—–

Louis chuckled at Timothy’s parents’ reaction to his identity, switching expressions once again with uncanny ease. Timothy narrowed his eyes, realizing just how skillfully Louis could alter his face in an instant.

He began to understand that Louis was a master of masks. He wore countless ones at all times, pretending to be things he might not even truly be.

His kindness and every other surface trait masked deeper intentions.

“Yes, it is me,” Louis nodded. “Please don’t worry, I don’t need you to—”

Before he could finish, Timothy’s parents dropped to their knees and begged for forgiveness.

“Please forgive our son—he’s an idiot!”

“Did he offend you, Your Majesty? Please spare him! Punish us instead… w-we’re the ones responsible for raising him!”

They immediately assumed he had done something terrible and insulted the prince himself.

“What?! It’s nothing like that!” Timothy snapped, frustration rising.

“Hahah, please stand up,” Louis said. “Timothy here is a hero. He protected not only his sister but the entire village against a Level 3 Entity all by himself until I arrived to finish it. I came to reward you all for his incredible feat.”

“…?!”

“…!”

Timothy’s parents fell silent. They exchanged stunned glances, then looked at their son. Slowly their expressions shifted from horror to joy as they spread their arms wide.

“What?!”

“No way! Timothy?!”

“E-Eh?” He stood frozen as his parents rushed forward and enveloped him in fierce hugs, celebrating.

“You did something like that, son?! Incredible!” his father laughed heartily.

“How did you even… Well, if the prince says so, it must be true!” his mother said. “You saved your sister’s life too? Thank you! You’re a wonderful son!”

“Ah… okay, okay…” Timothy sighed, cheeks burning under Louis’s and Mirai’s gazes.

“There’s much we need to discuss,” Louis continued. “In that fight, Timothy seems to have Awakened some extraordinary power. I’ve also been scouting the territory for promising talents to recruit into a new Academy that will open soon. The future of your son—no, your entire family—may change forever starting now.”

“…!”

“What?!”

Faces filled with disbelief; Timothy’s parents listened intently to Louis’s full explanation. They finally grasped the astonishing potential of their son, the boy they had always labeled a “Sinner.” Superstition had convinced them Sinners were evil, yet the truth proved the complete opposite.

Louis also warned them of the dangers. Without special treatment and resources available only from the crown, Timothy’s Fantasy Heart could one day explode and transform him into a Grievance—a monster that could threaten the entire District.

Great power brought great risks, but this was precisely how Louis gently pressured them to allow their son to join the Academy. He could have forced the issue, yet that might breed lasting resentment between him and Timothy. He preferred to handle it properly.

Timothy fell quiet after hearing everything. The thrill of his potential was undeniable, but so were the dangers that could endanger his family.

“I see how it is,” his father nodded slowly. “Alright then, Timothy, aren’t you happy? It’s what you’ve always dreamed of! You’re talented, and now you’ll be recognized for it. One day you’ll explore the world just like you wanted. I’m happy for you, son.” He offered a warm smile.

“Yeah, dear,” his mother agreed. “And I think it’s better if you go. A chance like this doesn’t come twice… And I’m worried about what could happen with your powers, so the sooner you get proper treatment, the better.”

“Mom, Dad…” Timothy, who had spent years longing to leave this place and live his own life, now hesitated. The thought of leaving them behind filled him with unexpected sadness. “I… I don’t know what to say. It all happened so fast…”

His parents hugged him tighter, comforting him while Louis watched with a faint glint of jealousy in his eyes.

A happy family: father, mother, even a cute little sister.

Timothy believed Louis had everything—a privileged life.

Yet Louis would trade all of it without hesitation for just one more ordinary day spent with his own mother and father, the way things used to be.

“You’re lucky to have a family, Timothy,” he said quietly. “Not everyone has that privilege.”

“Privilege?” Timothy tilted his head. He noticed the heavy emotion in Louis’s gaze. Mirai smiled warmly beside him, but her eyes held quiet sorrow—she had even less than Louis; she had nothing at all.

“You’re very lucky, Timothy!” she said. “I’m a little jealous, hehe.”

“Eh? Really…?” Timothy hadn’t realized how fortunate he truly was, that even nobles as powerful as them envied him. “I… well, thanks…”

Seeing his parents and little sister growing sad at the thought of his departure, he spoke up. “Worry not, though—you can bring your family along…”

“Really?!”

“What?”

“Wow!”

His father, mother, and sister stared in amazement.

“W-We can live in the capital?!” his father asked.

“No way, that sounds exciting!” his mother exclaimed.

“Do they have yummy sweets?” Alicia asked.

“They sure do,” Louis replied. “Though you won’t be freeloading. I’ll arrange jobs for you at the castle. We’re short on proper farmers and gardeners. I’m growing my own greenhouse of spirit plants and herbs—I’d like your family to help tend them along with a few others.”

“If we can bring our things, of course!” Timothy’s parents said immediately.

“We were almost done with the harvest anyway,” his mother nodded. “We won’t leave much behind.”

“A-Are you sure?” Timothy asked. “You don’t have to force yourselves to—”

“Alicia seems to have some kind of talent,” Louis interrupted, sensing her Spiritual Aura. “If you bring her to the capital, I’ll ensure she enrolls in the Royal Magician School. Her future would be incredibly bright—just like her brother’s.”

“It’s a deal!” Timothy’s parents agreed instantly, not even waiting for their son’s input.

“Am I going to be a magician? Wow!” Alicia bounced with excitement.

“Yes! Yes you can, dear!” her mother laughed, hugging and kissing her all over.

“Well… I never thought my life could turn out like this,” Alec—Timothy’s father—said gratefully. “Thank you, Lord Louis. When do we move?”

“Hm, this weekend—in three more days,” Louis answered. “We have something to handle in Emerald Grove first. Though I worry something might happen if I’m not watching… so I’ll leave a couple of my Undead Knights. Agents from the VPI will set up a small camp too.”

“Undead Knights?” They looked confused until Louis’s shadows stirred, revealing armored zombie-like sand skeletons. “Don’t worry—they’re harmless to you.”

“…!”

They were slightly horrified but nodded. They weren’t in a position to refuse such an opportunity, so they let the prince do as he pleased.

“Then we’ll get going. Timothy, take these pills for now,” Louis said. “Stay here until we return.”

“Got it,” Timothy nodded, eyeing the white pills. “What are they for?”

“They’ll keep your Fantasium Levels stable. They also prevent mental deterioration from high Fantasium exposure—the thing that sometimes drives Sinners mad and turns them into monsters,” Louis sighed, a bad memory flickering across his face. “Mirai, let’s go. Zorba should be waiting in Emerald Grove.”

“Alright,” Mirai nodded.

Timothy and his family watched in awe as the prince and his companion unfurled large wings and soared into the sky, becoming a white-and-black blur that vanished in moments.

“And they’re gone…” Timothy sighed. “Three days, huh? These three days are going to feel like the longest of my life, ugh.”

“We should use the time to harvest what’s left, sell it, then pack everything,” his father said. “But first—lunch. I’m starving.”

“Yes, dear, I’ll start right away,” his wife replied. “Timothy, come help me.”

“Do I have to?” the boy groaned. “I almost died out there, Mom…”

“Come on now, no excuses!” his mother said.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep