Chapter 302
Kael paused, his body stiffening at her expression. He knew that look—calm on the outside, brewing storm within. He turned slowly, trying to muster a calm smile. "I don’t have any hand in it, Mother."
"Oh please," Jess muttered with an edge in her voice, stepping beside Emilia. "I can tell from your guilty face that you definitely had a hand in it."
Kael’s jaw tightened as he shot a glare at her. ’What’s wrong with this woman? Always fanning flames like it’s her life’s mission. One day, Jess... just wait. I’ll straighten you out myself.’
Before Emilia could say more, Lyria approached silently, holding little Elfie in her arms. The child’s bright eyes flicked up as she wriggled free and tugged at Kael’s sleeve. "Papa, I want to go too! I want to go!"
Emilia shifted her focus to the girl, then looked back at Kael, her expression demanding an explanation. "And what is this all about, exactly?"
With a tired sigh, Kael quickly narrated the events—skipping the sharper edges, smoothing over details, but keeping the key facts intact. Emilia listened quietly, her eyes never leaving him.
When he finished, she didn’t speak right away. Then, calmly but firmly, she said, "Isn’t this too much of a coincidence? The whole city is in a panic, and somehow, you just happen to be involved again. Everyone will be pointing fingers at us."
"Let them," Kael said with a shrug, defiance in his tone. "We don’t need to care. Let the dogs bark if they want to."
Emilia stared at him long, unreadable. Lyria, standing off to the side, bit her lower lip. Her eyes met Kael’s for a second, and in that silence, he could see it—she knew. If she had doubts before, they were gone now.
"Does this mean we can’t leave?" Emilia asked after a moment. "Are we going to be late for the Crown Games?"