Chapter 633

Ian’s teacup was emptied twice. As darkness settled, the noise outside gradually faded, and Ian’s past quietly unfolded.

Romandro kept fidgeting with the empty teacup, his face filled with sympathy as he looked at Ian. Like the cold, empty cup, the past of that small boy must have been cold too.

“So, that’s how it happened. I never intended to deceive anyone. Please believe that I did my best to prevent confusion in my own way.”

“No, don’t say that. Honestly, who would have believed it? That the illegitimate son of the border lord was actually the future emperor—just mentioning it would have been considered treason against the royal family, punishable by death. Everyone has seen the real you.”

Ian’s comrades accepted his words without doubt because of the trust, loyalty, and wisdom he had shown so far. Above all, it was because of the true self he revealed to the secretive gypsies.

Still, Romandro couldn’t quite imagine it and scrutinized Ian’s face from every angle.

“You saw it, didn’t you, Beric?”

“I don’t know. Don’t ask.”

Whenever Ian Berosion’s name came up, Beric’s mood soured. Romandro seemed to understand why. Though they stood face to face, Ian’s time seemed frozen ten years ago, and the worlds they inhabited were different—an ache born of that loss.

Romandro glanced toward the staircase leading upstairs, where a dress hem peeked out.

“Madam, the floor is cold.”

It was Philia. She had come down lightly groomed from upstairs but sat down without showing herself. Facing the life story of Ian Berosion, not Ian Hielo, was too difficult.

Despite Romandro’s concern, Philia remained silent and still. Viviana tried to help her up, but Romandro stopped her with a shake of his head. It seemed she needed some space.

“If you want to blame me, then blame me.”

Ian gently touched his empty teacup. From Philia’s perspective, it was as if she had lost her son’s body. Unlike everyone else here, she was the only one who truly knew the illegitimate Ian.

“Why say that…?”

Philia’s voice was barely audible, thick with tears.

Suddenly, Ian recalled the day they first met in Bratz—a corner of the park where Philia sat, wrapped in a robe. Yes, that was it. She was someone who knew how to cry silently.

“I’m sorry.”

There was nothing more to add. Philia had lost her son, and here she was now.

After a long hesitation, she asked, “Then what is the meaning of that child who once wriggled in my arms?”

“He is the origin of all things. More precisely, a small cog placed by the gods to erase Bariel’s shadow. I came here because of the existence of illegitimate Ian, and Bariel has found his path. That is how I see it.”

Illegitimate Ian knew the meaning of his existence. Melania’s testimony from their childhood confirmed it. Perhaps he had been waiting for Ian Berosion, cultivating the perfect moment.

“I can’t believe it. Why Ian?”

The child who smiled like an angel, who teared up and clung to her when he fell, who slept soundly with long lashes lowered…

“I don’t know if he was born with this mission or realized it at some point. But one thing is certain: illegitimate Ian knew his purpose.”

Philia hugged Roel tightly. Her heart pounded coldly, as if the world was crumbling. And every time, the beloved little rock who had supported her—Ian.

Staring blankly into space, Philia murmured, “If Ian’s existence was for you, then maybe your existence is ultimately for Ian.”

Ian Berosion’s abilities were remarkable—strong magic, wisdom, and noble spirit. If his only goal was to travel back in time, he might have come here on his own.

But borrowing the body of ‘illegitimate Ian’ meant they had to coexist.

“Ian.”

“Yes, speak.”

Tears streamed down Philia’s cheeks. Now that the truth was faced, only choice remained. Roel, cradled in her arms, wiped away her mother’s sorrow with small hands and held her trembling body.

“Just because you are Ian Berosion doesn’t change my love for you. You existed because illegitimate Ian existed, and illegitimate Ian existed because of you. And that form of yours is the same as the son I loved and devoted everything to. Even if you become a precious royal a hundred years from now, to me, you will always be my precious son. But—”

Ian set down his teacup. He understood what she was about to say.

“You might not feel the same. You have your own life. If you don’t want this mother-son bond, just say so. I don’t want to burden you any further.”

The beginning of an eternal unrequited love. Though parent-child relationships are often like that, Philia’s future would be even harder. He was her son, but to him, she was not his mother…

“But I swear, no matter who you are, I will love you forever, and as I promised, I will protect you with all my strength.”

Regardless of political matters involving the Hielo lordship, this was a plea for a choice made from pure love. Of course, even if Ian made political decisions, her love would remain unchanged.

“Ian, I think I knew a little.”

When Ian said he didn’t know the song Philia sang to him as a child, she instinctively sensed something. Unlike before, Ian’s attitude was colder, more distant. She definitely felt something.

