I couldn’t help it since Xeron’s physical appearance was completely identical to a boy of perhaps fourteen.
A stranger who is unaware of his true identity and terrifying depth would easily view him as a purely innocent child too.
However, the polite smile resting on his youthful face completely contradicted the freezing, abyssal gaze he directed straight at me. A sudden chill ran down my spine, prompting me to quickly banish those naive thoughts from my mind. I took a deep breath and forcefully maintained a strict poker face.
Breaking the silence, Xeron offered me a brief, calculated nod.
"I am Xeron," he stated, providing his name in a calm, even tone.
Immediately after that brief introduction, he shifted his entire focus directly onto Caelia. His expression softened significantly, shedding the freezing aura and adopting a look of deep reverence mixed with lingering sorrow.
"Auntie, I am truly sorry for taking so long to find you," he spoke softly. His youthful voice carried an ancient, heavy weight. "But please rest assured. I promise to deliver absolute justice for Brother Zoron. My investigations over the years have finally revealed the exact masterminds behind that tragedy."
Caelia’s breath hitched slightly. Her crimson eyes widened at the sudden revelation, a complex wave of emotions flashing across her beautiful face.
’I guess Zoron was her husband’s real name.’
Xeron then turned his gaze toward the shimmering sound barrier protecting the large bed. A profound sense of relief washed over his features as he stared at the sleeping infant.
"Furthermore, seeing the safe return and healthy birth of your child brings me immense relief," he continued, his tone turning remarkably gentle. "Knowing Brother Zoron’s noble lineage will finally continue to flourish gives me true peace."
Caelia offered a faint nod, a profound gratitude shimmering in her crimson eyes. "Thank you for your tireless efforts and invaluable help, Xeron."
Xeron shifted his abyssal gaze directly onto me, the sheer weight of his aura pressing down heavily on the room. The gentle warmth vanished completely from his face, replaced by a chilling, razor-sharp seriousness.
"Now, care to explain exactly what is going on here?" he muttered, his voice dropping to a dangerous, demanding whisper. "I firmly believe Grandmother’s accusations were false, that you wouldn’t absolutely cheat on my uncle. However, I still have to know the truth. Or else... I might not be able to protect him, you, or even the little one."
Caelia pressed her pale lips together, her tense gaze shifting slowly from Xeron to me.
A heavy, suffocating silence filled the space between us as she silently passed the burden of this decision onto my shoulders.
’So it has finally come to this,’ I chuckled inwardly. Thankfully, I have already thought of a perfect story.
"Well..." I began smoothly. "As you might have already noticed, I am the little one’s protector and also her bond partner. As for Caelia and me, there is nothing between us, not in a romantic way at least. We only acted as husband and wife to avoid unnecessary trouble that time, as it served as a highly convenient disguise for our specific circumstances."
Xeron listened silently before giving a nod.
"I see. Then, who exactly are you, aside from being her guardian? A name? Identity?"
"Who am I?" I echoed out loud, maintaining my calm demeanor. "Honestly, I don’t even know that myself. I have lost most of my memories. I don’t know where I really am from or who exactly I am."
I paused for a brief moment, letting the mysterious weight of those words settle between us.
"However, you can call me... Amon."
Xeron stared at me intensely for a few seconds, his abyssal eyes searching my face for any hidden deception.
"Amon, huh. Alright, I believe you."
I gave a simple nod, chuckling inwardly again.
’Of course, he believed me.’
After all, I only spoke the truth just now. I didn’t dare to gamble whether he possessed a way to detect lies, so I specifically crafted this ’cliché’ masterpiece.
"However-"
I tilted my head slightly.
’Did I make a mistake somewhere?’
Xeron kept his innocent smile, delivering his next words casually.
"Aren’t you a bit too weak to be her guardian?" he finished.
"..."
A heavy silence fell over the table. Outwardly, my face remained an unreadable mask of stone, but inwardly, I took massive critical damage.
’Damn, you really know exactly how to strike a nerve,’ I cursed mentally.
His blunt assessment hit directly where it hurt the most!
"...I fully admit my current strength leaves much to be desired," I replied calmly, meeting his abyssal gaze without flinching. "However, I will do absolutely everything within my power to grow stronger and become completely worthy of this title."
Xeron’s innocent smile widened into a genuinely amused grin.
"Oho, I like you," he chuckled softly. "However, speaking is one thing; achieving it is entirely another. Besides, our time remains incredibly short. How can I possibly find peace when my niece is protected by a weakling like you?"
"I fully acknowledge my current lack of strength," I replied smoothly, ignoring the sharp sting to my pride. "Therefore, it would be best if you personally trained me to reach a state you find acceptable."
At my words, the corners of Xeron’s lips curled up into a distinct, predatory arc.
"Are you sure you want me to help you?" he asked, his youthful voice suddenly carrying a heavy, intriguing weight.
I gave a simple nod. "I am completely certain."
"Good, good," Xeron chuckled softly, a dark amusement dancing in his eyes. "I accept your suggestion."
I maintained my outward calm, brushing off the sudden ominous vibe radiating from his smile.
’It will definitely be much easier than Master’s hellish training... right?’
Well, even if his methods proved far worse, I simply had to endure the upcoming torment and utilize this rare opportunity to its absolute fullest. Getting personally trained by an Emperor-tier powerhouse served as a massive shortcut to true power.
Regarding the possibility of him setting lethal traps or planning my demise during this training, I felt completely secure in my decision. During our entire exchange, I had actively kept my own lie detection focused entirely on both Xeron and Caelia. Aside from a few minor, unrelated details, they spoke the absolute truth.
Furthermore, I strongly suspected they feared harming me in any significant way. My life remained directly and permanently connected to Cathiel’s existence now. Any fatal damage inflicted upon my body carried the severe risk of affecting her well-being, granting me the ultimate physical protection.
Although exploiting my bond with the little one as a shield certainly stung my conscience, my current circumstances made this my only viable path forward. I simply swallowed the lingering guilt, accepting the heavy burden.
...All for the sake of the future.