145 The One and Only Sun (1/2)
THE SUN was almost up when Kiho finished ”interrogating” the people who tried to attack the mansion last night. When he was done, the basement where he imprisoned the assailants was painted with blood. He hated that he had to come back to this kind of job. But he would do anything to protect his family.
I've said this before and I'll say it again: I'm willing to become a bad guy for Tilly. And now, for Winter, too.
”I'll take care of the rest, Your Grace,” Captain Denver told him. ”Please take a rest. You must be exhausted.”
”I'm fine, Captain Denver. Thank you for worrying about me,” he said while wiping off the blood in his hand using a white handkerchief. Then, he tapped the captain's shoulder. ”I'll leave the rest to you, Captain Denver. I'll ask Miss Luna to assist you.”
”That would be helpful, Your Grace.”
”After I check on Tilly and Winter, I'll come back so the two of you could rest.”
The captain just nodded, then he turned serious. ”Your Grace, may I know if something happened to make Lady Nystrom that angry last night? Miss Luna didn't let me enter the room while she was giving birth to the duchess. But I could hear Lady Nystrom's loud cry back then.”
His jaw clenched, and so did his fists when he remembered the tragedy that fell upon their family. ”Tilly received a call from our Father. Lord Prescott is gone now. He was killed by an unknown man…” He trailed-off when he remembered something. Then, his eyes widened in shock while looking at Captain Denver. ”Lord Denver was with Father…”
Pain crossed the captain's amber eyes. ”That's right,” he confirmed. ”Father passed down his emblem to me last night. That only means that he's gone now. After all, an emblem couldn't be passed down to an heir if his predecessor is still alive.”
His heart went out to the captain. Tilly would be devastated to hear this…
”If Lord Prescott was killed, then that means my father suffered the same fate,” Captain Denver said in an understandably angry voice. ”Duke Nystrom, did you get a clue as to who did to them from the conversation that Lady Nystrom had with Lord Prescott?”
He nodded. ”We did. But can we talk about it once all of us have rested enough? I know that it's hard to do that at this moment. Still, I believe that we all need to rest first.”
”I understand, Your Grace,” the captain said. ”Just like you, I had been into several wars, too. From there, I learned how important rest is. A knight should always take a break first before he fights a new battle. After all, a broken mind and an exhausted body will only get him killed.”
”Thank you for understanding,” Kiho said, then he held the captain's shoulders tight. ”Captain Denver, please remember that the Nystroms are always here for the Denvers. We'll get through this together.”
Captain Denver nodded, and when he spoke again, his voice cracked. ”Thank you, Duke Nystrom.”
WHEN Kiho arrived at the lobby of the mansion, he was surprised to see Tilly waiting for her.
And it wasn't just her.
The ice incubator of Winter was floating beside his wife.
He also noticed Miss Luna standing behind her, and so were the servants of the mansion who greeted him politely.
”Welcome back, hon,” Tilly greeted him with a smile, then she handed him a warm towel. ”Good job.”
Kiho smiled and kissed his wife on the forehead as he thanked her. Then, he gently touched the ice incubator of his son. When he saw that Winter was asleep again, he turned to Tilly. ”Honey, I'm grateful for the warm welcome. But shouldn't you rest for now? You just gave birth a few hours ago.”
”Thank you for worrying about me, hon,” Tilly said with a smile. ”But I'm fine. I can still fulfill my duties as your wife and the lady of the manor.”
He had always known that his wife was strong and amazing.
But to be able to stand so gracefully like she did now after just a few hours since she gave birth to their son? Damn, that was incredible.
Tilly wasn't just standing there. She was dressed and poised properly like a duchess that she was. He could tell from his wife's eyes that she was just enduring the pain and the exhaustion. But he knew why she was doing that when she could have just rested.
She's boosting the morale of our people.
Duchess Tilly Prescott Nystrom was a dignified lady through and through.
Father, do you see Tilly now? You raised a very remarkable daughter. She shines like a sun, always has and always will.
Kiho gently pulled Tilly for a hug. Then, he buried his face against her neck. Her warmth and her sweet scent were enough for him to revitalize. When he felt better, he looked up to stare at his wife's beautiful face. ”My heart is forever yours, Tilly.”
Miss Luna groaned as a light complaint.
The witch was the only person in the mansion who could openly express her protest whenever he and Tilly would do a public display of affection.
”What's gotten into you?” Tilly asked, her cheeks red with embarrassment. But her smile told him that she was happy with his sweet nothings. Still, she lightly hit his arm. ”Stop it, hon. Spare our people from your cheesiness.”
His wife's light teasing made their servants laugh ”discreetly.”
Ah, she succeeded in uplifting everyone's spirits.
At that moment, Kiho thought to himself: Tilly is my sunshine.
He just didn't know why he couldn't say it aloud.
***
TILLY'S heart was broken when she learned that Captain Denver's father– Lord Morgan Denver– also died the night his father passed away.
Lord Denver was definitely killed by the same person who killed my father.
She wanted to scream in anger but for some reason, she still felt calm. Her body temperature didn't even change. Usually, whenever she was angry, her body would start to burn.
It didn't happen this time.
But it's good that I'm calm.
Anyway, right now, she was in the tea room with Kiho and Captain Denver. They went there to have tea after breakfast. On the other hand, Luna volunteered to look after Winter with the head maid who wanted to serve the young lord. So currently, if she wasn't mistaken, the witch was in the master's bedroom with Louisa.
Saint Forrester already left before the sun rose up.
”I'll go to the North to retrieve the bodies of Lord Denver and Lord Prescott,” Captain Denver declared, causing everyone in the room to turn to him. The captain continued talking, his eyes focused on her. ”Lady Nystrom, according to Lord Prescott, you shouldn't go to the North whatever happens,” he said, then he turned to Kiho. ”Duke Nystrom, I know you wanted to retrieve Lord Prescott's body yourself. But I don't think it's wise to leave Lady Nystrom and your new born son by themselves. And I'm sure you don't want to do that.” The captain gave everyone a passing look. ”That's why I'll do it. I'll retrieve their bodies and while I'm at it, I will investigate their death. Since my father was a higher noble, and so was Lord Prescott, I'm sure that His Majesty would allow me to bring the Red Phoenix Knights with me.”
Tilly was relieved to know that Captain Denver planned to bring his squad with him.
”I just have one favor, Duke and Duchess Nystrom,” the captain said.
”What is it?” Tilly and Kiho asked at the same time.
”Please take care of my tower while I'm gone,” Captain Denver said.
”Of course,” she said right away. ”Leave it to us.”
”Captain Denver, just tell us if you need anything else,” Kiho offered. ”We will provide you with everything you'll need to make your travel comfortable.”
Captain Denver smiled and nodded. ”Thank you for the generosity, Duke Nystrom.”
Kiho just nodded firmly.
”Captain Denver,” Tilly said. When the captain turned to her, she gave him a sympathizing look. ”My condolences.”
The captain smiled sadly. ”My condolences to you as well, Lady Nystrom.”
”We will get justice for our fathers,” Tilly promised him. ”We will make the descendants of the Black Serpent pay for what they did.”
***
WHEN NIA woke up, Aku was no longer beside her.
What a relief.
It wasn't the first time that she slept on the same bed as her brother. But every time that would happen, she would feel very exhausted. Smiling all night at the emperor wasn't easy.
And now, she had to pretend that she just woke up.
The past months had been hell for her.
She lost Lahara and Lady Alisa Hayward– two of her closest friends. And they both died trying to carry out their mission to protect her. But she couldn't even mourn them properly.