Emperor's harem: Transmigrated with SSS mana talent
Chapter 76: [And that, at least, will be real]

Chapter 76: [And that, at least, will be real]

Nyra’s breath hitched.

For the first time, she looked up and really saw him — bathed in the pale moonlight, his face was strikingly handsome, every feature sharp and defined.

Her cheeks flushed deeply, heat rushing through her.

Nyra shook her head quickly, trying to steady the rush in her chest.

Focus, she told herself.

Don’t get swept up in that face... or that voice... or—damn it, focus!

She leaned in again, her whisper firmer this time.

"Kael... if you don’t leave right now, I’ll scream."

That did it.

Kael froze like a man caught picking pockets in front of a palace guard.

His face paled in the moonlight.

"H-hey, hey—no need for that. You got serious real fast, huh? I’m leaving! Leaving, not even looking back—don’t scream."

He started to pull away, carefully untangling himself, but just as he rose to his feet, he paused.

His expression softened—almost sheepish, almost fond.

Then, gently, he leaned down and pressed a single kiss to her forehead.

Nyra’s eyes widened. She went stiff, like her soul had momentarily stepped out of her body to process what had just happened.

Before she could say a word, Kael whispered, "Goodnight," and slipped out of the room like a guilty shadow.

Behind him, Nyra lay in stunned silence, one hand over her forehead, her blush burning hotter than any scream ever could.

***

Kael shut the door with a careful, near-silent click. He leaned his back against it and exhaled slowly, his heart still pounding.

Please... let Selene stay asleep.

Please.

There was no way he was getting any sleep after that.

Running a hand through his hair, he slipped back into his coat and moved toward the hallway. The church was dim and hushed, lit only by the cold blue glow of moonlight pouring through high windows.

As he stepped outside, a breeze kissed his face — sharp, refreshing.

That’s when he spotted him.

Up on the tiled roof, silhouetted against the night sky, the Divine General sat like a gargoyle with a bottle of dark ale in hand, legs dangling off the edge.

Kael narrowed his eyes. The man hadn’t moved, but Kael could feel it — he’d been seen.

Without a word, Kael turned and quietly made his way to the side stairwell, climbing it slowly, each footstep a whisper on stone.

When he finally emerged onto the rooftop, the air felt colder, wider, like he was no longer inside the world, but looking down on it.

The Divine General didn’t look at him. He just took another swig of his drink and muttered,

"Rough night, Duke?, Want some?"

Kael glanced at the half-empty wine, then at the man beside him, and shook his head. "I’ll pass."

With a grunt of amusement, the general lowered the bottle without protest.

Kael settled beside him, legs stretched out, arms resting over his knees. The rooftop tiles were cool beneath them, and for a moment they just sat in the silence of moonlight and wind.

"So," Kael said, voice low, "can’t sleep either, huh?"

The Divine General smirked. "I could say the same for you."

They shared a faint chuckle, one that vanished as quickly as it came. The silence returned, but this time it wasn’t empty — it was shared.

Then, after a moment, the general spoke.

"Thanks."

Kael gave a short laugh, stretching his arms.

"Oh, that’s for our ’contract,’ right?" he said with a smirk.

The general gave a subtle nod — the kind only people who’ve shared blood and madness would understand.

But instead of answering, he reached into his robe and pulled out a tightly-bound scroll. Without ceremony, he held it out to Kael.

Kael blinked. "What’s this now?"

The general just raised an eyebrow. Kael took it, slowly unrolling the edge. As his eyes scanned the runes and symbols, his face went blank.

Then came the double take.

"You—what? This is Autumn Fade, your soulbound spell. The one you swore never to pass down." His voice was rising with disbelief.

The Divine General just chuckled, still staring at the moon.

"You can take it, Kael."

Kael’s mouth opened slightly in protest... but his hands had already folded the scroll and — almost too naturally — slipped it inside his coat pocket.

There was a moment of silence. Then the general let out a full laugh.

"Shameless, are we?"

Kael chuckled. "I’d be stupid to refuse, no?"

The general gave a single approving nod, then fell quiet, staring out over the sleeping rooftops of duchy.

The wind tugged softly at his cloak. For a long moment, the only sound was the gentle clink of the bottle as he set it down beside him.

Then, in a quieter tone, the general spoke.

"Kael... you’re my nephew. And you’ve got something rare in you — something dangerous, yes, but limitless. Back then, I was a lot like you."

Kael turned to him, all humor gone now. He could feel the weight of the moment settling in.

"As your uncle," the general continued, "let me give you something more valuable than that scroll. Just one piece of advice."

Kael nodded, listening.

"This world," the general said slowly, eyes still on the moon,

"is far, far vaster than you think. No matter how strong you become, there will always be someone stronger. Always a predator in the dark, a hand reaching to take what you’ve earned. Your power, your name, your very sense of self — someone, somewhere, will try to strip it away."

Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.

"You must learn to hide yourself, Kael. Not in fear — but in understanding. Learn when to stand tall, and when to disappear. And when you do stand, be ruthless.

Not cruel — but precise. Cold. You hesitate once, and you lose everything. This world doesn’t reward mercy.

It rewards those who endure."

Kael swallowed, the chill in the air feeling deeper now.

"You must keep moving, Kael. Never grow stagnant.

Never grow satisfied.

Only by moving — forward, sideways, through the cracks of this broken world — will you eventually come to find something that feels like purpose.

Like truth. Even if, in the end, it turns out to be a lie... it will be your lie. And that, at least, will be real."

The rooftop fell silent again.