Reborn As Papa Silva

"I'm surprised you called me back out here so fast."

Mereoleona, back in her loose-fitting Vermillion training robe, smacked her fists together. A burst of flaming sparks erupted between them as she shot Sebastian a feral grin from across the Silva training platform.

Sebastian, dressed once again in the traditional Silva training uniform, shrugged indifferently and broke into a series of stretches, prepping himself for the inevitable chaos that was about to unfold.

House Silva didn't waste time. The shattered gymnasium from yesterday's destruction had been fully repaired within hours. When Sebastian returned from the Basilica in less than a pleasant mood, he figured he might as well make himself productive. Might as well burn off this stress somehow. So, during dinner, he'd had Alfred send a message over to Castle Vermillion. To no one's surprise, Mereoleona had come jogging over at a moment's notice, grinning like a wild beast eager for its next hunt.

Just like Sebastian, she looked completely unscathed from yesterday's catastrophic battle. Not a bruise, not a scratch. Even her shattered jaw and broken teeth had been restored. Credit to House Silva for that. Fuegoleon and Ignatius had worked tirelessly alongside the Silva retainers to scour the battlefield rubble, retrieving her teeth so a skilled healer like Owen could put them back together.

Mereoleona would've shrugged it off—she didn't care much about appearances—but her mother had insisted. And while Mereoleona was unconscious, Owen had taken it upon himself to act as a magical dentist, leaving her looking as ferocious as ever.

Sebastian placed his hands on his hips, rolling his neck as he spoke. "Just so we're clear, as you didn't seem to get the memo yesterday. So let me repeat it: this is a spar, not a battle to the death. If you try anything stupid like yesterday, I'm leaving, and I won't fight with you again."

"Tsk." Mereoleona clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Why do you have to be so boring? … Look."

She gestured to the empty stands above. "We're alone now. No spectators, no interruptions. We can go all out! No need to hold back. Let's give this fight everything we've got!"

Sebastian shot her an unimpressed look. Her giddy excitement visibly faltered, her fiery grin dimming into a frown.

"Dammit! You beat me yesterday—why're you acting like such a coward now?!"

Sebastian resisted the urge to roll his eyes, crossing his arms instead. "It's not about being scared of you, Mereoleona." 

Her fingers started cracking knuckles in irritation. "So what is it, you sick bastard?"

"A promise," Sebastian said simply, pointing to himself. "Despite my family's objections, I've stuck to sparring with you. My only concession was a vow: I'll never hurt myself like I did yesterday again. Period."

He continued, his tone firm. "My family's chosen to trust me. They even decided not to spectate our match today, just so I wouldn't feel pressured to hold back in front of them. And because they've given me that freedom, I won't let them down. So unless you can respect that, we're done here."

Mereoleona scratched her head in frustration, growling under her breath. "Alright, alright, I get it! No trying to kill you or burn you alive. Happy?"

Sebastian inhaled deeply, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. That's one headache avoided.

Of course, that wasn't the only reason he wanted things under control. House Silva had been working nonstop these past few days to prepare for Nozel and Dorothy's engagement ceremony. If this spar spiraled out of control, destroying the estate, and thus ruined all their efforts, Sebastian didn't know where he'd find the courage to face his kids.

Sebastian shook himself free of that thought as he began bouncing lightly on his toes, loosening his arms with quick shakes.

Settling into a high guard stance on the arena floor, his grimoire floated out beside him, enveloped in its familiar blue glow. It flipped through several pages before stopping, and a faint shimmer surrounded Sebastian's hands and legs. Transparent, reptilian gloves encased his hands, and matching boots formed around his legs.

Gauntlet of Pontus.

Mereoleona grinned. Her own grimoire, glowing crimson, floated out beside her. Like a predator spotting its prey, she crouched slightly, her muscles coiling like springs, and leapt forward with startling speed.

Within a blur, she crossed the arena, closing the gap in an instant. Her right arm pulled back, encased in a sheath of flaming mana, ready to deliver an explosive hook to Sebastian's jaw.

But something unexpected happened.

Just as Mereoleona prepared to release her punch, an unsettling sensation coursed through her. She froze for the briefest moment, her body refusing to obey her commands.

Huh? Her eyes widened as she caught a flicker in Sebastian's gaze—his ocean-blue eyes flashed, briefly glowing with a lighter, almost aquatic hue, before fading back to normal. Along with it, her sense of control snapped back into place.

