In the end, after a brief chat, Lucian, feeling irritated inside, forced a faint smile on the outside and sent Kash away.
'I'll see which damned fool dares to mess with my little bird...'
Soon, before the door of the music room, Lucian calmed himself, formed a smiling expression, and then pushed the door open.
As soon as he entered, what came into view was the lone figure of Robin sitting by the window, seemingly lost in thought, completely unaware that someone had entered the room. Even when he approached her from behind, she didn't notice at all.
"It's been seven hours, forty-nine minutes, and twenty seconds since I left Father... I miss him so much..."
As Lucian arrived behind her, he accidentally heard Robin's quiet mumbling, which made him pause for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle.
"Well, well, so you were zoning out because you were thinking about me?"
"Kya!"
Robin jumped up in fright, only to see that it was her father she had been longing for.
In that instant, she instinctively stepped forward and threw herself into his arms, her hands pressing tightly against his back.
"Father, you're finally here..." Robin's voice trembled slightly, filled with relief and warmth. "I missed you so much..."
Lucian couldn't help but feel a mix of joy and amusement at her straightforward show of affection.
"Silly, it's only been half a day. How did my little bird turn into one that can't live on her own?" Lucian teased with a soft chuckle.
Being called someone who couldn't live on her own, Robin's cheeks gradually turned red, feeling a little embarrassed.
"I can be independent..." Robin murmured with a pout. "I just... I just worried about you, that's all..."
Hearing her excuse, Lucian's eyes were unconsciously drawn to her soft, pink lips—especially when she pouted—they looked so round and tender that it made one want to take a bite.
Moreover, as she hugged his torso so tightly, her chest, which had already developed well, pressed against his, carrying a subtle temptation.
Thankfully, his self-control was super strong.
If it were anyone else, facing the current cute-looking Robin, even if they were women, they would've lost it by now.
"Alright, alright. You can be independent." Lucian helplessly shook his head. "In that case, I won't come to see you anymore."
As soon as these words fell, he felt Robin's arms tighten around his waist.
"No! I'm not independent at all!" Robin immediately whined and hugged him tighter. "You have to stay with me!"
Seeing that her true nature was finally showing, Lucian laughed softly and patted her back.
"Fine, then I'll keep you company every day. Happy?"
"Happy!" Robin giggled and buried her face deeply into his chest, taking in his scent. "Thank you, Father! You're the best~!"
"Little bird, be honest with me..." Lucian said, suddenly changing the topic and his tone. "Are you having a crush already? Which basta—boy is it?"
At this sudden question, Robin froze in shock.
"C-Crush? No, I don't have one!" Robin looked up and met his gaze earnestly. "I'd never like those boys! I just... I just—anyway, I'm not in love with anyone, please believe me!"
A crush?
No way.
Having known a perfect man like her father, was there any man in all of Penacony worthy of her eyes?
Needless to say, with her standards having risen, the only man Robin ever thought about was right here before her—the one she hugged. Unless someone could exceed him in both looks and temperament, it was almost impossible to get her heart.
Lucian looked into Robin's sincere eyes and felt that she didn't seem to be lying, which reassured him.
If what she said was the truth, it was a good thing.
No crush meant one less dead man in Penacony—truly worth celebrating.
"Okay, I believe you." Lucian took a step back, freeing himself from Robin's embrace, then grabbed her hand. "Let's go home. I drank Mikhail's bitter drink again today—it's killing me."
"Hehe, he must be getting back at you." Robin giggled softly, her eyes turning crescent-shaped. "You always dump all your work on him, after all."
"What else can I do?" Lucian rolled his eyes. "If I go to work, I won't have time for you or your mama. Would you like that?"
"No way." Robin clung to his arm, her face glowing with happiness. "Keep giving everything to Uncle Mikhail. I want you with us every day~"
One had to admit, at this age, she was already stunningly beautiful, but her smile made her even more beautiful, drawing the eyes of every boy—and even some girls—in the school to her.
Yet none of them dared to approach.
At this moment, a group of boys gathered at a distance, silently watching Robin and Lucian as they walked away together.
"Man, she's so pretty… I kinda wish I could just talk to her once."
"If I could say even one word to her, I'd straight-up trade like three years of my life."
"Then go talk to her, dude! What are you waiting for?"
"No way, I'm not trying to die early. Her dad's Lord Lucian—the strongest guy in all of Penacony. I'm not worthy."
"Ugh, I'm so jealous… Robin gets to cling to Lord Lucian's arm like that..."
"Bro, shut up! You sound kinda gay right now!"
===
Ten years later, in the Epsilon system, a grand concert was being held on one of the planets known as Epsilon-X.
Robin, now a rising star, had earned the chance to perform one song in this concert and was waiting for her turn.
Inside the largest theater on Epsilon-X, lights shimmered, and brilliance filled the air as many celebrities, influential people, and music lovers from across the cosmos gathered together.
"Father, can I... can I really do this?"
Backstage, Robin asked Lucian, who was standing beside her, her voice trembling with nervousness.
At this moment, she was wearing a beautiful stage dress custom-made by Lucian himself—a dreamy gradient of starry blue.
However, compared to the dresses the other singers wore, hers felt a little different because it wrapped her body completely, leaving only her neck and wrists exposed, while the rest of her skin was covered by the elegant fabric.
"Don't be nervous, I'm right here with you."
Lucian reassured Robin calmly, feeling quite pleased with his work.
Considering that many people would be watching his little bird, he naturally wouldn't let her dress lightly clad and allow the audience to ogle her. Her dream was to sing for the world, to bring people hope and courage, not to please people's lust.
"Father, why are those big sisters... dressed so little?"
Robin pointed at the other singers in short skirts and deep V-necks, showcasing their beautiful cleavages and legs.
"Hmph, they're doing it to please certain people." Lucian scoffed with disdain. "You're not like them. Remember, little bird, you sing to share hope, not to please anyone."
"I understand, Father." Robin replied, nodding earnestly. "I won't be like them."
Satisfied with her answer, Lucian pulled her into his arms.
Today, he was not wearing his usual robes or coat, but a finely tailored black tuxedo that perfectly matched his aura as the Dreammaster and the Uncrowned King of Penacony.
Robin, embraced by her beloved father, felt her anxiety gradually melt away under his confident warmth as she quietly gripped the edge of his tuxedo.
"Mm…" Robin murmured, her voice muffled and gentle. "As long as you're here, I can do anything..."
For ten years, every step of her musical journey had been guided by her father's presence, and now, the song she was about to sing was the song they had written together.
Just then, the host finally announced the next performance.
"Next, please welcome a singer from Penacony—the rising star, Robin! Performing 'If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking'!"
As soon as the host's voice fell, the entire theater went silent.
Robin took a deep breath, nodded at the smiling Lucian, then stepped onto the stage.
In that instant, seeing her modest outfit formed a striking contrast to the other singers, the audience murmured among themselves, quietly commenting on her appearance—some praised it, some criticized it.
Soon enough, however, as she began to sing the song, the entire audience gradually fell silent, their expressions growing captivated.
"Birds are born with no shackles~"
"Then what fetters my fate~"
"Blown away, the white petals~"
"Leave me trapped in the cage~"
Robin had spent years learning music for this very moment—to let the world hear her voice, to let them feel hope and courage.
Just like that day long ago, when she, her mother, and her brother, in despair, had heard her father's confident voice, and the hymn he made invincible, the one that saved her world and her people.
Now, she was determined to follow in his path—to save others with her voice.
===
[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
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