After breakfast ended, Kael calmly asked Butler Ren to follow him into the study.
The older man obeyed immediately.
The door closed softly behind them.
Kael walked toward the desk, already returning to his usual composed expression as though none of the shameless conversation from earlier had happened at all.
But Butler Ren knew better.
He had remained beside Kael for far too many years to be deceived by appearances alone.
From childhood...
to adolescence...
to adulthood...
he had witnessed nearly every side of Kael that existed.
The coldness.
The brilliance.
The frightening calmness Kael displayed while making ruthless decisions.
And the exhaustion hidden beneath all of it.
There were nights Butler Ren still remembered clearly.
The old mansion would be silent long after midnight.
Yet light would still remain visible beneath the young master's door.
Sometimes Butler Ren passed by quietly and stopped for a brief moment.
Not to interrupt.
Only to check.
Because even as a child—
Kael rarely slept properly.
At first, the old master and old madam had tried everything.
Doctors.
Mages.
Medicine.
Gentle conversations.
Even remaining awake beside him through the night.
Nothing worked.
Kael only smiled calmly and told them he was fine.
But Butler Ren understood.
The young master simply did not want his parents worrying over something he himself could not solve.
So eventually...
Kael stopped letting them see it altogether.
And sometime later—
this mansion was built according to Kael's own preferences.
Quiet.
Isolated.
Controlled.
A place where no one would interfere with him.
Including his suffering.
After moving here, Kael chose not to allow anyone inside his personal room unnecessarily.
Not even Butler Ren.
And Butler Ren respected that decision despite his worries.
Because he knew forcing concern onto Kael would only push him further away.
Still...
there were moments when Butler Ren quietly wondered what kind of expression Kael wore alone behind those closed doors.
Whether he slept at all.
Whether the silence helped him...
or merely swallowed him whole.
Yet now—
things were changing.
Slowly.
Quietly.
But undeniably.
Whenever Elior was near...
Kael became different.
Not weaker.
Not careless.
Simply...
more human.
More alive.
The sharp tension that constantly lingered around him softened in ways Butler Ren had never witnessed before.
And perhaps the most unbelievable part of all—
was that Kael himself still did not fully realize it.
Butler Ren lowered his gaze slightly.
If this truly was love...
then perhaps it was not a bad thing.
Elior was kind.
Patient.
Gentle enough to endure Kael's difficult personality without running away.
And somehow...
he managed to calm the parts of Kael no one else ever could.
The memory of this morning's shameless teasing resurfaced briefly in Butler Ren's mind.
Under normal circumstances, such behavior would have been unimaginable from Kael.
Yet today—
Kael had looked relaxed.
Comfortable.
At peace.
A faint breath escaped Butler Ren internally.
For years, he had watched the young master carry everything alone without complaint.
Watched him quietly endure things no one else could see.
So selfishly...
seeing Kael slowly open himself to someone now made Butler Ren feel relieved more than anything else.
As long as nothing interrupted this peace—
perhaps things would finally become different.
And for the first time in many years...
Butler Ren found himself hoping that this warmth beside Kael would remain for a very long time.
"..."
Silence lingered briefly inside the study.
Kael stood near the large window quietly, his gaze resting somewhere beyond the glass.
Then suddenly—
"Change the carriage."
Butler Ren blinked once.
"The carriage, Young Master?"
Kael gave a small hum.
"The old one."
His tone remained casual.
"Replace it with the Astravale carriage."
Butler Ren paused slightly.
The Astravale carriage was not something used casually.
Unlike the academy carriage Kael normally used, the Astravale model was designed for high-ranking nobles.
Luxurious.
Spacious.
Exceptionally smooth during travel.
And most importantly—
comfortable enough that even long journeys caused little fatigue.
"...May I ask the reason?"
Kael frowned faintly.
"That old carriage has been giving me headaches recently."
"...Headaches?"
