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Chapter 6
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AS the sharp gaze of the Duke flew toward him like a blade, the aide Jerus cautiously responded, sensing the situation.

“N-No, that’s not what I meant, Your Excellency.”

However, the Duke’s temperament was bad, and his brows furrowed deeply. It was an expression that he had right before he transformed into a beast. Everyone was afraid that he might let out a roar at any moment.

“I will not give up searching for my daughter, even if it takes one year or several years. Increase the thoroughness of the search! There is a possibility that as a young beast, she might be hiding in a very small crevice.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

“And those who are lazy will be left in the snow to fend for themselves. Make sure they understand.”

As the Duke’s fierce bellow resounded, the search party, brimming with determination, swiftly resumed their efforts. However, that day, the Duke and the search party returned to Winter Castle empty-handed once again.

For Jerus, three years was not a short time. He had done everything within his power during that period.

Khalid’s wife, Luichel, who had given birth to their child, had fallen into a deep sleep and never awakened. The vassals were murmuring about a curse of winter, and the doctors had declared it as hopeless.

Khalid had tried to shake Luichel awake, overturning the empire, but it was in vain. It was certain that someone had done something to the child while Luichel was in such a state of helplessness.

He had captured and interrogated all the attendants and maidservants, anyone who could be related or suspected, but it was all in vain. His reputation as a monster, a tyrant, only grew instead.

Khalid bit his lip hard, his thoughts consumed him. No matter what, he had to find his child. Luichel had left him with something precious. Come to think of it, when Luichel had the child, she had said something.

“Khal, I had a dream not long ago. The sun was nestled in my embrace. But when I held it, it was a tiny puppy. They said it was a girl puppy, a truly mysterious dream. Could this child possibly be the Child of the Sun?”

Khalid muttered to himself, recalling her words, “Child of the Sun… No, it couldn’t be real.”

Was he trying to believe in such nonsensical words? He shook his head.

According to the prophecy of the ancient God, Riott, believed by the Silver Lion Clan, when a Child of the Sun was born, they will bring prosperity to the family with the bright and powerful force of the sun, and turn the land of cold and death into a land of life.

Some of the priests from the temple interpreted it as the end of winter and the coming of spring. But Khalid did not believe in gods. The miracles they had performed so far were nothing more than mild divine power that could heal minor illnesses.

The Crovache had risen and protected themselves throughout the years not because of any god, but because of their own inherent strength. That was why he had always believed in himself.

A few days later, as if the gods were peering into Khalid’s heart, a revelation was discovered.

During the renovation of the Crovache temple, a stone tablet buried underground for three years was unearthed. The entire temple, as well as the Silver Lion Clan, was thrown into upheaval. The high priest of the Riott temple exclaimed with excitement.

“Look at this! Someone has undoubtedly buried the revelation stone that has descended!”

The Duke asked, “What is written on it?”

Only those with the power could read the contents written in the ancient language. The high priest calmed his voice and began to read the revelation.

“On the twelfth day of August in the 1508th year of the Imperial Calendar, a Child of the Sun will be born under the constellation of Leo. They will possess the Heart of the Sunstone and appear in the form of a small beast, not a lion.”

Upon hearing the contents, the Duke immediately issued two orders.

First, regarding the concealment of the revelation’s contents, he needed to know the full story. The details of the incident were necessary.

“Only those with the power can read the revelation, so it’s the fault of the temple for concealing it. Detain them all, including the high priest of the Riott temple,” the Duke commanded.

Thus, an unprecedented event unfolded as the priests of the Riott temple, including the High Priest, were imprisoned in the underground dungeons of the Winter Castle.

Although the Riott temple belonged to the Crovache, this act was clearly seen as an act of blasphemy against the sacred, and the priests protested. However, Khalid paid no heed to their objections.

Then, he changed his mind about not believing in the gods and called upon his trusted aide, Jerus.

“Assemble a search party with elite members and gather as much information as possible through the information guild. We are going to find my daughter,” he declared.