But that fleeting hesitation was all Sebastian needed.

In a move ripped straight from Mereoleona's own playbook, he closed the remaining distance and delivered a brutal right hook to her face.

"Cack-augh!"

Mereoleona grunted in pain as the force of the blow sent her skidding across the arena floor, her boots digging into the ground to slow her momentum. Lines of cracks formed beneath her as she ground to a halt near the edge of the platform.

A red imprint of Sebastian's fist bloomed on her left cheek, but she paid it no mind. Her gaze snapped back to where he had just stood—only to find the spot empty.

Her mana sense flared. Instinctively, she jerked her head downward to see Sebastian charging at her, crouched low like an animal running on all fours. His movements were fluid, predatory.

Sebastian leapt forward, aiming an uppercut at her jaw. Mereoleona quickly moved to block, but before she could fully bring her guard into position, that same strange feeling gripped her again.

Sebastian's eyes flashed aqua once more, and her body froze for a heartbeat.

That was all he needed.

"Chackk!"

His fist connected cleanly with her jaw, the force rattling her teeth as she spat out a mix of blood and saliva. The blow lifted her off the ground, sending her careening upward.

Before she could even register the impact, the immobilizing sensation hit her again. Suspended midair for a fraction of a second, she had no time to react before Sebastian spun, delivering a devastating roundhouse kick with his left leg.

The kick landed squarely on the side of her face, rocketing her across the arena.

Mereoleona hit the ground with a resounding bam, rolling several times before skidding near the edge of the platform. Just as she was about to fall off, a fiery paw erupted from her back, grabbing the ledge and pulling her upright.

Breathing heavily, she planted her feet firmly on the ground, her narrowed gaze locked on Sebastian as he prepared to charge again.

What the hell was that?

Both sides of her face were bruised now. Mereoleona spat out a mouthful of blood and a chipped tooth, her fiery grin widening despite the pain.

As Sebastian leapt into the air, descending toward her like a meteor, Mereoleona's grin sharpened into something feral.

Now this is interesting.

Sebastian's grimoire flipped back to one of its earliest pages, and within his gauntlet-encased hands, water began to coalesce into a tangible form.

The result was a sword—thin, sharp, and pointed, clearly designed more for precise thrusts than sweeping slashes. A rapier.

Holding the weapon by its short grip, Sebastian angled it downward and drove it toward Mereoleona like a knife plunging into a chopping board.

As the rapier neared Mereoleona, his ocean-blue eyes flickered again with their faint aquatic glow. But this time, Mereoleona was ready.

Instead of freezing, the ambient mana around her swirled violently in response to her will. A vortex of flames erupted from her form, spiraling around her like a fiery tornado before shooting upward in a blazing cone to meet Sebastian head-on.

Sebastian's rapier sizzled and evaporated into steam upon contact with the flaming cone. As the inferno surged toward him, he remained unfazed.

Just as the flames were about to engulf him, Sebastian's entire body glowed aqua blue and dissolved into countless droplets of water, scattering in all directions. Moments later, the droplets coalesced on the opposite side of the arena, reforming into Sebastian's unscathed figure.

Mereoleona smirked, arms crossed, as she sauntered toward him with slow, deliberate steps. Her expression was smug, radiating confidence.

Sebastian studied her carefully, his face unreadable. Internally, however, he let out a sigh of regret.

So that doesn't work when someone's using Mana Zone.

Sebastian had been attempting to use his water magic to freeze Mereoleona by targeting the water content in her blood. Against weaker foes, this technique was devastating. But he had long since realized it wasn't absolute.

When fighting someone with mana reserves equal to or greater than his own—like Yagos or, in this case, Mereoleona—his ability to control their blood became ineffective. A significant gap in magical reserves was required for it to work.

Against a monster like Mereoleona, whose mana reserves vastly outstripped his, the spell was almost useless unless she recklessly burned through a significant amount of her energy.

And that was unlikely.

While she might seem savage and impulsive, Mereoleona was no fool. Her combat IQ was exceptional, and she knew exactly when to conserve her mana and when to unleash it.

That left Sebastian with only one viable workaround—a theory he'd recently put to the test: rather than attempting to control someone completely, why not just immobilize them for the briefest moment?

A single heartbeat where their body refused to move.

