After that, everyone dismissed their familiars and crowded around Adeline. She stayed perched on her pegasus, acting protective like a child afraid her favorite toy might be taken away. Mirea examined the pegasus from inches away, while Ard kept his eyes fixed on his little sister, stunned by the fact that she possessed Holy element.

"Adeline, try to follow my words and hold your hand up toward the sky," Ard said.

"Okay, Brother," Adeline replied.

Ard immediately recited the incantation for a light spear and fired a shot upward. Adeline repeated his words exactly. Her outstretched hand glowed with a brilliant white radiance, and a spear of pure white light streaked into the air before vanishing into the clouds. Ard was stunned, and while Adeline was just as shocked, her smile grew wider than ever. She turned to him, beaming.

"Brother, I can do magic!" she shouted, overcome with joy.

Ard watched her, his face turning pale and his jaw dropping. He knew for a fact that when Adeline was ten years old, she had undergone a test at the Fredonia palace. The results showed she had extraordinary magical potential, but her element remained unknown. Based on his knowledge from three thousand years ago—back when he was Ashton and had learned the world's legends—he knew that just like demons, angels were actually a distinct race that possessed the Holy element.

Aside from Ard and Eva, who mastered both Holy and Dark elements because they were reincarnations from another world, no one else was supposed to wield that power—unless there was a bloodline crossover between an angel and a human, much like Irwin, who was half-demon and possessed the Dark element.

Ard turned to look at Eva; she stood frozen, her face just as pale as his. As Esmeralda, she knew exactly what he knew. Ard immediately pulled Eva back, moving away from the group while Adeline was busy chatting with the others.

"Eva, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ard whispered.

"Who is Adeline's mother? Her father is clearly King Arthur—that red hair is genetic—but her mother?" Eva asked, getting straight to the point.

"Okay... so you are thinking exactly what I'm thinking. Just please, don't go asking that out loud yet," Ard replied.

"Sorry... but... besides us, it's impossible for anyone to have the Light and Dark elements... except for Irwin, and he has the Dark element because he's half-demon," Eva argued.

"That's the question... and I don't understand it myself. As far as I know, my mom is Adeline's mom too. When Adeline was born, I saw my mother give birth to her with my own eyes. You know I'd remember that, because after looping nine times, it's always been the same," Ard said.

"Did... did your mom have an affair?" Eva asked.

"Hey... that's impossible. Like you said, Adeline's hair is red; that's clearly the Fredonia royal bloodline. Besides, my father doesn't have any brothers. It's out of the question. My mother's hair was blonde like Alicia's; she wouldn't have given birth to a red-haired child if she'd cheated," Ard answered, annoyed by the accusation.

"Sorry... I was just asking," Eva replied softly, feeling a bit regretful.

"But... you might be onto something. I only have red hair because I'm using a disguise spell, right? Eva, try using a cancellation spell on her," Ard suggested.

"Okay... I'll try," Eva said.

Eva raised her palm toward Adeline and chanted a dispelling mantra. It had no effect. Adeline's hair remained bright red, leaving Ard and Eva even more confused.

"Your mom didn't cheat. Thank goodness," Eva noted.

"Hmm yeah... but this is truly baffling," Ard replied, lost in thought.

"Don't be confused."

Suddenly, a voice spoke from behind them. Ard and Eva turned to see Brutus standing there. He took a moment to admire the beautiful pegasus Adeline was riding before looking back at Ard and Eva.

"What do you mean, Uncle?" Ard asked.

"Your sister is indeed the child of your father and mother... but there is a story behind it. It makes sense why your father told you to take her with you. Come inside, I'll explain everything there," Brutus answered.

Ard and Eva followed Brutus into the palace and went straight to his study. Once inside, Brutus locked the door and gestured for Ard and Eva to sit on the sofa across from him.

"I told you before, your father discussed things with me in the elven village alongside the village chief when you were born. He did the same thing when Adeline and Beatrice were born, because their cases were identical," Brutus said.

"Wait... Beatrice? What does she have to do with this, Uncle?" Ard asked.

"What... you really didn't know that Beatrice is only thirteen? She's two years younger than you two, even though she looks like she's seventeen," Brutus replied.

