The Wynmor estate gates opened with a thunderous creak.
Two carriages entered side by side—
One bearing our crest,
And one bearing the royal emblem.
Father stepped down first.
Beside him—
A tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man with golden hair and a golden beard, wearing a coat that practically screamed "king" even before introductions.
Father smirked and waved at me.
"Rio! Look who I brought!"
The king jabbed my father in the ribs.
"You didn't bring me, idiot. I came because you sent three letters begging me to visit."
Father coughed. "Diplomatic invitation."
"Begging."
"Invitation."
"Begg—"
Princess Tesselia stepped out, graceful but guarded. She was nine years old, a year younger than me, but carried herself with the dignity of someone far older.
Both men froze instantly like scolded children. Ah. So these two fools were best friends.
Father nudged me forward.
"Rio, meet His Majesty, King Edward van Esford, and his daughter, Princess Tesselia van Esford."
I bowed stiffly.
"H-Hello, Your Majesty… and Princess Tesselia."
I tried to breathe normally. Tried.
…She's the girl I saved…!
Her gaze locked onto mine. Not shocked. Not confused. Suspicious.
"…Have we met before?" she asked, tilting her head, eyes narrowing.
No. No, no, no! She remembered! I'm doomed! If people find out I can use intermediate healing magic, I don't know what will happen to me!
Before I could drown in panic, the king stepped forward—and instantly stole my breath.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, golden-haired, golden-bearded, with eyes like molten gold. A face that had spent half its life in battles and the other half plotting them.
I stiffened immediately.
He looked straight at me. For a terrifying second, I thought he could see straight through my skull.
"Relax, boy. I won't eat you," King Edward said.
I blinked. He… joked?
My father snorted. "Still scaring kids with that stone face of yours, huh?"
The king punched Amane lightly in the shoulder, and suddenly everything made sense.
"You two are… friends?" I asked, confused.
"Best friends," they said at the same time.
I exhaled sharply—Tesselia even giggled.
---
For half a year, I had been pestering my parents to let me leave the estate and explore the world.
"Father, please. I've trained enough. I'm ready."
"No."
"Mother, please—"
"No."
"Maybe just a small—"
"Still no."
"It's been six months—"
"No."
"Just a little—"
"No."
"What if I—"
"No."
So yes. I was desperate.
And today… of all days… with the king here… my fate was sealed.
"Oh, by the way," Amane said proudly, "this brat has been begging to go on adventures for half a year."
"Amane!" Mother hissed.
The king's eyebrow rose. "Half a year? That's… impressive persistence."
I straightened. "I-I only wish to grow stronger, Your Majesty."
Then the king spoke the sentence that changed everything:
"Let him take a test."
My parents froze.
"A test?" my mother echoed.
"Yes," King Edward said. "If he passes, give him permission. If he fails, he stays home. Simple."
My father smirked like someone had lit a fire inside him. "A test, huh? I like that."
Mother sighed. "…Fine. But I am participating."
"Good luck surviving that," the king whispered to me.
I gulped.
---
Father stepped into the courtyard, cracking his neck with a loud pop that made even the guards wince.
"Alright, Rio. You've been asking for half a year. Show me how strong you've gotten."
I exhaled slowly. My pulse roared. This was it.
We circled each other. His sword was drawn casually, like he didn't even need to try.
"Begin."
He dashed. I barely saw him move. Our blades clashed—my hand trembling, his completely steady. A wave of force pushed me back, but I slid my foot and stayed upright.
"Good. You didn't fall this time."
"I'm not a toddler anymore, Father!"
"Prove it!"
He struck again—fast, clean, precise. I parried, blocked, slid under, and struck at his side.
He twisted—but not fast enough.
Shhk. My blade grazed his coat and sliced it open cleanly.
Everyone froze. Even the king raised an eyebrow.
Father stared at the cut. Then at me.
"…Hoh?"
He grinned like a predator finding prey that finally bit back.
"That's new."
Before I could breathe, he surged forward. I blocked. Barely.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Each strike grew harder, faster, sharper. My arms burned. My lungs screamed.
But—I didn't fall. I pushed back with a burst of mana, forcing him one step—just one—backward.
He blinked. I blinked.
King Edward clapped. "Impressive! He forced you back!"
Father exhaled and lowered his sword.
"That's your limit, Rio."
I stumbled, panting, sweat dripping. "Y-Yeah… I know…"
I lost. But I didn't lose badly.
Father stepped back, rolling his shoulders. Mother simply stood there, hands folded, smiling gently—as if she wasn't the most dangerous person in the estate.
"Ready, Rio?" Father called.
"Y-Yes!"
Before I stepped in, Mother raised a hand.
"Amane," she said sweetly.
Father froze. Uh-oh.
"You fought him first."
"I did," he said proudly.
"So now it's my turn."
"…Ah."
He stepped back.
"Uh, Alisa—dear—"
"Draw your sword."
The king coughed. "Good luck."
Mother smiled. "No. I'm fighting Amane first."
"WHY?!" Father yelped.
"You tore your coat, didn't you?"
"That was Rio's doing!"
"You let him tear your coat."
"It's a test!!"
Too late. A pulse of soft golden mana rippled from Mother's feet, cracking the stone tiles slightly. The wind stilled. Even the servants stopped breathing.
Father's face paled.
"Alisa… let's talk abou—"
She vanished. A golden blur appeared behind him. CLANG!
Father barely blocked with the flat of his sword. Sparks flew.
"You're faster than I remember!" he shouted.
"And you're slower than I hoped," Mother replied calmly.
Each step she moved, light and precise. Each strike, calculated. Father swung, missed, rolled, stumbled, recovered.
"STOP USING HEALING MAGIC AS A WEAPON!" Father shouted.
"It's my specialty."
"THAT'S NOT FAIR!"
King Edward laughed. "You married her. You deal with it."
Mother flicked a finger. A shimmering barrier formed behind him. He backed into it face-first.
"Ow—! ALISA!!"
"You ran from me during training yesterday," she said, stepping forward slowly.
"That was because you were holding the frying pan!"
"You deserved it."
Father flailed helplessly. "WHY DOES EVERYTHING I DO DESERVE SOMETHING?!"
Mother smiled warmly. "Because I love you."
Then she swung. BANG. Father flew back gently, landing on a soft pile of grass created by her safety spell.
He sat up, hair smoking slightly. "I yield…"
Mother nodded. "Good. Now it's Rio's turn."
We clashed. Magic and sword intertwined in a delicate dance. I was careful—restraining spells that could harm anyone nearby.
Mother countered every move effortlessly. Her hands moved like flowing water, deflecting, striking, never a wasted motion.
I had one chance. I channeled the advanced spell we had practiced—Hellpit. Flames erupted.
Then—
"Ah!" Tesselia, watching, flinched as a stray ember touched her hand.
I grabbed it without thinking. Warm, silver light flowed. The burn vanished instantly.
Her eyes widened, sharply, almost shining. She felt my mana—the same mana from the day I saved her in the forest.
"Rio…" she whispered.
Oh no. Not again.
Her gaze never left mine.
She had confirmed it.
"I knew… you were the one who saved me," she whispered softly.
Then she whispered again, almost inaudibly:
"Come to the garden at midnight."
And that was how my new life began.