"Have you decided your destination?" Father asked, sitting beside me atop the castle under the vast starry night.

"I will go to the Southern Continent," I answered, my eyes locked on the shining stars.

"That is a far place," Father murmured in a low tone. "We have only just reunited, and now you are leaving again. I was thinking of passing the throne to you, but now I have to put that idea on hold for a few more decades."

He let out a tired sigh and continued, "Do you not feel troubled making your old parents work?"

"Absolutely not," I replied instantly. "Mother is not old. Just by her appearance, she barely looks over thirty. She is still in her prime."

"And what about me?" Father asked, hoping I would comment on his looks as well.

When his dantian was restored, the wrinkles on his face vanished, his loose skin tightened and became smooth again. More than half of his hair had returned to its oceanic blue color.

"Hmm... you have grown old, Father," I said in a serious tone. "Do not worry, I will ask Lady Sylvaris to bring some ointment for your back pain, order Lord Titan to help you with any heavy lifting, and Father Aurelion to assist you with authoritative wor—"

"Brat, how dare you treat me like some elderly man on his deathbed?" Father muttered, locking my neck in his arm. "I have not even lived half of my lifespan." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Eh? Then where is that old father who wanted to retire?" I asked with a teasing smirk.

He flinched, his eyebrows furrowing.

"You dare trick your father."

"Hehe, I was just kidding. I know you are still young."

I leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "I expect to have a younger sibling when I return. It would be better if it's a little sister."

A faint blush appeared on his face, and he was momentarily taken aback. For the first time ever, I saw my father flustered in embarrassment. It was truly a sight to behold.

"Y-you shameless brat! How could you say something like that to your own father?"

He tightened his grip around my neck, trying to strangle me.

"S-stop, I cannot breathe," I pleaded, trembling like a fish taken out of water.

"That is what you get for not knowing your place," he muttered, ruffling my hair with his other hand. A smirk appeared on his face as he continued,

"If you truly wish to live, tell me how many grandchildren I will be seeing when you return."

"I-I do not know. Maybe fewer than the siblings I will be getting," I replied while being choked.

"Brat! You are still going on about that!"

"Kegh... I am re-really g-gonna die..."

It was soothing and comforting, being with Father. To be honest, I did not want to leave my home. We had only just reunited after so long, only to be separated again.

Father sensed the sadness I was keeping hidden and was trying to cheer me up in his own way.

"Do not shoulder everything alone," Father said, releasing me. "You have loving wives, caring friends, and the entire Hundred Sky Mountains to support you. You must not always remain the one who gives. Trust me, your family and friends will be happier if you rely on them, just as they rely on you."

I knew what Father meant by those words. If I had relied more on the Sect Masters' power during the war, I would not have ended up in such a condition and lost both my arms.

Still, I did not regret any of the choices I made in the slightest, because everyone returned safe and alive because of those very choices.

However, it would not be so bad to rely on those close to me. They were all strong, after all.

"I understand, Father," I replied, lying beside him on the roof.

---

We moved to the forest behind the castle, strolling around while talking to each other. The topics were random, casually shifting from how I met Ume to how to keep my neck intact under the wrath of two lovers if I ever screwed up.

On our way back, in the rear garden of the castle, we saw Sister Lyra training with her sword under the moonlight.

My steps instinctively halted at the sight of her.

"Your mother is waiting for me," Father said, having a vague idea why I had stopped. "I am leaving. Good night."

As soon as he said those words, he vanished in a flicker of blue lightning.

"I cannot put it off any longer," I decided, taking a deep breath as I stepped forward.

Since my true identity behind the disguise of Lucifer had been revealed, I had not been able to speak with her properly due to how hectic everything had been.

I was definitely not avoiding her deliberately because I felt awkward talking to her.

I reached the garden and called out, trying to sound casual, "Sister Lyra, good evening!"

She halted her sword dance, sheathed her blade, and said with a slight bow,

"Good evening, Your Highness."

'Damn, she is completely pissed,' I gasped inwardly.

"Umm... can we talk?" I asked, gesturing toward the wooden bench at the side of the garden with my eyes.

"As you wish, Your Highness," she replied before walking toward the bench.

---

"What do you wish to discuss, Your Highness?" Sister Lyra asked, her expression unreadable.

"You should take a seat first," I said awkwardly.

I was sitting on the bench while she stood before me as if we were in a courtroom.

"I dare not, Your Highness," she replied in a firm tone. "I am not of a status to sit beside you or to be privy to your affairs."

She clearly said that as a taunt.

I rose from the bench, stepped in front of her, and said with a deep bow,

"I was in the wrong for hiding my identity at that time. Please forgive me, Sister Lyra."

A cold breeze passed between us as she remained silent for a few seconds.

"Was it fun?" she asked a moment later. "Listening to me ramble about my little brother while disguising yourself as a stranger. I understand you had your reasons for hiding your identity, but how could you not tell me?"

Tears fell from her moistened eyes as she continued in a louder tone,

"Was it because you did not trust me, or because I was too low in status for you to car—"

Before she could finish, I pulled her into a hug, materializing arms of crimson lightning.

"We both know none of that is true. I have no excuses for my mistakes. All I can ask for is your forgiveness, Elder Sister."

She slowly wrapped her arms around my neck and completely broke into tears.

"I-I missed y-you so much, i-idiot brother."