### Chapter: 183
After wrapping up the Ixion matter, Kraush returned home, priority number one on his to-do list.
He planned to take care of a bunch of tasks after settling down in Green Pine Hall.
“Since you’re here, why not? If you leave without saying goodbye, won’t you regret it when you see her next time?”
That was Crimson Garden’s suggestion. As she put it, it wouldn’t be right for Kraush to just waltz off without acknowledging Bianca.
But hey, it had been ages since he last saw her.
Just as Kraush entered Green Pine Hall, he heard,
“Lady Bianca is currently in training.”
It was Aliod, the head butler of the hall, who informed him.
Perhaps it was because his daughter, Alicia, was returning home after a long time, but Aliod’s face seemed brighter than usual.
Given that she used to suffer from color-shifting illness, he must have worried a lot.
Seeing her doing well must have put him at ease.
“Training, huh?”
Kraush had seen Bianca train a few times before heading to Rahern Academy.
It had been quite a while since he had been there, so he was curious to see how far she had come.
Just then, as Kraush stood at the training ground entrance…
“?”
A little ice fox appeared right in front of him.
With a head and body that seemed all too similar, the fox tilted its head, and Kraush quickly realized its identity.
This was a Spirit Beast created by the ice summoner, Jenna Edalsia.
However, Kraush sensed something different about this fox compared to the ones made by Jenna.
It felt oddly colder. Maybe it still had a bit of rawness to it, too.
“Beeep!”
In that instant, the fox made a sound and dashed off somewhere.
As Kraush stepped inside, the fox scurried away and disappeared among Bianca’s white hair.
“Beeep, good girl.”
Upon arriving at the fox’s destination, there stood a woman.
Thanks to her training, she wore lighter clothing than usual, and her white hair wrapped snugly around her neck.
With those mesmerizing blue diamond-like eyes…
Bianca Hardenhartz.
She was to become Kraush’s fiancée.
Kids in their growth spurts change in an instant, it seems.
In just a few months, Bianca’s beauty had blossomed further.
That youthful, innocent look from before was now replaced by a matured elegance.
‘Is she growing up?’
He hadn’t realized all along since they were always together.
But stepping away made it clear—Bianca had grown quite a lot since the first time he’d met her.
Next year, she’d be an adult, so it wasn’t surprising, really.
On Bianca’s left ring finger sat a ring—the very gift from Kraush.
“Lord Kraush.”
Just then, Bianca finally noticed Kraush’s presence and expressed her surprise.
Then she flashed a small smile and started walking toward him.
“Beeep.”
And from Bianca’s nape emerged that ice fox again.
It looked like the fox was indeed conjured by Bianca herself.
‘She must have only trained for about a year, but look at this level of mastery.’
Compared to Jenna, she still had room to grow, but it highlighted Bianca’s talent anew.
After all, she had once slain the Poison King known as the Ten Great Lords back in her White Ghost days.
A natural talent, undoubtedly.
“Did I disturb your training?”
“Nope, just finished.”
Great.
Kraush was just thinking about dining together.
“Wow, my cute pupil seems to have a wider range of expressions than I initially thought!”
Suddenly, a woman appeared—Jenna Edalsia, Bianca’s instructor.
Was she feeling particularly warm?
Even though it was just getting close to early summer, she was wearing light attire and looked a little sweaty.
“It’s been a while, Lord Kraush. You remember me, right?”
“Of course. I doubt my memory is that bad.”
“I thought today’s kids lost track of things quickly. It’s an honor to know you remember. I hear whispers of your exploits even here.”
Was Bianca spreading the word about Kraush? Somehow, he doubted it.
Would mean someone was actively spreading his reputation to gain favors.
‘That Prince number one…’
The first prince of Starlon Kingdom had agreed on some sort of deal with Kraush.
He was probably trying to show off their friendship while boosting the rumors of Kraush for his gain.
‘Nobles are bound to counter any strengthening of their own power or fame, so using me to bolster himself makes sense.’
In the nobility’s eyes, the Holy Royal Family was a taboo.
An absolute no-touch zone conversation.
The first prince was cleverly using this taboo to establish a foothold through Kraush.
‘Could be exaggerations, but it’s not all that bad for me either.’
Reputation has a way of elevating one’s status.
Given Kraush’s ambitions to take the lead in the Sky Generation, it was necessary.
“Bianca, what about dinner?”
“Not yet,” she replied.
“That works out. Let’s grab something to eat.”
At that, Bianca ran over to Kraush.
She nearly reached for his hand but hesitated.
After sniffing her clothes, she took a step back from Kraush.
“What’s up?”
“You smell like sweat.”
Sweat?
Kraush tilted his head in confusion and tried to lean closer to smell her.
But then Bianca fluffed her hair and swiftly backed away.
Like a white chick startled, she recoiled like a cat.
“You’re mean.”
With eyebrows raised, Bianca seemed to refuse giving him the opportunity to smell her.
Then, with a wary glance, she began to sidestep away from Kraush.
Kraush, watching her antics, couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“Go wash up.”
“Sure.”
