Several seconds passed.
'What?'
'Rain's guardian. He's her biological brother.' Noble finally opened her eyes. They swirled with more colors than they should have been able to contain.
Fort shook his head. 'T-that's impossible! We checked—'
'The records were grossly incomplete and mostly missing.' Noble reminded him. 'But he is Rain's brother. I am sure of it.'
'That can't be!' Fort ran over the events from years ago in his mind. He had the moment they adopted Rain ingrained in his memory.
How could he have missed something so pivotal at the time?
'A brother, really?' Surely his wife was mistaken.
'A brother,' Noble nodded, 'Really.'
Fort sank into his chair, no longer trusting his legs to keep him upright.
'How can that be? If we had known, we never would have forced them apart.'
If his wife was correct, then he had separated a family. What kind of person did that? He should have dug deeper at the time, instead of living in blissful ignorance…
Suddenly, Fort's anger toward the guardian vanished. A heaviness settled in his heart.
'Because of us, he lost his sister for years. D-Does he blame us…for taking her away?'
But Noble smiled down at her husband and took his hand.
'He knows we were unaware of their connection, and he doesn't blame us. He loves that Rain has such a loving and healthy family.'
'So this isn't some elaborate plot to get her back?' Fort's question caused Noble to chuckle.
'No, it is not. It was an unfortunate accident. He would love for Rain to be able to come home, I assure you.' Noble knew that the elder brother wanted the best for his baby sister, and he believed that included her being with the ones she loved.
'You keep saying he…I don't even know anything about him. I don't even know his name or how he is protecting Rain.'
'His name is Sunny.' Noble's smile grew as she watched Fort's reaction.
'Sunny and Rain? Huh, how poetic.' Fort wondered if their biological mother had a love for the weather.
'I have thought about that too.' Noble couldn't fault their parents for their naming choices. She herself thought it was rather cute.
'I notice you didn't answer my second question. How is he protecting her? I am pretty sure someone—especially me—would have noticed a man following her around constantly.' Fort squinted.
He wasn't that oblivious.
'Did I not say?' Noble feigned innocence. 'Sunny is a Saint, and he can hide in Rain's shadow.'
'Come again?' Fort thought that he would have been surprised by nothing at this point, but he was wrong.
A man had been living in his daughter's shadow?
Noble nodded.
'He's been hiding there for years, training her. Don't worry, he has never come into our home uninvited, though.'
'I see…' What else was there to say? It's not like he could change it if he tried.
'Sunny will keep her safe, even at the cost of his own life. Rain won't be gone forever, just until this blows over. Until then, everything will be fine.' Noble squeezed her husband's hand gently.
Fort was quiet for a long time. Noble expected more objections.
There were many to be had, after all. Instead, the ambassador kissed his wife's hand and sighed.
'If you trust him this much, I will too.'
Noble blinked. 'You will?'
'Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of questions that I haven't even begun to ask. I doubt you can or will answer them all.' Fort glanced at his wife.
'You are probably right, but I'll do my best.'
Noble had made the decision on her way back that she would take this step. Exposing Sunny was no longer a concern now that he and Rain were on the run. While Noble wouldn't tell all of Sunny's secrets, she would give Fort any assurance he needed of the genuine relationship between the two siblings.
'Sunny, huh? Sunny…' Fort turned the name over in his head, probably unaware that his thoughts were leaking through.
Noble waited, unwilling to interrupt him. Finally, his thoughts fell silent.
'How are you holding up?'
Fort sighed. 'Honestly? I feel…helpless.'
He couldn't protect his daughter, and his wife was one of the strongest people in two worlds. Where did that leave him?
'I am grateful, don't get me wrong. I just wish I could do more.'
'I know. Me too.'
Noble wrapped her arms around her husband's neck from behind and rested her head against his.
She had felt that same helplessness more times than she could count. That feeling had led her to conquer the third Nightmare, but that wasn't exactly an option here.
Fort patted her arm and smiled.
'I'll be fine. Rain is safe, and this will blow over. We just have to be patient. Practicing patience is something I can do.'
'Indeed it is.' Despite his rare outbursts, Noble knew no more patient person than Fort. 'It's practically your super power.'
'If only!' The man smiled sadly. 'I doubt that being patient would have taken out three Skinwalkers and torn up a forest.'
'You never know! Waiting for the right moment in any battle is the key.' Noble knew that more than most. Though waiting too long could be just as bad as making a move too soon, that was beside the point.
Noble finally offered her husband some of her comfort, and he took it without question. His normal equilibrium took over, much to Noble's relief.
'You know, you help me all the time.' The woman noted the confusion mixed into her husband's emotions. 'You've brought me through countless trials in our times together. Most recently, I wouldn't have been able to fix my core without you. I am certain that I would have been dead if you hadn't anchored me. You may not view yourself as a hero, but you are mine a hundred times over.'
She could have pointed out every act he had done for humanity, but those faceless people did not have the same impact on his life as the one hugging him now.
Fort kissed her palm and looked up from his seat. 'How you view me matters. Thank you. I love you.'
'I love you too.' Noble kissed the top of her husband's head.
Fort's shoulders relaxed slightly. This wasn't the end of the world. It was horrible and unfortunate, but as long as Rain was alive and safe, that was what mattered.
'Hiding in a shadow.' Fort shook his head. 'That's a new one for a Saint. Surely he has better things to do.'
'Don't worry, Sunny is exactly where he wants to be.' Noble assured her husband.
'I should say so if he has been there for years. I wish I could thank him… or speak to him at all, really. I don't suppose…'
Fort watched Noble shake her head. 'First of all, I don't think we can shake our tails a second time today. And second of all, we would blow Rain's cover if we did. I have no way to reach him without stumbling on Rain in the process.'
'I see,' Fort was disappointed, but thankfully, he understood.
Noble nudged him gently. 'Don't be too sad. When this is all done, he promised me that we would have a family dinner.'
'Good.' Fort stood, his face taking on its polite diplomatic smile. 'Speaking of our tails, I suppose we shouldn't keep them waiting any longer.' The man offered his arm. 'Perhaps we can continue this conversation as we go?'
'I'd like that.' Noble nodded. 'Maybe you can help me plan the menu for the future family meal?'
'Before that, we have to decide what we will tell the boys.' Fort nodded subtly.
The smile on Noble's face faltered. 'Oh…yeah…'