Chapter 35 Welcome to the modern world

Lord Aros’s reaction was nothing like what Amos had imagined, which was, frankly, a letdown. During the walk to his father’s office, Amos had run through several scenarios in his head—shock, maybe even fainting. Instead, Aros simply sipped his tea and quietly looked over paperwork.

“Father.”

“Hm.”

“I found something important beneath the treasury.”

“I know.”

Amos blinked. “What.”

Aros turned another page casually.

“You must had found Karos.”

Amos stared at him. Karos stood quietly beside him observing the office with mild interest.

“THAT WAS YOUR REACTION?!”

Aros finally glanced upward calmly.

“I read Lord Kairos’s archive years ago.”

“You knew I was just fighting for my life, right?!”

“Yes, I did feel the mana turbulences.”

“…AND YOU JUST STAYED HERE?!”

Aros took another sip of tea.

“I know you could handle it. ”

Karos nodded once. “He did.”

Amos looked deeply betrayed by reality itself. “This family is insane.”

“That observation is generations late.”

Amos pointed aggressively toward Karos. “She attacked me!”

Aros glanced toward the visible injuries covering his son.

“I assumed she would.”

“You assumed correctly!”

Karos spoke calmly afterward.

“He passed the evaluation with flying colours.”

Aros nodded once. “Good.”

“GOOD?!”

Amos genuinely could not believe this conversation. Karos meanwhile looked mildly thoughtful while observing Aros.

The room fell into a deeper silence. Unlike Amos, Aros knew exactly what Karos stood for—not just Kairos’s creation, not just a concealed weapon, but the living reminder of House Kyros’s darkest chapter. And, in some strange way, the last remnant of a former head’s humanity.

Aros leaned back slowly. “I wondered if you would ever wake.”

Karos answered honestly. “I was waiting.”

“For the prophesied child.”

“Yes.”

Aros’s gaze slowly shifted toward Amos. Aros rubbed his forehead slightly.

“This situation is troublesome.”

“Correct.”

“However.”

His gaze moved toward Karos again. “We cannot allow others to discover your true identity.”

Karos tilted her head slightly. “Why.”

Amos answered immediately. “Because you are a living proof of Kyros's crime.”

“That sounds reasonable.”

Aros nodded calmly.

“The royal family especially would react poorly.” Then Aros sighed quietly. “We will need a fake story. You resemble House Kyros enough that hiding the connection is impossible.”

Karos nodded.

“That is intentional.”

“Please stop sounding proud about that.”

Aros thought quietly for several moments. Then—

“You will be introduced as a distant branch family member.”

Amos blinked. “That simple?”

“Yes.”

Karos looked thoughtful. “What is my relation to Amos.”

Aros calmly continued planning.

“A distant branch of the family from the outer territories, with minimal public records, has recently arrived after inheriting family responsibilities.”

Karos listened carefully.

“I will need surname.”

Aros thought briefly.

“Karos Kyren.”

Karos nodded approvingly.

“An acceptable name.”

“I cannot believe I am surrounded by people like this.”

Aros ignored the complaint entirely. “You will avoid discussing your past and preferably hold back when fighting.”

“That is easy.”

Amos immediately pointed at her.

“NO. IT ISN'T. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO HOLD BACK!”

Aros closed his eyes slowly. Karos looked genuinely confused again.

“If enemies attack, should I not destroy them.”

“That depends on the scale of destruction.”

Karos considered this carefully. “Father usually preferred overwhelming force.”

Amos sighed deeply.

“Of course, he did.”

Aros finally stood afterward and approached them quietly. His gaze lingered on Karos for several moments. Aros bowed his head slightly.

“To one who sacrificed everything for the family...” His voice remained calm. “You have my gratitude.”

Karos froze slightly. As though completely unprepared for those words.

“I merely obeyed father’s will.”

“Even so.” Aros straightened again. “You did it.”

Karos looked unsure, as if she’d never thought about what came after the waiting. Amos caught it right away and a faint grin.

“Well then, cousin.”

Karos looked toward him.

Amos pointed dramatically.

