Book 1 Chapter 867

867.

Kal fell into thought as he looked at Elim and Elli, fraternal twins.

Soon, Kal said with a serious expression.

"Could 'dad' be used with a different meaning in the northern continent?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Like, maybe you call your mother's male friend 'dad'?"

"If a situation like that occurs, the family will be destroyed, no matter where on the continent you are."

Leo had a look of genuine disbelief.

"No, that's weird!"

Kal said in surprise.

"You're saying I was born between you and Eliza? Does that mean I'm Eliza's future husband?"

"Isn't that what's happening because there's a sufficient possibility of that? You said you had feelings for Eliza too."

"That's true… It feels like it would be incredibly happy if it turned out this way though…"

As Kal scratched his head while looking at Leo shrugging his shoulders.

Chelsea, who was playing with Elim and Elli not far away, approached.

"Wow~ The kids are so cute, I can't believe they were born between you and Eliza!"

"Hey, what does that mean?"

"It means exactly what it sounds like."

As Kal squinted his eyes, Chelsea smiled brightly.

"By the way, what are you talking about?"

In response to Chelsea's question, Leo recounted the conversation he just had with Kal.

Then Chelsea also looked taken aback.

"Do you think that makes sense? And."

Chelsea brought Elli, who had the same hair color as Kal, to him.

"Anyone can see she's your daughter."

At Chelsea's words, Elli blinked her innocent, large eyes.

"Dad!"

And then she ran into Kal's arms with a bright smile.

Kal's face softened.

Elim also hugged Kal from behind.

Watching them, Chelsea stroked her chin.

"I think I underestimated Kal. He succeeded in seducing that Eliza."

"Kal is a cool guy."

Leo smiled faintly.

"Is the reason Eliza asked us to come to the annex because of these children?"

Chelsea tilted her head.

Leo also looked puzzled.

"Then that means Chen Xia and Eliza saw these kids first?"

As Leo and Chelsea's thoughts reached that point, their expressions changed subtly.

'Eliza's appearance was no different than usual.'

'So, does that mean she had this future in mind to some extent?'

Both of their minds raced.

"Kal. Tell me the truth."

Chelsea's eyes narrowed.

"About what?"

"Are you dating Eliza now?"

Kal flinched.

"I knew your relationship was unusual… I never thought it would be at that stage already."

"Wow! You're really amazing! How on earth did you manage to charm Eliza?!"

Leo looked astonished, and Chelsea was also surprised.

"Congratulations anyway."

"Yeah! Congratulations! Congratulations!"

Leo and Chelsea said with sincerity.

Kal scratched his head shyly at their reactions.

"Congratulations, Dad."

"I don't know what's going on, but…"

Elim and Elli also joined in the celebration, swept up in the mood.

"It's a bit disappointing though. That you hid the fact."

"Right. Right."

Chelsea nodded at Leo's words.

Kal scratched his head vigorously at their reactions.

"Sorry. But what if the other kids find out…"

"Well, rumors spread in an instant."

Chelsea nodded as if she understood.

Kal and Eliza.

No matter how close the two were, considering Eliza's usual demeanor, it was a massive scandal.

"Chelsea. You really, really mustn't tell Iliana, okay?"

"Don't worry. Don't worry! Trust only me!"

Chelsea said, patting her chest and smiling brightly.

Leo chuckled, watching her.

"It's a good time."

***

Eliza's expression hardened as she looked at the butler of the Hergin family before her.

He was the man who had served the Hergin family as their butler since Eliza was young.

An incredibly capable and trustworthy man.

Given the current time is the future, he was older with more wrinkles, but he was still the butler.

The fact that he had come to the annex filled Eliza with extreme anxiety.

"Why are you here at the annex…?"

"Yes, head of the family. The young master and young lady insisted on having dinner with you…"

Seeing the butler's troubled expression, Eliza turned pale.

Lily, who had overheard their conversation, looked puzzled.

"Young master and young lady?"

Chen Xia covered her cheek with a troubled smile.

