Chapter 97: A Silent Talk

"-Uncle Hiro was just seven years old back then. And after he gave the letter to the emperor, he also got enrolled to the academy, where he met Uncle Max and became best friends with him. And in the academy, he was the best student. Excellence in magic, and mastering the use of any weapon. But among them, he became the master of his only weapon; A Spear. He was best in them, and also, he was always ranked among the top students in the academy as well. Then, after saving the empire from the prophesied terror, he was awarded the title of hero.

Also, Uncle Max announced him as the archduke after he took over the throne. He was actually given a good piece of land by him, but uncle Hiro asked for these barren lands instead of fertile ones. And aunt Sakura was by his side in making that decision. They both worked tirelessly to restore the land. It took a whole year of relentless effort, but aunt Sakura succeeded in making the land fertile again. That's why the people here respect Hiro, but their hearts truly belong to aunt Sakura, the Archduchess-"

As Ray finished speaking, Kai, Karina, and Lala looked out of the carriage once more, looking at the heart of the duchy. The image of the once barren and desolate land playing in their mind, and now the current streets in the city were now bustling with life. Looking ahead, they could see the stalls lined the pathways, selling everything from freshly baked bread to intricate handicrafts. The scent of roasted chestnuts mingled with the fragrance of blooming flowers, creating an intoxicating aroma that enveloped the newcomers.

As they looked around, Karina couldn't help but notice the significant changes. "It's incredible," she mused aloud. "To think this place was once a wasteland. The Archduchess's touch truly brought it back to life."

They all looked at Sakura, surrounded by villagers, as she slowly made her way to their carriage. As she came close, she explained to them in her usual cheerful demeanor.

"Let's go to our mansion now, shall we?" As she said, Ray asked what about Hiro, since he was nowhere to be seen. When suddenly, a sound of the walls breaking from the side was heard by the group, turning towards the way of the sound, glancing at each other in confusion.

"Don't worry about him. He will just play with Ferio for a while," saying so, she smiled at them when another breaking sound was heard by them.

After some time, both of the carriage were back on their way. As before, in the first carriage seated Sakura, with Elysia and Ana, both asleep. And in the second carriage, seated the group of four who looked around on the way to the mansion.

They were all excited, looking at the decoration for the coming up festival. Happily looking around, Lala and Karina talked among each other, while Ray murmuring to himself, saying he wished to see the festival together with Nino. Kai too wore a happy expression, but his mind was filled with the warning he had received.

His mind playing back the voice he had heard back then;

"Listen to me, Kai. In ten days, some assassins will attack the Archduke's mansion. They aren't just normal assassins; they are highly trained, and each of them is as strong as the commander of the imperial army. No matter what you do, you must protect your little sister, Elysia."

Looking out at the lively streets, Kai let out a long sigh. "Tomorrow's the day…"

He's eyes moving towards the people buying goods, few adventurers looking at the equipment's store, and guests who are arriving in the duchy for enjoying the festival.

"Any of them can be a assassin…"

Kai's mind raced, observing everyone he's seeing on his way.

After some time, they arrived at the mansion. It was a grand structure, with towering spires and large windows that shimmered in the sunlight. The mansion was surrounded by lush greenery, gardens meticulously maintained with colorful flowers in full bloom, and ivy climbing up the stone walls, giving it a timeless, enchanting look. Lala, holding onto a sleepy Ana, along with Karina were both in awe, their eyes wide with amazement as they took in the sight.

"Wow, this place is incredible," Karina whispered, unable to contain her excitement.

Lala nodded in agreement. "I've never seen anything like it," she said, her voice filled with wonder.

As Sakura approached the entrance holding a sleeping Elysia in her arms, an old man in a butler uniform walked briskly towards her. He bowed deeply, a warm smile on his face. "Greetings to the Archduchess," he said respectfully.

Sakura greeted him warmly, "Hello, Kris. I'm sorry we can't come here more often."

Kris shook his head gently. "It's all fine, My Lady. As long as you and the Archduke are well, that's all that matters."

Karina and Lala looked over, intrigued by the interaction. Kris noticed them and smiled. "It seems we have some guests today," he remarked.

Ray stepped forward. "Yeah, we're here too," he said.

Kris's eyes widened slightly as he recognized Ray. He bowed again, this time addressing him. "Greetings to the Crown Prince of the empire."