As Khalid spoke these words, his noble, violet eyes gleamed with unwavering determination.

Shiver, shiver.

In an instant, the cold air he exhaled froze into frost, creating icicles. No one dared to speak or move under the overwhelming pressure he exuded. Indeed, he displayed the aura befitting the Duke of the Crovache, the Noble Silver Lion.

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PUDDING began to doze off whenever she found a moment to bask in the sunlight. It was beneficial to have dreams that showed her past events since the more dreams she had, the more she knew.

‘It’s like having prophetic dreams.’

Just like any other day, while lying on her back, basking in the sunlight, Pudding drifted into a light nap.

“…!”

It was an ominous dream. She dreamt of Theo entering the Shadow Forest and getting injured by a monster. She saw him bleeding in the dream.

Worried, her heart thumped in her chest.

Startled, Pudding sat up, her small body alert. As she looked around, she realized that Theo was nowhere to be found. It was a big problem.

‘Theo! Where on earth did you go?’

Lost in thought, Pudding was wandering around the cabin when he saw Theo walking along the path on the other side of the forest, following the village herbalist who was heading out to gather herbs.

“Woof, woof!”

Pudding rushed toward Theo in a hurry.

“Woof, woof! (No, don’t go!)”

She then bit onto Theo’s trouser hem and stretched herself upward. Upon seeing Pudding, Theo bent down, gently stroking her head and back.

“Pudding, why are you like this? I’ll play with you when I come back. I have to go now.”

“Hehe, how cute. But we need to go now, Theo. We can’t bring the dog. It’s annoying. You have to leave it behind.”

“Understood. Pudding, if I’m going to earn money, I have no choice. Keep it a secret from Daisy. Shall we go, then?”

Theo smiled cheerfully and waved his hand. No matter how much Pudding barked or stubbornly resisted, it was in vain.

“Woof, woof. (I’m worried.)”

She had failed to prevent Theo from leaving. They were already heading further North in the direction of the Shadow Forest. Pudding couldn’t bear the worry and suspense. Instead of sitting still, hoping that the dream wouldn’t come true, she thought it would be better to secretly follow them. If a monster were to appear and threaten Theo, she was determined to sink her sturdy teeth into it and tear it apart, just as she had seen in her dream.

‘I have to protect Theo!’

Pudding’s eyes sparkled with determination. With her body wiggling, Pudding ran swiftly toward the place where Theo and the herbalist had disappeared. But within the blink of an eye, the two figures were no longer in sight.

Where was the Shadow Forest again?

Even in her past life, Pudding had never ventured into the dangerous forest where monsters were said to appear. But now, to bring Theo into such a perilous forest, could it be that the herbalist harbored ill intentions?

Such suspicions crossed Pudding’s mind. Lost in various thoughts, Pudding finally entered the forest but immediately felt perplexed.

‘I, I have no idea which way to go.’

However, Pudding possessed an extraordinary sense of smell, typical of a dog. Concentrating, she sniffed around, trying to locate Theo’s scent.

‘It’s that way!’

Carried by the wind, Theo’s scent reached Pudding. It was warm and cozy, with a hint of playfulness. Pudding vigorously moved her four legs, running swiftly, following the direction where Theo’s scent was strongest.

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“YOUR Excellency, it has been reported that Julius, the High Priest of the Riott temple, imprisoned in the underground dungeons, received a new revelation last night.”

The Duke narrowed his eyes at the report from his aide, Jerus.

“Is the old man resorting to such strategy to escape from the prison?”

“…Your Excellency, didn’t you believe in the prophecy and want to find the young lady by trusting it? Well, that’s the only thing we can believe in for now.”

Upon Jerus’ remark, the Duke glared fiercely at him, as if he would launch an attack. Sensing the potential danger, Jerus hesitated and stepped back. Defying his lord’s intentions always required utmost preparation. Fortunately, the Duke suppressed his anger and then spoke.

“Well, I suppose I’ll have to go and see for myself.”