Aurelia froze instantly.
Her once-sharp expression stiffened, as if struck by a truth that should never have existed.
"That's impossible…"
she murmured to herself, then lifted her gaze to Richard in disbelief.
Her voice trembled, despite her attempt to restrain it.
"Elena has only been married to Aldric for sixteen years, hasn't she?
No matter how you look at it… there's no way she could have a child who's already eighteen."
She shook her head more violently, as if trying to shake the thought away.
"No… it can't be."
Richard remained standing there—unmoving, unflinching, refusing to let her escape behind logic or denial.
"It can,"
he replied firmly.
"And I've seen him before."
Aurelia looked up at once.
"What do you mean?"
Richard let out a soft sigh before explaining clearly.
"Ten years ago, Aldric came to see me before returning to Veridian Veil
And back then… Ryn was already five years old."
The words five years old struck Aurelia like a direct blow.
Her eyes widened, her breath hitching for a moment.
"Five…?"
she repeated slowly, her thoughts connecting faster than she wanted them to.
"…Then that boy is only fifteen."
She turned to Richard immediately, her tone shifting from shock to tension.
"Then how did he survive the Rite of Empowerment?
You know better than anyone how dangerous that ritual is."
Richard met her gaze and answered plainly.
"Because it was the only option."
Aurelia clenched her fist.
"Have you lost your mind?"
Richard shook his head.
"No. If we hadn't done it, he would have died."
The air around them fell into sudden silence.
Aurelia said nothing—only stared at him, as if waiting for an explanation she didn't want to hear.
Richard closed his eyes briefly, then spoke again, his voice heavier than before.
"The day of the festival in Veridian Vale…"
"…A swarm of Calami attacked."
And so he began to tell the story—
from the ringing of the alarm bells,
from the breach of the walls,
from the blood staining the wooden barricades,
and the young men who stood before the gates.
He spoke of the battle,
of Ryn being gravely wounded,
of a condition where there was "no chance of survival" unless they took the risk.
Aurelia listened to every word in silence.
Her face showed no sign of turmoil, yet within her heart, confusion unlike anything she had ever felt before was raging.
The death of her nephew…
or the righteousness of the Council's laws…
As the Grand Sage,
as a servant of the Central Council,
which was she supposed to choose?
Richard spoke, as if reading her thoughts.
"It isn't your fault. Don't trouble yourself over it."
He paused briefly, then continued in a firm voice.
"If someone must bear the blame…
then I will take it upon myself."
Aurelia let out a long sigh, as though accepting something she could no longer avoid.
"Then you should never have told me this in the first place."
She turned to Richard, her sharp gaze piercing.
"And you should have kept it in your heart for the rest of your life."
Richard remained silent. He neither argued nor defended himself.
Aurelia continued, her voice calm yet resolute.
"But since I now know the truth,
I will act as I see fit."
She paused, then delivered the heaviest sentence of all.
"I will pretend I know nothing, just as you wish.
But if one day… Ryn, Elena's son—my nephew—
is consumed by that sword…"
Aurelia stared straight at Richard.
There was no emotion in her eyes—only the cold resolve of one who judges fate.
"Will you allow me to be the one who ends him?"
Richard lowered his head slightly before answering without hesitation.
"With pleasure."
Aurelia gave a small nod, her expression unchanged.
"Then… do not tell him who I am."
She turned her back, her voice softening just a fraction.
"And I…
will be the one who watches over him."