That voice alone carried a chilling threat.

Both Karl and Pier rose to their feet at once, as frowns settled deep between their brows.

But Adelyn’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.

She didn’t even bother turning toward the source of the threat.

Instead, her gaze remained on the little one, her lips curving into the softest smile —one meant only for her.

Eira, too, paid no attention to anyone else.

The moment she heard her mother call her, she slipped down from her seat, ready to run to her.

However, just as she tried—

The man standing beside her stepped forward, blocking her path.

If it had been any other child, they would have shrunken back in fear.

But—

Eira simply lifted her gaze to meet his, her small brows knitting into a clear frown of displeasure.

The man stiffened under that look.

"K-kid, don’t look at me like that," he stammered, trying to make his voice sound firm. "Your mother isn’t allowed to leave yet. So sit there and wait for her to finish."

Eira’s frown only deepened.

"Mama asked Eira to come to her," she said softly.

Yet beneath that softness lay a quiet, unsettling coldness —one that made even grown men hesitate.

"Eira will go to her."

And with that, she stepped forward without the slightest hesitation. Without even the slightest fear.

The man frowned. He wanted to stop her —forcefully if needed.

But something about her made it difficult.

It felt as though an unseen pressure weighed on him ... urging him to step aside, as if resisting her would be a mistake he couldn’t afford.

In the end—

He did nothing.

Eira didn’t wait.

She ran past him, stopping right beside Adelyn.

Reaching out, she carefully —yet eagerly —took her hand, then tilted her head up, her face blooming into the brightest smile.

"Mama."

Adelyn’s gaze softened at once.

She gently patted and caressed the girl’s hair, her lips curving warmly. "You didn’t get bored, did you?"

Eira shook her head.

She wasn’t bored.

She was simply ... too happy.

After all, she was finally going home with her mama.

"Good," Adelyn said, watching her. "Then let’s leave."

The man frowned when he saw her blatantly ignoring his words.

"You —did you not hear me?" he snapped. "I said you aren’t allowed to leave yet. And you won’t be allowed to leave until you lose."

Karl stepped forward immediately. "What kind of rule is that?"

They had come here to win —and now they were being told they couldn’t leave unless they lost?

Did that mean they had to deliberately lose just to escape?

He glanced back at Adelyn, then spoke again —this time, his tone noticeably more restrained.

"Sister-in-law," he called.

For a moment—

Both Adelyn and Pier froze.

"... Don’t worry," Karl continued, his voice lower now. "I won’t let them bully us. I’m here. I’ll protect you —for Big Brother."

Adelyn looked at him as if she couldn’t quite process what had just happened.

Sister-in-law!

Pier was no better.

"Brother Karl..." he said slowly, blinking. "What does this mean now?" He flicked a glance toward Adelyn before looking back. "Didn’t you say you’d never accept her as your sister-in-law?"

"How can I not accept?" Karl shot back, as if the answer were obvious. "And when did I ever have the authority to decide that?"

His gaze drifted toward Adelyn —then to Eira.

"Little Eira already calls her ’Mama’. And my brother ..." he paused, clearing his throat, "... has already shared a bed with her. If she’s not my sister-in-law, then who is?"

Pier was rendered completely speechless.

This man was contradicting himself —with such confidence that it almost felt intentional.

How was that even possible?

"What?" Karl challenged, lifting his chin. "You still doubt it?"

Pier opened his mouth, then closed it again.

"I don’t doubt it," he admitted finally. "But I am curious. What made you change your mind so suddenly?"

He paused, then added with a raised brow, "Didn’t you say that if you ever accepted her as your sister-in-law ... you’d become her dog?"

Karl’s fingers curled into fists.

But instead of anger—

A shameless grin spread across his face.

"What’s wrong with being a dog?" he asked casually.

Then, glancing at Adelyn, he added with exaggerated sincerity, "If my sister-in-law is my master, I’d be the happiest dog alive."

He even lifted his chin slightly and added—

"Baw ... baw."

Adelyn blinked.

For a moment, she genuinely couldn’t process what she had just heard.

Even Pier stood frozen.

Was this really the same Fourth Young Master of the elite circle?

He didn’t seem to care about his dignity at all.

"Brother Karl, you—"

Before Pier could finish, Karl snapped his head toward him, irritation flashing across his face.

"Pier, know your limits," he warned. "Don’t even think about stealing my sister-in-law. If you want one, go find your own. She’s taken —by my brother and my niece."

"I—"

Pier had no idea how to respond.

Could he even respond?

Meanwhile, the men had grown visibly impatient.

One of them stepped forward, his expression darkening.

"You really aren’t taking us seriously, are you?" he said coldly.

His gaze swept over the three of them.

"We’ve made it clear —you’re not leaving. And yet you’re still arguing over something so irrelevant?"

"Aye —what’s irrelevant?" Karl snapped, glaring at him. "Nothing about my sister-in-law is irrelevant. If you don’t believe me, come—try me."

"You—" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The man pointed at Karl, ready to lunge—

"Have you had enough?"

Adelyn’s voice cut through the air.

Calm.

Cold.

Absolute.

Karl immediately crossed his arms and looked at the man with arrogance. "Sister-in-law is asking you something. Answer her. Have you had enough?"

Adelyn pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache forming.

"I’m asking you, brat. Have you had enough?"

Karl stiffened instantly.

Turning back to her, he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Sister-in-law, I was just—"

"Stay quiet," she cut him off. "Don’t teach Little Eira nonsense."

He opened his mouth to argue—

Then thought better of it.

"... Alright."

Adelyn didn’t look at him again.

Instead, she turned her gaze back to the men.

Her expression was calm.

But her eyes were anything but.

"Are you going back on your word?" she asked.