Chapter 48

The way Diena looked when she said she missed him seemed incredibly wistful.

That was perfectly understandable, yet for some reason it left a bitter feeling in his chest.

He had promised himself that he would never give Diena a reason to be sad.

And yet he felt intense hostility toward that bastard.

“…Who is it?”

Diena quietly looked up at him.

It’s you from the past, whom I’ll never be able to meet again.

It was an answer the current Varkan would never understand.

“It’s a secret.”

So instead of saying that, Diena simply smiled and brushed the question aside.

* * *

Bianca slowly opened her eyes.

For some reason, her body felt light.

‘What’s going on?’

Just like that day when she had stepped in front of Daniel at the tea party.

Back then, that sensation had disappeared almost immediately.

But now, for some reason, she felt it wouldn’t fade away.

‘Come to think of it, I think I had a dream.’

She remembered hearing Diena’s voice.

And the terrible pain that had tormented her was gone.

It felt as though she had been given a new life.

As if time, which had stood still, was finally moving again.

‘I feel amazing.’

A strange exhilaration welled up inside her, making her feel like she could do anything.

Bianca looked down at her hands.

The strength surging through her body felt unbelievably strange.

Just then, she felt someone’s gaze on her and slowly turned her head.

“F-Father?”

Sevar was staring at her without saying a word.

How long had he been sitting there?

With a disbelieving expression, Sevar reached out and gently stroked her hair.

Without realizing it, Bianca tensed and gripped the armrest of the bed.

Crack.

The armrest broke apart.

“U-Uh… Why did that happen?”

Sevar slowly took Bianca’s hand.

“Try using your strength, Bianca.”

“M-My strength?”

“Yes.”

Bianca hesitated for a moment.

After all, she had just broken the bed without even realizing it.

‘Is it really okay if I use my strength? What if I hurt Father?’

As if he had read her thoughts, Sevar chuckled softly.

“It’s alright. You won’t hurt me.”

Bianca realized how ridiculous her concern had been.

Sevar was a Top-Tier Ability User.

There was no way she could injure him just by squeezing his hand.

Once she realized that, she relaxed and applied strength.

A look of surprise appeared on Sevar’s face.

The grip of Bianca’s hand had become abnormally strong compared to before.

“Do you feel anything else?”

“Uh, yes. I do.”

“What do you feel?”

“Hmm. Like I could release something…?”

Tilting her head as she thought about it, Bianca casually waved her hand.

Immediately, her shadow began moving in a bizarre manner.

Then it rushed straight toward Sevar.

Bianca froze in shock.

At that exact moment, Sevar swiftly waved his hand.

A shadow stretched from him and instantly swallowed Bianca’s shadow.

Bianca gasped.

“F-Father? Are you alright? W-What was that?”

Sevar let out a hollow laugh.

“You’ve awakened, Bianca.”

“Awakened?”

“That’s right. That’s why controlling your strength was difficult. When someone awakens an ability, their physical capabilities improve. At first, no one can control it properly.”

“…”

“But don’t worry. With training, everyone eventually learns to control their strength.”

Even while listening to Sevar’s explanation, Bianca still looked dazed.

“Bianca, what you just used was our family’s ability.”

“Our family’s ability?”

“Yes. You already know about it. The ability to control shadows. Though in truth, it’s an ability that controls darkness. Other people simply believe we use shadows.”

Aside from the Five Great Families, everyone else believed House Kardian merely controlled shadows.

If people learned that the source of their power was darkness, they would feel disgust and fear toward them.

When the family rose to ducal status, the Emperor had ordered that truth to be kept secret.

“Ah…”

“You awakened that ability.”

“I-I see… I awakened…”

Bianca blinked repeatedly.

Now that he mentioned it, she realized the ability she had just used was exactly the same as the one Sevar and Varkan used.

She looked down at her hand.

The words she had heard all her life as a Non-Ability User surfaced in her mind.

“Lady Bianca, who knows? Maybe you’re not actually Lord Sevar’s child.”

“Why? Young Master Varkan uses the same ability as Lord Sevar. They’re blood relatives. It doesn’t make sense that only the young lady failed to awaken an ability.”

Now that she had finally become an Ability User, joy wasn’t the first emotion she felt.

Instead, all the sorrow she had suppressed for years came flooding out at once.

“Hic…”

Tears poured endlessly from Bianca’s eyes.

Without a word, Sevar embraced her and awkwardly patted her back.

He, too, struggled to believe it.

Bianca, who had suffered and been looked down upon for being a Non-Ability User, had finally awakened.

Bianca cried in Sevar’s arms for a long time.

And Sevar quietly held her, continuing to pat her back.

The feeling was both joyful and heartbreaking.

Neither of them could fully describe it.

* * *

“Lady Diena, the Family Head has requested that you join him for a meal.”

“Huh? Me?”

“He specifically instructed us to bring you.”

Diena was startled by Jordic’s unexpected visit early in the morning.

A breakfast with Sevar.

‘Just thinking about it feels awkward.’

But looking at the strangely earnest expression in Jordic’s eyes, it was difficult to refuse.

‘Besides, I’m not even sure I’m in a position where refusing is an option.’

The conversation would almost certainly be about Bianca.

And even if it wasn’t, there was plenty to discuss regarding Diena’s future treatment.

With a nervous expression, Diena slowly made her way toward the dining room.

When she arrived, she saw the members of House Kardian already seated.

Sevar.

Varkan.

And Bianca.

“You’re here.”

Diena lowered her head toward Sevar.

Then she noticed Bianca sitting beside him with a lively expression and let out a sigh of relief.

‘Thank goodness she’s awake.’

The moment Bianca saw Diena, she enthusiastically waved.

“Diena, you’re here! Hurry!”

It was the brightest expression Diena had ever seen on her face.

Not satisfied with simply waving, Bianca sprang to her feet.

Then she grabbed Diena’s hand and personally seated her beside her.

The meal began.

Diena felt slightly overwhelmed.

The dishes covering the table were incredibly extravagant.

They were even more lavish than the meal Bianca had prepared for Diena’s birthday.

For some reason, Bianca looked at Sevar with a guarded expression.

Then she suddenly leaned toward Diena and whispered in her ear.

“Diena, just wait a little longer. I’ll grow up and earn lots of money soon. Then I’ll be able to buy you even more things than Father can.”

“…My Lady?”

“If I were the same age as Father, I’d be able to spend way more money on you!”