The silence was so long. Looking at the surprise embarrassment on his father's face, Ed couldn't help but regret asking this question...... In fact, he could pretend not to know, just as he had been pretending not to know about the growing quarrel between his parents since he was eleven years old—but the girl might be in danger, and he couldn't ignore that.

“...... Heather. ”

River replied, a bitter smile dipped in the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, "Her name is Heather." Sure enough, there are no eternal secrets...... How do you know?"

“...... Nine Toes told me. Ed lowered his eyes.

River's face changed instantly: "What did he do to her?!"

"I don't know. Ed shook his head, "He just told me you had a ......"

He still couldn't say the word.

Even though his body was stiff and heavy, River couldn't sit still.

"I have to go......" He stood up, his fingers tightening and loosening, not daring to look directly into Ed's face, "I know I owe you an explanation, but Heather ...... She doesn't know anything......"

What a lucky little princess - Ed smiled wryly.

"There's a ship on the docks, the Unicorn—you may have heard of it. He said, "If you need help, I can go to Captain Bertram." ”

Rainbow Bend Island is like another home away from home for the Unicorn and the adventurers on board, who know everything about it.

River nodded hurriedly and ran away, looking back as he stepped out the door.

His son sat there with his back to him, his shoulders drooping, his gray hair unusually glaring—he was only in his early twenties.

But he didn't need him...... Not more needed than his daughter.

.

Ed sat dumbfounded, listening to his father's footsteps go away...... Until someone poked him in the back with a finger.

“...... Did you hear it all?"

Ed looked up at his friend and cracked his mouth, "I used to secretly guess how many younger siblings I would have...... There's only one of them. ”

Iss grabbed his cheek in retaliation and twisted it.

"Don't laugh. He said, "It's ugly." ”

He quietly left the room when he sensed that something was wrong...... But it is true that everything is heard. Dragons don't really have any feelings for such a thing as an "illegitimate child" - dragons can only conceive one life at a time, but they will not have only one companion in their lives, but neither of them will think of another dragon with the same blood as a brother or sister.

“...... For a long time when I was a kid I thought I was Scott's illegitimate child. He said.

Ed was stunned and couldn't help but laugh out loud - this was a strange way of comforting.

“...... Shut up!" Iss was annoyed.

"Bertram also secretly told me that he thinks your temper is much better. Ed sighed, "Why don't I feel it at all?"

Isis snorted. His more human-like, gentle-patient skin wasn't a disguise, after all, he had lived longer as a human than he had been a dragon, and had been well raised. If you can't even accept this fact...... It will be more difficult for him to keep his "own" existence.

But the human in front of him had seen almost all of him, and he took it for granted that he could have been a little more willful.

"That's right. He said, "I forgot to tell you that Naria has written...... She'll be here in the next two days. ”

After the surprise, Ed's first reaction was to hold his head.

“...... Should I dye my hair?" he asked, apprehensively.

Isis chuckled softly.

"I think it's better to shave. He said.

.

Before Naria arrived, River had already picked up Heather.

He took very good care of this daughter. She is protected not only by mercenaries but also by mages. Teleported from Cloud Island to Rainbow Bend Island, and then borrowed the teleportation array of the Archmage Tower...... Ed saw his sister that evening.

The fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl had grown quite tall, and her slightly dark complexion seemed to have inherited the blood of the Brie people. But Ed could be sure at a glance that the Brie man who followed her, a middle-aged woman with a sturdy figure and wary eyes, was not her mother.

Suddenly taken to a strange place, the girl was obviously a little nervous. She always clung to the Brie's arm, but the moment she saw River, she did not cry or complain to pour out her grievances, but raised a big smile and threw herself into her father's arms with complete trust and joy, and there was no sign of the arrogance described by Nine Toes.

Ed stepped back from the window, momentarily dazed. He couldn't blame everything on an innocent girl, but it was also difficult for him to really treat her as his sister.

He suddenly felt very uncomfortable staying in Cloud Castle. This was supposed to be his home - he was his father's only heir...... But what right did he have to accuse River? Everything he had enjoyed since he was a child had been the result of his father's hard work, and he, a son who had long since grown up, should have inherited the family business, or at least had some plans for his future, instead of living on his father's accumulated wealth, as he still takes for granted.

He never found his place, either against the gods who gave him strength or the world he needed to protect...... Now, even in this home, he can no longer find his place.

He stood in the shadows by the window until nightfall. River clearly didn't expect his children to accept each other easily—he didn't arrange for them to meet or anything, and even dinner was delivered to their rooms.

Later, River came to him alone with a bottle of wine.

"I told her. "She's always wanted to have a brother......

Ed just laughed - a lot of girls want to have an older brother, but they probably don't want to suddenly find out that they have an older brother in this way. River's clothes were crumpled, and there were even undried water stains on his shoulders...... The girl was obviously crying enough.

But compared to the embarrassment when it was first revealed, River is much calmer.

"Nine-toe," he asked, "what else did he tell you?"

"It's nothing. Ed replied lightly, "He said you had found an island with no people...... Shipbuilding was to go to the island and become a king. ”

River laughed self-deprecatingly, "It's not wrong...... I know this may sound too false to you, but I don't want to stay on this continent anymore since I can't avenge Vala. It seems like I have a lot, but in the end...... No amount of wealth can match the kingship, let alone take back my son from the hands of a goddess. I can't help you with anything, Ed...... At the very least, I can give myself a little freedom. ”

Ed's lips moved, and finally he couldn't help but ask:

"The island...... Does Mother know?"

.