“Duke, you’re a wealthy person after all?”
“Yes, very much so…”
“Um! Can I go to the next room?”
“No…”
Holding onto the excited Tia, I looked toward the sofa and noticed something strange.
It seemed they were talking about me.
I thought my hearing was quite good, so it was odd that I couldn’t hear any voices at all.
I remembered the magic that the hero Leopard had shown me once.
A low-level barrier.
It was an invisible, intangible wall, but a magic that could perfectly block sound.
What kind of conversation could they be having to set up a barrier so I wouldn’t hear it?
Out of curiosity, I quietly turned around and peeked over the back of the sofa, and I began to hear sounds.
The conversation exchanged between the two was something I couldn’t just ignore.
“What does the prophecy say?”
“Huh.”
“Oh.”
Only then did the two figures, with faces as pale as a ghost, turn to me as if they finally noticed my presence.
I couldn’t help it; I was overwhelmed with rage and leaped over the sofa towards Leopard.
I grabbed the collar of the hero and pinned him down.
“What the hell does that mean? Huh?”
“Wait, just a moment. Aerial. Calm down for a sec…”
“My name is not Aerial; it’s Julia!”
Even while speaking, I felt strange.
My name isn’t Aerial or Julia.
For some reason, I felt like I was getting used to the name Julia lately.
At this rate, I might even forget my original name.
Let’s see… What was my real name again?
Kim… Kim…
Damn it. That’s not important right now.
“Explain. What is the prophecy?”
“The prophecy is the will of the god that comes down irregularly at the Temple of Helios. The contents written in the prophecy must come to pass.”
“What?! How many people know about this?”
“It’s not announced separately. Especially not things that could cause social turmoil. But the high-ranking clergy in the church all know.”
“What about this ‘seed of disaster’?”
“That would depend on interpretation.”
“Why did you hide it from me?”
“There’s no point in telling you. How am I supposed to tell you that your daughter would bring about the world’s destruction?”
…
I felt my strength fade from my hands.
When I looked up, Tia had come closer to me, her face filled with concern.
“You look tired. How about I take my daughter to our accommodation and let you rest for a bit?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Please take a break.”
“……”
The Duke spoke sternly.
It looked like a suggestion, but it wasn’t a suggestion at all.
I stood up, bowed my head slightly to apologize for my earlier rudeness, and took Tia’s hand.
“Let’s go. It’s time for mom to take a break too.”
“Mom, did you just have a fight?”
“Huh? Ah, no. It was just a little disagreement…”
Tia probably didn’t hear.
She shouldn’t have heard.
As we headed toward our accommodation, I was so tense that my hands were sweating.
“Did you hear?”
“Huh? What?”
“What mom was talking about.”
“No. I just saw your lips moving and couldn’t hear a thing. But from your expression, I could tell you were angry.”
“Yeah. I see…”
At least I was relieved.
It seemed Tia couldn’t hear anything due to the barrier.
I was so grateful I didn’t have to share this confusion with Tia.
I spent the whole way to the accommodation pondering the meaning of the prophecy.
‘The first child of the Holy Maiden will become the seed of disaster.’
As far as I know, only I exist in this world as a Holy Maiden.
If it’s the first child, it must be Tia.
The thought that Tia could become the seed of disaster…
I had an inkling about it.
Tia possessed a venom potent enough to neutralize even the recovery abilities of the Holy Maiden.
Perhaps using that poison to bring about the world’s destruction.
Of course, I didn’t think Tia would commit such heinous acts.
Since it was termed a ‘seed’ of disaster, it meant someone would exploit Tia.
It wasn’t even something that had happened yet, but I was already feeling heated.
“Who was it that said they were bothering Tia earlier?”
“Um! Pretty older girls were showing me delicious-smelling bread and lured me outside saying they would give it to me if I came out…”
“Lured you?”
“When I came out, they said they would give it to me if I sang a song…”
“And then?”
“Then they said I had to dance too, and I did…”
“And then?”
“They only gave me one tiny piece. That’s so unfair.”
“So they did give you something.”
A sigh of relief escaped me.
I had been preparing to deal with those annoying girls since Tia complained they were bothering her.
It seemed those girls were only looking down on me and didn’t harass Tia.
Well, if they messed with a child, they weren’t human.
