Chapter 39
"No." I flatly denied it.
It wasn't something I'd known from way back. Fairies looked almost exactly like humans, and as a half-blood, Aria didn't even show the few distinctive fairy traits. As kids, I'd firmly believed she was human, just like me.
"I've only known for a short while."
I'd started sensing Aria was different from ordinary humans after reaching the Sword Master realm, where you can read nature's flow. Aria wasn't just of fairy blood—she was the daughter of the Fairy King—so her energy felt distinct.
Back then, I figured it was just because Aria was so exceptional.
Having never met a fairy before, I couldn't recognize the natural aura around her as fairy energy. I only learned she was a fairy hybrid when I regained my past-life memories, so it wasn't like I'd always known.
Aria blinked dazedly for a bit before voicing her second question.
"Sis, you're a Sword Master, right? The Mercenary King Mir."
I'd already realized from eavesdropping on Kaiser and Aria's study conversation that she knew, but hearing it thrown straight at me felt different. Biting my lip, I nodded faintly.
Aria sighed deeply.
Truth be told, I never thought she'd be completely clueless. It'd be harder not to notice, with me dragging home beaten to a pulp every day—and Aria was a genius, after all.
...She memorized all that?
Yeah! It was easy!
I remembered her beaming innocently the day I bought that ancient-language textbook, claiming she'd memorized the whole thing cover to cover.
Aria was a genius who retained everything after one glance, with superhuman brainpower and a knack for piecing together situations. For her, pretending not to know about my mercenary gigs must've been the real challenge.
"...Even granting you sniffed out the mercenary part, how'd you know I'm Mir?"
It felt refreshing yet stinging. Aria mirrored my forced playful smile with one tinged in sadness.
"When you were out cold from poison for ages, I saw the commission for Mir in your pocket."
"...Uh, so around when?"
I scratched my head cautiously. I'd been poisoned into comas more than once or twice, so pinning the exact time was tricky.
Aria bit her lip, released it, and sighed.
"When you collapsed from viper poison."
"Oh... That's gotta be over two years ago."
"I've known you were doing mercenary work since the day you started."
We kept up the light banter, but we both caught the bitterness threading our voices.
Aria steadied her trembling expression with a deep breath and smiled wryly.
"Then, my last question. Sis, do you still..."
Love me? She had to have a million questions, yet that's what she asked.
My precious little sister. My eternal other half. My world starts with you and ends with you. Even as the world grows and my affections multiply, you'll always be the one I love most.
My whole life so far has been one big offering to you.
I smiled like a sigh and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Forever, Aria."
My love—eternal and unchanging.
"Intriguing."
Kaiser set down the business plan he'd been poring over. A flicker of interest stirred in his impassive eyes.
"Planning to partner with Katrin Apparel on this item."
"Yes. I'll handle all the business side, so Your Grace doesn't need to concern yourself."
I spoke stiffly, tension coiling in me. Great item or not, without Kaiser's buy-in, investment was off the table.
"Confident? Won't be easy."
"I've dealt with magic beast byproducts through distributors as a merc, but as owner, I'll leave operations to a trusted agent."
Merc work doesn't stop at slaying beasts. Post-hunt, you sort through byproduct mountains, pick the valuables, and get 'em circulating. I'd picked up some know-how along the way.
But there's someone who'll handle it better than me.
I had a genius in mind—one I'd known forever. Total newbie, never run a business, but she'd shown interest, so I trusted she'd crush it once she learned the ropes.
"Fine. I'll invest. Looks viable."
I lit up at his nod. Gauging his mood, I pulled out another agenda.
"Um, and... if it's okay, how about Your Grace and Young Master wear these to the ball?"
"Me and Kal?"
I nodded firmly at his blinking stare.
Aria and I lacked solid footing yet, but Kaiser and Kal's status was ironclad, top-tier in the empire. Their endorsement would be killer promo.
"Not hard. We'll do it. I'll run it by Kal too—if you vouched, he'd jump without looking back."
"Thank you!"
