Chapter 130
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Chapter 130
How could I not love someone like that?
It was impossible, just as Karha had said.
In the moment of that realization, Theo awakened to another truth as well.
What he had truly desired that night—he understood it clearly now, foolishly late though it was.
The men of House Basilian, stepping forward without hesitation to protect the child.
He did not wish merely to gaze at their retreating figures from a distance.
Theo wanted to stand beside the men of House Basilian as an equal.
To declare boldly that he would protect Chesa Basilian....
He yearned to become a true knight of House Basilian's guard.
His heart swelled within his chest.
Intoxicated by this newfound dream, his mind grew hazy with longing.
Theo could not contain the overwhelming surge of emotion and blurted it out.
"I... care for you as well, Chesa. If given the opportunity, I would wish to serve at your side."
So caught up in excitement, the words tumbled out without order.
Theo's face flushed crimson as he spoke with embarrassment.
"I wish to become your guard knight, Chesa."
It was a confession as shy as that of an adolescent confessing to his first love.
He had expected that even if not immediately accepted, at least a positive response would return.
"Haha!"
A great burst of laughter erupted.
As though hearing an utterly ridiculous jest, Karha laughed with unbridled delight.
After chuckling for some time, Karha's hand struck Theo lightly, a gentle tap.
Despite its lightness, it felt as though his solar plexus had been struck brutally, leaving him gasping for breath.
"Sir Theo."
Theo looked down at the young boy with tense eyes.
Crimson eyes gazed back at him.
"Can you abandon the Nemea Family?"
"...."
"Can you strip away the 'Nemea' attached to your name?"
Theo's lips trembled.
No words could escape him.
Karha, observing him quietly, spoke with cutting finality.
"You cannot."
"I... I..."
"The child is kind and soft, so he dreams foolish dreams."
Karha's eyes slowly swept across Theo.
An innocent, gentle bear cub.
Reading the meaning in those indifferent eyes, Theo hung his head low.
A voice sharp as a blade pierced into the trembling Theo.
"I have no intention of assigning someone like you as a guard knight. Wake up from your delusion."
Don't spout nonsense to a child.
With that final remark, Karha abandoned Theo and strode away.
***
My private audience with Holy King Sianor proved to be an exceptionally fruitful hour.
In securing Kieran's pardon, I had created an opportunity to delve into Sianor's fairy experiments.
'I'll simply give him what he desires!'
I intended to play the role of an obedient, adorable child and offer him my wholehearted cooperation.
Sianor coveted the fairy power that I possessed.
He would undoubtedly attempt to conduct experiments using me as well.
My goal was to gradually work my way in until I could reach the laboratory where the fairies were imprisoned.
'It doesn't seem to be anywhere within the Holy Empire, at least.'
I wanted to witness with my own eyes exactly what was happening to the fairies.
I was determined to see it all for myself.
Having obtained what I desired, my heart grew generous.
And Sianor, having secured my promise, likewise seemed to have regained his composure.
As a merciful Holy King, he bestowed a blessing upon the Fake Father.
Crude though it was, he remained a black mage nonetheless.
The Blond Man writhed in agony beneath the holy power pouring down upon him.
Yet when a Holy King himself was granting a blessing, one could hardly show signs of pain.
The Blond Man endured it with a pallid face, cold sweat streaming down in rivulets.
After the hellish blessing concluded, he bowed his head and offered his gratitude.
Sianor gently stroked my round head and whispered affectionately.
"Let us meet again soon."
"Yes!"
I answered cheerfully, and Sianor laughed with satisfaction.
Cardinal Milliod observed proper courtesy and led the Blond Man and me out of the Glass Greenhouse.
Before we completely left the greenhouse, I glanced back over my shoulder.
Lemil was watching me.
It would be nice to catch Lemil later when I had the chance and ask him exactly what that "education" of his entailed.
'Perhaps I should establish a friendly rapport beforehand.'
I smiled mischievously and winked at Lemil.
At that, Lemil's face flushed crimson.
Watching Lemil blush as though his face were on fire, I stifled a giggle within myself.
Cardinal Milliod, having successfully completed his mission of presenting me to the Holy King, appeared completely relieved of tension.
He casually led the Blond Man and me away, then unceremoniously deposited us both in a suitable garden.
"Now, have your conversation."
Then he hastily disappeared somewhere.
The Blond Man and I were left alone together.
The Blond Man holding Chesa began to tremble the moment they were alone.
Chesa pointed sharply at a chair in the Garden with her finger.
The Blond Man seated Chesa in the chair, then knelt on the ground to match her eye level.
The entire sequence unfolded with perfect naturalness, and no one found it strange.
A small child seated before the kneeling man opened her mouth with solemn gravity.
"Your name."
"Yes! My name is Norman."
"Mr. Normer."
"...Yes!"
Though Norman had become Normer, he answered without the slightest complaint, his posture rigid with discipline.
Chesa patted his shoulder gently.
"Mr. Normer is very important from now on. You'll keep playing the role of father. Understand?"
"Yes!"
He would have answered with equal vigor even if ordered to die on the spot.
Norman, hailing from the Underworld, possessed sharp instincts.
He asked Chesa nothing.
He merely answered the questions posed to him.
Though he knew almost nothing and was of limited use.
'Still, there are ways to make use of him.'
I would pretend to regard Norman as my true father while exploiting the weaknesses of the Holy King and the Cardinal.
Chesa and Norman coordinated their story.
It was still unbelievable that I would meet my real father, yet somehow moving, and going forward we would come to know each other better....
Something along those lines.
After crafting a touching tale of a father-daughter reunion that stirred the heart, Chesa decided to return to the Prison.
Before that, she did not forget to remind him of the most crucial matter.
"You remember what I said, Mr. Normer?"
"Of course! Never act out of line in front of Count Basilian!!"
In my plan to exploit the fake father, the most dangerous variable was Kieran.
His jealousy was so intense it could pierce the heavens.
One misstep and Kieran would dispatch Norman in the blink of an eye.
Chesa sighed, exhaling softly.
Norman, still kneeling, glanced about nervously.
Norman had suffered greatly from the consecration and the barrage of holy power.
Seeing his pallid face despite his kneeling posture, I felt a twinge of pity.
With a mana control restraint fastened upon him, his suffering must have been considerable.
Chesa gestured to him with a fluttering motion.
"Let's go back to the Prison."
In the moment I embraced Norman, using him as a means of transport back to the Prison.
A great wind swept through.
Leaves rustled softly in its wake.
A fluttering leaf descended gently onto Norman's hair.
Unable to brush it away while holding Chesa, I reached out my hand instead.
I removed the leaf and hastily tidied his disheveled strands.
Something felt oddly strange.
Chesa, glancing down at her feet, blinked.
"...?"
The sun shouldn't have descended so far yet.
'But the shadows seem incredibly long...?'
Staring at the suspiciously elongated shadow, my gaze was suddenly drawn elsewhere, as if pulled by invisible hands.
Kieran stood before us.
"...Hic."
Chesa hiccupped in utter shock.
It was Chesa herself who had pleaded for Kieran's release from the Prison.
'But there was no need to free him this quickly!'
What Sianor had intended as a gesture of goodwill had returned as a blade.
"...."
Though our eyes met, Kieran remained silent.
His expressionless face slowly blinked.
His crimson eyes lingered briefly on the leaf held in Chesa's hand.
Chesa hastily shook the leaf away and let it fall to the ground.
Kieran's lips curved upward in a slow smile.
He called out her name in a smooth voice.
"...Father has come, Chesa."
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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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