My cheeks, flushed enough to endlessly fan myself while returning from the villa, finally calmed down as I reached the Duke’s estate.
‘What will happen if I keep smiling like that…?’
It was unbearable, and I truly wanted to go beside him.
However, my calm heart began to race with different emotions the moment I saw Duke Leikan.
“…Everyone probably doesn’t know.”
Fahrenheit, Alek, Haley—they all must be unaware that I’m a white Piscis.
‘I can’t hide it anymore.’
Now, we all have to unite and come up with a plan.
“Miss, what are you thinking?”
Anna asked, perhaps noticing that I was standing quietly in front of the main gate without entering.
“…Anna, let’s go to Brother’s.”
I changed my destination from my bedroom to Fahrenheit’s office.
“Ishel, what’s the matter?”
Despite being busy, he took time to meet with me.
Fahrenheit’s face, greeting me warmly, shimmered with happiness.
Just thinking that this face might soon distort in pain made my heart ache, but I clenched my lips.
“Brother, I have something to tell you.”
I told him, in detail, that I was a white Piscis and that Halbin had discovered this.
A crack appeared on his gentle smile.
The more I spoke, the more his lips, which had been drawing a line, stiffened slightly, then became straight, and his pupils darkened deeply.
When I finished, a quiet silence filled the office.
“…Ishel.”
Fahrenheit looked pained, almost suffering.
“Brother, I’m sorry.”
Feeling guilty that I made him look like that, I instinctively apologized.
But Fahrenheit shook his head resolutely, surprising me.
“Why are you sorry, Ishel?”
He held my shoulders firmly and said.
“No matter what kind of Piscis you are, it doesn’t matter. Whatever child you may be, from the moment you were born, we decided to protect you—even if it means turning our back on the entire continent.”
His blue eyes were unwavering.
“Trust me, Ishel.”
“…”
“Alek and I will risk our lives, no, everything we have, to protect you.”
To fight the entire continent.
My heart fluttered joyfully at those words.
Having a loving family to protect me was truly perfect.
Feeling my nose grow moist, I fiddled with the mermaid tears I was wearing around my neck.
“Brother…”
“Yes, Ishel. Trust the Leikan family.”
I was so happy.
No one in my past life ever worried about me like this.
Even when I trembled in the cold, starved, or was in danger, only those around me cared about their own safety.
My fear melted away like snow in spring.
Honestly, I still felt a little fear, but it was comforting, as if I had gained a thousand troops.
Yes. I hadn’t been caught until now.
Moreover, I had one brother who was a Leikan duke and another who was a swordmaster?
Even if the whole continent tried to kill me, they wouldn’t dare touch me easily.
I smiled softly and patted Fahrenheit’s hand.
“Yes, I trust you.”
“Ishel.”
“I believe you will protect me, Brother.”
“…Irshelia.”
Fahrenheit pulled me into a tight embrace.
His warmth and solidity were incredible. It felt like a protective barrier that could shield me from anything.
We stayed like that for a while. Then, recalling another family member, I looked up from his embrace.
“Brother, shouldn’t we tell Alek too?”
Haley came to mind afterward.
‘I wonder who else I should tell the secret to.’
But Fahrenheit, with a teasing expression, made a wry face.
“…It’s better not to tell him.”
“Why?”
“Your concern for him is greater than anyone’s, but you’re not without flaws.”
“That’s…”
Hmm, that’s true.
Suddenly, I felt sorry for Alek.
But, anyway, Alek would protect me whether or not I was a white Piscis, so it didn’t matter.
Fahrenheit, perhaps knowing this, gently stroked my cheek and said tenderly.
“Ishel, I’ll find every way to help you, so let’s not tell Alek.”
“Yes, I think your words are right, Brother.”
I nodded softly, hesitating for a moment.
“Why?”
“Brother, I have one more thing to say. We’re heading to the capital.”
My humanization process was still irregular, and I thought it reasonable to follow the half, but Fahrenheit’s face, hearing that, twisted more than ever.
“Brother? Anyway, the court season is coming soon. Of course, we’re going to the capital.”
“But, isn’t the real reason to go to practice with that prince and work on humanization?”
“We’re not just sticking close like last time.”
“…Aren’t you a white Piscis? There are many talented Piscis in the capital. There’s also a risk of being caught.”
“That’s why I’m going, to be honest.”