For the first time, genuine confusion crossed Butler Ren's face.
The current carriage had been customized according to Kael's exact preferences years ago.
Silence lingered.
Then Butler Ren suddenly stopped mid-thought.
Ah.
Kael noticed the realization immediately.
"...I mean," Kael corrected calmly, "it served its purpose well before."
Before.
The single word carried meaning.
"But now," Kael continued quietly, "there is no need for that anymore."
His gaze lowered slightly.
"He's slowly becoming comfortable around me."
Butler Ren remained silent.
"And if even a small crack appears now..."
Kael's voice softened.
"He will distance himself somewhere I cannot easily reach."
A brief pause followed.
"I don't want that."
For a moment—
the study became completely quiet.
Then Butler Ren adjusted his glasses, hiding the faint smile threatening to appear.
"...Understood."
"I shall prepare the Astravale carriage immediately."
Kael nodded.
Then his expression shifted once more.
The warmth vanished.
Only precision remained.
"What about the investigation?"
Butler Ren straightened instinctively.
"As instructed, sixteen teams were dispatched separately."
Kael gave a quiet hum.
One team would have found answers.
Eventually.
Eventually kills houses.
Kael built for certainty.
And certainty meant engineering around failure before failure had a name.
That was why each team was six.
Not because six was strong.
Because five was weak.
Two for combat.
Not to win.
To ensure the other four came home.
Information can be recovered after a setback.
Investigators cannot.
Dead men gather no truths.
Dead men also cannot explain what they already learned.
Their purpose was simple:
make the cost of killing the team higher than leaving it alive.
Two for deception.
Force triggers shields.
Doors close.
Lips seal.
Records burn.
But nobody fortifies themselves against comfort.
A favor.
A shared drink.
A familiar face.
A harmless conversation.
People do not surrender secrets to blades.
They offer them to trust.
Those two did not break locks.
They made people unlock their own.
The fifth understood the body.
Words lie.
Flesh confesses.
A pulse changing at the wrong moment.
Sweat without heat.
A breath held too long.
Fear hidden beneath practiced calmness.
Poison.
Exhaustion.
Drug influence.
The body kept records the mind never intended to reveal.
And if he declared a source compromised—
the team walked away.
Immediately.
Because bad information was worse than no information.
No information delayed action.
False information buried operations.
The sixth understood the mind.
Not emotions.
Patterns.
Pressure.
Fear.
Pride.
Habit.
Desire.
Every person moved according to something.
His task was to find that something.
Was the retreat genuine?
Was the offer sincere?
Was success itself the trap?
He existed to determine whether information was a weapon...
or a noose disguised as one.
Remove any role—
and the system bled.
No combat?
The team died carrying answers.
No deception?
You only discovered what enemies expected you to find.
No body-reader?
You drank poison and called it truth.
No mind-reader?
You won the battle and lost the war.
That was the difference.
Most noble houses believed power came from armies, wealth, influence, or titles.
Those things only protected power already obtained.
True power existed long before conflict began.
Knowing betrayal before betrayal formed.
Seeing famine before crops failed.
Understanding wars while others still believed peace existed.
Ordinary families collected information.
House Kael collected certainties.
That was why they were feared.
Not because they were stronger.
Because once they moved seriously—
their conclusions rarely left room for escape.
Kael closed the document.
"Do not overlook anything."
His voice remained calm.
"Even mistakes people consider insignificant."
"...Understood."
Silence settled once more.
Heavy.
Controlled.
The kind of silence that naturally formed around people who stood too high for carelessness.
And Butler Ren knew this version of Kael well.
Cold-minded.
Precise.
The Kael capable of cornering people without ever raising his voice.
The Kael the noble world feared most.
Yet strangely...
that same person had spent the morning shamelessly teasing Elior over waist measurements.
The contrast almost made Butler Ren laugh.
After a few moments, Kael spoke again.
"There is another matter."
Butler Ren waited.
