# Chapter 66
Vwooong—!
Vwuuuung—!
The ferocious swing of the blade cut through the air, producing an unyielding howl.
Late at night in the training ground, Klein Eudia swung a massive greatsword that matched his own size.
His sweat dripped incessantly as he roughly wiped it away with the back of his hand.
The massive silver blade shimmered as it carved elegant arcs in the air.
Planting his feet firmly on the ground, Klein tightened his core and unleashed a sweeping strike.
“This isn’t play.
Daddy always eats with Bernie and Aren, pets them, and comforts them.
Even when Bernie doesn’t come first, he says it’s okay.”
“...”
The blade, which had been slashing horizontally, shifted swiftly into a vertical arc before extending into a long, decisive cut.
“You’re not Daddy.”
“Luri said babies need love.
Love helps them grow big and strong, like a giant!
Bad words make little potatoes stay small forever.”
***
Crash—!
The gale that followed the sword's trajectory mercilessly split a nearby tree in two.
“Hah...
Hah…”
Panting heavily, Klein clenched his teeth.
Thud!
He drove the sword into the ground, tilting his head back as he exhaled ragged breaths.
Wiping his sweat-drenched face, he muttered under his breath.
“Calbad grows with Daddy.
If you’re with us, Calbad shrinks.
Poor Calbad...”
Those tiny, audacious words—uncertain in pronunciation yet pointedly deliberate—clawed at his heart, leaving him restless.
Grasping the embedded blade once more, he swung again.
Vwuuung—!
It was in that moment—
“Who’s really playing here?”
Boom!
The blade slipped from his grip, either due to sweat-slicked hands or a fleeting lapse in strength.
It spun through the air and lodged deep into a broken tree.
“Damn.”
Clicking his tongue, Klein heaved a weary sigh.
Hours of relentless training had left his chest heaving, his heart racing as if it might burst.
***
“…Father doesn’t like me.
That’s why I won’t go.”
Klein slowly raised his head to gaze at the moon suspended in the night sky.
Those with power are inevitably at the mercy of the world.
He had seen it countless times.
His brother, his youngest sibling, his only sister—even himself—lived lives tossed and torn by external forces.
Power, especially the kind meant to save others, was anything but joyful.
And so, he had shut others out, allowing no one close, showing no weakness.
Most of his life had been spent on battlefields, and many times, he had been betrayed by those he trusted.
Had he ever loved?
Was the child born out of love?
Perhaps not.
It was more a sense of duty.
When he had grown tired of the ceaseless matchmaking proposals and the expectations of his family, he had accepted a politically motivated marriage of convenience.
The child was the result.
His wife had left, unable to endure his indifference, leaving behind divorce papers.
What remained was Klein and his three-year-old son.
Did he hate the child?
No.
Not at all.
Then, did he love him?
He wasn’t sure.
Born into a family that worshipped gods, Klein’s fiery temperament had always driven him to the frontlines of demon-hunting missions.
Time with his child had been scarce.
He had been too busy outside to properly care for the boy.
And now, it should have been natural for him to feel nothing when the boy left to stay with his youngest sibling or wherever else.
So why did it feel like his chest was being crushed?
Why was his mind so hazy, as if his child’s departure had dealt him a devastating blow?
“…I don’t know.”
Even if he figured it out, would it fix the broken pieces?
After a long while of pondering, Klein retrieved his sword and returned to his quarters.
The battered training grounds reflected the chaos within his heart.
Bright light filled the room.
Bernie’s eyes snapped open, and he giggled.
A new house!
A new bed!
And it didn’t smell weird!
Yes, just yesterday, Bernie had moved into the annex, a new space designated for him.
It was to be the home for him, Daddy, Aren, and Calbad.
Turning his head, Bernie spotted the plump phoenix sleeping soundly beside him.
Beside the phoenix were Toto and Magom, perched contentedly.
Bernie's lips curled upward, his grin playful and mischievous.
“Bernie’s number one!”
Not long ago, Bernie had become number one.
That accomplishment had helped her grow, and today, she was a slightly bigger, much more grown-up Bernie compared to yesterday.
Standing in front of the mirror, Bernie raised herself on tiptoes, stretching her short arms to measure the difference in height from the day before.
She rubbed her head in thought, then clenched her little fists.
“When I’m as tall as Daddy, I’ll be the biggest grown-up.”
But Bernie was still very small.
With a somewhat troubled look, she rubbed her chin and hopped off the bed with a small bounce.
Knock, knock.
Just as she was about to head to the bathroom all by herself, Bernie perked up at the sound of knocking.
She dashed to the door, clinging to the doorknob as she swung it open.
“Melissa!”
“Good morning, miss!
I figured you’d be up by now, so I came to help you get ready for the day!”
“Bernie can do it all alone!
Wash, wash, wash!”
“Oh, but I want to help the cutest little lady in the world wash up, scrub-a-dub, and brush her teeth.”
At Melissa’s playful tone, Bernie’s cheeks twitched as she wiggled her nose and rubbed it.
Her face turned rosy red as she giggled, nodding shyly.
Melissa’s heart melted at that bashful yet utterly delightful expression.
How could something this adorable exist in the world?
She was so thankful she had worked hard enough to become a maid in this house.
“If Melissa loves Bernie too much, then it can’t be helped.”
“Yes, Melissa loves Miss Bernie very, very much.
Now, arms up!”
“Arms up!”
Bernie threw her hands in the air with enthusiasm.
Melissa chuckled softly and carefully helped Bernie out of her clothes before leading her to the bathroom.
***
After a thorough scrub with Melissa’s gentle hands and having her hair dried until it was fluffy, Bernie emerged from the bathroom clean and fresh.
“Pink ribbon or blue ribbon?
Which would you like today?” Melissa asked, holding up two options.
“Blue ribbon!” Bernie declared.
“Alright, blue it is.
Oh, and by the way, Young Master Kiriel isn’t here today.”
Bernie, who had been gently poking at the blue ribbon tied in her hair, suddenly widened her eyes.
“Daddy’s not here?
Why?”
Melissa paused, unsure how to respond.
Bernie, however, had already leaped to her own conclusion.
Boom!
Crack, rumble!
Flash!
In Bernie’s vivid imagination, a massive boulder crashed down from above, dark clouds gathered, and thunder and lightning struck in a chaotic symphony.
“Did Daddy abandon Bernie?!”
Bernie gasped in horror, her little mouth opening wide.
“What?
No, of course not!” Melissa exclaimed, nearly jumping out of her skin.
Bernie’s imagination always ran wild, and it often left Melissa scrambling to calm her down.
“He just left for work.
He mentioned going to a dungeon.
Since it’s a dangerous one, none of the direct family members will be around for a few days.
He wanted to tell you himself, but he had to leave at dawn and didn’t want to wake you since you were sound asleep.
He felt bad about it.”
“Hmm, Daddy went to earn money?”
“Well… yes,” Melissa replied after a moment of thought.
Bernie nodded solemnly as if she had just understood a very important matter.
***
At that moment, a voice interrupted.
“Miss Bernie.”
Bernie turned her head to find Levon standing at the door, looking slightly more troubled than usual.
“Levon!”
“Yes, your Levon is here,” he replied with a bow, kneeling on one knee as he addressed her.
“I came to inform you that His Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived for a visit.
What would you like to do?”