The Unadorned Sovereign

Chapter 27. Grandpa

Liam sat in his dimly lit room, hunched over his merchant shop system with a furrowed brow. He had been meticulously browsing through various potions for hours, each one a potential lifeline for his ailing mother. The weight of his responsibilities bore down on him, and his face remained etched in seriousness.

Suddenly, the sound of the front door being flung open interrupted his concentration. Liam quickly closed the system, his sister Naomi and little brother Jun having returned from school.

"Liam!" Jun exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he rushed toward his older brother, wrapping his small arms around him in a tight hug.

Naomi followed, her expression curious. "What were you looking at with such a serious face?" she inquired.

Liam hesitated for a moment, his serious demeanor shifting to one of sadness. "It's nothing, just...," he began before trailing off.

Naomi's face mirrored her brother's sorrow. "Like I said before, the doctor mentioned that it might be because Mom has been ma