“Um… aren’t you going to scold me?”
“What for?”
“For going outside despite what mom said…”
“You said it was for delicious-smelling bread. I’ll take that into consideration. But it’s still a little naughty.”
“Ahhh! That hurts!”
I pinched Tia’s cheeks and stretched them.
The way they stretched like rice cakes was oddly addictive.
As we walked while laughing and chatting, we quickly reached the accommodation.
I hadn’t realized how much time had passed.
When did I stop feeling so lonely?
I thought it might have been since I began to regard Tia as a person.
“Ugh…”
I ended my contemplation.
Now, there was something to discuss with Tia.
After a long while of hesitating, I finally managed to speak.
My voice trembled slightly.
“Tia.”
“Huh?”
“Do you think you could live well without mom?”
“No. Tia can’t live without mom…”
Sensing something unusual, Tia wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly.
Her grip was so strong that it hurt a bit, but it was clear that Tia had grown much stronger than before.
She had also grown taller.
She spoke more too.
“We might have to separate from each other one day.”
“Why? Did Tia do something wrong?”
“No. It’s not that. When you go to school, you might have to stay in a dorm.”
“Really…?”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t a complete lie.
Originally, I had just prepared for the scenario where the church’s encirclement would tighten, and in the worst-case scenario, I would have Tia escape.
“Umm… but Tia likes being with mom. I don’t want to go to the dorm.”
“If you don’t, it’ll make things really hard for mom. I’ll have to make your meals, and do laundry…”
“Then I’ll go.”
“……”
Tia answered bravely, holding back tears.
It was really impressive that she backed down immediately when I said it was hard for mom.
Where did she get this kind-heartedness from?
Surely, she didn’t take after that black lizard; her personality seemed to resemble mine.
“There shouldn’t be other conversations later. If a time comes when you have to separate from mom, don’t whine or cling to me—just turn around coolly, okay?”
“Umm! We’ll meet again soon anyway! Right?”
“Uh, yes… that’s right…”
I hugged the bright smiling Tia tightly.
Not knowing what expression I should show, I just…
“I love you, my daughter.”
“Hehe. Me too…”
Seed of disaster or whatever, I decided to protect Tia until the very end.
Tia has no one but me.
So I must protect her.
If necessary, even if it means I’ll stay behind and help Tia escape…
“I will definitely protect Tia, even if it costs my life.”
I still hated Tia.
She had become a stumbling block and a burden in my life, and I still felt like throwing her away.
But Tia hasn’t done anything wrong.
Even though I still didn’t think of her as my real daughter, it is the duty of a grown-up to protect children, regardless if they’re born to them or not.
So that’s all there was to it.
There were no other special reasons.
*
It has been a week since we came to the villa.
I was gradually getting used to life here.
I wake up early, get dressed, and prepare the Duke’s meals while waiting for him to wake up.
The only saving grace was that the Duke dressed himself.
Had I needed to help with that too, I might have felt deep self-loathing.
“Excuse me, is there any food left in the kitchen?”
“Even if there is, I won’t give you any.”
“But you still follow the Duke around eating delicious food, right?”
“Well, I’d eat other things too.”
“Pfft! You’re something else!”
“……”
The hostility of the maids remained the same.
They had no idea how much effort I had put into trying to get close to them.
Whenever I went out with the Duke and brought back desserts, I shared it with them every time.
Yet, all I got in return was nothing but enmity.
Damn them.
They have no concept of give and take.
“Hmm. The Duke is a bit late to wake up today.”
As I stood by the door checking the time, it was already breakfast time.
Surely by now, I should be hearing some rustling sounds from inside, yet it was eerily quiet.
Maybe he overslept?
For a moment, I thought about going in to wake him if he was sleeping too long.
At that moment…
“Oh.”
Recalling that this is not someone who oversleeps, I hurriedly turned the door handle.
Just as I suspected, the bed inside was empty.
The bathroom was the same.
The only thing left open was the large window leading to the balcony, letting in the cold air.
Of course, the Duke wasn’t on the balcony either.
“What is this man doing to me…?”
He used to leave as soon as he saw my face and now he seemed to be avoiding me altogether.
Did he have a reason not to see me in the morning?
I was starting to feel a little irritated.
