The atmosphere in the office had considerably calmed down.
Realizing how little he knew about his sons, Edwin silently exhaled once again.
“Lano, Nox was doing something I was unaware of. He said you could explain it if I asked.”
He asked calmly.
“Well…”
Lano hesitated. Despite knowing how poorly his brother had been treated and how distressed he was, he had been unable to do anything about it, yet now he had to talk about it.
“Tell me. I want to know.”
Edwin got up hesitantly and sat back down on the reception settee, signaling to Lano to take a seat as well with a look.
Lano mustered up the courage and sat down in front of him.
“Nox was studying magic. In the library books.”
“Magic? Did he have talent for that?”
Lano nodded.
“I am not sure what he was doing while I was at school, but from what I saw in the maze… he probably already has experience as an adventurer as a sorcerer.”
His brother, capable of downing a giant snake with just one arrow while the four of them fought together. Although a source of pride, he seemed like a distant presence, despite being close since birth.
“That arrow was also imbued with his magical power. Otherwise, a common arrow wouldn’t have inflicted such damage, even in the eyes.”
After that, Lano smiled faintly.
“It was a precise and accurate shot. Enough to reassure us that you were on our side.”
It was like a comforting force pushing from behind.
“Really?”
Edwin was not skilled in magic. When he realized that Lano wasn’t either, he assumed that Nox wouldn’t be either.
If he was already considered a bastard and had no skills in sword or magic, then it was indisputable that the successor would be Lano, with his innate talent in the sword.
“Then, Iris’s son…”
“What happened to Mom?”
“Ah, we never discussed that, did we?”
Edwin truly felt his own incompetence. He knew that the death of his wife, Iris, was painful, but it must have been equally painful for their children.
“Your mother, Iris, was considered the best sorceress in the palace back then.”
“Really? So, Nox takes after mom, right?”
Lano smiled excitedly and lightly. It had been a long time since he had seen that smile.
“I’ve seen Nox use magic only a few times, but it was beautiful. He created fire and water orbs alternately, juggled with them, even once transformed clouds into bird-shaped on the East hilltop. On hot days, he dug holes to cool off underground.”
“Excuse me?”
Lano was just sharing memories from the past, but Edwin suddenly grew serious.
“He created a secret hideout in that hole to hide things bought in the city, maybe he has already cleaned it up… Right, Dad?”
Intending to brag a bit about his brother, Lano spoke quickly until he finally noticed his father’s expression.
“Creating fire and water orbs simultaneously… Changing the shape of clouds implies air magic and earth magic to change the terrain…”
Edwin muttered to himself.
“How old was he back then? And what else did he do?”
“Well… I think he was around ten years old, before Nana arrived. Also… Yes, when he sneaked out, he used to hide. He could somehow sense Nox’s presence, so when we met, I thought ‘he passed through here’ in my mind.”
He considered overlooking his brother’s escapades as the least he could do as his younger brother, who couldn’t do much more.
“Furthermore, in the secret hideout, there was a large bed that he couldn’t have carried alone. Maybe he had a magic storage space. How envy-inducing!”
For Lano, who only had basic knowledge of everyday magic, he didn’t truly grasp the magnitude of how impressive that was.
But Edwin did understand.
Each day of diligent learning to become the husband of the best royal sorceress, in addition to his education as a member of royalty and leader of the knights’ order, reminded him of the incredible talent he had let slip away.
“Lano, you said you could sense Nox’s presence! Go and bring him back right now! Make changes in the staff or executions, do everything Nox says! If my retirement is what you desire, I will pass on the title to you tomorrow!”
“Dad?”
It is said that wizards can only master up to two of the four basic attributes with all their power, even after decades of training from childhood.
“To manage accurately and powerfully the four attributes at ten years old, even using superior and space magic?! Damn it, I really am a fool!”
Edwin ran his hands through his carefully styled messy white hair.
“Yes, you are a true idiot. And you won’t have him back. Nox-sama belongs to me.”
Suddenly, a fresh voice echoed, and a cup with delicate designs was silently placed in front of the agitated Edwin.
“Nana!”
“There’s nothing more enjoyable than the irrevocable regret of a complete stranger, isn’t that, right?”
A cup of tea was also placed in front of Lano, and carefully poured amber-colored liquid into it.
“Did you know?… Princess Nana Rika.”
“Of course, I confirmed his current power in the maze.”
Nana looked at Edwin, who had completely lost his composure.
“Edwin, you swore to me that you would betroth that son who would not take over Galaxia. I expect you to keep that promise.”
