KIHO was surprised when all of a sudden, the communication device in his ear burned itself into ashes. But surprisingly, he didn't get burned by the spark. The flame was just warm, but not too hot to hurt the wearer of the earring.

Sh*t, I burned Winter's communication device.

"Dad?" Winter, who got up while rubbing his eyes with his hand, called him. "Is everything alright?"

His conscience kicked him in the gut.

"Winter, I'm sorry but I used your communication device and I somehow destroyed it in the end," Kiho said, his voice filled with guilt. "When I noticed that your communication device was alarming, I had a feeling that it was your mother calling so I picked it up without asking for your permission. Please forgive Dad. I will buy you a new one."

"It's okay, Dad," his son assured him. "That was a disposable communication device that can only be used once. It was only connected to Mommy's device and after the call from hers ended, the earring will automatically self-destruct. Mom designed it that way so that people won't be able to record our conversation or track her using the device."

"Wow," he said. "That's so innovative."

"Well, Mommy is a genius," his son said proudly. "So, Dad. How was it talking to Mommy after five years?"

"Wonderful," he said right away. "But I was reminded that just like me, your mother's memories were erased. When you said that your mommy reminded you to not hate me, I somehow ended up hoping that she remembers me already."

"Mommy remembers you the way you remember her, Dad– through the videos, pictures, and documents that she left to you," Winter explained. "She has copies of those. And we also have allies who personally know the two of you. They were the ones who told Mommy what kind of relationship the two of you had in the past."

Ah, that made sense.

Still, his heart sank knowing that both he and his wife were deprived of their beautiful memories together.

His thoughts were cut-off when Winter yawned widely.

Kiho smiled at how adorable his son was. "Sleep, little rascal," he said, then he gently flickered his forehead. His son laughed and plopped himself on the bed. He joined him and hugged him to secure that he would still be beside him next morning. "Good night, Winter."

Winter smiled and hugged him back. "Good night, Dad."

***

"HOW was your mission, Lord Ripperton?" Aku asked Elis Ripperton. He was still having tea in the lounge area of his room when the Blue Dragon returned from being rejected by Lady Nystrom again. Well, the two talked in his balcony so even if he didn't want to, he was able to hear their conversation. "Did Lord Huxley manage to get valuable information from the servants of House Nystrom?"

When he didn't receive a report from Lord Huxley that he sent to apprehend Louisa and David, he ordered the Blue Dragon to check on the count.

"Eugene Huxley and his men were burned to ashes. As far as I can tell, the fire used to burn them down was from a strong Fire Mage," Elis Ripperton said casually. "The servants that you spoke of were no longer there. They must have been rescued already by the Supreme's allies."

He closed his eyes tight. "Lady Nystrom…"

If the Supreme had the audacity to show up in his room, it only meant that she had a concrete plan before appearing before him.

He wouldn't be surprised if Lady Nystrom had already gathered her allies that had somehow managed to hide under his radar for the past five years. Even though he sent Elis Ripperton to the North, the Blue Dragon returned with nothing. It was as if the Golden Tiger, the Black Serpent Knights, and Saint Forrester disappeared into thin air.

"Is this what it's like to fight against the child favored by the gods?" he asked bitterly when he opened his eyes. "No matter how many times Lady Nystrom dies, she gets reborn again and again. Not only that. It also seems like she's getting stronger and wiser each time she gets reincarnated."

It was true that he won the previous wars against her.

But he wouldn't say that all of that was complete victory. He wouldn't say this aloud but to be honest, he barely won during those times. The only thing that he could truly be proud of was the fact that he managed to exile the Fire Mages from the empire.

"What else did you find?" he asked the Blue Dragon. "Don't tell me you just went home after you found Lord Huxley's ashes?"

Elis Ripperton gave him a dire stare. "You just asked me to check on Eugene Huxley and the captured servants. Investigating the scene or chasing after the enemies aren't part of my job."

"Lord Ripperton."

"Aku Moonchester," he warned, matching his threatening tone. "I'm not your servant," he reminded him coldly. "I did follow you on my own volition. But I wouldn't have done that if he didn't order me to. Know your place."

"He still gave me the power to order you around," Aku said with a smirk. "You have no choice but to follow me if you don't want to be put into slumber again, Lord Ripperton."

Elis Ripperton just laughed at his warning. "You don't have the charisma to control the Beast Gods, Aku Moonchester. You're not the Beast Priestess that we worship," he reminded him. "Unfortunately for you, we are only drawn to the sun– don't ever forget that."

***

WINTER almost messed up last night.