He smirked and nodded. I flashed a bright smile, and he, holding my gaze, spoke up.
"One condition."
"..."
Condition?
Tension spiked at the word.
I nodded resolutely.
"Name it. I'll make it happen."
Wracking my brain for what curveball he'd throw, he watched me and chuckled like air escaping a balloon.
"Nothing tough—relax."
He grinned impishly.
"Call me Dad from now on."
"Pardon?"
I blanked, face going slack in shock.
Dad.
I rolled the alien word around my mouth slowly.
What's this about?
My cheeks blazed. Mortifying, but a warm itch bloomed in my chest.
He tilted his head, watching my lips flap wordlessly.
He grinned brazenly.
"Shushu, you won't?"
My ears scorched. That pet name from my newly acknowledged father twisted me right up.
"D-Da..."
"Yeah."
His gentle look felt so awkward. Facing hordes of magic beasts had never flustered me like this.
Stumbling after the first sound, I dodged his eyes and mumbled.
"D-Dad..."
I scrunched my eyes shut in embarrassment. My limit.
A soft chuckle drifted across the table.
My face burned hotter.
"Good enough."
A massive hand engulfed my head. The awkward, slow strokes warmed me through.
"Take it slow. I'll wait forever."
His soft smile seared my eyes. Head dipped before I knew it.
He was kind, my father.
Debutante day dawned—and rushed in.
Pre-dawn, maids mobbed my room, decking me out with creation-level zeal.
"Perfume: that rose we settled on. Yes. Earrings: those."
I directed the whirlwind maids, mind a blur.
Bath to taming my wild curls to slipping into the gown—evening loomed, ball imminent.
"Truly fantastical."
Maria scanned me head to toe, murmuring in a daze.
"You'll be the debutante's star, Miss."
She declared, entranced.
I scratched my head, sheepish.
"Right! Time to dazzle everyone!"
I trailed the pumped-up Maria on hesitant steps.
Fragrant skin and pricey tailoring? Still alien.
"Shushu. Done..."
Kal—lounging bored downstairs over tea, ready ages ago—looked up.
Spotting me, he froze big-time.
Kaiser across from him bugged his eyes too.
Genes are mighty.
Already eye-searing faces, but suited up sharp? Straight-up mythic gods.
Matching formal black uniforms amplified their twin-like vibe—like one man split past and future.
Dress code synced, huh.
I was black-clad too, so we'd look like a matched set.
Oddly cheered, I chuckled under my breath.
Aria's the outlier... but that works. She'll shine like the lead.
My goal: Aria nailing the debutante.
Imagining her owning the night, my face split in a grin.
"Aria not out yet?"
Descending fast, I asked.
Crisis duo: blank stares, no reply.
I cocked my head.
"...Kal? Dad?"
The new term slipped out awkward.
They both jolted visibly.
Kaiser's drifting gaze hit my upper-body accessories.
"...That."
"Pardon?"
"Too provocative."
"...Pardon?"
You're sporting it too.
Stunned, I ping-ponged his face and chest, but he set his jaw.
"Didn't peg it for this provocative. Take it off."
"Agreed. Stylish, but over-the-top."
It's just... a harness?
Even Kal dead-serious? Made me second-guess, fidgeting with it.
"Bullshit. Sis! It's badass—don't ditch it!"
Familiar voice from behind; I whipped around.
...Holy shit.
Speechless a beat.
Gussied-up Aria: jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
"Whoa... Life's peak. Worth living, damn..."
Eyeing me straight, she dazed out too, then whooped like a kid.
Panting ecstatic, muttering "insane", "glad I'm alive", she charged and hugged me tight.
"Ignore those assholes—no, Dad and Bro! Sis, you're a fantasy tonight!"
Hugging back, I laughed.
Aria lavished praise on me freely, but that level? Dead serious.
"You too. Tonight's your spotlight."
Her cheeks pinked at my quick, heartfelt words.
Hand in Aria's, I beamed at Kaiser and Kal still side-eyeing my gear.
"Shall we?"