Could it be because they hadn’t seen each other in a while or was she just being her usual self?
As he chuckled, Kraush realized something.
The only person who could make him laugh like this was Bianca.
“It’s been ages since I met my fiancée, and here I am grinning from ear to ear.”
Crimson Garden pecked at him from the side, snickering.
Kraush had nothing to retort.
He really felt at home as soon as he laid eyes on Bianca after coming back.
‘Home, huh?’
After everything’s wrapped up, spending time with Bianca in Green Pine Hall didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Kraush was someone whose ultimate goal was to prevent the world’s destruction, but for the first time today, he envisioned a life after that.
Whether or not that vision would become a reality remained uncertain.
But one thing he was sure of was…
‘Even if I’m not around…’
He wanted to hand that future over to Bianca.
Kraush’s fist lightly clenched, determination anchoring his wandering thoughts.
A moment where a slightly weary heart consolidated into resolve.
*
After finishing their meal, summer was approaching, and the weather was starting to heat up.
Kraush sat on a garden chair of Green Pine Hall, and Bianca joined him for a well-deserved break.
Kraush looked at her fidgeting with his hand and asked, “Are you having fun?”
“Yeah.”
It must’ve been a long time since they last saw each other.
Seeing her act a bit spoiled made Kraush chuckle.
When she had been tightly holding his hand while sharing stories about recent events, she was now displaying this lighter demeanor.
The lingering chill in the evening breeze brushed against Kraush’s face.
As Bianca’s hair delicately swayed in the breeze, her beautiful face shined through.
She had such stunning looks that it was no wonder people admired her.
Even Kraush couldn’t help but gaze at her face for a while.
As Bianca, who had been idly fussing with his hand, finally noticed, she looked up.
Upon meeting Kraush’s eyes, she tilted her head.
“Is something on my face?”
“No, just…”
There wasn’t really any special meaning.
Just admiring her.
Seeing her tilt her head a second time, her hair cascaded down, and some of it brushed against her cheek.
Kraush reached out with his other hand and gently brushed her hair away.
Soft.
From the texture of her hair to the tender touch of her cheek.
As he arranged her hair, Bianca obediently savored the sensation.
Yet, the slight fluttering around her eyes hinted that it must’ve tickled a bit.
“You know, we probably won’t meet for a while.”
Once he entered the academy, Kraush had been charging ahead nonstop.
And it wouldn’t change anytime soon.
Opportunities to visit Green Pine Hall like today would realistically become scarce.
Bianca took hold of Kraush’s hand enveloping her cheek.
“It’s okay.”
Under the night sky, her deep blue eyes shone brightly.
“I’ll come to see you.”
There was a firm determination radiating from her.
“No matter where you go, I’m coming with you, Kraush.”
With an upward curve on her lips, she spoke as if it were her lifelong mission.
“That’s what a fiancée is for.”
Then she uttered the most precious bond that meant the world to her.
More important than family in her life.
That bond was her engagement to Kraush.
The ring on her hand glimmered under the moonlight.
Watching that, Bianca had somehow moved closer to Kraush.
Between their closing distance, he felt her heartbeat resonate through her fingers that slightly touched his.
Her slightly flushed cheeks didn’t seem to be from the streetlights.
Kraush knew.
He understood how precious he was to Bianca.
The one who helped her regain her emotions.
He was the one who had given her more than her abandoned lineage ever did.
Even when she usually seemed all indifferent, just seeing her smile brightly at him was a sign recognizable by anyone.
And perhaps that was true for Kraush as well.
In a life that often felt like a fight, he had always been with Bianca.
Even someone with the steel will of Kraush had faced moments of faltering.
Yet, he could always rise by watching over Bianca as she slept in his arms.
Just as Bianca stood because of Kraush, so did Kraush support himself because of her.
Kraush had once owed his life to Bianca before he reincarnated.
So he had been ready to break off their engagement if she wanted it, thinking if she found love elsewhere, he’d gladly step aside.
He could even play the villain if she needed him to.
But the moment he met her gaze, that thought slipped into the void of insignificance.
To Bianca, he would always be a precious person throughout her life.
And Kraush knew it too.
He would never let Bianca go like that.
‘At this point.’
How had such desires sprung up?
Somehow, Kraush found himself laughing as he gently cradled Bianca’s cheeks.
“Bianca.”
“……Yes.”
A slightly delayed response came.
With a hint of nervousness, there was an unusual warmth in Bianca’s breath that felt different from how it usually was.
That act alone was enough of a reply.
Kraush leaned down to press his lips against hers.
In an instant, Bianca’s eyes widened before they finally slipped shut gently.
The warmth exchanged through their lips was palpable. As Kraush pulled away, he noticed Bianca’s hazy, enchanted gaze.
Upon meeting his eyes, she leaned against Kraush’s chest.
Her flushed cheeks and rapid heartbeat made her fall into a soft daze.
Below the slightly cool early summer night air, even amidst the realm of Lunar Body, Kraush felt warmth, gazing up at the sky.
But he held tightly onto Bianca’s hand, entirely wrapped around each other.
With that promise, he resolutely vowed never to let go again.
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