“Welcome to modern society.” A pause. “You are going to hate it.”

***

Ambrosia and Lisa were quietly reading in one of the manor lounges when the doors burst open. Amos came in first, looking awful. His clothes were torn, a of his sleeve gone, and dried blood stained the area near his collar. He moved like every step was a personal insult to his body Ambrosia shot to her feet in shock.

“BROTHER?!”

Lisa nearly dropped her book. “What happened?!”

Amos raised a hand calmly. “Before either of you panic—”

“You are bleeding!”

“It is mostly stopped.”

“That is WORSE!”

Lisa hurried toward him immediately while Ambrosia looked one emotional breakdown away from violence.

“You said you were going to the archives!”

“I did.”

“You do not usually return from reading books looking like a corpse!”

“That is technically should be correct.”

Then—  

A second figure stepped in behind him. Tall, with long blond hair loosely tied at her back.  Silver eyes, sharp and refined features, and a relaxed smile that managed to be both charming and faintly suspicious. Karos gave a casual wave.  “Greetings.”.

Ambrosia blinked. Lisa blinked. The two girls slowly turned their gaze to Amos, then back to Karos, and once more to Amos.“There are two of him.”

Amos looked offended immediately.

“There are not two of me.”

Karos tilted her head slightly. “I resemble a more polished version of you.”

“Kyren please stop encouraging them.”

Ambrosia pointed aggressively between the two blonds.

“You have the same face!”

“We do not.”

“You absolutely do!”

Lisa stared carefully.

“Young Master Amos but older and is a girl.”

Karos smiled pleasantly. “I have been called handsome before.”

Amos immediately narrowed his eyes.

“She is becoming stronger.”

Karos looked proud. “Thank you.”

“That was not praise.”

Ambrosia approached cautiously now, staring at Karos with increasing suspicion.

“Who are you exactly?”

Karos bowed slightly with absurdly smooth noble etiquette.

“Karos Kyren.”

“A distant branch family member.”

“And apparently your cousin.”

Amos immediately pointed at Karos.

“She attacked me.”

Karos nodded once. “Yes.”

Ambrosia stared blankly.

“WHAT.”

“He survived impressively.”

“WHY DID YOU ATTACK MY BROTHER?!”

Karos considered this carefully. “I have to see the heir strength.”

“HAVE?”

“He passed my expectations.”

Ambrosia slowly looked toward Amos.

“Brother.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you saying this conversation like it is normal.”

“Because I am tired.”

“She attacked Young Master Amos?”

“Yes.”

“And now she is going to lives here?”

“Yes.”

Lisa stared silently for several seconds. Then softly— “I think I missed several important explanations.”

“That is understandable.”

Karos suddenly crouched slightly in front of Ambrosia.

Her silver eyes observed her carefully.

“You resemble your brother a bit.”

Ambrosia blinked. “Am I?”

“Yes.”

Amos sighed deeply. “Please treat her like you would treat me.”

Karos nodded thoughtfully. “Alright.”

Despite the absurdity, Ambrosia’s suspicion gradually faded. Karos exuded the same dangerous confidence Amos, but with a calmer, more mature air—and just a touch more narcissism. It was deeply unsettling. Afterward, Karos turned her gaze toward Lisa.

“And you are Lisa.” Lisa stiffened slightly.

“Yes.” Karos nodded once.

“You are important to Amos.”

Amos immediately looked horrified. “Kyren.”

“What.”

“We do not say things like that directly.”

“Why.”

“Because society said so.”

“That seems inefficient.”

Lisa meanwhile had turned bright red while Ambrosia immediately grinned maliciously.

“Oh?”

Amos pointed aggressively.

“Do not start.”

Karos looked genuinely curious.

“Is this considered flirting.”

“NO.”

Karos had fully embraced her newly crafted persona—relaxed, confident, a touch smug, and dangerously charming. She carried herself like a noble heir who caused trouble on purpose, which only made things worse. Ambrosia was already laughing, Lisa was beginning to unwind, and Amos, with mounting dread, realized Karos blended into the household far too easily.

“…This manor is doomed.”