“There are things I know that others do not, things I am sure of, and I use those things to create my perception of others. It would help me quite a bit if I could see how you see the world.
So please tell me, Lady Veylara,
Do you trust the King?”
Kael repeated his question, and this time, Veylara groaned as she massaged her temple.
“Now I just feel like you are an agent sent by the King to spy on me.”
“I am not, trust me.”
Kael smiled.
“That is what a spy would say.”
“…That is what an innocent man would say as well.”
“That makes those words meaningless, no?”
“What spy has a Dragon?”
“That was a good one.”
Veylara nodded, satisfied by the answer.
“You are learning well.”
She spoke as she patted Kael’s shoulder.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Kael didn’t forget.
Veylara paused for a moment and then,
“I do trust him.”
She answered.
“While some of his actions are indeed inconsistent, that comes naturally when one is in a position of power. If all his actions were predictable, he would be a bad King, which, he is not.”
Veylara started putting the rest of the eggs back in her Sanctuary while she continued,
“Of course, my opinion is still biased. He is my King. One way or another, I am connected to him. My children seem to trust him, and my family is under him. I want to believe that he is on my side, and so I do.
But at the same time, it is also in my character to not have complete trust in anyone. I am the Head of the Stormhold Family. I have to mistrust everyone so that I do not make any bad choices.”
The woman then turned towards Kael and,
“A part of the reason I want you to go to the King is because I wish to know how he would react to the existence of a Dragon. It will either ease or strengthen my doubts regarding him.”
“So you wish to use me to know if you can trust the King or not.”
“That is correct.”
Veylara didn’t hide.
“I trust the King, but I need to constantly revise my trust in him to ease my mind. That is what I am doing right now.”
Kael nodded in understanding.
Just as he expected, Veylara trusted the King as well.
So maybe he could do so a—
“And don’t forget what I said. Just because I trust him doesn’t mean you can too.
Always be wary.”
Before Kael could even form his thoughts, Veylara warned.
‘This woman can definitely read my mind.’
Kael was sure.
“I cannot read your mind. Your face is just that obvious.”
Veylara answered, and Kael just stared at the woman with a deadpan look on his face.
‘That answer isn’t helping, woman.’
‘Father.’
Suddenly, not-so-little Igni called out in his mature voice again.
‘What is it?’
‘The Siblings are coming.’
Igni warned, and just as Kael heard that news,
“So you are able to sense them as well, huh…”
Veylara muttered.
“Huh?”
“As I said, your expressions are too obvious. They give away what you think. You reacted when you sensed their presence. Your pupils dilated, your breathing hitched ever so slightly, and your eyes darted towards the door.
It told me what I needed to know.”
“Why don’t you just admit you can read my mind? You don’t have to lie to this extent, you know?”
“Trust me, if I had the ability to read minds, I’d be a lot scarier.”
Veylara grinned.
‘You are already scary enough…’
Kael, of course, didn’t dare to say that out loud.
“Don’t worry, we will work on your ability to hide your expressions. If need be, I will kill your emotions to make sure you do not react to anything.”
Kael felt his entire body tremble when he heard those words.
Knock Knock
Then, the two of them heard a knock.
“The Egg.”
Veylara pointed at the Egg as she removed the Sound Barrier. Kael, on the other hand, stored the Egg in his Sanctuary.
“Come in.”
Veylara ordered, and the siblings walked in.
“What do you need?”
Veylara questioned.
Arlan and Elira stared at Kael.
“Kael wanted to learn Sword Aura, so…”
“Huh? Sword Aura? He is only an Apprentice Le—”
Before Veylara completed her words, she realized what her son was thinking.
“His Mana should be enough…”
Arlan nodded at those words.
“His Mana was always higher than his level, and it should be enough to learn the Sword Aura now, so I thought…”
“It might be possible.”
Veylara nodded.
As a Warrior herself, she could tell what her son was thinking and was satisfied. It was good that her son wasn’t obstinate like other warriors.
‘I guess that is obvious. I was the one who taught him, after all.’
Veylara nodded to herself, impressed by her product.
She then thought about it for a second, and then,
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Huh…?”
Arlan frowned, not liking where this was going.
“What? Is there a problem?”
Veylara narrowed her eyes.
“Are you—”
“I am coming with you, yes.”
Veylara nodded, and both Arlan and Elira stared at Kael with pitiful looks on their faces.
Elira was actually a step ahead.
“W-Well, if Mother is coming, then I don’t think I am needed. I’ll just go and rest. You three warriors have fun.”
Yes, she was abandoning the ship.
“You are coming with us.”
Veylara announced.
“But what am I going to—”
“What were you going to do before I decided to join? I don’t think a Mage is needed for Sword Aura training.”
“I was just about to go to my room.”
“Is that so?”
Veylara raised her eyebrow, and at that look,
“I will join.”
Elira gave in.
She had no intention of giving her life away so foolishly.
Arlan simply patted his poor sister, and Kael, who saw how the two siblings acted in front of their mother, couldn’t help but grin in satisfaction.
All that shit the two had put him through,
He felt… avenged.
But then,
“What are you grinning at?
Come.”
Veylara ordered, and the moment he looked into her eyes, Kael’s body flinched for some reason.
‘Father, be careful.’
Even Igni warned.
‘Not helping, Igni.’