Because of his excitement upon reuniting with his father, he almost forgot that his mother was pretending that she hadn't retrieved her memories yet. Thankfully, he was able to come up with a plausible excuse.

I must have inherited Mommy's intelligence.

And perhaps, her cunningness as well.

His thoughts were cut-off when he heard a knock on the door. A few moments later, his daddy entered the room with a tray filled with food.

"Good morning, little rascal," his father greeted him brightly. "I made pancakes and a glass of milk for you. I also brought some fresh fruits. But if you have anything else that you want to eat for breakfast, don't hesitate to tell me."

"I love pancakes and milk, Dad," Winter said and he was being genuine. "And I like milk because Mommy tells me that I need to drink it if I want to grow taller."

Well, he knew that he would grow tall since he was just like that in his first life.

And to be honest, he was already pretty tall for a five year old child. In fact, he could easily pass as a seven to nine year old boy instead of five. He shouldn't be surprised by that though. After all, his father was over six feet tall.

Thank you for the good genes, Dad.

"I'm glad to know that that you're not a picky eater," his father said, then he set up the breakfast table in front of him. After that, he sat on the chair beside the bed. "I'd also appreciate it if you tell what food you are allergic to so we can avoid them."

"I'm not allergic to any food as far as I know, Dad," he said. "Thank you for the breakfast."

He smiled warmly at him. "You're welcome, son."

Just when he was about to start eating his breakfast, the new communication device in his ear suddenly lit up. He could tell that it lit up even without seeing it because it turned warm.

His father noticed that because his face instantly lit up. "It's your mother, isn't it? You told me last night that your communication device is only connected to your mommy's."

Winter didn't know if he would laugh or shake his head.

His father, previously known as the "shadow beast," a merciless mercenary, and the cold-blooded ex-captain of the Black Serpent Knights, looked like a puppy right now. He could easily imagine his daddy having dog ears and dog tail wagging excitedly.

Is he really the Black Serpent himself?

"It's Mommy," he said with an awkward smile.

Much to his surprise, his father suddenly (and quietly, just like an assassin) sat beside him and tilted his head to get his ear closer to his communication device.

Daddy is so whipped.

Winter tapped his communication device to pick up his mommy's call. "Good morning, Mom."

"Good morning, baby," his mother said brightly.

"Good morning, my lady," his father said in a shy tone. "Did you have a pleasant sleep last night?"

God, are they going to flirt this early?!

But much to Winter's relieved, his mother suddenly hanged up on him– causing the communication device in his ear to burn itself.

Thank goodness.

Although he was spared from his parents' flirting, he felt bad for his father who looked like he was suddenly kicked by his owner.

I have to cheer him up.

"Dad?"

His father blinked several times before he was able to focus on him. "Yes, son?"

Winter gave his father the best puppy dog eyes that he could muster at the moment. He hated acting cute but he had to. And yes, he learned that trick from his mother. "I only brought a few clothes with me," he said. "Can we go shopping? Mom gave me some spending money to use."

His father's face instantly lit up.

He was relieved that it worked. Although he cringed every time his mom and dad would flirt in front of him, he still didn't want to see his father dejected. His dad had that kind of charm, you know? Or maybe he just loved his father a little too much.

His mother felt that way too and he was sure of it.

I'm certain that Mommy hanged up on us because she was embarrassed of how she flirted with Dad last night.

"Keep the allowance that you got from your mommy," his father said while ruffling his hair. "Let me spoil you this time, little rascal."

Winter smiled and nodded, then he teased his father. "Don't blame me when I make you bankrupt, Dad."

***

"DIDN'T you hear the news?"

"Lord Nystrom will marry Lady Huxley?"

"They will look so good together!"

"Lord Nystrom is very handsome while Lady Huxley is arguably the loveliest woman in the empire now."

"And her black-hair suggests that she's the true lady of the prophecy!"

Tilly smirked at the ridiculous things that she heard from the commoners talking in the diner she was in. "Excuse me," she said loud enough for everyone around her table to turn to her. "Who's going to marry who, huh?"

Let her teach these nosy people a lesson they would never forget.

***

NOTE: Hey, guys. My 1st privilege tier is only 1 coin. :(( I might not join the next WIN-WIN event, and that means I don't have to update daily anymore. But I don't want to stop my daily updates because I've been doing this since day one (I've only missed a few times). So please help me reach 500 priv readers to get a reward (more features) from Webnovel. I'm working extra hard, a little help won't hurt. I'm sorry if I'm already being annoying. I promise this is the last time that I will beg you of this. I will not participate on the next WIN-WIN event (if there's any) again. :((

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PS: You may send gifts if you can. Thank you~

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