Chapter 100
“They’re in quite a hurry, aren’t they? Well, no matter. I’ll be back shortly, so just wait a little while.”
“Yes, thank you. Truly, thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Taking care of children is a specialty of this old man,” the elderly gatekeeper said with a kind smile. He removed his hat to bow before turning and walking away.
Ysaris watched his retreating figure for a moment before murmuring her thanks once more and closing the door.
“…”
“…”
Blue eyes met red in a tense silence. It was Kazhan who spoke first.
“I told you, I left him with the neighbors. I just wanted us to have some time alone.”
Ysaris opened her mouth, then closed it again, at a loss for words. Finally, she muttered a soft reproach.
“Still, you kept acting as if you were hiding something about Mikael’s whereabouts.”
“I wanted to spend more time with you alone. I was afraid you’d rush off to get him if you knew he was so close by.”
“Then you should’ve just said so…”
Kazhan didn’t reply to her mumbled words, choosing instead to silently exhale a sigh of relief. While he had managed to smooth things over, the tension from the near-miss still lingered.
That had been too close.
Even now, the situation wasn’t entirely safe. Kazhan had only seen Mikael from a distance and hadn’t interacted with him directly. He couldn’t help but worry about how the boy would react.
‘What if he doesn’t acknowledge me as his father? What if he dislikes me so much he refuses to come to Uzephia?’
But Kazhan had no time to prepare himself. Barely two minutes had passed when another knock came at the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Miss Liz, could you open the door? I’ve brought Mikael.”
“Already?”
“Maaa!”
Before Ysaris could process her surprise, the response came—not from Tevi but from Mikael himself. Somehow, he’d known his mother was nearby and had called out to her.
Hearing her son’s voice, Ysaris moved on instinct rather than reason. She opened the door immediately, her face lighting up as she greeted Mikael.
Platinum blond hair, gentle red eyes, and plump cheeks greeted her gaze. The little boy stretched out his short arms and called for her, “Mamaaa!” He was as endearing as ever.
“My darling, did you miss Mama? Have you been eating well?”
“Mmhm. Saa-candy.”
“You ate a lot of candy? What flavor?”
“Aap.”
“Apple? You had something delicious, didn’t you, my boy?”
Though she wasn’t well enough to lift him, Ysaris crouched to his level and embraced him tightly. As they chatted naturally, their world seemed to shrink to just the two of them. The warm scene was interrupted only when Tevi stepped forward.
“The boy takes after his mother—so calm and well-behaved. He wasn’t difficult to care for at all.”
“Still, you must have worked hard. Thank you so much, Mr. Tevi.”
“It was nothing. Now, I’ll take my leave. Enjoy your time together as a family.”
“Please take care on your way back.”
After the brief farewell, Ysaris took Mikael’s hand and led him inside. Her attention was so focused on her son that she flinched when she noticed Kazhan standing silently a few steps away.
“Why are you just standing there? Come greet your child, dear.”
“Hm.”
Kazhan, looking as if he were lost in thought, reacted slowly to her words. His red eyes shifted hesitantly to Mikael, whose gaze mirrored his.
Up close, Mikael resembled Ysaris even more than Kazhan had imagined. It wasn’t just his hair or facial features—the boy’s overall demeanor was gentle, the complete opposite of the sharp impression typical of Tennilath’s bloodline.
“Obo?”
The child tilted his head, parroting Ysaris’ earlier words with a clumsy pronunciation. His curious yet wary expression made it clear he was meeting Kazhan for the first time. Mikael even hid behind Ysaris’ leg, a behavior anyone would recognize as shyness toward a stranger.
“You said you were separated from me for two years, right? So this is your first time seeing Mikael too?”
“That’s right.”
As Kazhan awkwardly looked at Mikael, Ysaris sighed, shaking her head. Father and son were far too alike in their hesitance.
“First, we need to sort out what he should call you. At this rate, Mikael might end up calling you dear like I do.”
“Hm.”
“By the way, are you still not going to tell me what I used to call you before?”
“In the Empire, you addressed me as Your Majesty.”
“And outside of the Empire?”
“You used my name.”
“Kaz… han?”
The name sounded unfamiliar on Ysaris’ tongue, and her expression turned thoughtful. Sensing her discomfort, Kazhan hesitated before offering a correction.
“Cain. It’s a nickname.”
“Cain. Hmm, Cain. That’s much better.”
Ysaris nodded, repeating the name as if it had always belonged to her. The sound carried a sense of familiarity, almost nostalgia.
Kazhan, now “Cain” once again, felt his lips twitch into a bittersweet smile. Holding back the conflicting emotions stirring in his heart, he finally replied.
“Alright, Ysaris. Call me Cain.”
‘Just like you did when you loved the false version of me.’
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