Yet, how could she explain why she couldn’t let go of Ian?

“Love.”

Philia loved the Ian before her. Even if he was the soul of Berosion, the feelings she experienced were undeniably love.

“…I have a mother and father too. Both passed away when I was young, but just as you gave birth to illegitimate Ian, my parents who gave birth to me are definitely different.”

Ian, who had been silent, finally spoke slowly in a calm, almost flat tone. It might sound dry, but Romandro noticed Ian was being cautious.

“But if someone asked me about ‘mother,’ I would think of you, Philia.”

Because Philia was the only one who had seen and experienced that overflowing love firsthand.

Love that leads to sacrifice is truly noble, pure, and strong. Ian learned that through Philia.

“I didn’t understand before what the relationship between parent and child really was. But after coming here and meeting Philia, I learned. She was the first to show me a mother’s love, so to me, she is irreplaceable.”

He felt sorry. Every time Philia showed love, he had to let it pass because he was not illegitimate Ian. But now, that was no longer the case.

“Philia, if you forgive me, I am fine as I am. I want to call you mother and enjoy love without guilt. The choice is yours, not mine.”

Hearing sniffles from behind the stairs, Romandro took out a handkerchief and handed it to Ian. Ian slowly walked over, peeked around the wall, and met Philia’s tear-filled eyes.

“So, mother, please come in now. The floor is cold.”

“Ian.”

“Yes, Roel will worry. Please stop crying.”

Philia hugged Ian tightly with Roel. Ian stayed still for a moment, then gently asked Roel,

“Are you okay?”

If uncomfortable, you can do as you wish. Since Roel had no contact with Ian for ten years, even a biological brother might feel awkward. But since Ian was the future emperor, to the child, he was practically a stranger.

Yet Roel’s answer was firm.

“…I’m fine.”

His mother’s joy was his joy, and above all, their bond would help the Hielo lordship and the Great Desert.

Philia asked not to consider political matters, but as an outsider, Romandro thought it was natural to reflect on them. Besides—

“Actually, I kind of knew too. Every time I saw my brother, he looked like a different person.”

“A different person?” Ian smiled and raised an eyebrow.

“A boy with long platinum hair and cold, pale eyes.”

“That’s Ian Berosion. Yeah, that’s definitely Berosion.”

“Beric, don’t say that so casually! If you say that at the palace, you’ll be in big trouble, you idiot.”

Beric interrupted from nearby, and Romandro pleaded with him. But Beric just scratched his ear defiantly.

“Well then, that’s about it, right? Let’s eat now.”

“Oh my, look at me. I left the meat on the fire.”

“Viviana, it’s fine. It’s not burnt. It just smells that way.”

“Did this brat live through a war and starve? Even now, all he talks about is food. Ian, how was Beric? Did he do well on the mission in Burgos?”

“Huh? Didn’t you hear, Romandro? I cleaned up everything in the Northern Great Maemul battle.”

“I heard you got beaten by Captain Jaret.”

“What?! That’s a problem! Ian, things have totally changed! I beat up old man Jaret! Didn’t I?”

“Shut up, you crazy fool. What’s wrong with the captain?”

“Molars, you had your eyes wide open back then, so you saw it too. Now I’ve beaten Old Man Jarrett.”

Unable to hold back, the room erupted into noise again. Ian led Philia and Roel over to the sofa, and they all sat down together. Vivi, who had been quietly watching, smiled softly and refilled their teacups with warm tea.

“So, when we enter the palace tomorrow, should we all go in together?”

“Vivi, you’re staying out of this.”

“What?! What about Roel?”

“Roel has to go too. He saw something about the whereabouts. Vivi, you stay here with your mom at the mansion.”

Philia would testify about the kidnapping, while the others would report on the details of the operation. Romandro scribbled something in his notebook and asked,

“Hmm. But from what I hear, Tolrun’s forces don’t seem all that impressive. If Beric and the Varsabe agents are pulling the strings, this might not be over so easily.”

“That’s true—for now.”

“What do you mean?”

The country, cut off from the outside world, had been caught off guard by the mages’ sudden strike. But this would force them to prepare for the coming war, identify their weaknesses, and strengthen their defenses.

“So, was all this fuss pointless then? Stirring things up just gave the enemy a chance to arm themselves. It’s like scratching a wound and making it worse.”

“That may be, but it was a necessary step. In Tolrun’s effort to bring in reinforcements against Bariel, the temple won’t be left out.”

“The temple?”

The brothers of Damon had sown seeds of blood, a secret temple that would shake Rutherford’s secrets and Bariel’s fate.

Ian set down his teacup and said,

“They will definitely make a move, and we can’t miss that opportunity. This is just the beginning.”