Chapter 49
Vivian wanted to say no until the very end.
But her son, who had always been like a block of wood, showed interest in only one person — Senika.
She didn’t have the heart to crush that fragile change with her own hands.
“Should I be thankful that it was Senika who changed our Jay…?”
Vivian glanced at Hale. He looked as if he was thoroughly enjoying the situation, watching with an irritating smirk.
“That smug face is so annoying, but… since he’s not rejecting Jay outright, that must mean Hale thinks it’s fine too.”
Her forehead throbbed slightly, but she consoled herself with the thought that Hale would be there.
And as Jayus said, there was no need to increase the number of people who knew about the secret.
Vivian looked at her son’s face again — there wasn’t even a hint that he might change his mind.
With a reluctant expression, she finally nodded.
Because Jayus had to make it seem like he was leaving for the White Dragon family on urgent diplomatic business, Vivian left to attend an emergency meeting with the elders.
Since Rita had to keep Hale’s visit a secret, she followed Vivian to take her place.
Thus, only Hale and Jayus remained on the top floor of the mansion.
Hale stayed silent for a long while before finally speaking to Jayus, who was calmly brewing tea across from him.
“Is that really the only reason?”
“Do you think I have another motive, my lord?”
“It would be a lie to say you don’t look like it.”
Clink—
Instead of more words, the sound of tea being poured into a pale jade teacup filled the air.
Soon, Jayus slid the cup across the table to Hale.
“I’ve already told you my reasons.”
Hale didn’t believe him. He’d seen the way Jayus looked at Senika back at the imperial palace.
It was a look he knew too well — one he himself had once worn. A feeling impossible to hide.
So Hale asked bluntly. Subtlety was not in his nature.
“You’re not interested in Senika, then?”
“Hmm.”
The question was bold enough to startle most people, yet Jayus’s expression remained steady and calm.
He took a slow sip of the tea he had brewed himself, then lifted his eyes — red meeting blue.
An invisible tension crackled between them.
“And if I were?”
“Then I wouldn’t allow it.”
“Even though I saved her life?”
“…”
The retort caught Hale off guard; his fingers twitched before he could touch his teacup.
He slowly pulled his hand back, clenching it into a fist — but the damage was done.
Still, keeping his composure, he finally said,
“Even then, no.”
“Even if Senika herself says she likes me, you’d still oppose it?”
“…”
Hale blinked twice, then let out a quiet laugh. Who does this kid take after, to be this good at hitting where it hurts?
Truthfully, if Senika truly liked someone — anyone — Hale wouldn’t oppose it to the end.
But hearing it out loud like that made his chest twist unpleasantly.
Damn it all, Jayus Baiet was — by all standards — the perfect match for Senika. Handsome, intelligent, and capable. There was no logical reason to object.
But one thing bothered him…
“Like Senika, he’s also the only heir of his clan…”
Normally, the title of head of house didn’t depend on gender. But if both sides of a marriage were only heirs, one would eventually have to give up their position.
Such cases weren’t unheard of, but they often ended with tearful separations.
Hale knew better than anyone how painful that kind of parting was. That’s why he wanted Senika to fall in love — and marry — someone unrelated to clan succession.
“No… I’m getting ahead of myself. Senika hasn’t even said she likes this sly bastard yet.”
Relaxing his stiff expression, Hale gave a leisurely smile.
“You sound confident.”
“Probably.”
He didn’t deny it — meaning he was confident indeed.
With that, their conversation fizzled out, ending rather anticlimactically.
When Hale later returned to the mansion, he resolved that once Senika’s health improved, he’d tell her all the nasty rumors about the Black Dragon family just for fun.
Then—
“By the way, about that matter…”
“What matter?”
“You don’t remember the hunting festival? I didn’t think you were the type to forget a promise.”
“Ah.”
At Jayus’s words, Hale’s expression faltered. Unfortunately, he had forgotten.
It hadn’t been intentional — he’d just been too busy to follow up.
“Rict Peronis. Even without your help, I figured out he’s the key elder behind it all.”
“So you did some digging, huh.”
“I lack the patience to wait for your call.”
Like mother, like son.