"Wait... seriously?" Ard and Eva asked, completely blindsided.

Brutus nodded. He explained that when his wife and Ard's mother were pregnant at the same time, Ard's mother fell dangerously ill, which threatened her three-month pregnancy. Arthur took her to the elven village, and Brutus followed with his own pregnant wife to find a cure.

After much deliberation, and by his wife's own decision, she asked Eledar to swap their unborn children. She wanted to use the Holy element from her own child to heal Ard's mother from the inside.

"Wait... your wife... Beatrice's mother... was she an angel?" Eva asked.

"Hmm... half-angel, an indirect descendant," Brutus answered.

Brutus continued the story. Since saving the unborn children was the only thing on everyone's mind, they all agreed. In the end, Beatrice and Adeline swapped wombs for three months before being moved back. The Holy energy in Beatrice's tiny body was what successfully cured Ard's mother's illness. Tragically, after giving birth, both mothers passed away due to complications. This was why Arthur and Brutus were so protective of Adeline and Beatrice.

Beatrice had inherited her mother's physical traits; as a half-angel, she had matured almost instantly, appearing like a young adult despite being only thirteen. She had also inherited the wind element from Ard's own mother. Because of this, when she claimed to be fifteen to enter the academy, no one ever thought to question her. Adeline, on the other hand, had spent those three crucial months inside Beatrice's mother, which was how she had inherited her Holy element.

Ard and Eva sat in stunned silence. They couldn't find any words; it felt like their heads were about to explode as they tried to process the massive information bomb that had just been dropped on them. After a long moment, the two of them turned to look at each other.

"Beatrice's clingy, selfish attitude, her constant complaining, and her stubborn streak... it's because she really is just thirteen. It all makes sense now," Ard remarked.

"Exactly. She only looks seventeen—she even looks older than us, and we're fifteen. Plus, she's always been the weakest in a fight compared to the rest of the group. This also explains why she and Adeline became friends so fast. They literally switched places before they were even born," Eva added.

"It's hard to believe. My father kept a secret this big from me," Ard muttered.

"Of course Arthur kept it from you. I've never even told Beatrice about this. You two are the only ones who know this secret now, so please, do not tell anyone," Brutus replied.

"I understand, Uncle... but it really is hard to believe," Ard said.

"So... do you still consider Beatrice your fiancée?" Brutus asked with a wide grin.

"Heg." Ard and Eva immediately froze. They looked down and glanced at each other, their faces a mask of confusion.

"Hahaha... I'm just joking. Even though she's only thirteen, she's mature enough to make her own decisions. Don't worry, you still have my blessing. In fact, I'm relieved she's with you... but remember your promise, Beatrice is my only daughter," Brutus laughed.

"I... I understand, Uncle," Ard replied, sounding defeated.

"As Ard's first fiancée, I'll look after Beatrice as if she were my own sister," Eva added, her voice steady and reassuring.

"Good. I trust you both," Brutus replied, leaning back and folding his arms across his chest as he looked at them.

Suddenly, "Waaaaaa!" A scream echoed from outside. All three turned toward the window just in time to see Adeline, with Beatrice clinging to her back, soaring past on the pegasus. Both girls looked absolutely terrified. Right on their heels were Rosalind, riding her green forest dragon, and Irwin on his black dragon, both of them shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Haaaah," Ard and Eva sighed in unison, feeling the energy drain out of them.

"Looks like they're causing trouble already," Brutus remarked.

"Excuse us, Uncle. We have to go catch them," Ard said, pushing himself to his feet.

"Yes, sorry about that, Uncle," Eva added.

"Go on, help them... and make sure you teach Adeline how to actually control that familiar," Brutus replied.

"We will," Ard and Eva said together.

The two of them bolted out of the room. Brutus stood up, walked to the window, and gazed out. A moment later, "Swoooosh!" He watched as a garuda and a griffin accelerated toward the pegasus, which was already high in the sky. Brutus shook his head and smiled. He looked up toward the heavens.

"Beatrice is all grown up now, and she even has a fiancé... please keep watching over them from up there, Ariel, my wife," Brutus thought to himself.

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