Chapter 28

28

"It is an honor to be invited like this, Young Duke."

"I am delighted that you accepted so readily."

Sharent Clowen smiled and responded to each person who approached him to greet him. The guests were carefully selected from those who were politically connected to the Clowen family, or who had real value, or who could be of help in the future, and they were quite impressive.

"It is an unparalleled honor for our children to have the opportunity to participate."

"You flatter me."

With Sharent Clowen's sweet and gentle response, everyone's faces lit up.

Sharent Clowen's ability to break down barriers and blend in anywhere was unparalleled, and he skillfully eased the atmosphere, facilitating natural conversations among the guests as the host and mediator.

Sharent Clowen sipped his champagne and slowly scanned the garden.

It was a small garden party with about twenty families invited, but due to the presence of families, the party was not particularly small.

'Where is Kaiyan?'

He narrowed his eyes and scanned the party.

In one corner, a child in a well-fitted tuxedo was pushing through the trees and shrubs, checking every nook and cranny.

Sharent Clowen, gauging the atmosphere, smoothly moved through the crowd and approached the child.

"Kaiyan."

"Ah!"

The child, who hadn't noticed Sharent's approach, jumped at the call.

So startled was he that his eyes widened, and he couldn't speak for a moment.

"A, Father..."

"It's a rare party, yet you're not mingling with the other children. What are you doing here?"

"It's... "

Kaiyan clenched and unclenched his fists.

Knowing what Sharent Clowen disliked and what he liked, he was hesitant to speak.

Especially, 'Serina' was something Sharent Clowen disliked.

As Kaiyan hesitated, Sharent's expression gradually hardened.

Kaiyan, fidgeting and fumbling with his fingers, cautiously spoke.

"I was looking for the baby."

"... The baby? You mean Balian's child?"

"Yes, Serina."

Sharent crossed his arms and frowned.

It was difficult to bring a child who wasn't even a year old to such a place.

Moreover, who had given permission for her to attend?

"Grandfather said Serina should attend too."

"Your grandfather?"

"Yes, but I can't find her no matter how hard I look. She was with children from other families earlier..."

Kaiyan bowed his head in disappointment.

Seeing his son's dejected head, Sharent slowly looked around.

The small child seemed unaware, but she had left quite a trail.

'She must have been crawling and dragging herself around...'

It was impossible not to leave a trail.

Sure enough, not far away, the grass was flattened and there were drag marks.

Nearby, there were also a few footprints of a young child.

Sharent recalled the deep bruises on Serina's knees and frowned.

The small child must have been wandering around and got bruised.

"A mad calf, just like her father."

Sharent, displeased, stepped towards where Serina's trail led.

Inside the shrubs, the trail became more pronounced.

'... She must have been chased.'

Seeing the footprints of young children behind her, it seemed she had been bullied.

He had thought the nobles he had carefully selected would be well-behaved, but it seemed they couldn't control their children.

Sharent Clowen, moving slowly while following the trail, couldn't hide his growing irritation.

He couldn't even understand why he was moving to find such a foolish child.

To be honest, Sharent Clowen didn't like that Serina didn't even bear the Clowen name.

Especially, the way she seemed to wander around his garden and act as if nothing happened was particularly annoying.

Seeing her, he was reminded of his only younger brother, Balian.

A pitiful man who constantly fought and clashed with him, and eventually left the family in a fit of pique.

"Kheee! Help- Kphuh!"

"Haaaaa! Phah! Phuhuuu, Aaaaaaah!"

"Zhaomotai! Motai! Phuhuh, Kphuh! Save...!"

Sharent Clowen had very sensitive senses.

His taste, hearing, smell, and sight were all exceptional.

Sometimes, this sensitivity made him hear things he didn't want to, so he wasn't particularly fond of his constitution.

Thus, he couldn't help but hear the voices and splashing sounds from a distance.

However, he was certainly puzzled. It was clearly the sound of someone drowning.

Moreover, the voices were young.

A sense of unease swept through his mind.

Sharent Clowen's leisurely pace quickened slightly.

It wouldn't be good if rumors spread that noble children had drowned at a Clowen family event.

When he finally reached the pond, Sharent Clowen was struck by a look of utter surprise for the first time in his life.

"Kiauuu!"

A small infant was sitting on the ground, legs stretched out, and frantically waving a pacifier in her hand.

The child's face was beaming as if she had found a very amusing toy.

However, every time the child waved her hand, the noble children floating in the air above the pond mimicked her movements.

The sight of the children flying around in the air, as if lifted by magic, was surreal.

"Kiaaaa!"

"Kheee! Zhaomotai...!"

Splash.

The children fell into the pond one by one.

Sharent Clowen watched for a moment.

It was astonishing that a child not even a year old could use magic.

Moreover, Serina seemed to pull the children out of the water when their struggles slowed.

"Kheee, wrong... Kphuh, Zhaomotai...!"

One of the crying children appeared to have fainted.

None of the limp children showed any signs of remaining strength.

'... Magic stone?'

Could such a small child use a magic stone to cast spells?

Sharent Clowen was rarely surprised, but this was one of those times.

It was hard to believe. Moreover, the origin of the magic stone was questionable.

Sharent Clowen pondered for a moment.

It wouldn't be bad to let the child kill the others and pass it off as an accident.

There would be talk, but who would dare speak against the Clowen family?

However, killing four children was a significant matter. Even if there were no repercussions, a price would have to be paid.

"Serina."

After a brief deliberation, Sharent Clowen deliberately rustled the grass as he approached the pond.

He called the child's name for the first time, feeling a strange sensation.

Hearing the rustling of the grass, Serina turned her head, eyes wide.

The moment their eyes met, Serina's face contorted.

Her gaze was truly terrifying, and Sharent couldn't help but frown again.

He had never expected to see such a look, one he usually reserved for insects, in the eyes of a child not even a year old.

* * *

"Serina."

At the soft voice that tickled my ear, I involuntarily turned my head. My expression immediately soured.

Another meddler had appeared.

'Just drop them quickly and be done with it.'

The sight of the bruised areas on my body, like moldy bread, made my frustration rise. My greed had been my downfall.

I stared at him for a moment before turning back to the children floating in the air, their faces pale and lips trembling.

They were not as strong, but they were filled with fear. Fear was not as good as vitality, but it wasn't bad either.

I could kill them with a light curse and absorb their souls, converting them into dark magic.

'Kill them.'

If I was chased away, so be it.

Even if Sharent Clowen tried to kill me, I could use the large magic stone to teleport.

Having made this decision, I tried to release the pacifier I was holding tightly.

Or, rather, I tried to.

If it weren't for the large, firm hand that suddenly covered my hand holding the pacifier from behind.

"Where did you get such a toy? Causing a disturbance within the family is forbidden."

"Naah!"

Let go! If I release the pacifier, they will die.

Thanks to the magic stone, I could control my magic more easily, allowing me to do this. Although fine and subtle control was still difficult.

"Stop using that."

Sharent Clowen covered my eyes with his other hand.

Darkness instantly enveloped my vision.

Unable to see, I couldn't tell what I was flailing against.

His hand, covering my eyes, was unexpectedly warm. And, foolishly, I was calming down under his touch.