“Oh dear… it’s gotten rather late. I still have many things I’d like to tell you, but if we keep going like this, I’ll end up disturbing your rest, won’t I?”
If it’s about you, I could listen for hours and never tire of it.
Lian wanted to tell her that. But seeing her already starting to tidy up the things on the table, she could only swallow her words.
“Take these snacks with you, will you? We were so busy talking, we hardly touched them.”
“All right.”
And so, Lian carried the dessert stand filled with pastries out of the pavilion alone.
When she reached the entrance of the garden path, she realized Feiyin was no longer there.
She must have had other matters to attend to and left first, Lian supposed.
Left with no choice, Lian returned to the Shed Pavilion by herself.
Meliya’s story was long, stretching from dusk all the way to late at night.
By this time, the main hall was deserted, silent and a little lonely.
She went back to her own room, and immediately pulled the Communication Pearl from under her pillow, pouring mana into it.
“…What is it? It’s almost time for me to sleep, you know.”
Sephy’s drowsy face appeared in the Communication Pearl.
She had already changed into her pajamas, and seemed about to climb onto a bed made out of stacked books.
“Don’t sleep yet. Any new developments in the investigation?”
“Yawn—It’s only been a day, how could there possibly be any progress…? Why do you look so anxious? Did you meet Meliya?”
“Yes.”
“Did she recognize you?”
“No. She probably thinks I’m her own illegitimate daughter, like everyone else… But I firmly denied it. I only admitted I’m indeed related to the Hero.”
“What’s the harm in letting her keep thinking that? You’re not still worrying about your reputation, are you?”
“I don’t care about my reputation. I just don’t want her to be hurt, that’s all.”
“I think I get where you’re coming from… But didn’t she try to press you for answers? Like about your whereabouts, or whether you’re still alive, and such?”
“She didn’t. Maybe because I kept dodging the real questions, she felt I wouldn’t answer anyway. Even at times like this, she’s still thinking of others’ feelings…”
“That’s just like Meliya, isn’t it?”
Lian fell silent. From Meliya’s perspective, she must desperately, achingly want to know news of her husband.
She could have pressed the only one who knew anything—her. But even as their conversation ended, Meliya never did.
Was she restraining her own feelings too?
“I had already decided to tell her. But while I was talking to her, that child was present as well. Her reaction was huge… That was when I realized what you said that day was right.”
“Mhm.”
“I don’t want to hurt Meliya, but I can’t just blurt everything out either… That would wound that child’s heart.”
“I’m glad you can realize that yourself.”
Sephy gave a relieved look, “In that child’s world, not having a father—not having you there—has long since become a fact. And as one of her Teachers, I think I know her personality pretty well. Every time you see her, she probably glares at you with that sour face, right?”
Lian smiled wryly and nodded.
“That’s right. I can tell she loves Meliya very much. So, for her to react this way after mistaking me for a half-sister, it’s only natural. She probably can’t forgive me…”
“That might not be the case. She can’t forgive the father who hurt her family, ‘Lianen,’ nor does she want to acknowledge him. But you’re ‘Lian’ now—she has no reason to hate you the way she hates her father, does she?”
“So… Is it really right for me to keep doing this? To keep hiding my identity, living in the estate, getting along with them while I wait for your news?”
“At least when it comes to handling your family ties, I think this is the right way for now. I’m sure Meliya will continue trying to get information out of you… With this connection, you’ll have plenty of chances to be with her.”
“As for Milin—since it’s already too late to be her ‘father,’ why not work toward being her ‘sister’ and watch over her? It would be a waste of your adorable new appearance otherwise, wouldn’t it?”
“…I don’t feel that’s a waste at all?”
…
……
………
“Yawn…”
After hanging up with Lian, Sephy, exhausted, climbed onto her bed.
As always, she put drops of medicine into her eyes, then let her eyelids grow heavy and allowed them to fall—
Ding ding ding!
“What is it now…! What’s the matter this time!”
Scowling, Sephy grabbed the Communication Pearl, which kept ringing without pause, but saw the name floating there wasn’t Lian this time—it was Vera.
“…I knew it would come. Given her personality, calling now is already late.”
She paused a moment, then answered the call.
“Hello, hello?”
“Hello, Sephy… Were you sleeping? Did I disturb you?”
The voice coming through was timid and hesitant, nothing like that icy-cold Imperial Officer.
On the screen, she was kneading her cap in her hands, looking distinctly nervous.
“I was about to go to sleep. Disturbing me at this hour… You’re not just calling to say good night, are you? If it’s not something important, I won’t let you off easy.”
Sephy acted grumpy and fierce. If Lian saw this, she’d probably roll her eyes and ask, “What sort of act are you putting on now?”
“No! I really do have something important to tell you… It’s about that child you sent here!”
Although it was amusing to see Vera act so unlike herself, Sephy knew they’d have to get to the main topic soon.
And for that, she had long prepared a way to brush her off.
“You mean the girl named Lian? My Doppelganger picked her up.”
“Your Doppelganger… picked her up?”
“That’s right. She looks a lot like Lianen, doesn’t she? So my Doppelganger brought her to my Tower. I originally wanted to ask if she was his illegitimate child or something, but no matter how I asked, I couldn’t get a clear answer, so I just sent her your way.”
“Where did you find her?”
“That I’d have to check specifically. You know, I have many Doppelgangers searching the continent for Relics, and she was probably brought back by one of them.”
“Fine… We can confirm the location later. So, you’re not sure whether she’s Lianen’s child or not?”
“That’s right. The girl absolutely refuses to say anything. If she won’t say, I can’t force her, can I?”
“…”
After hearing that, Vera on the other end of the Communication Pearl fell silent.
She lowered her head, deep in thought. Before long, though, she lifted her face and spoke with determination:
“I believe that child is Lianen’s daughter, without a doubt.”
“Why?”
“Looks like you haven’t seen her abilities… Today at the Training Ground, I had her spar with Milin.”
“Oh? That happened?”
Sephy’s eyelid twitched. That was usually a sign of big trouble brewing.
“She didn’t seem to have any intention of fighting at first. So I shot a blade of sword energy at her… and she dodged it with a Combined Spell, without any incantation. Once she realized I was pushing her, she exchanged a few moves with Milin—and then deliberately lost to her.”
“That style of spellcasting… Only someone who’s learned from you could do that. Did you teach her?”
This time, it was Sephy’s turn to get nervous.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.