It was a subtle but critical trick—one that didn't require excessive mana or elaborate hand gestures. All it needed was a sliver of concentration and visualization. And in the chaos of battle, even a fraction of a second where an opponent froze could be enough to turn the tide.

It worked, Sebastian thought to himself as his gaze flickered back to Mereoleona.

Had he been wielding a proper weapon, he could have landed a lethal strike during those moments of hesitation—perhaps even severed her head.

But every trick had its limitations.

Mana Zone was the ultimate counter to his spell.

By creating an invisible territory and taking command of all the mana within it, a Mana Zone user like Mereoleona effectively blocked Sebastian's ability to infiltrate their mana flow and affect their blood. His magic simply couldn't pierce that barrier.

It was frustrating—but also valuable knowledge.

At least now I know, Sebastian thought grimly. Should he face a life-threatening battle against another Mana Zone user in the future, trying to use this technique would only waste his energy—or worse, cost him his life.

Still, knowing its weakness didn't diminish the potential of his spell. Against unsuspecting foes, or in battles where Mana Zone wasn't in play, it remained a powerful tool.

Mereoleona's grin widened as she closed the distance between them, fire sparking in her eyes.

Sebastian stood his ground, quietly recalculating his next move.

Watching Mereoleona approach, Sebastian paused, furrowing his brows before letting out a resigned sigh.

The entire point of sparring with Mereoleona was to push himself—to grow stronger. And true growth, the kind born from desperation, only came when one's safety was on the line.

Dodging and dispersing to avoid pain, his usual go-to tactics, wouldn't cut it here. Mereoleona wouldn't allow stakes to remain that low. Tricks and clever maneuvers had their place, sure, but what Sebastian needed now was raw, unrelenting growth.

Grinding his teeth, he made his decision. He tightened his fists and charged straight at Mereoleona, who mirrored his advance. Both combatants wound up their arms for a right hook, each preparing to deliver a crushing blow.

Unlike previous encounters, where Sebastian might have dispersed at the last second to avoid the brunt of her attack, this time he fully committed.

His water-encased right fist met Mereoleona's flame-cloaked punch in a thunderous impact.

"Boom!"

The sound echoed through the arena as the ground beneath their lead feet cracked and cratered. For a moment, neither gave an inch—until steam exploded between them as Sebastian's water gauntlet evaporated.

A split second later, the force of Mereoleona's punch scorched his fist and sent him flying backward across the arena.

Before he could be thrown out of bounds, a tentacle of water shot from Sebastian's back, latching onto the edge of the arena. Using the momentum, he swung himself back inside and, the instant his feet touched the ground, hurled himself at Mereoleona once more.

His water body rapidly repaired the damage to his hand, encasing it in the transparent, reptilian gauntlet again.

Mereoleona's feral grin widened as sparks ignited beneath her feet. She launched herself toward Sebastian with fiery intensity.

Once again, they aimed for each other's faces, right hooks swinging with full force.

This time, instead of meeting fist to fist, their punches found their marks.

Sebastian's fist crashed into Mereoleona's cheek, forcing it to cave slightly under the impact. Yet she only grinned wider, bracing through the pain with her monstrous strength.

Meanwhile, Mereoleona's fiery fist slammed into Sebastian's face—except something felt... off. Instead of the satisfying resistance of flesh meeting flesh, her strike felt cushioned, like punching into waterlogged cotton.

Her brow furrowed as she withdrew her hand, noticing a faint blue glow on Sebastian's cheek. A small vortex of spinning water had formed where her fist had landed, mitigating the blow.

Sebastian met her sharp gaze with calm determination. He wouldn't back down from a head-on fight, but that didn't mean he was reckless. He wasn't about to take hits needlessly—mitigating damage was simply good strategy.

Mereoleona's grin only grew. This was what she wanted: someone who wouldn't break, who wouldn't back down, but also someone who knew how to stay smart.

Without hesitation, they launched at each other again.

Blow for blow, fist for fist, they rained punches on one another in a brutal, unrelenting slugfest. Right hook followed by left hook, knuckles bruising flesh with every strike.

The sounds of fists colliding echoed through the arena, punctuated by grunts of pain and the occasional crack of bones under strain.

Mereoleona endured through sheer physical might and an almost inhuman resilience, while Sebastian relied on his water body's ability to recover and mitigate damage.

Blood, saliva, and even fragments of teeth flew as they pounded away at one another, neither willing to relent.

