Year 1287
'It has been 4 years since my transmigration.' Kael thought, remembering the day he woke up in Kael's body. 'At first, I was terrified. I didn't understand what was going on. I thought I was having a bad dream and waited a few weeks for it to end. But it never happened. Eventually, I came to terms with it and accepted that this is my reality.'
He narrowed his eyes. 'But there's one thing I don't understand. From my past life, I have memories of reading the novel and my last days before that damn truck hit me.'
His frown deepened. 'But why is it that I can't remember anything else from that life apart from those memories? And what happened to the real Kael? Did he die? Or… have I always been Kael, only gaining these foreign memories after that fever?
Shaking his head, 'At first, the second possibility seemed more reasonable. After all, the emotions I feel for Helena, Emily, and Lucas… they don't feel borrowed. They feel real. As if they've always been mine. But was that just my mind playing tricks on me? More than anything, I couldn't accept the thought that a life was lost because of me, even if it was an accident."
Kael's expression turned conflicted. ' But if that's not the case… then what does that make me? A murderer?. Am I the reason the real Kael lost his life? Every day I spend in this world, every time I talk to Helena, Lucas, and Emily, pretending to be their loved son and brother... the guilt in my heart keeps growing."
Kael let out a tired sigh. 'Even if I feel guilty, there's nothing I could have done differently to change things. I had thought about telling them the truth after a year. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. How could I? After knowing how much it would hurt them? due to being an orphan in my past life, At first, I didn't even understand the emotions I felt when Helena and Lucas reprimanded me for being reckless.
But over time, I came to realize something. In my past life, I've never been someone who craved power. I'm happy with the ordinary life that I had. In fact, I still would.'
Kael clenched his fists. "But when I saw the incident with House Valtorin, I was reminded that this world wouldn't let the weak live a peaceful life. And that incident was just the tip of the iceberg. Just the thought of something similar happening to us made my mind freeze. From that day, I increased the intensity of my training nearly threefold. At the time, I had told myself it was for my own survival. But looking back, I knew better. I was wrong. I didn't do it for myself. I did it for them. without even realizing it, Somewhere down the line, I had accepted them as my family."
Looking at the mirror in front of him, Kael muttered, "Right now, I even don't know who I am. Whether I'm Ethan or Kael... it doesn't matter anymore. The only thing that matters is that I have only this life. Instead of thinking unnecessary thoughts, I should just live as Kael Veyne."
"Kael... Kael..." Helena called from downstairs.
"What is it, Mom?"
"Dinner is ready, dear. Come down to eat. Your father and sister are already at the table."
"Coming."
Glancing one last time at the mirror, he whispered, "Thanks for giving me this life. I can't do anything for you, but I will make sure that your—no, our—family stays happy and safe in this world. This is the least I can do for you."
Kael went to the dining table, and Helena served them food. After finishing dinner, Helena told Emily to go to her room and sleep.
Once she left, Helena looked toward the retreating figures of Lucas and Kael and called out, "Honey, Kael, wait!"
Lucas, surprised, asked, "What is it, dear? Did you forget to tell me something?"
Kael said nothing, but his expression mirrored the same question as his father's.
Helena shook her head. "I'm not the one who forgot something. It's you two who forgot."
The father-son duo exchanged confused looks, unable to recall what they had forgotten.
Kael asked, "What did we forget, Mom? Did something happen?"
Lucas and Kael tried to think back. 'Hmm... By her tone, she's serious. What did we forget? I don't think today is any speci— ' Their thoughts halted as realization struck them at the same time. Their eyes widened.
Kael thought, 'Wait, this weekend is Emily's birthday!' But he was confused. 'But there are still three days left. Why is she bringing it up now? Or is it something else?'
Lucas voiced Kael's doubts. "Is this about Emily's birthday? Or something else?"
Helena, clearly annoyed, answered, "It is about her birthday."
Lucas raised a brow. "But aren't there still three days left?"
Helena sighed. "Have you forgotten that it's her seventh birthday?"
Hearing that, Lucas immediately understood what she was getting at. But Kael was still confused about why she was emphasizing the 'seventh' birthday. Without hesitation, he asked, "What's so special about this birthday, Mom?"
Seeing Kael's puzzled expression, Helena frowned. "Have you forgotten, Kael?"
Kael thought hard, but came up blank. "Forgotten what?"
Helena sighed. "Don't you remember? Everyone unlocks their mana within a week after their seventh birthday. Even you awakened yours on the second day after turning seven."
Kael's eyes widened. "Oh! Now I remember. But that still doesn't explain why you're telling us this three days in advance."
Helena folded her arms. "There are three reasons I stopped both of you. First, I want to celebrate her birthday grandly this year, so we should go on a family trip that day. Second, I need your help in making decorations for her birthday without her knowing. And third, I need to remind him to prepare a mana crystal to determine her elemental affinity after she awaken mana."
She looked at them expectantly. "So, do you two understand why I asked you to wait?"
The duo nodded. "We'll take care of everything. You can leave it to us."
Three days later, the sun had barely risen in the sky, casting its golden light over Elmsworth Village. The villagers continued their daily lives as usual.
Except for the Veyne household, which was unusually hushed today.
Creak...
Creak...
Helena whispered, "Dear, don't make noise when walking! Or she might wake up."
Lucas replied, "I can't help it. The floor creaks every time I step on it."
Hearing this, Helena retorted, "That's why you need to lose some weight! Your belly keeps getting bigger day by day."
Lucas grumbled, "Now that's uncalled for! The floor's ancient, not my waistline."
Just as Helena opened her mouth, Kael hissed, "Must you two squabble? Have you forgotten why we're tiptoeing to her room?"
Reprimanded by their son, the couple fell silent. They exchanged glances but said nothing more, instead focusing on their steps as they moved closer to her room.
Carefully, they opened the door and entered, their eyes falling on Emily, who was fast asleep on her bed, hugging her stuffed rabbit while surrounded by a sea of other toys.. She looked so adorable in her sleep that the three of them momentarily forgot their purpose for being there. Instead, they stood still, quietly engraving this scene into their brains.
After a few moments, Helena nudged Lucas toward a pile of ribbons. "Hang those. Quietly."
Reluctant to look away from his daughter, Lucas grumbled, "Why do I have to—"
"Because you're taller," Helena interrupted, thrusting a garland of dried flowers into Kael's hands. "And you—stop staring at her and help."
Kael let out a quiet grumble but obeyed.
They worked in tense silence, transforming the room into a riot of color. Paper stars dangled from the ceiling, glowing faintly on embedded light runes. Lucas attempted to balance a tower of honey cakes on Emily's bedside table, but one tilted precariously—only for Kael to catch it mid-collapse.
"Really?" Helena whispered, swatting her husband's hand away from the sweets. "You're worse than the children."
"Says the woman who's only holding a cake," Lucas shot back.
Kael cut in before the argument could escalate. "You two are too loud. She's going to wake up before we even finish decorating."
The couple turned to him and, in perfect unison, whispered, "We are not loud. We're talking as stealthily as possible."
Kael pinched the bridge of his nose. "If by 'stealth' you mean waking the entire village, then congratulations—you both are grandmasters."
A sleepy voice cut through the hushed bickering.
"...Big Brother?"
Three heads snapped toward the bed. Emily blinked up at them, her hazel eyes round with confusion. "Why's the ceiling all sparkly?"
For a heartbeat, the room was deathly silent.
Then her gaze drifted over the half-hung banner, the honey cake in Kael's hand, and the pile of presents stacked behind him. Her sleepiness vanished in an instant.
"PRESENTS!" she shrieked, launching herself at the nearest box.
So much for surprises.