As the little voice called out "Papa?", both Julius and Rosalina froze on the spot.

All the hot excitement disappeared in a second, well, not completely, but there was definitely no time to keep going.

Julius quickly let go of her hands and dropped back onto the bed. He crossed his legs fast in lotus position, trying to look calm and peaceful like a monk.

Rosalina jumped up and started fixing her dress with quick, nervous hands.

While she smoothed the fabric, her eyes suddenly dropped to his lower body.

He was only wearing a thin towel, and his manly pride was still standing proud, twitching like it refused to calm down.

Her cheeks turned bright red. Without saying a word, she grabbed a big pillow and a shawl, shoved them at him, and turned away fast.

Julius wrapped the shawl around his waist and hugged the pillow tight over his lap. His face burned with embarrassment.

A wave of regret hit him hard. He had been so close... just one more hour and it would have been perfect.

He let out a long, defeated sigh and looked at the closed door.

Thank goodness it was shut. If it had been open, Rosel would have seen something very inappropriate for a little girl her age.

’They must have brought her from the mansion in Agarta,’ he thought.

"Are you awake?" Rosel’s voice called again, a bit louder this time.

Julius closed his eyes and started pretending to meditate, breathing slow and deep, trying his best to calm down.

Rosalina quickly sat down and copied him. After a few seconds, he spoke in a relaxed voice, like he had just finished a long peaceful session.

"Yes, we’re awake."

He hopped off the bed, walked to the door, and opened it slowly. Sure enough, Rosel stood there blinking up at him with big curious eyes.

"Hey sweetheart, you woke up early today?" he said with a big silly grin, still trying to hide the stubborn hardness under the shawl.

"Papa, it’s noon! Of course I’m awake!" Rosel blinked like he had asked the silliest question in the world.

She slipped past him and bounced happily into the room.

Right behind her came two more people.

Julius’s eyes landed on them and his smile turned super awkward. "Hey Mom, Dad," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

They stared at him hard, like they were trying to figure out exactly what he had been doing.

Julius felt sweat popping up all over his forehead. His heart thumped loudly.

’Did they catch on?’ He tried to keep a normal face, but it came out all twisted and weird. His mom, Elizabeth, stared straight at him. His dad did the same.

Then, in just a few seconds, their serious looks changed.

Elizabeth’s hand shot out fast and flicked him right on the forehead with a sharp little *thwack*.

"U stupid idiot!" she said, looking him up and down with that classic mom mix of love and scolding. "Do you know what you lost in that tower?!"

Julius rubbed his forehead with his palm.

The flick still stung a bit, but he shook it off. "Yeah..." he said, stepping aside and waving them in with a sheepish grin.

He had lost a lot in that tower.

Ten whole years of his life, his leg chopped clean off, which his mom had somehow stitched back on, and he would have been dead if she hadn’t been there.

Leaving that mini version of herself with him was pure luck.

It was all thanks to her super obsessive nature. If she wasn’t like that, who knows what would have happened.

Elizabeth walked past him into the room. Nathaniel followed right behind.

Julius gave his mom a warm smile, then turned to his dad with another big grin.

But the second he got a proper look, the smile dropped off his face like it had been slapped away. His eyes went wide with confusion.

"Who are you, sir?" Julius asked, eyebrows scrunched up.

He had only seen his dad’s body shape earlier and thought it was him.

Now that he looked closely... the face was a total mess.

Bruises everywhere, eyes swollen and purple, skin looking like it had been through a war. It was hard to even tell it was a face.

Nathaniel stared back, dumbfounded and clearly angry. But his voice came out soft and warm.

"Son... I’m really pissed right now. If you don’t want a beating, please be respectful towards..."

As he spoke, Elizabeth suddenly glanced back over her shoulder. Nathaniel froze mid-sentence.

"Hehe..." He gave an awkward little chuckle, trying to look totally innocent.

In a flash he stepped forward and pulled Julius into a big hug.

"See, honey? I’m not doing anything. He’s our only child, after all!" The last words came out a little strained, like he was forcing them through gritted teeth.

Anyone would be mad in his place. ’I swear, if I get my hands on that bitch....’ Nathaniel didn’t finish the thought out loud.

He just patted Julius’s back a couple times and walked deeper into the room.

Julius stood there blinking, totally confused. He had no idea what was going on, but one thing was clear, his dad’s face had definitely taken a beating from his mom.

In this big world, only his yandere mom could do that kind of damage.

If Julius knew the full truth, that Miasma had kissed his dad all over and caused the bruises, he would have felt nothing but pity. But right now, he just felt sorry for the poor guy.

He quietly closed the door and walked over to join them.

Once inside, Elizabeth and Nathaniel settled comfortably on the big bed.

Rosel climbed straight into Rosalina’s lap and happily played with her long, thick black hair, twisting the shiny strands around her little fingers like it was the best toy in the world.

Julius stood off to the side, waiting quietly for someone to speak. He didn’t have to wait long.

Nathaniel let out a dry chuckle and shook his head. "I still can’t believe I’m seeing this in my own house..."

He looked completely amazed. Just four months ago, if anyone had told him that the proud and famous Rosalina Valentina, daughter of his biggest enemy, would be sitting in his home like a married woman to his son, he would have laughed right in their face.

It sounded totally impossible. But then Elizabeth came back from the continent of Alaskar and dropped the bomb: their son was in love with her.

Nathaniel had been so shocked that all the color drained from his face. He kept hoping Rosalina would never feel the same.

Yet here they were. The exact thing he had feared had happened.

Still, there was nothing he could do about it now. He could only support them. After all, he wasn’t about to fight his only son.

But a serious look crossed his face as he continued. "There’s a big problem though..." He paused, then dropped the news.

"There has been an envoy from the Valentina clan!"