I AM A MAGE BUT WITH MILF SYSTEM

Chapter 804: A daughter’s worry

But to be honest, these past few days he had been so engrossed in all the scheming and planning inside the Astran Duchy that he had completely forgotten about Seraphine, Lyanna, and Cassandra, who were still back in the Easvil Duchy. He had instructed them to stay there, remain hidden, and take care of themselves while he unraveled the mystery of his own death.

“How are your sisters?” he asked, his voice softening further

Seraphine laughed lightly. She stepped even closer.

“They are like they have always been, Father. They tried their best to stop me from leaving, but I slipped through them when they least expected it.”

She paused, then tilted her head with a small, mischievous smile. “I first went to the Silver Moon Inn and saw your body unconscious. At first, I was scared beyond belief—thinking that something terrible might have happened to you. My heart nearly stopped. But then I saw that you were still breathing…so I calmed myself.”

Her expression grew more serious as she studied his current face—Kraven’s face. “What are you doing pretending to be someone else, Father?”

Julian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached toward her and pulled her into a tight hug.

The embrace surprised Seraphine for a brief second, but she returned it instantly, wrapping her arms around him with genuine warmth. She pressed her face into his chest, inhaling deeply as if confirming that it really was him despite the different body.

Julian held her close, his one hand gently stroking her long blonde hair while the other rested firmly on her back. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The tension, the schemes, the danger… everything outside this room seemed to fade.

“I missed you too,” Julian finally murmured against her hair. “More than I realized. These past weeks… everything has been moving so quickly… I got lost in it.”

Seraphine tightened her arms around him. “You always do this. You carry the entire world on your shoulders and forget that you have family who worry about you.”

She pulled back just enough to look up at him, her blue eyes shining with a mixture of relief and reproach.

“When I saw your real body lying there like that—pale, motionless—I thought the worst. I did not know what to answer to my sisters and mothers back in Throne of Gods.”

Julian let out a low chuckle. “You never listen, do you? You slipped past your sisters and crossed half the kingdom just to find me.”

“I listen when it matters,” she replied softly, a small smile playing on her lips. “But when my father disappears and leaves only a sleeping body behind… that matters more than any order to stay put.”

She stayed in his arms a little longer. In this moment, the political games, the Duke’s secret training, the black flame corruption—all of it felt distant.

But Julian knew it couldn’t last.

He gently pulled back, keeping his hands on her shoulders as he looked at her seriously.

“Seraphine… this body belongs to Kraven Astran, son of Duke Astran. I’m investigating my own death from within. There are forces here connected to the Servant of Death – the same power that killed me. I need to stay hidden like this for now.”

Seraphine searched his eyes, then nodded slowly, though worry still lingered in her expression.

“I understand. But Father… you don’t have to do everything alone. Let me help. Or at least let me stay close.”

Julian shook his head slowly, keeping his hands on her shoulders.

“No, Seraphine. The forces at play here are even more dangerous than I initially thought. We have to play this very carefully. Moving by myself is already risky enough; we cannot afford to involve you as well.”

Seraphine’s face twisted in clear disappointment. Her blue eyes, usually so bright and confident, dimmed with frustration and worry. She opened her mouth to argue, and the words had already formed in her mind. Father, I’m strong enough. I can fight beside you. Don’t push me away again… but she stopped herself. She knew he was right.

She had no idea what forces her father was referring to, but the fact that someone as overwhelmingly powerful as Julian spoke with such caution was enough to make her blood run cold. Her father rarely hesitated. If he was this guarded, then whatever threat lurked within the Astran Duchy had to be truly monstrous.

“Promise me,” she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. “Nothing is going to happen to you. You have already left us once… please don’t do it again.”

Julian’s heart clenched at her words. The raw fear and love in her voice cut through all his layers of calculation and control. Without hesitation, he pulled her into another tight embrace, wrapping his arms around her as if he could shield her from the entire world.

“I promise you, Seraphine,” he murmured into her blonde hair. “I’ll be back. I won’t leave you, Lyanna, or Cassandra again.”

Seraphine did not respond with words. There was no need. The emotions did all the talking. She buried her face deeper into his chest, her arms wrapping around him with surprising strength. Her body trembled slightly against his, but this was not from fear alone, but rather from the overwhelming relief of finally seeing him.

They stayed like that for nearly five full minutes. The room was silent except for their breathing and the faint crackle of the mana lamp. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to simply be a father.

Seraphine’s breathing gradually steadied. When she finally pulled back, her blue eyes were glistening with unshed tears, but a small, genuine smile had returned to her lips.

“So… do you have anything for us to do while we wait in the Easvil Duchy?” she asked, trying to sound light, though the worry still lingered beneath her words.

Julian smiled. He reached out and gently tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

“Yes, I do.”

Seraphine’s face brightened noticeably.

Julian paused for a moment, then leaned in closer. His voice dropped to a low whisper, meant only for her ears.