CHAPTER 485: 484. SPINNING LIES IS MY SECOND NATURE (3)

By the time Ocean and his entourage took their leave from the Lockwood mansion, the atmosphere surrounding Gareth Lockwood was so thick with tension, it could’ve been carved with a blade.

Whatever had transpired during their walk had clearly rattled the Marquess—and everyone noticed.

Outside, as the sleek black carriage bearing the Ryujin crest waited at the edge of the drive, Ocean cast a sidelong glance at the three uninvited "puppies" trailing behind him—Arian, Davian, and Miri.

His eyes, cool and unreadable, flicked over them as they veered past the carriage they had originally arrived in and shamelessly made their way to his. Not a word was spoken, they knew Ocean wouldn’t scold them or throw them out. And true to their thoughts, he didn’t protest. He was a tolerant person when it came to his people.

He merely sighed and climbed in, lifting Sol gently onto his lap. The boy settled comfortably against him, golden curls brushing against Ocean’s collar as he leaned back into the familiar warmth of his chest.

Miri slipped in next, graceful and unapologetic as ever, settling beside Ocean and smoothing her skirts with a satisfied smile.

Arian and Davian followed, both ducking into the cabin with considerably less grace. The moment they sat across from each other, their shoulders brushed—two tall, broad-framed men trying to share a space clearly not designed for either of them, let alone both.

Arian shifted stiffly, his jaw clenched as he subtly tried to inch away from Davian. Davian, in return, seemed entirely unbothered, though the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth suggested otherwise.

Ocean didn’t say a word. He simply exhaled slowly, resting his cheek against the top of Sol’s head, one hand loosely draped around the boy’s waist, the other resting idly on the windowsill. His eyes wandered to the passing scenery as the carriage began to roll, trees flickering past in streaks of green and gold.

The tension inside the cabin was different from the one left behind in the mansion—less sharp, more lived-in. And though the seating arrangement was chaotic, the silence was strangely companionable.

Sol yawned softly, his small fingers still clutching the sleeve of Ocean’s robe. Ocean absently brushed a thumb along the boy’s hand, his gaze never leaving the glass.

"Master, what did you say to the Marquis to make him look so pale?" Miri asked, eyes gleaming with amusement as she leaned slightly against the window, fingers idly twisting a lock of her dark hair.

"He looked like he was about to pass out any moment," Arian added, sitting stiffly across from Ocean. "Don’t tell me you told him you’re a Dragon!"

Ocean gave him a side glance, unimpressed. "Of course not."

"Then what kind of bomb did you drop?" Davian asked, one brow raised. "Did you take off your mask or something?"

Ocean scoffed softly, resting his cheek against Sol’s curls. "I’m not that irresponsible."

Sol, who had been absentmindedly fiddling with the lace at Ocean’s sleeve, spoke up in a quiet voice, "He probably told him that Mirielle died."

The carriage fell into sudden silence.

Ocean blinked. Then tilted his head slightly to look down at the boy nestled in his lap.

"How’d you know?" he asked, voice unreadable.

Sol shrugged, not looking up. "It’s something you’d do."

At that, four pairs of eyes immediately turned to Ocean in disbelief.

"Wait, what?!"

"You actually told him that?" Arian nearly shouted.

Ocean listened to the uproar with a sigh before gently patting Sol’s head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Well, myself aside... isn’t Sol quite smart? Got it right in one go."

Arian looked like he was on the verge of spontaneous combustion.

"Are you serious?! Do you even realize the repercussions of what you’ve just done? Do you know how much the people of Denril worship Saintess Mirielle?! She’s a symbol of hope! You can’t just declare her dead like you’re... announcing the weather!"

"I didn’t declare her dead to the entire kingdom, Your Highness," Ocean said coolly, his tone infuriatingly relaxed as his fingers wove through Sol’s soft curls. "I merely told the Marquis. Said that very few people know, and that I’m keeping Kai with me for the time being, given how hard it’s been on the boy. It’s more convenient this way. No more awkward questions, no more fabricated family trees."

Arian looked moments away from demanding divine intervention.

Davian leaned back against the seat, processing it with surprising calm, while Miri simply hummed as if Ocean had declared the weather after all.

Ocean, for his part, wasn’t concerned. His gaze drifted to the window once again, lashes low as he idly toyed with the collar of Sol’s coat.