"Oh dear."

"Oh my, oh my, oh my?"

Melina, who sensed something, exclaimed with sparkling eyes.

Just then, the door opened, and Kal entered, carrying Elim and Elli in his arms.

Eliza closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and placed a hand on her forehead.

Chelsea watched Eliza with a smirk, while Leo remained expressionless as always.

Lily, finally understanding the situation, also exclaimed.

As all eyes focused on Eliza.

Eliza forced a smile and said,

"First, let's have dinner."

***

A lavish dinner banquet was prepared.

Melina, a professor at Lumern and a Dragon Lord, sat at the head of the table.

To her left sat Leo, Lily, Chen Xia, and Chelsea, and to her right sat Eliza, Elim, Elli, and Kal.

Elim looked puzzled at the seating arrangement and asked Eliza in a small voice.

"Mother. What is that person's name?"

Eliza, who always sat at the head of the table, vacating it for the children had piqued Elim's curiosity.

He asked in a small voice as he couldn't openly inquire.

Eliza smiled faintly at Elim.

He was only ten years old, still a child.

However, as the successor of the Hergin family, he showed an awareness of the atmosphere and actions to protect the family's honor.

'Who's son is he… Ah, he's my son.'

Eliza thought to herself and felt that her future self had done a good job with his succession training.

'No, this is just a possibility.'

As Eliza pondered,

"Heh heh. I was Miss Eliza's professor during her school days. My name is Mel."

Melina said with a smile.

Elim, who hadn't expected his voice to be heard, was flustered and then bowed.

"You were Mother's teacher."

"Heh heh. Your son is very smart."

Eliza was at a loss for how to respond to Melina's compliment.

As the meal began, Eliza couldn't tell if she was eating or not.

Yet, she subtly served food out of reach of young Elim.

Elli also ordered what she wanted from Kal, and Kal, though flustered, served her food.

Watching Kal, Eliza thought,

'Kal will be a good father.'

Eliza smiled warmly, watching Kal enjoy his meal with Elli, then turned her head as she felt a gaze.

Melina was resting her chin, smiling softly.

Lily was staring intently at Eliza's face, with a fork in her mouth.

Chelsea and Chen Xia were whispering to each other.

"Eliza is so unexpected."

"Indeed. She really looks like a mother."

"You two, if you have something to say, say it directly."

Eliza said, pressing her temples.

Normally, she would have retorted and exuded a fierce aura, but she restrained herself because Elim and Elli were nearby.

"We're not picking a fight or teasing you. Eliza, we're genuinely surprised. You seem like someone who has raised children."

Lily said in genuine surprise.

Indeed, Eliza was very adept at taking care of children.

The pure compliments from her senior and classmates annoyed Eliza.

She was almost grateful for Leo, who was eating normally.

"She's a beast tamer."

At that moment, Leo spoke.

"Young beasts require a lot of care. Since she's been taking care of such beasts since she was young, it's only natural that she can take care of children well."

Despite her fierce and sharp demeanor, Eliza's skill in handling beasts was overwhelming.

Moreover, she was proficient in handling any kind of beast.

It was a skill that would be difficult to acquire without meticulously observing and caring for the characteristics of each beast since childhood.

The girls were impressed by Leo's words.

Kal also looked at Eliza with admiration.

After the meal.

Eliza let out a deep sigh after putting Elim and Elli to bed.

"I don't know how I'll face those people starting tomorrow."

Kal said, looking at Eliza, who had a headache just thinking about it.

"They won't tease you anymore. They won't spread rumors about your relationship either."

"Well, I suppose that's true."

Eliza said with a fierce laugh.

"I was prepared to die with them if they teased or spread rumors any further."

Eliza growled.

'They know that, so they're not provoking her.'

Those annoying classmates were experts at teasing people.

'Their control over intensity is just perfect.'

Thinking that, Kal stared at Elim and Elli, who were asleep.

Eliza looked at him with a peculiar expression, watching him.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

"No, just… I'm surprised that this kind of future could exist."

