My Soul card is a Reaper

His voice hardened a little as he continued. "But since you were doing all of that for Camelot's future, I have a proposal for you." Azzy momentarily shifts his gaze to Zion. "I asked you what gift you wanted a while ago, but you only asked for a fight instead, which cannot be considered a present. So, take this as a present instead from me that might boost a little bit to fulfill your mother's dream."

Leah looked up at him, furrowing her brows. "What is it, Az… Lord Garcia?" She asked.

Azzy replied. "We cede the entire country of Freyles to Camelot. The kingdom will retain its monarchy. Your rule remains untouched, and you gain a huge territory too. In exchange, Camelot will then give up a large tract of its eastern lands to Hidden Clans and form an autonomous nation. And I also hope that when Zion achieves your dream, you will let him go and do what he wishes."

Leah tensed.

Leah opened her mouth to speak, but Azzy raised a hand gently, stopping her. "You don't have to answer now. Regarding this proposal, whatever the issues, we'll talk in a formal setting."

Leah nodded in understanding without a word.

And just like that, his gaze shifted again, falling on Izora, who stood a little further back, arms crossed. "And Mom…"

He was first emotionless and then hard but calmer, and now, his tone turned softer as he spoke to his mother. "You still hate Dad. Because you think he cheated on you. But the truth is…"

"Enough, Azzy," Vesyrn snapped, stepping forward hurriedly.

"Hmm?" Everyone was taken aback by Vesyrn's sudden reaction.

Fiona couldn't help but frown, wondering what it is.

Azzy's expression didn't shift. Maintaining a soft tone, he said slowly, "Lying only makes people lose relationships, Dad."

Vesyrn's jaw clenched. "Azzy… you…"

"Yes," Azzy went on, voice firmer now as he continued, "this might hurt Fiona. But you can't keep avoiding it. People deserve to know. They deserve the truth."

He glanced at Fiona, who was filled with confusion.

"You're not the only one who lost things, Dad. But I'm not going to let silence be the cause of more pain."

No one spoke after those words from Azzy. Even the wind outside seemed to hold its breath.

Affea looked between them all, her hand nervously fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.

Azzy took a deep breath. His voice softened, but the weight of his words only deepened as he nodded. "Yes. Dad did cheat on you. There's no evading that sin."

Fiona's hand trembled at her side.

"It was a betrayal," Azzy continued, slowly turning toward her, "but not because he wanted to. It was a moment of weakness because of the drunken state."

He saw Vesyrn lower his head.

"Just once," Azzy added. "And that one mistake… followed him for eighteen years."

He turned to Izora. "He never stopped loving you, Mom. Not for a day."

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came.

"You were falling apart," Azzy said gently. "You were on the verge of destroying yourself, lost in rage, corrupted by the protos energy in your system. And Dad… has no way to save you apart from that. He had to walk away. Not because he stopped loving you, but because staying would've broken you."

Affea lowered her head, staring at the marble floor. Even Leiza blinked, her sharp composure beginning to crack.

"Flora got pregnant. What can he do? If it were someone else from a prestigious family, they would just abandon the person and run away. But Dad didn't do it. Because he knew his duties. He was one of the most righteous people in the entire clan. How could he betray you on purpose, Mom? To protect your mental health, he stepped down from the throne, he left his home, he was forced to leave his own daughter, and he exiled himself from the clan. Yes, he wronged you, but he didn't shy away from taking responsibility. And unfortunately, Flora died during childbirth," Azzy said. "And Dad was stuck with raising a baby girl. How tough must it be? However, he stayed. Raised her. Protected her. And all this time… all this time, he still wanted to bring her to this place."

He glanced at Fiona, then back at his mother.

Izora's hands clenched at her sides. Her expression was unreadable, a mix of betrayal, heartbreak, and… perhaps, something else.

Azzy spoke more slowly now in a gentle tone. "No woman ever stole his love from you. No one. It was your condition that took him from home… from Affea."

She looked up, stunned as he continued. "When Dad was exiled, Affea was only 5 years old. She was forced to sit on the throne, become a puppet ruler for the elders. She lost her mother's warmth and her father's presence. Her elder brother had gone away for his own selfish purposes. She literally had no one, Mom. Even after you become cured, all you care about is Dad's betrayal from like 18 years ago. Did you ever think about Affea's state? Ever? I could sense how much pain she has gone through…" Azzy said, glancing at Affea. The latter's eyes welled up, and she was barely controlling her tears, hanging her head down.

Izora couldn't help but glance at her daughter.

He looked across the room. One by one, eyes met his, some misty, some angry, some confused.

"Yes, it was a mistake," Azzy said firmly, gazing at his Dad, who also seemed a bit emotional. "People make them. And they pay for them. A proud 9-star Arcana Master like Dad had to work as a healer in the mortal city, helping out the unfortunate when he could easily live in luxury. But he knew that he could not afford to be happy when his family here in the Death Clan was not."

He turned to his mother once more, voice low and honest. "If a friend or an acquaintance or an ally betrays you, he deserves no forgiveness, but Dad is not a stranger. Yes, a betrayal from a loved one feels worse than anything but still, family deserves a second chance. Don't you think?"