Chapter 77
Afterward, Reina and Kaiden began covert preparations for the capital.
They doubled their network of informants and sent select Northern nobles to establish a foothold there.
The Holy Nation and the Hook Trading Company also lent support.
Without the 100-year demonic cycle, they might have gone sooner.
Reina’s power was immense—her presence was no less than the North’s salvation.
“It’s not time yet,” Kaiden said.
Her focus on finding her brother and challenging the throne left no room for personal feelings.
His only solace was knowing her heart mirrored his.
Unless he was a stone, he couldn’t miss it—her gaze had shifted over time.
Still, resisting the pull of his own feelings was growing harder.
He soothed his parched throat with wine.
“So don’t rush me,” he told Aiden.
His eyes drifted to Reina, receiving congratulations.
Aiden, catching his fervent gaze, sighed. “That look isn’t convincing at all, brother.”
Kaiden’s stare remained fixed on her.
When she noticed him and waved, his expression softened completely.
Aiden, finding it foolish, sipped his wine with a tinge of envy.
Today, he missed Amy.
* * *
After the banquet, Dahlia visited Reina’s bedroom.
“Dahlia? What brings you here so late?”
Reina, preparing for bed, greeted her with surprise.
In pajamas, Dahlia shuffled in shyly and sat on the sofa, patting the spot beside her.
“What’s with the suspense?”
Dahlia hesitated, fidgeting with a box in her pocket.
At the banquet, Reina had received lavish gifts, making Dahlia’s feel inadequate.
Unable to give it earlier, she’d mustered courage as Reina’s birthday neared.
“Happy birthday, Reina…”
She timidly offered the box.
Reina’s face lit up. “For me?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Thank you! I was hoping for a gift from you.”
Dahlia flinched, fearing disappointment.
“Can I open it?”
Dahlia nodded, avoiding her gaze.
As Reina untied the ribbon, she gasped. “Dahlia! Did you make this yourself?”
“It’s that obvious? It’s too plain…”
Dahlia looked up, startled, as Reina slipped on the thread bracelet, beaming.
“Look, it’s perfect!”
Her joy dispelled Dahlia’s worries.
Reina hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Dahlia. I love it.”
“Hehe.”
Dahlia smiled, as if never nervous, and nestled closer. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”
“Of course.”
“Wait a sec! I’ll grab Tosoony!”
Dahlia dashed out excitedly.
Once alone, Reina’s smile faded as she touched the bracelet. “She’s already using her power.”
A faint aura emanated from it.
Like a true Crensia, Dahlia was unconsciously manifesting aura.
Normally, Reina would be thrilled, but her face grew serious.
In her past life, Dahlia’s inability to control her power led to Aiden’s death while researching it.
Weak like her mother, Dahlia struggled with aura, often making mistakes that isolated her.
After Aiden was gravely injured protecting her, it worsened.
He sought rare materials to stabilize her power, learning a beast’s core could help.
Pursuing it, he met his end.
Afterward, Dahlia wore a restraining device, even harming herself to suppress her power.
“I need to hurry.”
Reina thought of the magical tool she’d commissioned Aiden.
She’d secured the materials: Medusa’s core, golem’s core, and a holy stone.
Her obsession with the Medusa’s core stemmed from this need.
In her past life, Aiden obtained the golem’s core but not the Medusa’s, as it had formed its own untouchable kingdom.
Kaiden had known of Dahlia’s issue and was preparing to hunt the Medusa, but Aiden ignored his advice to wait, leading to his death.
Dahlia, misunderstanding, blamed Kaiden, and others exploited her fragile state to incite rebellion, costing Kaiden his last family member.
This time, I won’t let that happen.
“Reina!”
Dahlia returned, hugging a pillow and her Tosoony doll.
Reina opened her arms, as if never serious, welcoming her warmly.
* * *
The next day, Reina informed Kaiden about Dahlia’s situation.
“She’s already using aura?”
He was visibly thrilled at his niece’s progress, touching her bracelet.
“Compared to Aiden manifesting at ten, that’s early.”
“Faster than you?”
Kaiden pointed to himself, grinning. “Me? I could use aura right after my first birthday.”
“Wow, a genius!”
Her genuine awe made him blush. Scratching his chin, he said, “Hearing it from you is embarrassing.”
“Wasn’t it taxing, manifesting so young?”
“Not at all. Using aura was like breathing for me. Now that I think about it, Aiden took a while to master it.”
“I see.”
As the Crensia with the strongest draconic blood, Kaiden’s starting point was unique.
In her past life, he couldn’t help Dahlia’s low aura sensitivity.
“Aiden will be thrilled to hear this.”
Kaiden looked eager to tell him.
If Reina didn’t know the past, she’d have shared his joy.
His excitement weighed on her—she couldn’t yet explain Dahlia’s condition to him.
She didn’t want to worry him over something that hadn’t happened.
Thankfully, there was a solution.
Once Aiden completed the tool, she’d inform them.
Until then, she prayed Dahlia’s condition wouldn’t worsen.
Hold on, Dahlia.
Reina pushed down her creeping anxiety.