If I practiced pheromones alone, my pheromones might leak out, and others could notice I was a white Piscis.
But if I practice with the half, their intense pheromones would mask mine, making it hard to detect.
“Staying close to the half until I can better control my pheromones is the best way.”
But Fahrenheit still looked displeased.
“I know your reasoning. But I…”
He let out a strained sound, ruffling his hair.
“I was just worried you might like that prince.”
“What?!”
Startled, I jumped.
“I will live with Brother for a thousand years! I don’t know anything about that dark lion! Yes, yes!”
At my firm tone, Fahrenheit finally laughed.
“Alright, I get it. Irshelia, you wouldn’t do that.”
“Of course not!! I just meet him for official reasons!”
“Good. One more thing—remember that prince isn’t enough for you. I wouldn’t even give the world for you.”
“Oh, of course.”
The thought of giving the world made me recall the nickname ‘Conqueror King’ for the half once again. I fanned my face in frustration.
‘Absolutely not. No way, no way.’
~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~
Swoosh, whoosh. As the light was swallowed by darkness on this gloomy night, the sound of water splitting the quiet night air.
It was from the deep blue sea beneath the sheer cliffs. And on the water’s surface, there stood a strangely beautiful and enormous mansion.
Not for tourists. It was the villa of the ‘Vietce Squall,’ a wealthy family second to none in Galahon.
And right now, he was happily swimming in the water.
“Lord Vietceee!”
But in the sea, someone from the mansion was loudly calling him.
Soon, the light of humanization appeared beneath the water, and Vietce lifted his head.
“Vietce, sir! Please come up now!”
“Tess, your voice is so loud.”
With a little smirk, Vietce cut through the water like a mermaid.
As a fish Piscis, he reached the beach in an instant. His aide, Tess, who had shouted earlier, handed him a towel.
“Lord, I’ve told you many times, you can’t do Piscis transformation without the lord’s permission—according to imperial law—”
“I know, I know, I’m doing it at night. And how else can we guard the upper ranks if we don’t practice like this, Tess?”
It was a valid point, but Tess was simply amazed.
His superior had never been this diligent before.
With a somewhat reluctant expression, he handed Vietce some documents on the way back to the mansion.
“Lord, your prediction was correct. Rivayen will soon be officially joining the Swan clan.”
For a moment, a delighted smile spread across Vietce’s face.
It was the expected outcome after hearing everything about the half.
Vietce, with a smile, rubbed his chin, not bothering to change clothes.
“Rivayen Kaharz. So, he’s trying to get involved in the succession war too…”
But Vietce still hadn’t decided whether to trust him.
His father, Count Squall, had supported the First Prince but lost.
Of course, Squall was a major house still standing, and he hoped the emperor would wake and overturn the crown prince decision.
But Vietce didn’t think the emperor would make Zeroth the crown prince even if he woke.
He had built many achievements for the empire.
‘But, it turns out that’s not true.’
Wasn’t that achievement actually established by Rivayen?
If Rivayen had stayed quiet, the situation might have remained as it was, but now, for some reason, he was planning to reveal the truth and show himself above the water.
If that happened, Galahon’s succession war was likely to start anew.
“How is the Leikan family? Are they still neutral?”
“I don’t know, but it’s said that when he heads to the capital, the Leikan princess will probably follow.”
Once again, Tess handed him some documents. But Vietce, noticing the different quality of the paper, subtly raised his lips.
“The Nafield Guild handles things very well.”
“They say it’s information recently received from the duke’s estate. It’s from a conversation between the princess and her maid, Blanchet, so it’s reliable.”
“Huh.”
Vietce let out a brief chuckle and started scanning the printed characters inside the document.
“As expected, the princess’s humanization isn’t yet perfect, and that’s why she’s still following him…”
But even so, there was little chance the Leikan family would support Rivayen. No matter how much they loved their younger sibling, they wouldn’t risk the entire noble family just because they helped with his humanization.
Of course, if the prince and the Leikan princess were somehow connected, it might be different.
Vietce sighed, burdened with complex feelings. The time to choose was approaching.
It was the moment to decide in this intricate game of chance.
“Tess, I need to organize everything about this.”
“So, you’re heading to the capital?”
“Yeah.”
He cast his gaze toward the distant, golden imperial palace.
“I truly must now enter the race for succession.”
~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~
Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉
Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
~~~Next Chapter~~~
Next chapter will be released on November, 21.
See you then!!