But after nearly a minute of the savage exchange, Sebastian's strength and mana began to falter. Splitting his magic between offense, defense, and healing had taken its toll.

One last devastating punch from Mereoleona sent him skidding across the arena floor, finally forcing distance between them.

Sebastian came to a stop at the edge of the arena, breathing heavily. Though his water body prevented physical injuries, his pain receptors hadn't been spared. His muscles throbbed in protest, a phantom echo of every blow he had endured.

Rubbing his aching cheeks, Sebastian grimaced. His water body could repair flesh, but it couldn't erase pain.

Mereoleona, standing tall and unscathed despite the punishment she'd taken, looked at him with a predator's delight.

"This is what I like to see!" she roared, fire igniting around her. "Don't you dare back down now!"

Sebastian clenched his fists, his water gauntlets reforming as he prepared to dive back into the fray.

Mereoleona's grin faded as she watched Sebastian prepare to charge back in with the same reckless strategy. Her brows furrowed, and she crossed her arms, letting out an irritated sigh before speaking in a rare, somber tone.

"Are you an idiot?"

Sebastian halted mid-step, raising a brow in confusion. "Huh?" He opened his mouth, ready to fire back, but something about her expression stopped him. She was serious.

Mereoleona scratched the back of her head in visible frustration, her voice adopting an uncharacteristically tired, almost instructive tone.

"Look, you sick bastard, I get what you're trying to do. You want to force yourself into a head-on fight, to go against your instincts to dodge, embrace your nature as an attack mage, and push past your limits."

Sebastian stayed silent, watching her carefully. There was more to this.

"And that's the problem, you bastard." Mereoleona jabbed a finger at him with such force it was a wonder she didn't burn a hole through the air.

Sebastian's eyebrow twitched, his patience fraying. Little girl, please stop cursing me and show some respect to your elders. I held you when you were a baby once, you know.

Still, he swallowed his grievances and let her continue.

"There isn't one single type of attack mage, you idiot! There are brawlers like me, weavers like Acier, dodgers and restrainers like Julius, and long-range fighters like my brother and father!"

She narrowed her eyes at him, her tone growing sharper as she jabbed her thumb into her chest, directly over her heart.

"Every mage has a unique style. Why are you trying to be like me? You have your own style—to dodge, deceive, and strike when the time is right. Sneak attacks are still attacks! Honor, head-on fights, and chivalry don't mean a damn thing in battle. Only results matter. And the only way to get results is to stay true to yourself and follow your instincts!"

Her voice hardened, her fiery gaze locking onto him.

"Don't try to be someone you're not. Don't throw away your instincts, tricks, and common sense to fight me head-on. In a real battle, you'd be dead pulling something that stupid!"

Sebastian stared at her for a moment before a laugh suddenly escaped him.

"Haha…"

"What's so funny, you bastard?!" Mereoleona's forehead vein bulged in irritation, flames flaring beneath her feet.

Sebastian clutched his chest as he chuckled, shaking his head. "N-no, it's nothing… nothing at all," he said, waving her off, which only deepened her frown.

Sensing her rising anger, he wiped an imaginary tear from his eye and quickly sobered, his expression turning serious.

"I'm not trying to change my nature," Sebastian said plainly. "I'm not looking to replace my fighting style."

"Then what the hell are you trying to do?!" Mereoleona growled, her patience thinning.

"Grow stronger," he replied simply. "And to do that, I need to step out of my comfort zone. I need to fight in a way that forces me to adapt, where most of my usual tools are crippled. That means relying on brute force when it's not my strength—pushing myself until I find a way to win."

Mereoleona clicked her tongue in annoyance. "And is that working for you? Because no matter how much fun I have using you as a punching bag, this fight is gonna get boring real fast if this is all we're doing."

Sebastian raised his right hand, still encased in his water gauntlet, drawing her attention. The swirling water began to glow a faint turquoise, the currents inside spinning faster and more deliberately.

"I think it is," he said with a sly smile.

Mereoleona froze, her mana senses flaring. Her sharp eyes caught the faintest disturbance in the air around him as a dozen tiny motes of mana from the atmosphere flowed into his gauntlet, fusing with the swirling water.

The increase in strength was minor, almost negligible, but that wasn't the point. The real significance was unmistakable: pure external mana was responding to him.