"Tomorrow is a leave day."
Kael leaned back slightly.
"I have some work outside the estate."
"And I will require your assistance."
"Of course, Young Master."
Kael nodded.
"If I wished to send letters to the deployed teams, how long would delivery require?"
"The latest location report arrived yesterday morning."
Kael gestured for him to continue.
"Team Garuda has already reached the main location."
"After confirming the area, they distributed the coordinates to nearby teams."
"Seven teams are close enough to arrive by tomorrow evening."
"And the others?"
"Eight remain on longer routes."
"They will require two to three additional days."
"The letters?"
"Approximately twenty hours to reach Team Garuda."
"A day and a half for the nearby seven."
"And roughly two days for the remaining teams."
"It is currently the fastest possible delivery."
Kael considered it.
"Would you like me to prepare messages for them, Young Master?"
"No."
Kael shook his head.
"I have something important involving them."
"But they were sent there for a reason."
His gaze lowered toward the map.
"Let them do their work."
"Understood."
"What about the teams remaining here?"
"As far as I remember, we maintained fifty-six teams."
"The old mansion maintained seventy-five."
"That is correct."
"Sixteen were dispatched."
"Forty remained."
"I have since recruited two additional teams."
"We currently have forty-two."
Kael gave a quiet hum.
Butler Ren continued before he could ask further.
"Do not worry, Young Master."
"I did not inform the old mansion."
"Nor did I allow any information to travel in that direction."
"The matter remains entirely within this estate."
"And your private protection detail has also been reduced."
"Only ten percent remain assigned to your movements."
"No unnecessary attention will be drawn."
"Good."
Approval briefly entered Kael's voice.
Then he stood.
"There is one more thing."
Butler Ren straightened.
"Prepare ten teams."
A rare flicker crossed his eyes.
"Ten?"
"By tonight."
Kael walked toward the window.
"I want them assembled in the underground hall."
"I have matters to discuss with them."
His gaze drifted beyond the estate walls.
"And tomorrow..."
For the first time, he paused.
"There is something important I need to do outside."
"I would rather prepare beforehand."
Butler Ren lowered his head.
"As you command."
"Make whatever arrangements are necessary."
"After tonight's meeting, plan the rest accordingly."
"It will be done."
Kael glanced toward the clock.
"It is almost time."
"The academy will not wait for me."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Prepare the carriage."
"Within ten minutes."
Butler Ren bowed.
"As you command, Young Master."
Without another word, he turned and left the study.
The moment the door closed—
the mansion quietly began to move.
Orders would spread.
Preparations would begin.
And by nightfall—
ten teams would be waiting beneath the estate.
"..."
After leaving the study, Kael and Elior made their way outside.
The preparations had already been completed.
Several servants stood near the entrance.
And waiting at the center of the courtyard—
was an entirely different carriage.
Its polished black exterior reflected the morning sunlight.
Silver engravings traced elegant patterns across the doors.
The crest of House Valen rested proudly upon its side.
Even at a glance—
it looked expensive.
Very expensive.
Elior slowed slightly.
His eyes lingered on the carriage for several seconds.
Then he looked at Kael.
"...This carriage?"
Kael nodded casually.
"Mm."
A servant immediately stepped forward and opened the door.
Kael gestured toward it.
"After you."
Elior blinked.
"You mean... we're using this one?"
"Yes."
Kael looked genuinely confused.
"What else would we use?"
Elior pointed toward it.
"This is clearly not the carriage we came in."
"Oh."
Understanding appeared on Kael's face.
Then—
a familiar smile followed.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
"Do you want the old carriage instead?"
Elior immediately felt something was wrong.
Unfortunately—
Kael continued.
"Or..."
His smile deepened slightly.
"Do you miss falling into my arms that much?"
Elior froze.
Several nearby servants suddenly became very interested in absolutely nothing.
"Kael."
"Hm?"
"I did not say that."
"No?"