"What?"

At Kal's words, Eliza furrowed her brow.

"What do you mean by that? Were you thinking of casually dating me?"

At that, Kal waved his hands.

"No, no. That's not it. I'm very serious. But…"

"But?"

"You're the successor of the incredibly powerful Hergin family. If you get tired of me, our relationship will end."

"Are you serious? We're just starting our relationship, and you're already thinking about that?"

"Well…"

Kal looked sheepish.

Eliza stared intently at Kal.

Kal's thoughts were perfectly natural.

Regardless, both Kal and Eliza were young.

Adolescent emotions.

And even if love burned fiercely, wouldn't it also cool down quickly?

Even if they liked each other right now, there was no guarantee that those feelings would last.

Moreover, considering the difference in their status, even more so.

But even so, Eliza didn't like Kal thinking about the period *after* they broke up already.

While she understood his feelings, she was angry.

"Ah, this is annoying."

Eliza said irritably, and Kal flinched.

"Hey, Kal Thomas."

"Uh, yeah?"

*Snatch-*

Eliza grabbed Kal by the collar and pulled him towards her.

Pulled towards Eliza without realizing it, Kal's eyes widened at the sensation on his lips.

In the dark night.

The two kissed for a long time in a room bathed in soft moonlight.

After a while, Eliza let go.

Seeing Kal, whose face had turned bright red, covering his mouth and looking flustered, Eliza snorted.

"Remember this, Kal Thomas. No matter what the future holds."

"Yes, yes."

"You belong to me right now."

Eliza curled the corners of her lips.

"So don't think useless thoughts and focus on me. Got it?"

"Yes, yes. I understand."

Kal nodded dazedly, and Eliza gestured with her chin.

"Then get out."

"…Yes."

Kal left the room in a daze.

*Snap-*

The door closed, and Eliza crouched on the spot.

Eliza mumbled to herself, burying her face in her knees.

'I'm crazy! I'm crazy! Really!'

Seeing Kal about to leave somewhere, she impulsively acted.

'Sigh… He won't think of things so lightly, right? If he messes around, I'll kill him though.'

Eliza, whose face was bright red, stood up and fanned herself.

And finally, she looked at Elim and Elli and froze.

The twins were staring up at Eliza with wide-open eyes.

"You're not asleep?"

Eliza asked kindly with a forced smile, and Elli mumbled.

"Mother."

"Yes? Why?"

"I prefer a younger brother next."

"No, I prefer a younger sister."

Elim immediately countered.

Eliza suppressed the twitch in her lips and stroked the two children's heads.

"Good children go to sleep early."

"“Yes.”"

The two children, who responded dutifully, closed their eyes tightly.

Eliza closed the door after taking one last look at the children's faces as she left the room.

*Snap-!*

'…Kal's and my children.'

Eliza walked down the hallway, touching her lips.

'Maybe this future isn't so bad.'

She walked down the hallway with a faint smile.

Meanwhile.

In the room next to where Elim and Elli were sleeping.

Leo was pinching Chen Xia and Chelsea's cheeks.

"You're not supposed to eavesdrop on other people's conversations."

"I'm sorry!"

"Ow, ow, ow! I won't do it again…!"

They were being punished by Leo after being caught eavesdropping on their conversation.

Leo, sighing, let the two go.

Chelsea rubbed her red cheeks and asked.

"But Leo oppa, did you perhaps hear what those two were talking about?"

"I didn't."

At Leo's words, Chelsea licked her lips with a hint of disappointment.

"Are you that curious?"

"Kal and Eliza are dating. We can't help but be curious."

"That's right. We're at an age where we're very interested in other people dating."

"Are you kids?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

"They're only kids when it's convenient."

Leo, who answered like a knife, poked them on the head and looked out the window with his arms crossed.

'This future is not bad, huh…'

Leo, savoring Eliza's words from earlier, looked at the future scene and smiled bitterly.

'It's the future we wished for, so why are we both looking at the past?'