTARDS!!!"

Alpheus roared. His golden eyes blazed with unrestrained fury.

Ludian, as if expecting this, clenched his eyes shut.

He had already given up on saving his own ears.

But he had successfully protected his little sister’s.

That was a brilliant tactical move.

After letting out his full fury, Alpheus finally noticed the children huddled together in the room.

"…You all…"

"Grandpa! Why are you yelling like that? I thought my eardrums were going to burst!"

"But he is right."

"Yeah, those bastards deserve to have their bones picked clean."

The children chimed in one by one.

Alpheus, still burning with fury, turned to Tiel.

The moment his sharp gaze landed on her, Tiel instinctively averted her eyes, looking elsewhere.

A loud, shouting old man was still a little scary…

"A-Ah. But why are the children all here? Weren’t you out on an outing today?"

"We came back early. We heard about the rumors regarding Tiel."

"But no matter how quickly rumors spread, they wouldn’t have reached you already. At most, only the heads of each noble house should have heard by now."

Realizing that he had yelled in front of his beloved grandchildren, Alpheus now looked awkwardly at them, clearly at a loss.

"His Highness the Crown Prince informed us."

"The Crown Prince? And why would he…"

Alpheus trailed off, but Ferdi already knew what he wasn’t saying.

Tiel gently let go of Ludian’s sleeve and took small, quick steps toward Alpheus.

"Grandpa!"

"Yes? Yes, my dear?"

"It’s okay. They still don’t know what’s inside that room yet."

Tiel spoke clearly.

That room—she was referring to the secret chamber Alpheus had taken her to before.

The chamber meant for those with the Light Ability.

Which meant…

They still didn’t know.

They only have a vague idea of the legend.

They don’t know I can suppress the Curse of Madness.

The chamber contained records proving that Tiel could subdue the madness in her bloodline.

But Nestian had no way of knowing that.

It was impossible.

That chamber only reacted to the Light Ability.

And in the entire empire—no, in the entire world—Tiel was the only person with that ability.

"So, I’m okay, Grandpa. And you’ll protect me, right?"

Tiel held out her tiny hand.

Alpheus slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again before taking her hand in his large, calloused one.

His aged face, lined with wrinkles, softened into a warm smile.

Just moments ago, he had been shouting with unrestrained fury.

Now, it was hard to believe it was the same person.

"Of course. Don’t worry, my dear. Grandpa will protect you."

"Yes! I’m not worried at a—"

"I will protect you with my life."

"Th-That’s a bit…"

She hadn’t asked for that level of dedication…

But Tiel didn’t say anything more.

Because in Alpheus’ eyes, she saw something firm and unwavering.

More than ever before, his gaze was resolute.

"But you must be careful. From now on, always go out with your brothers and take Asterian knights with you."

"Yes!"

"Tiel, be extra cautious. Your ability doesn’t harm others, which is exactly why I’m even more worried."

If she had a destructive power, at least people would fear her.

But the Light Ability wasn’t a weapon.

It was a miracle.

It wasn’t something to be feared—it was something to be coveted.

"If only it had been those damned brats, I wouldn’t have had to worry…"

Alpheus muttered under his breath.

"You should be more worried about the damage they’ll cause."

Olivier remarked dryly.

No one refuted her—not even Ferdi or Ludian.

Because, well.

She was right.

"Anyway! Be careful. Extremely careful. It’s best if you avoid going out until Luminaria ends. Your father and I will figure out how to handle this situation."

"Yes!"

"Tiel, don’t worry and just go rest. Or play. That’s what children should be doing."

"Yes! Thank you, Grandpa!"

Tiel hugged Alpheus lightly before letting go.@@novelbin@@

Alpheus chuckled warmly, looking at his granddaughter with soft, affectionate eyes.

But there were two brothers standing nearby, staring at the scene with deadpan expressions.

"…Didn’t he tell us to train our abilities?"

"He said that’s what children should be doing…?"

Ludian and Ferdi muttered under their breath.

Yet again, no one listened to them.

Well.

Almost no one.

"Eh? He really said that? He just told me to relax or play as much as I want!"

"……."

Ferdi and Ludian realized something painful: sometimes, the kindest thing to do is to simply not listen.

Later—After the Children Left

With the children gone, Karsus and Alpheus remained in the room, both letting out deep sighs.

"That bastard Chender… that son of a—!"

Alpheus’ voice rumbled like a beast’s growl, filled with raw fury.

"I never expected him to go this far."

Even if Nestian had lost Tiel to Asterian, the existence of that hidden chamber had been a secret known only to Asterian, Nestian, and the Leopard Clan.

But now, Nestian had spread the rumor.

That among the Leopard Clan, another legend about the Light Ability existed.

And that legend was tied to the curse that had plagued the Leopard Clan for generations.

"Damn it."

Karsus had acted calm in front of Tiel, but the situation was far more severe than he let on.

If the temple and the noble houses began eyeing Tiel, that was already a crisis.

But if even the imperial palace started targeting her—

Even Asterian wouldn’t be able to protect her forever.

"I never thought they’d go this far."

"What are they afraid of? Their greatest fear is probably that Tiel’s existence will make Asterian even stronger."

Karsus’ voice was cold.

And he was right.

Nestian’s greatest fear wasn’t just losing Tiel.

It was Asterian thriving because of her.

Thinking about it only fueled Alpheus’ anger.

Tiel was their granddaughter.

She was only seven years old!

And yet they had set up this entire scheme just to eliminate her?

Was there no trace of human decency left in them?

"That’s why that bastard has lived like a loser his whole damn life!"

CRACK!

Alpheus crushed the porcelain teacup in his grip.

White shards turned to powder between his fingers.

Karsus let out a slow breath.

"…We would’ve had to deal with this sooner or later. Even if the rumors hadn’t spread, other families would have eventually targeted her."

"That’s true, but still…."

Why now?

Karsus didn’t know yet.

But Alpheus did.

The emperor was already considering Tiel as Ian’s future consort.

And now?

This mess would only make things worse.

They had been trying to avoid the other noble families’ attention—

But now, it was the emperor himself who might steal their beloved granddaughter away.

And before he was buried in the dirt, there was no way in hell Alpheus was going to let that happen.

"There’s only one way to ensure those bastards never touch Tiel…."

Alpheus rubbed his face with his calloused hand, his skin feeling rougher than usual.

Karsus, deep in thought, tapped his fingers against the remaining teacup.

It was identical to the one Alpheus had just destroyed.

A brief silence fell between them.

"……."

"Are you alright?"

"I’m fine. But."

Karsus’ gaze darkened.

"This is going to be cruelest on Ferdi."

"……."

Alpheus clenched his jaw.

He already knew.

The only solution they had come up with was going to be the most unfair to Ferdi.

Which was why neither of them had been able to make the decision yet.

"For now… we deal with the rumors first."

Rumors had no physical form, and yet they could spread faster than truth itself.

And this wasn’t just any rumor.

It was about the Light Ability—something that existed only in legends.

Once the rumors really took off, they would become impossible to control.

"Yes. I’ll handle it."

"We’ll need to assign Asterian’s elite knights to protect Tiel."

"That’s a given. If not, then at the very least, Ferdi and Ludian must personally watch over her."

"Yes… that’s the only way."

"……."

"We won’t let it happen again."

Not again.

Neither of them had forgotten.

They had already lost Lena once.

Nestian had taken her from them.

And they hadn’t been able to punish them for it.

But this time, if anything happened to Tiel—

"We will make them pay."

GRIND—

Alpheus clenched his teeth so hard it made an audible sound.

His very presence felt threatening, his golden eyes filled with fury.