204 Rumor Has I (1/2)

To be honest, he didn't have interest in shopping. For the past five years, whenever a catalog from a famous men's clothing shop would arrive at the mansion, he would just ask Louisa and David to pick clothes for him and Julian.

Under His Majesty's orders, Julian wasn't allowed to come out until it was ”time.” That meant he wasn't allowed outside until people could no longer notice that he was older than the real ”child of the prophecy” since Julian was pretending to be his son.

The emperor would just often send expensive gifts and toys to Julian as compensation.

”Dad, I'm ready.”

He turned around to see his son walking out of his room.

God, he's so adorable.

Winter insisted that he could take a bath and change clothes on his own so he let him do so.

Now, his son wore a little loose black cloak with a hood that covered his face. He could see that he wore ordinary clothes under the cloak but the air of wealth around Winter didn't disappear. He still looked like a noble.

His heart really swelled every time he would look at Winter.

To be honest, he was sulking because his wife hanged up on them a while ago. He was worried that something bad had happened. But when Winter called her again and asked him to remain silent, only then did his wife talk to his son.

He got the message: the duchess didn't want to talk to him.

That hurt, of course.

But he decided to set aside his personal feelings first to spend quality time with Winter.

”Good job,” he said proudly as he squatted to meet his son's eye level. ”I just wish you don't have to cover your face, Winter.”

”It's okay, Dad,” Winter assured him. ”Mommy told me that I should protect myself by hiding my identity until it's time to introduce myself to everyone.”

Even though his son looked fine, he still felt bad for him.

I'm so proud of him and I want the whole world to know.

But of course, Winter's safety comes first.

”Thank you for being understanding, Winter,” Kiho said while combing his son's hair with his fingers. ”Daddy is very proud of you.”

Winter smiled, then he wrapped his arms around his neck. ”Thank you for being proud of me, Dad.”

***

THAT was the most awkward 24-hour ”flight” that Luna had in her life.

It was also her first time to ride a flying two-seater ”ship” that Tilly liked calling ”submarine.” Apparently, it was a type of underwater boat in the modern world. The two-seater ship was actually big enough to be called a small ship. It had a room with two beds, a bathroom, and a small tea room.

Anyway, it was awkward because Roarke Sinclair was her company.

I don't hate him but…

”It's awkward, isn't it?” Roarke said after they got off the ship. They were now on top of the (real) Mount Sola in the Redsun Dessert. The Keeper was preparing to fight the Crades that awaited them at the foot of the mountain. ”After all, you just found out that out of all the Keepers, I'm the one born out of Lord Wixx's love for you. So I'm practically your son, Lady Luna.”

Luna almost choked on how blunt Roarke was. ”Can you not be so blunt?”

”Well, I can't really do that. Not when I've been waiting to meet you for hundreds of years now,” he said gently. ”I mean, I've also been waiting for the Supreme, of course. After all, even though I was born out of the Red Phoenixx's love for you, I was also the product of his love for his dear sister. It's only my own volition to meet my ”mother.” After all, my last name 'Sinclair' was apparently your family name in the past.”

Okay, that made her cheeks burn in embarrassment. But yeah. According to some of the memories that she retrieved during her life as the Moon Priestess, she was called 'Lady Luna Sinclair' back then. ”Is that why your left eye is pink and your right eye is ice blue?”

He nodded because he explained. ”I got my left eye from his memories of you, Lady Luna. And my right eye is the same eye color as Lord Wixx. Out of all the Keepers, I'm the only one who has the same eye color as him.”

Well, that was true. Lord Wixx's eye color was ice blue. It was like the ”pastel version” of Tilly's purple eyes.

”Lord Solaris once told me that my different-colored eyes are the proof that I'm the ”son” of Lord Wixx and the Moon Priestess,” Roarke said, then he looked at her with sparkling eyes. ”Lady Luna, now that you know who you are in Lord Wixx's life, can I call you ”Mother” from now on?”

Luna stepped backwards while shaking her head. ”I'm not ready to be a ”mother” yet, Roarke Sinclair.”

***

AFTER TILLY spent the night in House Prescott's mansion (without getting caught, of course), she took a long bath and dressed herself in one of the few clothes that she brought with her. Because she didn't want to stand out, she just wore a simple dress and a maroon cloak over it. The cloak had a wide hood that she used to hide her hair.

She could always change her jet-black hair into a deep shade of brown just like before she awakened. But that would beat her goal to introduce herself to the empire as the ”woman of the prophecy.” It was also a reminder to Lucina Morganna that she could never take her place.

Once she was done preparing, she sneaked out of the house. Since it was already morning, she couldn't freely fly around.

Plus, there are surveillance cameras around.

She was glad that Duke Sherwood was able to pass the law about the use of surveillance cameras all around the empire. Ah, she also heard that the demand for the CCTVs made House Nystrom that richest household officially.

I'm proud of you, Kiho.

Yes, it was her idea. But if her husband didn't execute it properly, then it would have just gone to waste. Not everyone could be a good businessman just because of some vague notes somebody left for them to follow. She wasn't with Kiho when he had to make big decisions regarding their businesses. So of course, she had to give credit where credit is due.

As they say, teamwork makes the dream work.

Anyway, she strolled around the Royal Capital until she reached Komono– the part of the Royal Capital ran by the nouveau riche. She had only been gone for five years but it already turned into a new business district in the empire.

She hated Aku Moonchester with passion but she had to admit that the empire had flourished tremendously under his reign.

Well, he also has to thank my businesses and the tax that House Nystrom pays for it.