Liang Lai saw Dolosa talking to the mirror.
It had been two months since she came to this world, and she knew that the person in the mirror who tried to bewitch people was Claudious.
Worried that Dolosa might lose her mind again, she quickly set the basket of dirty laundry aside, pushed open the door, and entered.
“Little Duo!”
She called out, rushed over with quick steps, and pulled Dolosa straight into her arms, hugging the child protectively.
“You bastard, you won’t even spare children! You’ll go to hell for this!” She frowned and yelled in the direction of the mirror.
However, after she entered, Claudious in the mirror fell silent.
Liang Lai waited for a while, and when she saw the mirror made no more sound, she didn’t dare to boldly go forward and remove the cloth.
Instead, she picked up Dolosa and left the room.
Dolosa watched Liang Lai’s expression carefully. Seeing that the Saintess’s face didn’t look good, she felt uneasy inside, thinking Liang Lai was angry with her.
“I didn’t believe Claudious. I kept refuting him; he just kept threatening me…” Dolosa said in a small voice.
She was a bit afraid, afraid that Liang Lai would be angry and ignore her.
But Liang Lai wasn’t angry at her at all. She was angry at Claudious for always coming to disturb her child and threaten her child.
Looking at Dolosa’s tense little face in her arms, Liang Lai pinched the girl’s chubby cheek.
“What are you thinking? How could I ever think you’d believe him? Of course, I know you trust me the most~”
Liang Lai smiled.
Seeing Liang Lai smile, Dolosa finally relaxed, the tension on her face replaced by a relieved smile.
“From now on, please don’t waste any more words with him. I’m afraid if you talk to him for too long, he’ll keep trying to bewitch you,” Liang Lai cautioned Dolosa.
“After all, that guy is the False Pope, so powerful that even I can’t deal with him. Even Pope Alphonse VII can’t do much about him, so we just let him be. I’m afraid if you keep talking to him, he’ll try other ways to bewitch you. I know you won’t believe what he says, but what if he tries something else? Like some new ability he’s developed… No one can guarantee anything.”
Liang Lai rattled off this long string of words, and Dolosa could feel the deep concern in her tone.
She pressed her soft little cheek tightly against Liang Lai’s neck. At this moment, she felt the happiest—being held and cared for by the big sister she liked so much.
So, in the end, Liang Lai really did love her the most!
At that moment, Dolosa made up her mind. She would confess something to Liang Lai—her identity.
Though she still felt uneasy, though she feared that after she spoke, Liang Lai would want to throw her away like a hot potato, Liang Lai had treated her so well. She couldn’t keep hiding it any longer.
So, Dolosa tightened her arms around Liang Lai’s neck.
“Liang Lai, I want to tell you something. After I say it, you might be scared… but it’s okay, I understand. If I were you, I’d probably think I was a hot potato too.” Her voice was muffled.
Liang Lai sensed the child’s gloominess in her arms and immediately patted Dolosa’s back to comfort her.
“How could I ever think you’re a hot potato? Since I brought you back, that means…” She paused, gently stroking the top of the child’s head, “I’ve said it before~ I see you all as my own children, not just in words, but truly! Why else would I ask you all to call me Mom?”
By now, the two had reached the door of Liang Lai’s room. Liang Lai pushed open the door and went inside.
Dolosa was quite happy listening to the first part, but when she heard the Saintess say, “I see you all as my own children,” her little face fell again. After all, she didn’t want Liang Lai to see her as just a child.
Of course, such rebellious thoughts couldn’t be spoken aloud.
Liang Lai gently placed Dolosa on her bed. She rubbed her slightly sore wrist and joked with a smile, “Ah, how nice! Our Little Duo has grown taller and chubbier in just two months! Mm~ It’s true, a balanced diet really does wonders~”
She looked the golden-haired girl up and down, feeling more and more that the child was growing into a beautiful young lady.
“Looks like you’ll be as tall as me soon~ Maybe by then I won’t be able to carry you anymore, and it’ll be your turn to carry me.”
It was just a joke, but Dolosa took it seriously. She straightened her little face and nodded with utmost seriousness.
“Okay, then I’ll carry you from now on.”
Eh?
“Pfft~”
Liang Lai laughed.
This child always takes jokes seriously.
Dolosa, however, felt a little baffled, not knowing what Liang Lai was laughing about.
“So, what was it you wanted to tell me?” Liang Lai asked, getting to the point.
Dolosa pursed her lips, leaned over, and whispered very softly into the Saintess’s ear:
“I know who my biological father is.”
Liang Lai’s heart skipped a beat. For some reason, she had a vague feeling this person would be anything but ordinary.
Dolosa opened her mouth, finally made up her mind, and uttered six words—”Pope Alphonse VII.”
“Boom!”
In an instant, Liang Lai felt as if thunder had struck her from above.
Now she finally understood why every time she looked at Dolosa, she felt a sense of incongruity. That’s right, it was that resemblance to Pope Alphonse VII in her features.
Seeing Liang Lai’s shocked expression, Dolosa grew uneasy again. She lowered her head to stare at the floor, quietly waiting for Liang Lai to speak.
A long time passed.
Just as Dolosa was about to buckle under the pressure, Liang Lai finally spoke.
“Then what will you do when it comes time for your assessment? Pope Alphonse VII is sure to attend. If he recognizes you, wouldn’t that mean…”
Liang Lai pressed her hand to her forehead in distress.
Dolosa would definitely be sent back to the Underground Sanctuary!
“If you get sent back to the Underground Sanctuary, Claudious definitely won’t let you off!”
Liang Lai’s headache grew worse.
“I—I really don’t have the power to oppose Pope Alphonse VII…”
Everything she said was exactly what Dolosa was worried about.
Dolosa opened her mouth several times, wanting to comfort Liang Lai and say she would be fine, but in the end, all her words seemed too weak.
But just then, a voice sounded behind them.
“Mom, we have a way~”
Liang Lai and Dolosa turned around at the same time and saw Asterys and Delucia standing hand in hand at the door, innocent smiles still on their faces.