No tricks. No spells. Just raw connection.

Mereoleona's lips curled into a feral grin, her tongue running over her teeth. This was the earliest sign of something she recognized well—Sebastian was beginning to grasp the Mana Zone.

It was crude, primitive, and nowhere near her level of mastery. But it was real. And it was progress.

"Ha… haha… you just got a whole lot more interesting, you sick bastard!"

Flames erupted beneath her feet, launching her forward like a fiery rocket.

Sebastian met her charge with his own, a burst of water mana propelling him toward her.

No pain, no gain.

—

The starry night stretched over the Silva estate, casting a serene glow as Sebastian slowly turned the doorknob and stepped into the bedroom.

The master suite was quiet, but his eyes immediately landed on Acier, awake and perched on their bed. She wore her nightgown, her hair loose and tumbling over her shoulders, with a pair of pink-rimmed glasses balanced on her nose. She was flipping through a stack of files, looking as composed as ever despite the late hour.

Sebastian closed the door softly behind him and approached the bed, slipping off his house slippers before climbing in. The mattress creaked under his weight, drawing a smile from Acier as she set her glasses on the nightstand. Only then did she look up, as if just now noticing him.

"How'd the spar go, Sebby?"

Sliding under the covers, Sebastian sat upright against the bed frame, his eyes never leaving hers.

"It went alright…" he muttered, wincing as he rubbed his sore shoulders. "My back and arms are killing me, though."

"I can see that," Acier said, stifling a laugh. She reached out, clasping his shoulders, and guided him gently to turn his back toward her. Confused but compliant, Sebastian let her maneuver him to the edge of the bed.

"What are you doing, Acier—?"

The question died on his lips as her hands began kneading his shoulders and neck, her touch firm yet careful. Sebastian stiffened for a moment, then let out a sigh of relief, closing his eyes as he surrendered to her skilled hands.

"Thank you for that," he murmured, voice soft.

"Don't mention it," she replied with a giggle, continuing to work on his tense muscles. After a moment, her tone grew curious. "What exactly were you two up to? It took far longer than I expected. It's past midnight, and I was still waiting for you."

You didn't have to wait for me. The thought crossed Sebastian's mind, but he held his tongue. It felt disrespectful to dismiss the effort she'd made.

Eyes still closed, he answered honestly, "She put me through the wringer, and I gave it back as best I could. The fight ended about three hours ago. We spent the first hour picking up our broken teeth, the second figuring out whose was whose, and the third putting them back together while I healed our mouths and injuries."

"After that, I took a bath. I didn't want to come to you all sweaty and gross."

From behind him, Acier smiled—a smile he could see in the reflection of the mirror across the room.

"I'm glad you're being honest with me."

"Don't mention it," he echoed, earning another giggle from her. Then, leaning closer, she whispered teasingly into his ear.

"So… did you win?"

Sebastian hesitated before shaking his head. "No, not even close. I spent most of the fight as a punching bag for our niece."

"Oh?" Acier raised an eyebrow, patting his back in mock sympathy. "Well, Mereoleona isn't exactly the type to lose to the same opponent twice in a row. Honestly, I'm impressed you managed to come back on two feet—that's already better than yesterday!"

Sebastian's brow twitched at her teasing, but Acier's smile only grew sly.

"Besides," she added, her voice softening, "I doubt you walked away from that fight empty-handed."

After a moment's pause, Sebastian smiled, nodding. "No, I didn't."

Sebastian felt like he had gained more from those two battles with Mereoleona than he had from his entire lifetime of magical training.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline, but his mana sensitivity felt sharper than ever, and because of that, he noticed something startling.

Up until now, Acier's mana had always seemed restrained—just a faint, trickling presence Sebastian's senses barely registered. But as he stepped into the room tonight, he realized how wrong he'd been.

Her mana radiated from her, a steady yet overwhelming force that filled every corner of the space. For the first time, Sebastian truly understood a frightening possibility: Acier might have her Mana Zone active almost all the time.

Was it a precaution, something she kept instinctively ready in case of an unseen threat? Or was it simply a battlefield reflex, honed so deeply into her instincts that it became second nature?

It was suffocating.