Ray quickly closed the distance and placed a hand on Kris's shoulder. "There's no need to be so formal, uncle Kris. You can speak freely with me."

Kris smiled warmly. "You're still the same as before, Your Highness."

Sakura then proceeded to introduce Kris to the rest of the group. "Everyone, this is Kris, the older brother of Ainz," she said, gesturing to the butler. She went through the introductions, finally stopping at Kai, moving behind him and holding onto his shoulder. "And here is my precious son, Kai."

Kris approached Kai, bowing slightly. "Welcome back, young Duke of the Hamadavereaux family," he said.

Kai looked slightly puzzled. "Hamadavereaux?" he thought, when a thought struct Sakura as she spoke up. "Right, I didn't mention. Since the name is quite long, so we just say it in short. Hamadavereaux shortened to Hamada."

Kai slowly nodded in understanding and returned the bow.

Kris looked around, his eyes scanning the area. "Where is the Archduke?" he asked.

Sakura smiled knowingly. "The usual," she replied.

Kris paused for a moment, before he nodded, understanding perfectly. "I will show you around and have the maids prepare your meals," he said, leading the way.

As they moved on, Ray leaned over Kai's shoulder and whispered, "Hey Kai, what is a playboy?"

Kai paused for a moment, then replied through the comms, "I don't know either."

But in his mind, he thought, "So… Dad was a womanizer, huh…"

As the group entered the mansion, they were immediately struck by the grandeur of the interior. The foyer was spacious, with high ceilings adorned with intricate chandeliers casting a warm, inviting glow. Rich tapestries and paintings lined the walls, depicting historical scenes and landscapes. The polished marble floors gleamed underfoot, reflecting the opulence of the space.

Lined up on either side of the entrance hall were rows of maids, each dressed impeccably in their uniforms. They greeted the group with respectful bows, their faces radiating warmth and hospitality. Two maids came forward, as they took both the sleeping Elysia and Ana to their room to sleep peacefully. The air was filled with a subtle blend of floral and citrus scents, adding to the elegance of the surroundings.

As the group looked around, Kai's eyes were drawn to an orb-like structure set prominently in the center of the hall. It was mounted on a pedestal, emitting a soft, ethereal glow that pulsed rhythmically. Intrigued, Kai wheeled himself closer, inspecting the orb with curiosity. It was clear that this was no ordinary decoration.

Karina, noticing Kai's interest, approached and asked, "What is that orb here for?"

Sakura turned to look at Karina, then followed her gaze to the orb. A smile crossed her face as she replied, "It's an orb to identify any threat coming towards the duchy."

Lala, ever curious, wondered aloud, "Threats...?"

Sakura chuckled softly before explaining, "You see, before the duchy was re-established here, low-ranking monsters used to appear around this area. There were also high-ranking ones, including one of the top three class beasts; the calamity class beast. When the duchy was remade, the monsters returned to the forest, which is right behind the mansion. But there was still a fear that they might reappear. So, we put up a barrier and this orb, which specifically works only when the calamity class beasts appear around the duchy."

The mention of the calamity class monsters piqued Kai's interest further. He projected his thoughts aloud, "How does it work? Does it have a range to locate any of the monster around the duchy?"

Sakura smiled warmly and nodded. "That's right, Kai. This orb was specially made with the help of elves and dwarfs, so its features are quite special. It has a range of five thousand square kilometers to locate threats coming here."

Karina and Lala exchanged amazed glances, impressed by the intricate security measures in place. The orb's glow seemed to pulse with a sense of purpose and vigilance, standing as a silent guardian over the duchy.

As they marveled at the orb, Ray found himself lost in thought. He furrowed his brow, trying to recall a distant memory. "Have I seen this somewhere before?" he mused aloud.

Kris approached Ray from behind, his voice calm and reassuring. "That's right," Kris began, catching the attention of Ray and the others. "There are a total of four orbs within the duchy, each placed at strategic points. One is here in the mansion, another at the entrance of the duchy, and the remaining two are positioned on the other two sides."

 As the group listened to Kris, the entrance door slowly creaked open. The group turned to look back, and there stood Hiro, walking towards them with a slow, deliberate pace. His once pristine coat was now covered in dirt, giving him a rugged, disheveled appearance.

Kris quickly approached Hiro, bowing deeply. "Welcome back, Your Grace," he greeted.