Kael tilted his head.
"I thought you sounded disappointed."
"I wasn't."
"That's strange."
Kael looked thoughtfully at the luxurious carriage.
"The old one did provide more opportunities."
"..."
"For accidents."
"..."
"And unexpected closeness."
"..."
"And certain people falling directly into my arms."
Elior's face immediately began heating up.
Meanwhile—
Kael shamelessly continued.
"But everything has already been prepared."
He sighed dramatically.
"It would be rude to waste everyone's efforts."
Then he looked at Elior.
"Tomorrow we can use the old carriage if that's what you truly wish."
Elior stared at him in disbelief.
"You..."
"Hm?"
"I never said anything like that!"
Kael's expression became innocent.
Far too innocent.
"Really?"
"Really!"
"Oh."
Kael nodded slowly.
"Then I misunderstood."
For a brief moment—
Elior felt relieved.
Then Kael added,
"I simply assumed you were disappointed."
"Because you've always seemed strangely interested in touching me."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Elior's brain stopped functioning.
Kael continued calmly.
"You bump into me."
"Accident."
"You grab me."
"Not intentional."
"You fall toward me."
"Coincidence."
His smile widened slightly.
"After hearing enough of those explanations, anyone would become suspicious."
Elior's entire face turned red.
"Y-You shameless—!"
"Am I wrong?"
"YES!"
"Oh."
Kael nodded.
"Then perhaps I'm only half correct."
He studied Elior's expression carefully.
"Though your face seems to disagree."
Elior genuinely wanted to throw something at him.
Instead—
he folded his arms and glared.
"I hate you."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"I don't want to be friends with you anymore."
For the first time—
Kael looked amused.
"Interesting."
Elior narrowed his eyes.
"What's interesting?"
"Telling the truth is prohibited now?"
"I—"
"And look."
Kael continued shamelessly.
"You just revealed something important."
"I revealed nothing."
"You said you don't want to be friends anymore."
"Because you're annoying."
Kael ignored that.
"Which means friendship was your expectation."
Elior stared.
"What?"
Kael looked thoughtful.
"So if friendship isn't enough..."
His eyes slowly shifted toward Elior.
"...then what exactly were you hoping for?"
Elior's jaw dropped.
For one entire second—
he could not even process what had just happened.
How?
How did Kael manage to twist everything into this?
Even shamelessness itself would feel ashamed standing beside him.
Inside, Elior was almost desperate.
Just once.
Just once in his life—
he wanted to find a way to make Kael speechless.
Unfortunately—
nothing came to mind.
"...Kael."
His voice became serious.
Very serious.
"I am not talking to you anymore."
Kael opened his mouth.
But before he could speak—
Butler Ren appeared.
"Young Master."
Both turned toward him.
"The carriage is prepared."
His gaze moved between them briefly.
"I hope you both have a pleasant day."
A very brief pause followed.
Then Butler Ren wisely chose not to involve himself further.
Elior immediately stepped into the carriage.
Without looking back.
Without waiting.
Without saying another word.
He was genuinely angry now.
Kael watched him disappear inside.
Then silently followed.
The moment he entered—
he naturally moved toward the seat beside Elior.
Elior immediately glared at him.
The message was clear.
Don't.
Kael paused.
Then quietly changed direction and sat opposite him instead.
Satisfied, Elior turned toward the window.
The carriage began moving.
Silence filled the interior.
Several minutes passed.
Kael rested his chin against one hand.
Then finally—
"Elior."
No response.
"Elior?"
Nothing.
Elior continued staring outside as though the scenery had suddenly become the most fascinating thing in existence.
Kael knew perfectly well that he had been heard.
And more importantly—
he knew Elior was still angry.
Unfortunately for Elior—
Kael had already begun thinking of ways to fix that.
— by Aurea;"A person who fears losing someone rarely says 'stay.'
Instead, they quietly remove every reason for that person to leave."