Sebastian couldn't fathom how mages like Ignatius and Mereoleona, who surely could sense it just as vividly, managed to act so casually in her presence. Then again, maybe this was just a pattern for warriors who had mastered high-level techniques like Mana Zone. Mereoleona, after all, was a rudimentary master of it herself, and had spent years in grand magic zones teeming with chaotic mana. Acier's mana, by contrast, was calm and controlled—an unyielding force without the intent to suppress, yet still imposing in its sheer magnitude.

As if sensing his unease, Acier gave him a sheepish glance.

"Wait a second, I'll retract it—"

"No." Sebastian shook his head, cutting her off. "It's a good kind of discomfort." Like I'm being bathed in your presence. The thought lingered in his mind, unspoken. Instead, he added, "I'll just treat it as more training."

Acier froze for a second, then chuckled, her hands resuming their soothing rhythm on his neck. Watching her, Sebastian scratched his cheek, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Is that always on? Even when you're asleep?"

She shook her head. "Not yet. But I'm trying."

Her answer left Sebastian momentarily speechless. Of course she would strive for that—it was just like her.

"Hey, Acier…"

"Hmm?" she hummed in reply, glancing up at him through the mirror.

Sebastian hesitated, mulling over his words, but then decided to be direct. "Have you… gotten stronger?"

Her eyebrows arched in amusement, her expression sly. "Oh? What makes you say that, my dear husband?"

Sebastian shrugged, feeling a bit silly for asking. He'd never fully grasped the extent of Acier's strength, so how could he possibly gauge if she'd grown stronger? Still, the thought lingered.

"I don't know. Just a hunch, I guess."

Acier's smile widened, and she leaned forward, resting her chin on his shoulder. Her voice dropped to a soft murmur, yet there was an undeniable edge of pride in it.

"Mages get stronger through life-and-death battles, right?"

Sebastian nodded. That was true.

Acier's smile turned smug. "Well, I just survived and recovered from one of the most turbulent battles of my life. Why wouldn't I grow stronger?"

Sebastian blinked, stunned into silence. It wasn't a question—it was a statement, one filled with quiet confidence that left him with no room to retort.

His curiosity stirred again. If Nathan and Draven's experiments with inverting curse to strength succeeds and truly empowers Acier further… just how strong could she become?

Could she rival someone like Conrad? Julius?

Sebastian couldn't suppress a shiver at the thought.

Sebastian shook himself free from that topic and decided to move on. "So what were you looking at, before I came here?"

Acier sat upright, lifting her head from Sebastian's shoulder. She cast a brief glance back at the paperwork on the bed behind her before turning to meet his gaze in the mirror.

"Just… stuff."

"Oh?" Sebastian raised a brow, his lips curving into a sly smile that mirrored hers. He didn't bother turning around, his teasing tone enough to convey his curiosity. "What kind of stuff, my dear wife?"

A faint blush dusted Acier's cheeks as she began to twirl a lock of her long silver hair between her fingers. Avoiding his gaze, she turned and picked up the stack of papers before shifting to sit beside him on the edge of the bed.

Sebastian observed her silently, his expression unreadable as she hesitated, finally pulling the top file into her lap. The familiar silver eagle insignia on the folder caught his eye.

Clutching it tightly, Acier spoke softly. "After Nozel and Dorothy's engagement, I want to reassume my role as captain of the Silver Eagles. So… I've been reviewing squad matters—management details, mission reports, the status of subordinates on external assignments, and planning for future missions."

Sebastian gave her an unimpressed look, one brow raised as he let out a quiet sigh. "That's nothing you need to hide from me, Acier. So, what were you really doing?"

Acier's lips parted, but no words came out as her blush deepened. After a moment of hesitation, she set the Silver Eagles folder aside, revealing the papers underneath.

Sebastian's sharp eyes immediately caught the floral fitchy insignia of House Silva at the top of the next stack. Without a word, he reached for the papers in her lap. Acier stiffened slightly but didn't stop him.

He didn't take them from her outright. Instead, he began flipping through them while they remained in her grasp, scanning the contents.

Tax files. Income reports. Servant registers. Plans for social and networking events. A catalog of rumors to verify or dismiss. Proposals for charitable endeavors. Education plans for their children, branch family heirs, and even the servants.

Sebastian's hand stilled as he processed it all. Then, with a calm yet pointed expression, he looked up at Acier. His silent question was clear: What's all this about?

Acier bit her lip, her voice soft as she gestured to the papers. "All this… it's supposed to be the matriarch's duty. Yet in the decade you've ruled House Silva, you've taken it all upon yourself. Meanwhile, I've only looked after our children and the Silver Eagles."

