episode_0023

The book Lucia was looking for was being held by a girl she had never seen before.

When I looked up slightly from the hand holding the book, the face of a child of similar age caught my eye.

I was watching an unfamiliar girl turn the pages of a book with her cute hands. Lucia was completely entranced without realizing it.

‘… … cute.’

This is Lucia’s first impression of the girl.

Silver hair that looks slightly red in the light, and blue eyes that reveal their presence on a small face. White skin without any blemishes, typical of children. All of them come together to harmoniously create the mysterious atmosphere that the girl has.

Thanks to the inhuman beauty of the workers, Lucia thought she would never be impressed by someone’s appearance. For a moment, the girl’s appearance was so dazzling that I overturned my resolve.

Is it because I was absorbed in it for a long time?

Noticing Lucia’s gaze, the girl raised her head and made eye contact.

“Is this your book by any chance?”

“… … uh? Me?”

“Yes, you keep looking at my hands. I only asked once.”

The girl smiled brightly and said. The smile was so sweet that Lucia could not respond properly and just blinked.

‘It’s not my book… no. ‘Is this my book?’

While Lucia hesitated, the girl gently closed the book and approached her.

“My name is Siriel.”

“Siriel?”

“Yes, Siriel Prien.”

The moment Lucia heard her name, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes. As for Siriel, I am vaguely aware of it since I arrived at lunch today.

‘She’s that old man’s daughter?’

Lucia stared at Siriel. This doll-like child is Hugo’s daughter?

“You…”

Are you Hugo’s biological daughter?

Those words almost came out of my mouth. Lucia hastily covered her mouth with her hand.

But this was a reasonable doubt. Siriel looked so far removed from Hugo that it could not be explained unless she was Hugo’s adopted son.

That man was too big to be considered human. Given his height and hands, wouldn’t he be able to kill an ogre with his bare hands? The feeling of intimidation was so great that it made me think that way.

On the contrary, Siriel is like a small fairy.

The same goes for the reddish silver hair that doesn’t seem to exist in reality.

The same goes for wearing a dress with flowing frills. It was so lovely that it made you think you were moving out of some fairy tale.

“What is your name?”

“Huh? Uh… Lucia…”

“What a pretty name!”

After saying that, Siriel grabbed Lucia’s hand. Haven’t we just met? Lucia was slightly taken aback by that friendly behavior.

But no matter what Lucia thought or not, Siriel continued chattering.

“So you were the girl your grandfather was talking about?”

“Grandpa?”

“John. John. I talked about you a little bit before I came here.”

Among the knights Hugo led, John was the only one who spoke, so he vaguely remained in Lucia’s memory.

“When I arrived here, my grandfather told me. There is a girl around the same age as me. So I’m very happy.”

“Happy…?”

“Yes.”

Siriel jumped up and down without letting go of Lucia’s hand.

“I always played alone.”

Then he suddenly smiled lonelyly.

“Grandpa said, Our house is a huge house, so guests don’t come often. So all I do is have fun playing with the drivers every time.”

Siriel pursed her lips quietly and spoke about her situation.

“He says he’s busy with training or missions, so he just plays with him occasionally?”

“… … .”

“It would be nice to have a younger brother or older sister. So that’s it, right? You don’t know how much I expected when I heard that I had a friend who was the same age as me.”

“Friend…?”

“Yes! Because of that, I couldn’t sleep at all last night, so I slept all the way here.”

Siriel said with a chuckle.

Before Lucia could ask anything, I finished introducing myself.

‘What a lively child.’

I don’t know what was so funny, but looking at her made me feel at ease in my tired mind and body.

‘not bad.’

Lucia suddenly raised the corners of her mouth.

“Oh, that’s right!”

Siriel let go of Lucia’s hand, which she had been holding the entire time, and ran to where she had been reading a book just a moment ago.

Eventually, Siriel displayed the children’s book she had been reading just now in front of Lucia.

“Do you like this book too?”

“Uh… hmm… .”

Lucia’s body stiffened at Siriel’s question. My eyes widen and I take a breath.

The reason was none other than the fact that I was embarrassed by the existence of that book.

Those in power who wanted to leave their mark on history often created songs or books praising themselves and distributed them to the people. But every time, Kylie laughed at them proudly.

-I won’t let people make stories like ours.

-Does Kylie hate that kind of thing?

-of course. What on earth is that? That kind of thing is trash below hypocrisy.

-You also like hearing compliments.

-no. That’s not the problem. A person who only sees good things and likes you is someone who will immediately turn their back on you if you show even the slightest weakness.

-Hey… I see…

It’s even more so because he even said that.

