Mr. Milano struck the table with a little force after reading the decree from Winter.
"How could this happen?" Mr. Milano exclaimed.

"What? What happened?" Mrs. Maria asked, then picked up the paper Mr. Milano had thrown onto the table.

Mrs. Maria read the paper and then widened her eyes in disbelief.
"How is this possible, my husband?" Mrs. Liana asked, her panic matching Mr. Milano's.

Mr. Milano gazed at his wife and then snorted in frustration.
"I don't know either why it turned out like this. We made a mistake marrying Race and Ivy," Mr. Milano said.

"Well, it's not exactly like that. If we didn't marry our son to Ivy, our ruby stone business would come to a halt. Have you forgotten that Ivy's family helped us distribute the ruby stones to the west?"

"Yes, yes, yes, you're right," Mr. Milano conceded.

"So, how can we undo all of this?" Mrs. Maria inquired.

Mr. Milano appeared to think and looked at Mrs. Maria with a puzzled expression. A moment later, he took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair.
"Let it be!"

"What do you mean?"
Mrs. Maria furrowed her brows in confusion.

"Just let Ivy become a royal seer; that way, she can also aid this eastern kingdom. Race will also gain a good reputation through what Ivy accomplishes."

"Good reputation? Have you forgotten that seers or witches are despised in this east? How could that be a good reputation for Race?"
Mrs. Maria sounded angry and disagreed with Mr. Milano's thoughts.

"Tsk...this is a different kind of seer. Ivy comes from a noble western family, so her skills in divination and magic would be extraordinary to the people in the east who know about it."

"You've forgotten that Ivy is just an adopted child? Ivy has the blood of a true seer, my husband. This could actually pose a great threat to Race."

Now, it was Mr. Milano's brows that furrowed in confusion.
"A threat?"

"Yes, a significant threat. Winter will become stronger and flourish. My desire to make Race the crown prince in the east will fail," Mrs. Maria responded, addressing her husband's unspoken question in her heart.
***
Ivy continued to observe Race as he tidied his clothes. Since their conversation that day, her husband had become quieter and seemed to ignore Ivy. Race stayed in Ivy's pavilion but would leave late at night and avoid talking to Ivy. This morning was no different; Race mainly remained silent and indifferent toward Ivy.

Race turned his face after hearing Ivy's heavy and deep sigh.
"Why?"

Ivy looked up and shook her head softly.
"It's nothing," Ivy replied softly.

"Then why the deep sigh?"

"Really?"

Race widened his eyes in disbelief upon hearing Ivy's words. He couldn't believe that she would ask such a question now. Race sighed in frustration and then walked closer, sitting beside Ivy on the edge of the bed. They gazed at each other now.

"What's wrong?" Race asked again, more gently.

"Nothing."

"Ivy!" Race's voice raised slightly.

"Don't get angry and yell at me, Race! Isn't it enough that you've been ignoring me? I just didn't want you to have problems because of me refusing to become a royal seer."
Finally, Ivy raised her voice toward Race; she couldn't hold back her feelings any longer.

Race himself fell silent, looking at Ivy. The slightly fairer-skinned man, compared to Ivy, took a deep breath and pulled Ivy into his embrace. He softly patted Ivy's back.

"I'm sorry," Ivy whispered.

"Why are you the one apologizing?" Race asked again.

"I yelled at you just now."

Race gave a faint smile and gently stroked Ivy's hair.
"It's okay, sometimes you need to get angry too."

"But not at you."

"It's okay with me too. After all, wasn't I the one who made you angry?"

Race released the embrace and looked at Ivy now. They exchanged looks, and then Ivy hugged Race again and rested her head on his chest.

"Race, please let me follow Winter's wishes. That way, I can protect both you and Winter," Ivy pleaded desperately.

"Ivy, you don't have to protect us."

"But I want to protect you both. This is the only way I can be useful here, Race. I don't want you to have problems because of me," Ivy coaxed again.

Race let out a frustrated sigh. He stroked Ivy's head again, then gently kissed her head.
"I'm actually worried that you'll end up in big trouble, Ivy. You shouldn't even be here," Race thought, monologuing.
***
He trained the guards at Race's base camp, preparing each one to become skilled palace guards. Race often took the guards around the eastern region to acquaint them with various issues and potential enemies that could threaten the kingdom. After a few hours of training, Race instructed the guards to rest. He then walked to the rest area and stopped when he saw his father standing before him.

"Father," Race called softly.

"Are you done with the training?" Mr. Milano asked.
Race nodded softly in affirmation. Mr. Milano himself smiled faintly.

Now, both of them were sitting in the rest area. The base camp servants had just served Mr. Milano and Race herbal tea.
"Please drink, father," Race said politely.

"Hmm."
Mr. Milano sipped his tea slowly and then placed the cup back on the table. A moment later, he looked at Race and cleared his throat.

"Is father here to discuss Winter's decree?" Race guessed, well aware of his father's sudden visit.

"How did you know?" Mr. Milano asked, smiling.

"Who else would bring you here if not for that, father?"

Mr. Milano chuckled softly and then nodded.
"You're right, Race. I'm here to discuss that matter."

"Can we refuse it, father? I don't want my wife to get involved in the kingdom," Race interjected, voicing his opinion.

Mr. Milano furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Why?"

"Ivy isn't that strong, father. She's just an ordinary woman who can do divination and magic. I don't want anything to happen to her when she tries to protect the kingdom, especially Winter."
Race voiced his concerns, and Mr. Milano stared at him intently. Mr. Milano then smiled again and resumed drinking his tea.

"Do you love Ivy that much?" Mr. Milano asked.

Race looked at his father and sighed in annoyance.
"She's my wife, father. How could I not love her?"

"It's because she's your wife that you should know Ivy is indeed that strong, which is why Winter wants to use her as a shield. Ivy isn't just capable of magic and divination; she's a descendant of seers and witches, Race. You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Mr. Milano's words made Race widen his eyes in disbelief. Hearing his father's words, Race could already guess that his father agreed with Winter's request.

"There's going to be King Michel's birthday celebration soon. You surely haven't forgotten that every year, unexpected incidents occur due to the forest monsters. Ivy would be incredibly useful if she becomes the royal seer."

"What do you mean, father?"

"Ivy can be used as a shield against the monsters that will attack. You won't need to deploy as many guards. We could even reduce the number of casualties among the guards each year due to those forest monsters."

"Father!"
Race unintentionally raised his voice in response to Mr. Milano's statement. Hearing his son's anger, Mr. Milano merely smiled faintly.

"You can't refuse this either, Race. I've already approved everything. If you decline, I'll send Ivy back to the west, using the excuse that an eastern kingdom doesn't accept a witch."

Mr. Milano was now threatening his son.
***