Sebastian frowned. "There's nothing 'only' about that, Acier—"

"I know." She cut him off, fidgeting with the edge of the folder. "It's just… I want to take some of the load off your shoulders and be a proper matriarch of House Silva. A proper partner to you. Managing household affairs should be my responsibility, just as managing the estate is yours!"

Sebastian froze for a moment, blinking in surprise, before shaking his head and letting out a quiet chuckle. "Alright. Just promise me this—if things get too hectic, don't hesitate to lean on me. I'm not a stranger; I'm your husband."

Acier's eyes widened at his response, her flush deepening as she looked at him incredulously.

"What?" Sebastian asked, stiffening slightly under her gaze. "Did I say something strange?"

"No, no!" Acier quickly shook her head, lowering her gaze as a sheepish smile tugged at her lips. "It's just… I thought you'd say something like, 'Don't push yourself. Focus on healing and being a mother. That's all you need to do, Acier!'"

She mimicked his tone dramatically, drawing a comical gape from him.

Sebastian sighed, then reached out to lightly lift her chin, forcing her gaze back to his. "Acier, I'm never going to say some perfunctory words that do little more than spit on your resolve."

Her eyes widened at his sincerity, and Sebastian smiled softly. "Just as you want to share my burdens, I hope you'll let me share yours. And if you're serious about managing household affairs, then let me handle the Silver Eagles' administrative duties so you can focus on combat and missions."

Acier blinked at him, her blush spreading across her face. Slowly, she nodded.

Their foreheads came to rest against each other, and for a moment, silence filled the room—a quiet understanding passing between them.

Then Acier pulled back abruptly, her face burning as she scratched her cheek. "Well… that's embarrassing. We should turn in for the night—it's getting late—"

She didn't get the chance to finish. Sebastian grabbed her wrist lightly but firmly, pulling her back into place beside him.

"Eep!" Acier let out a startled yelp, twisting around to face her husband with a mix of surprise and confusion. "Sebby, what's this about—"

She stopped mid-sentence, realizing that Sebastian wasn't even looking at her. His eyes were fixed ahead, locked on her reflection in the wall mirror.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. His somber gaze drained away the earlier lightheartedness, leaving behind a heavy, almost oppressive silence.

Seconds stretched uncomfortably until Acier bit her lip, her voice hesitant as she broke the quiet.

"I take it there's still something you wish to say?"

Sebastian gave a slight nod, and Acier began to fidget under the weight of his unspoken thoughts.

"Well… what is it?"

He clenched his jaw, and though his eyes remained on her reflection, he finally spoke—his voice quiet, yet laced with an edge of tension.

"Acier… what exactly are we trying to achieve by diving into our memories?"

Acier froze, her expression briefly flickering with confusion. She shifted her gaze to the mirror, studying him through the reflection. After a beat, she answered carefully, as if reaffirming what they had already agreed upon.

"We're trying to fill in the gaps—piece together what really happened between us since we met… and hopefully find some closure."

Sebastian nodded slowly, but the way his shoulders stiffened didn't escape her notice. Her relief was short-lived.

"I don't like that."

"Huh?" Acier's brows shot up in bewilderment. Turning fully toward him, she abandoned the mirror and focused on his actual face.

But Sebastian didn't return her gaze. His eyes remained forward, locked on the mirror, even as his voice deepened with emotion.

"I don't like the idea of me getting off that easily."

Her frown deepened in response, frustration seeping into her tone. "Sebastian, what are you talking about?"

He clenched his fists as his words spilled out, his voice growing more raw with each syllable. "This memory dive—it will probably help us. It'll answer so many questions we've left unspoken. It might resolve our fears, regrets, and doubts. It might even help us forgive, forget… and move on."

Acier watched him intently, her silence heavy but deliberate. Then, in one swift motion, she reached out, grabbing his chin and turning his head so his gaze finally met hers.

"Look at me when you're speaking to me, okay?"

Sebastian blinked, startled, but nodded. Acier narrowed her eyes, her tone sharpening.

"So what's wrong with that? Isn't that what we want? Or do you want to be eternally chained and tied down to our past?"

His lips parted as if to respond, but no words came out. Instead, he gave a small shake of his head. No, he didn't want that.