Hiro smiled at Kris before shifting his gaze to meet Sakura's eyes. He tried to call her name, but she quickly looked away, causing him to freeze in place. With a sigh, he muttered, "That bastard Ferio...!"

Without wasting another moment, Hiro made his way to Sakura, walking past Kai and the group. "Kris, show the kids to their rooms and have the maids prepare a bath for Sakura and me," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Huh… wait, what you-" Sakura wanted to ask something, but was cut off in between as Hiro picked her up into his arms. Startled and flustered, Sakura protested, "Put me down! What are you doing in front of the kids?"

The group watched in surprise, with Karina and Lala both blushing at the sight. Hiro, however, merely smiled at Sakura. "Well, my first priority is to set my sweet wife's mood back to normal again," he said, his voice filled with affection.

With that, Hiro began to ascend the grand staircase, while Sakura was covering her face in embarrassment. Halfway up the stairs, Hiro paused and looked back at Kai. "Right. Kai, after dinner, let's have a walk. There's something I need to talk with you."

Kai nodded; curiosity piqued.

Later that evening, the group found themselves settled in their respective rooms, courtesy of Kris's efficient guidance. The rooms were spacious and elegantly decorated, each offering a perfect blend of comfort and luxury. The soft glow of the moonlight filtered through the ornate curtains, casting a calm glow across the plush furnishings.

Dinner was a quieter affair in the grand dining hall. Seated at the long, polished table were Ray, Kai, Karina, Lala, Ana, and Elysia. Hiro and Sakura's meals were sent up to their room, allowing them some much-needed privacy. Lala and Karina whispered among themselves, their faces flushed with curiosity and mild embarrassment over the earlier events. Ray and Kai, on the other hand, ate their meal in relative silence, barely acknowledging the two empty seats at the head of the table.

Once dinner concluded, everyone returned to their rooms, the promise of a restful night ahead. The mansion grew quieter as the night deepened, the soft murmur of the wind outside mingling with the distant sounds of the festival preparations.

Kai, however, found himself restless. He wheeled himself outside into the cool night air, the vast grounds of the mansion sprawling out before him under the starlit sky. He was lost in thought, contemplating the day's events and the looming threat of the assassins.

It was then that he heard footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw Hiro approaching, his expression thoughtful but welcoming.

"Ah, Kai," Hiro called softly. "I see you were here."

Kai nodded, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

"I thought you might have gone back to sleep, after the long journey we had." Hiro came next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Well…" Kai's words projected in front of Hiro, "Is everything fine with mom now?" Kai asked, as Hiro froze in his place, but slowly chuckles as he replied.

"Yeah, it took some time to coax your mom, but everything's fine now."

"Anyways, how do you like the duchy? It's beautiful right?" Hiro asked, smiling as he looked at Kai. Kai, slowly reaching his hand to take off his wig, as he ran his hand through his hair, as a smile formed in his face.

"It sure is beautiful and lively," his words formed in the projection, as Hiro patted on his shoulder. He too looked ahead along with Kai, looking at the sky.

As they strolled through the serene gardens of the mansion, Hiro hesitantly broke the silence. "Kai, I suppose you must have a lot of questions," he began, glancing sideways at Kai. "Especially about why Ferio called me a 'playboy'."

Kai smiled and shook his head, the familiar projection appearing before him. The words hovered in the air, conveying his thoughts: "Whatever it was, it was in the past, so it doesn't matter now."

Hiro read the message, and a distant, comforting voice echoed in his mind: "Whatever your past was, it doesn't matter now if you are trying to make a better version of yourself."

Hiro chuckled softly, a light laugh escaping his lips. "You know, your mom told me the same thing when I first started to fall for her. She changed me completely..."

Kai looked at Hiro, who seemed lost in a wave of nostalgia. He could see the genuine affection and respect in Hiro's eyes as he reminisced about those early days with Sakura.

In that moment of reflection, Kai's thoughts turned inward. "What Ray said, and what Eva found both match each other. But I still can't find out anything about mom."

Hiro, sensing the contemplative silence, reached out and placed a hand on Kai's shoulder. "Kai, I want you to know that no matter what happened in the past, the present and future are what we make of it. And your mom, she was the one who taught me that."

Kai nodded, absorbing Hiro's words. The night air was cool and still, filled with the distant hum of the festival preparations. They walked on, the bond between them growing stronger with each step, united by the past and hopeful for what lay ahead.

-To be Continued