Hale barely held back a laugh. He covered his mouth with his fist, cleared his throat, and said,
“Alright then, let’s hear what you’ve found.”
“Even without digging too deep, it’s obvious he’s tied to the imperial family.”
“…”
“More precisely — to the Empress’s side.”
At the mention of the imperial family, Hale’s gaze sharpened.
Jayus, unbothered, continued calmly.
“Ah, and there’s something else I think you don’t know — someone’s imprisoned beneath the palace.”
“Imprisoned? Who?”
“I haven’t confirmed their identity yet. But there’s one thing I’m certain of.”
Hale focused on Jayus’s mouth, postponing questions about how he knew.
“Before that, may I ask you something?”
Jayus’s casual tone after such buildup was frustrating, but Hale nodded anyway — he needed the information.
“Is Senika a twin?”
“…”
Hale opened and closed his mouth several times before clamping it shut.
The question was so absurd that he didn’t even know how to respond.
“What the hell makes him think something that ridiculous?”
Wondering if he’d misheard, Hale asked again.
“…A twin?”
“If not, then does she have a hidden sibling?”
Now Hale was certain he’d heard correctly — and the confusion only deepened.
Still, there had to be a reason for such a question.
“Your imagination’s gone too far.”
Hale gave a dry laugh and answered.
That was the response Jayus expected. He knew Hale wasn’t the type to lie about something like that.
Still, he needed to be sure — best to settle such doubts before they became obstacles later.
Hale studied Jayus’s pensive face before asking quietly,
“You wouldn’t make up nonsense for no reason. Why ask that?”
He leaned back, crossing his legs, one arm on the chair’s armrest, looking at Jayus with a slanted, easy smile — one that masked an unmistakable command.
Jayus had planned to tell him this from the start, so he didn’t resist.
Even with Sireia’s help, his own investigation could only go so far without Hale’s authority.
“It’s because I think the person imprisoned under the palace might be related to Senika.”
Hale had half-expected as much — that Jayus’s reason for bringing this up would involve Senika.
“Of course. Otherwise, why tell me at all?”
Still, actually hearing it made him uneasy. The imperial palace, again.
The same place that had taken his mate’s life — now reaching for his family once more. Rage boiled up in his chest.
“I should’ve done more than just warn them back then.”
But regret was useless now; time couldn’t be reversed.
“On what basis?”
“The person there emitted pheromones similar to Senika’s.”
Hale’s face twisted instantly.
Now he understood why Jayus had asked about a twin or hidden sibling.
If pheromones were involved, the question wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
“I hoped I was mistaken, but Sireia sensed it too.”
“When?”
“At the royal party a few days ago. If you hadn’t been so… excited, you would’ve sensed it as well.”
That subtle jab made one of Hale’s eyebrows twitch.
Normally, he’d have punished the cheeky brat on the spot — but…
“He brought me valuable information. I’ll let it slide.”
Even Theo hadn’t uncovered this much.
“Quite useful, I must say.”
“Then, may I ask one more question?”
“Let’s hear it first.”
As if he’d stop him anyway. Hale was curious what this sharp young man would ask next.
He already knew Jayus was clever — but not this sharp.
And so, he was actually looking forward to it.
“The imperial family is targeting Senika… aren’t they?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Every piece of information we’ve gathered leads to the same conclusion.”
“…”
“That they need her.”
Jayus’s gaze turned cold and fierce — a look Hale found oddly satisfying.
Not as Senika’s potential mate, but as a future leader.
He wished Senika would develop that same deadly spark in her eyes someday.
“I don’t yet know why they’re so obsessed with her…”
Lost briefly in thought, Hale eventually nodded.
The imperial family’s obsession with Senika — what could it be for? Even after all this, he couldn’t guess.
“I’ll help you.”
“You’ve already been plenty of help.”
“Not enough for my liking.”
Hale could read Jayus’s ambition clear as day.
But even so, he needed capable hands right now, so he decided to overlook it.
Now he finally understood why Jayus had insisted on coming personally to the White Dragon family.
He had suspected before — but now it was certain.
This kid was no ordinary one.
Even without reaching full maturity, the aura rippling around his body hinted at it —
— the emergence of a new force powerful enough to open the gates to an entirely new era.
