23 – Proof Time
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 turned reddish under the light, and blue eyes that showed off their presence in a small face. White jade-like skin without a single blemish characteristic of a child. All of that was combined to harmonize the girl’s mysterious aura.
Thanks to the servants with inhuman beauty, Lucia thought that there would be no admiration for someone’s appearance. In an instant, the girl’s appearance was dazzling enough to upset her promise.
Is it because I’ve been staring at it for a while?
Noticing Lucia’s gaze, the girl raised her head and met their eyes.
“Is this your book by any chance?”
“… … uh? me?”
“Yeah, you keep looking at my hand. I asked you 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.
“I’m Siriel.”
“Ciriel?”
“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 real daughter?
The words almost came out of my mouth. Lucia hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand.
But this was a reasonable doubt. Siriel had an appearance so far removed from him that it would be inexplicable unless he was adopted by Hugo.
That man was something… too big to be called a human being. Wouldn’t it be possible to beat an ogre to death with his bare hands? The feeling of intimidation was so great that I felt 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.
It is also the same with wearing a dress with sky blue frills. It was so lovely that it gave the illusion that it was moving out of a fairy tale somewhere.
“What is your name?”
“huh? Uh… Lucia…”
“That’s a pretty name!”
Saying that, Siriel grabbed Lucia’s hand. Haven’t we just met? Lucia was slightly taken aback by that kind gesture.
But no matter what Lucia thought, Siriel was chattering.
“So you were the girl Grandpa was talking about?”
“Grandpa?”
“I mean John. John. I told you a little bit about you before I came here.”
John was the only one among the knights led by Hugo 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. “I’m so happy about that.”
“I’m happy…?”
“huh.”
Siriel jumped up and down without letting go of Lucia’s hand.
“I’ve been playing alone all along.”
Then he suddenly smiled lonelyly.
“Grandpa said, our house is such a huge house that guests don’t come often. So all I do is have fun with the drivers every time.”
Siriel pursed her lips quietly and spoke about her situation.
“You say you’re too busy with training or missions, so you just play sometimes?”
“… … .”
“It would be nice to have a younger brother or 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…?”
“huh! “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 right!”
Siriel let go of Lucia’s hand, which she had been holding all the time, and ran to the place where she had just been reading.
Before long, Siriel held out the children’s book she had just been reading in front of Lucia.
“Do you like this book too?”
“uh… hmm… .”
Lucia stiffened at Siriel’s question. His eyes widen and he breathes in vain.
From noble mtl dot com
The reason was none other than the fact that the existence of the book was embarrassing.
There have been occasions when those in power, who wanted to leave their names in history, made songs or books praising them and distributed them to the people. But every time Kylie laughed at them proudly.
– I won’t let people make up 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… you kind of 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 why?”
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 see the fruits of my efforts.
“Hmm… I, too, really like Kylie.”
Lucia closed her eyes tightly and held back the opening of her mouth. But I couldn’t help but feel my lips tremble.
“I think we could be good friends! We’re the same age, and we like the same thing.”
“… … Yes, I really like you too.”
“okay? So, are we going to be friends from now on?”
What’s so good about it, Siriel laughed.
Lucia had many difficulties in becoming friends with a 9-year-old, but…
“Okay, let’s be friends.”
I didn’t think it was too bad to be friends with a child who was showering unspoiled 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!”
“okay. Bertha. Because it might take a while. “Sit anywhere.”
“Okay, 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.”
Shiron grinned at Bertha, who was well-dressed in uniform, then turned his head back and looked around at the residents of the mansion.
“Is there anyone here who would like to be 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.”
“… … okay.”
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.”
“I will 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. “I will not forget your sacrifice.”
“Please, please be kind. young master.”
“I’ll 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.
“young master. “It is definitely authentic.”
Yuma, who was watching this process from the side, opened his mouth.
“great job.”
“Bird, 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?”
“hehehehe.”
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 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.”
Another cute deranged kid, yay! Now there is 4 of them!