As we entered the royal house, a surge of etheric mana overwhelmed me. It coursed through my body, leaving me dizzy and unsteady. My father noticed immediately and placed a steadying hand on my shoulder.
"You couldn't feel it before because you had no mana," he said gently. "Let's step outside for a bit. Eleanora and Orion can head to the guest room ahead of us. We'll join them soon."
Grateful for his understanding, I followed him outside. The fresh air was a welcome relief, and I managed to regain some composure. "Thank you, Father," I said, my voice still shaky. "I felt like I was about to die."
He patted my head reassuringly. "It's okay. We're family, after all."
I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. "Thank you again, Father, but how am I supposed to endure this?"
"You'll adapt," he replied calmly. "One hour outside should be enough for now. Next time, it'll feel easier."
As I rested, a question lingered in my mind. I hesitated but finally asked, "Can I ask what happened to Mother?"
My father's face clouded with emotion. He clenched his fists as if trying to hold back tears. "It all started when I had to exile you," he admitted. "Your mother took all the blame upon herself. She kept saying, 'If only I had borne him with magic power, this wouldn't have happened. It's all my fault.' She cried almost every night after you left and barely ate anything. So please, be kind to her."
Hearing this, guilt flooded my chest. "I wasn't the only one suffering, was I?" I murmured. "I've been so harsh to you, Father. I'm sorry for all the things I said when we reunited. After everything you've done for me, I acted like a fool."
He smiled gently, brushing off my apology. "Don't worry about it. I've known you were cocky since you were a child. You used to say, 'I'll be king, and you'll be my guard.' It's reassuring to see you haven't changed too much—except for your hair and face. You'll cut it tomorrow."
I balked. "Do I have to? I really like it."
He responded firmly, "You'll cut it tomorrow, right?"
Reluctantly, I nodded. "Yes, Master."
He patted my head again. "That's good to hear. Now, let's head back inside. It's been nearly an hour, and you should be able to manage now."
We returned to the guest room, where my brother Orion and my mother, Eleanora, were waiting. Mother greeted me warmly. "What were you two talking about?"
Feigning innocence, I teased, "Oh, nothing special. Father was just going on about how beautiful the girls are at the edge of the kingdom. I told him he has you, so he doesn't need to look at anyone else, but he wouldn't stop. Can you believe that?"
Mother laughed darkly, her eyes closed. "I see. So my darling husband talks about other women now that we're finally reunited with our son?" She turned to Father with a mischievous smile. "You'll have some explaining to do later, darling."
Father looked stricken. "He's lying! I would never do that, my dear Eleanora."
Mother's tone grew playful but firm. "Why would he lie? Are you hiding something, the two of you? We'll discuss this later."
Father lowered his head in defeat. "Yes, my dear."
She called for the maids to bring tea and cake. When the lemon cake arrived, she smiled at me. "You used to love this as a child."
I took a bite and sipped the herbal tea. "I still do. It's just as delicious as I remember."
We spent the next hour reminiscing about the past. Everything seemed peaceful, though Orion's barely concealed irritation didn't escape my notice. Finally, Father stood. "That's enough for today. Lion must be tired." He gestured to the maids. "Show him to his room."
Mother looked disappointed. "I wanted to talk more, but we'll continue tomorrow. Anyway, I need to discuss something with Hassan tonight." She turned to Father, her expression darkening. "You'd better have a good explanation, darling."
Father sighed. "Yes, my dear." Then he turned to Orion. "Come with me for a moment."
Orion nodded and followed him outside.
Alone with Mother, she offered to show me around the house. As we walked, she led me to my old room. "I've kept it exactly as you left it," she said softly. "We only cleaned the dust. I couldn't bear to change anything. I used to smell your bed whenever I missed you. But now that you're here, I don't have to anymore. Promise me one thing, Lion—never leave again. And if you must, promise to come back."
Her tears fell freely, and I tried to comfort her. "I promise on my pride—I'll never leave you."
She wiped her eyes and smiled. "That's all I needed to hear. Now rest. The maids will bring fresh sheets for your bed."
After preparing the room, a maid asked if I needed anything else. "Just some water," I replied.
She nodded. "As you wish, Master."
Meanwhile, Hassan and Orion were talking outside. I watched them from the balcony, though I couldn't hear what they were saying.
After a while, their conversation ended. My brother looked angry and frustrated as he walked away. When he noticed me watching from the balcony, he turned his face away in irritation and entered the house. My father, on the other hand, smiled and nodded at me before following him inside.
Later that night, I awoke, unable to move. Orion stood over me, smirking. "Don't bother trying," he said coldly. "The water was poisoned. You can't speak or move. Did you think you could come here and ruin everything I've built? The family leadership belongs to me. Farewell, brother."
He left, his laughter echoing in the room. I lay there helpless, watching as he disappeared into the shadows.