If someone who knew me in my past life saw me like this now, I might hold my stomach and laugh.

But fortunately, as far as she knew, no one knew that she was Kylie.

‘No, but the content is fun, so it’s okay, right? The illustrations are great and the descriptions are flashy, but there’s nothing particularly false about them…’

Reading books that praise oneself wasn’t as bad as I thought.

“Uh… um… I tend to like it, right?”

So Lucia ended up answering without thinking.

But she spoke a little awkwardly.

Maybe it’s a theory. Lucia’s conscience was pricked to deceive a child who knew nothing.

“Really?!”

Siriel jumped up and down with her big eyes sparkling.

“I really like this book too!”

“… … Can you tell me the reason?”

Lucia cleared her throat and asked Siriel.

This is because I have never heard of anything other than poetry. And I was curious that there was a child who liked a book with his story written in it.

“I want to be like Kylie when I grow up!”

Siriel answered with a wide smile.

‘You want to be… like me.’

Goosebumps appeared on Lucia’s forearms.

But even more than that, I felt a sense of pride. I went through all that hard work and received nothing in return, but seeing a child who loved me so innocently made my heart swell as I could clearly see the fruits of my efforts.

“Kuhm… I, too, really like Kylie.”

Lucia closed her eyes tightly and held back her mouth from opening. But I couldn’t help but feel that my mouth was trembling.

“I think we can be good friends! Because we are the same age and like things the same way.”

“… … Yeah, I really like you too.”

“Really? So, are we going to be friends from now on?”

Siriel smiled brightly, wondering what was so good about it.

Lucia had many difficulties in becoming friends with a 9-year-old boy…

“Okay, let’s be friends.”

I didn’t think it was a bad idea to become friends with a child who showered me with untainted favors.

*

-smart

A knock rang in the deepest bedroom of the Dawn Castle.

-young master. This is Yuma.

“Oh, come in.”

The ones who opened the door and came in were Yuma and Bertha, who was guided by her.

“Hello! Teacher!”

“Yes. Bertha. Because it might take a while. Sit anywhere.”

“Well, then.”

Bertha answered in a very nervous state.

This was because all the residents of the mansion were gathered in Siron’s room.

About sixty-one eyes were all staring at Bertha.

That’s not all. The room was filled with dark demonic energy, and it was difficult to breathe.

Bertha sat on a chair in the corner and circulated bets. I don’t wonder why that master is so comfortable.

The answer emerged vaguely without any explanation. In his hand was the holy sword he had carried the other day.

“Then.”

Siron grinned at Bertha, who was well-dressed in uniform, then turned his head back and looked around at the residents of the mansion.

“Here, is there anyone willing to get stabbed by the holy sword?”

Siron tapped the holy sword in his hand and decided to wait for a volunteer to come forward.

Yuma was the first to raise his hand.

“I will do it, master.”

“No to Yuma. You’re sick.”

“… … I see.”

Yuma paused for a moment at Siron’s point, then quickly nodded in agreement.

“Not Yuma. Are there any other applicants? Then, it will be decided by drawing lots.”

“Okay, I’ll do it!”

The one who raised her hand was Ophelia with her eyes tightly closed. Ophelia closed her eyes tightly, opened them, and slowly walked out to where Siron was.

“Ophelia. Your sacrifice, I will not forget.”

“Sir, please be kind. Master.”

“I will make it as painless as possible.”

Ophelia held out her white forearm with a frightened expression. Another maid came over and put a gag on Ofelia’s mouth.

Ophelia’s trembling forearms were so thin.

“Berta Look carefully. You are sharing a historic moment.”

“… … Yes.”

Berta took out a notebook from her pocket. Siron held his trembling arm tightly.

“One, two!”

three!

Cheeek-

The holy sword holding Siron lightly grazed Ophelia’s arm. Even though I just cut the flesh with a knife, a foul smell wafted out.

Where the knife passed, a red line was drawn.

“Master. It is definitely authentic.”

Yuma, who was watching this process from the side, opened his mouth.

“Good job.”

“Sae, it’s more worth doing than I thought. I guess I was too scared.”

Ophelia spit out the gag from her mouth and ran her hand over her cold sweaty forehead.

“I told you I would do it gently. Don’t you trust me?”

“Hehe, hehe.”

Siron smiled bitterly and patted Ophelia, who smiled bitterly.

“The proof of whether the Holy Sword is real or fake has been completed.”

Siron said as he sheathed the holy sword so that they would not notice.

“Tomorrow is the succession ceremony, so please make one promise to me.”

I take a deep breath and wipe the smile from my face.

“Even if I fail. No one comes forward.”