"Then what's the matter?" Acier's voice softened slightly, though her plea for an answer carried weight.

Sebastian bit his lip, his teeth grinding together in visible frustration. "Because I can't stand the idea of letting those actions and memories speak for themselves, like they're enough to make things right! I haven't done anything to fix it myself!"

"What nonsense are you spouting, Sebastian?!" Acier screamed, her voice trembling with emotion as her grip on his chin tightened. "What have you been doing these past few days?! The love and care you've shown us, how gentle you've been, how much you've done and moved around for us—it's more than we could've ever asked for!"

"But that's the thing!" Sebastian yelled back, his voice breaking with anger and guilt. "You shouldn't have to settle for so little!"

Acier's breath hitched, her chest rising and falling sharply before she fired back, "It's not little! You literally brought me back from death's door! You've more than paid your dues—dues that might not even be your fault!"

"That's different!" Sebastian shook his head forcefully, wrenching himself free of her grasp.

"How?!" Acier pounded her fists against his chest, her frustration boiling over. "How in god's name is that different?! Tell me!"

"Because that's not atonement!" Sebastian's voice thundered, his veins bulging as his emotions spilled over. "It's just covering up the bad I've done with some good. But the bad is still there—still rotting underneath. It's like covering a scar with makeup: the scar doesn't go away. Wash the makeup off, and it's still there, staring back at you."

His voice cracked with raw anguish. "You tell me to stop digging up old wounds, but the truth is… they aren't old. They're still fresh, Acier. They still bleed, and it's because of that I can't forgive myself or move on. Not until those wounds stop bleeding. Not until they finally begin to close."

Acier froze, her hands trembling as she pressed her forehead against his chest. Her voice came out in a shaky whisper. "So… w-what is it you want to do?"

Sebastian gently cupped her face, his large hands cradling her cheeks as he lifted her head to meet his gaze. Her watery, trembling eyes locked onto his, his expression both tender and somber.

"This is the last time," he murmured, his voice steady yet weighted with purpose. "The last time I'll cling to the past. So please… let me say these words. The words you, Acier Silva, deserve to hear more than anything."

Acier's breath hitched, a choked sob escaping her lips. "Then… what are they?"

Sebastian leaned forward, their foreheads resting together as his voice softened, though each word carried immeasurable weight.

"I'm sorry."

Acier's pupils widened, tears pooling in her eyes as he continued.

"For everything that has happened to us since our marriage. Even if it wasn't entirely my fault… at the end of the day, it was because of my weakness that any of it could happen in the first place."

Her tears spilled freely as Sebastian pressed on, unwavering.

"For everything that happened before that, from the day we met—every way I hurt you, knowingly or unknowingly. Every time I played ignorant, or hesitated, or left you waiting for an answer to your feelings as that deadline with Lux crept closer. For my indecision, for keeping you guessing about us, for wanting to have my cake and eat it too…"

His voice broke for a moment before he steadied himself. "For all of it, I'm sorry."

He exhaled shakily and gripped her face a little tighter, his resolve hardening. "And from this moment forward, I vow to get stronger. To ensure that I'll never hurt you or our children again. That I'll never be the reason our family suffers strife and pain again. So one day, I can truly become the man you and our children deserve—a man who can protect his family from anyone who dares to bring them harm."

Acier's tears fell like a stream, spilling onto his face and the bed. Her lips quivered as she tilted her head slightly, managing a shaky smile.

"A-apology… accepted."

Sebastian's own eyes brimmed with tears as he extended his arms, silently inviting her in. Acier leaned forward, letting herself fall into his chest. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her trembling frame.

"T-thank you," Sebastian whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible.

"Mmm-hmm," Acier murmured, nuzzling against his chest as if she could melt into him entirely.

They sat there on the bed in silence, their breaths mingling as they clung to one another. Neither noticed the faint shimmer of magic as the jagged, scraggy green curse mark on Acier's soul shrank ever so slightly, its edges softening.

Author's Notes:

[1] Sorry for no update yesterday guys, my weekend was swamped with chores and family matters, like doing the groceries, visiting the cemetery, filing for a new passport, and whatnot, I was too physically tired to write anything.

Which sucks because I was mentally excited as I had the vision in my head for what I wanted to write, yet couldn't actually do that. 

Worst of all, my five day streak was broken. 

[2] Feel free to join the discord: https://discord.gg/s3MME8X8ar