Chapter 129
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Chapter 129
Theo gazed down at the letter held in his hands, his expression unreadable.
The paper was covered entirely with handwriting that laid bare a fury barely contained.
As if he could hear his father's roar emanating from the very characters themselves, Theo's face twisted involuntarily.
There was only one reason why Marquis Nemea himself had sent this letter.
A catastrophic event that had unfolded in the Holy Empire Hilderd.
A demonic incursion in the dead of night.
It was an urgent summons demanding an immediate and detailed report on that terrible day.
Marquis Nemea had stationed Theo as a guard knight at the Basilian Count Estate precisely to extract intelligence.
Since Theo stood at the very heart of the incident, he knew better than anyone what had transpired.
He had no shortage of information to report to Marquis Nemea.
The pristine white petals of flowers that illuminated the darkness.
A magnificent spectacle so sublime it seemed impossible that a small child could have wrought such a miracle.
The demons that had seemed so threatening, so utterly beyond human strength to overcome, transformed into flower petals beneath those delicate blossoms.
It was not an exorcism, nor a hunt, nor an annihilation.
It was purification....
A moment of sacred purification.
To attach words like "sacred" and "purification" to the power of a heretic was improper.
Yet Theo could find no more fitting description.
If that was not purification, then what in the world was it?
Even if he faced accusations of being bewitched by heresy, Theo would steadfastly insist that what he witnessed that day, in that moment, was purification.
"...."
But he had no desire to report these facts—or his own thoughts—to Marquis Nemea.
Marquis Nemea had stationed Theo as a guard knight to extract intelligence about the Basilian Count Estate.
If he submitted no report, both his father and his sister would be deeply disappointed.
His father would berate him fiercely, asking if he was incapable of even such a simple task.
Sister Sionel had warned that Count Basilian was suspicious, and she would reproach him severely for taking their side.
His father's angry hand strikes were something he had grown accustomed to.
But if he saw the disappointment in his sister's eyes, it would pierce his heart far too deeply.
Theo drew in a deep breath, his broad chest expanding fully with air.
'I won't send a reply.'
During his stay in the Holy Empire, he would ignore every letter that arrived from the Nemea Marquis Family.
He could not betray the Basilian Estate.
He could endure his father's and sister's anger, for he was accustomed to it....
But if the people of House Basilian—especially Chesa—looked at him with disappointed eyes, it would be unbearable.
Recalling the lovely child who had praised and complimented him so warmly, Theo steeled his resolve.
He was just about to crumple the letter in his hand when—
"Why are you crumpling it?"
"Gasp!"
At the voice that reached him from behind, Theo jumped with a start.
Despite his massive frame, he startled and spun around to find a sharp-eyed boy standing there.
The way he approached with his hands clasped behind his head resembled a young predator stalking its prey.
"Did a letter arrive for Marquis Nemea? Are you planning to expose everything our house does?"
He was the second son of House Basilian.
Karha, who had stepped right up to him, gazed down at Theo with an unwavering stare.
Under that piercing gaze, Theo mumbled an excuse.
"Ah, I won't say anything at all."
Karha unclaped his hands and shrugged his shoulders.
His attitude made it abundantly clear he didn't believe a word, and Theo's expression fell.
No matter what he said, he wouldn't be believed.
After all, he was Theo Nemea.
For some reason, his stomach churned uncomfortably.
An inexplicable wave of nausea rose up, and he quietly steadied his breathing.
Theo forced the corners of his mouth upward, managing an awkward smile.
"But where is Ishuel...?"
Under normal circumstances, the twins typically stayed together.
Especially within the Holy Empire, they always seemed to move as one.
So it was strange to see Karha alone like this.
Karha spoke flatly.
"He's lying down with a fever."
"Pardon?"
Theo's eyes widened in shock.
It wasn't an injury from a monster—he was simply ill and bedridden.
I had never heard of the men of House Basilian falling sick before.
Seeing Theo's disbelief, Karha elaborated.
"He's not actually ill. He's just thrown a fit because he can't control his nature, so there's no need to worry."
"I... see...?"
"My younger sibling being a fairy has spread across the entire continent, after all."
"...Ah."
Theo's eyes rolled about uncertainly.
He had no idea what to say.
From what I'd observed, the Basilians were extraordinarily sensitive about anything involving their youngest.
They couldn't contain it, and the fact that she was a fairy had been revealed in the most spectacular way possible.
It was decidedly unfortunate.
Especially when one considered how fantastical beings deemed heretical were treated.
Chesa had only managed to remain attached to the Holy Empire because she had purified a monster; otherwise, no matter how young she was, she would have been dragged to the Heresy Interrogation Chamber.
As a fairy, she could become a target for the mindless Slave Hunters who might pursue her.
The beautiful power Chesa had displayed that day appeared like a blessing, but in reality, it was nothing short of a curse upon House Basilian.
That was why Ishuel, unable to stop his sister from being put in danger, had thrown a fit and taken to his bed.
Theo hesitated for a long while.
After carefully choosing her words, the question she posed was short and simple.
"Is Karha... truly unaffected by all this?"
The adopted younger sibling had turned out to be a Fairy.
Moreover, this revelation had come during the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony, forcing Count Basilian himself to endure the humiliation of imprisonment.
Yet Karha appeared no different from his usual self.
At Theo's question, Karha scratched his cheek with one finger, pausing briefly in thought.
"Well... Ishuel is struggling a bit. But I'm fine."
"...."
"Whether she's a Fairy or a monster, the baby is my sister.... And if anyone tries to harm her."
Karha tapped the sword at his waist.
"I'll protect her."
It was the truth, untainted by even a hint of bravado.
That day, when the Holy Knight Order descended upon Chesa for wielding Fairy power.
The Basilians had stepped forward without hesitation to shield her.
Merely four of them had stood against hundreds of knights.
Theo had positioned himself behind them at that moment.
The feeling of watching their backs had been strangely profound.
The faint nausea that had lingered suddenly intensified.
As Theo found breathing difficult, he opened his mouth to speak.
"...Why would you go so far? It hasn't been that long."
Chesa had borne the Basilian name for merely a few months.
He was curious how such a strong bond had formed in so brief a time.
"You would understand, Sir Theo."
Though he had thought it a difficult question, Karha responded as though he heard such trivial matters all the time.
"How could you not love her?"
He replied as though stating a law of the world itself—how could one possibly not love her?
To others, it might sound like the boastful praise of a doting brother.
But Theo understood the meaning immediately upon hearing it.
The duel with Benji came to mind.
The memory remained vivid even now.
A duel conducted quietly, with scarcely any observers present.
The dry wind that blew, carrying dust and earth.
Yet my palms grew damp with perspiration.
My grip tightened around the sword's hilt.
The reason I had been able to achieve victory against Benji was simple.
'Because Chesa believed in me and cheered me on.'
That was why I found my courage.
I broke through the shell I had thought unbreakable and emerged into the world beyond.
I escaped from the past that had confined me for so long and stepped into a new world.
She had created the turning point that transformed Theo Nemea's life.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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