Arian, however, was the picture of suppressed turmoil. Though he kept his lips sealed, his knee bounced restlessly and his fingers ran through his red hair again and again. His fiery orange eyes burned with all the words he wasn’t saying—yet.

Ocean noticed. Of course he did.

But he said nothing.

And neither did anyone else.

The subject quietly dissolved into the rolling rhythm of the carriage wheels.

"Master, would you like to go out and play at the night market tonight?" Miri asked as she looked out of the window.

Sol covered his mouth as he yawned and Ocean patted his head.

"No, I can’t keep missing the banquets, I’ll have to attend today, let’s go tomorrow."

"Tomorrow sounds good, since the main event is in the morning and there’s just a drinking and meal party in the evening." Davian said.

Ocean nodded before wondering if he should ask for more people to join in, he was sure Rune might have a date planned already and Eric would be upset if he was left alone while even Arian was tagging along.

"Oh, will you be coming along as well, Your Highness?" Ocean asked Arian.

"Shouldn’t he be with the nobles at the drinking party?" Davian spoke before Arian could reply.

"He’s been hanging around us while avoiding the banquets, it will sound pretty uncharacteristic, you know Your Highness?" Miri added making Arian frown.

"Even without you telling me, I couldn’t come. My father asked for me to be there beside him for all day so, I couldn’t be free even in the evening." Arian spoke making Ocean hum.

The next day’s events were actually going to be held near the Holy place. Since that place was cleansed and purged from the dark matter so, the new Order of the Temple decided to restore the ruins and make a Temple there dedicated solely to Saintess Mirielle and the Water Dragon.

It was quite a good thing and it was quite a huge way of showcasing the fact that a live Saintess and a Dragon had appeared in their nation and even defeated a demon it was kind of a strategy to put people at ease. There were a lot of people who were bringing up the topic of the demons returning but the presence of the Dragon put them at ease.

Ocean was looking forward to visit the Holy ruins as well, it had been a while since he had been there. Though the Dragon’s remains which were there were long gone but he still wanted to see how that place had evolved now.

Ocean then looked at Sol’s head, this little guy had kept a lot of things hidden from him and now that he had uncovered one thing, it was like he had found a trail and now he could keep going and make conjectures which would unmistakably be correct.

Sol had been the same Dragon who had helped him when he was possessed by the demon, he was the same Dragon who had probably followed him around when he was in Denril and gave him that cryptic warning.

There was a treasure trove of information that this little Dragon was keeping to himself. If Ocean wanted to have an entry then he would just need to be patient and treat him well enough so that once he would trust him enough he could start spilling his secrets.

[The Preserver asks why you must make it sound like a sinister tactics.]

"Huh?"

[The Preserver corrects your words by saying that you would simply grow close to Sol so that you could help him.]

"Why are you making me sound like Buddha?"

[The Preserver chuckles.]

"Don’t laugh at me."

[The Preserver finds you entertaining.]

"It’s not a comedy show."

[The Preserver asks if you would consider making them your permanent Patron.]

Ocean paused for a moment. Was it possible for him to choose his own Patrons? Wasn’t it what the system decided?

[The Preserver says that they could continue being their friend if not their Patron.]

Ocean was silent, he hadn’t been able to decipher what this Patron meant at times. He had a fair idea of his usual Patrons.

Goddess of Wisdom was a passionate person who had a streak of free spirited soul.

Giver of Gifts was a kind motherly figure who acted like a mediator and supporter.

Defender of Divine Glory was a man of honor just as his name said, he would keep up his character and sometimes get influenced by Goddess of Wisdom and act like a fun person as well.

But this new Patron, The Preserver, Ocean hadn’t even deciphered who this was, let alone his personality.

And he had even less words about his second Patron who hadn’t even bothered to show up even once ever since he was declared to be the temporary Patron. Well, his handle name was quite self explanatory though, The Eternal Ascetic, the name said that he wouldn’t show up even if the world was burning.

"Give me some time to think." Ocean responded after giving a serious thought regardless.

It was slightly surprising for The Preserver as he responded.

[The Preserver looks forward to your answer.]

"Why is he making it sound like a response for a confession?" Ocean thought.

The bunch reached the palace only to find Rune in Ocean’s room waiting for him.