I woke up to find Eliya asleep in my arms.
I barely suppressed a scream.
“Stay calm…”
This moment felt closer to death than ever before. If anyone found out, it would be an instant execution.
I had no idea how Eliya got here. I could think about that later. For now, I needed to get out of this situation.
“Please, let it not be too late…?”
Eliya was holding me tight with her arm, so I had to move very carefully.
If she wakes up…
I couldn’t even bear to imagine it.
First, I needed to somehow free my arm from under her. Just as I was about to move it slowly like handling cracked glass, Eliya’s hand grabbed my clothes tightly.
I froze in place.
“Ugh… she’s not fully awake…”
It felt like someone had a grip on my heart, playing with it.
I shifted my body slightly. I tried to find a way out without disturbing Eliya, but it was pointless.
Whenever I moved, Eliya tugged me back.
It was instinctive, but if it kept happening, she would wake up.
Suddenly, Eliya’s lips started to move.
“Mommy…”
She murmured like a baby.
“Don’t go… you can’t go…”
Hearing that, I couldn’t move anymore.
She pulled me closer, her whiny voice almost suffocating me as if she wanted to bury her face in my chest.
“Mommy…”
I swallowed a deep sigh.
“Why am I your mommy?”
I only grumbled inwardly, giving up my attempt to escape.
I just held Eliya as she held me.
Slowly, the tension drained out of my body.
Only then did I carefully observe Eliya’s form.
The moonlight streamed faintly through the window.
Wrapped in a red blanket around her neck.
It was oversized, draping over her shoulders like a cloak.
I had given it to her.
The cat plushie she was clutching in her arm.
Her brow furrowed, as if she was having a nightmare.
Tears trickled down like dew from her eyes.
“She’s such a tiny thing, why is she crying?”
There’s a saying that tears are a sign of a sad fate.
Looking at Eliya’s tear-stained eyes, I couldn’t help but think that way.
“Seeing kids cry really kills my mood. It’s annoying.”
I wiped away a tear instinctively.
I didn’t think Eliya would wake up.
I was just acting on reflex.
Luckily, she didn’t wake up.
But then, I felt something strange.
“…Her cheeks feel weird.”
As I brushed away tears, I unintentionally touched her cheek.
It felt firm.
Should I say it was plump?
I pressed the other cheek, which bulged out due to my arm laying on it.
It sank in. Soft.
I touched the original cheek again.
It was indeed firm.
“…She got hit, didn’t she?”
I figured it out immediately from experience. Someone must have hit her.
Eliya had been wearing heavy makeup on her cheeks for the past few days.
I hadn’t thought much of it.
She was still young but she was a noble, obliviously caring about her appearance.
That’s what I thought.
But no.
She was hiding signs of being hit by someone.
“There’s nowhere to hit this little girl… damn it…”
I suppressed the surge of anger boiling inside me.
As an adult, Eliya had remained silent.
To be precise, she hadn’t talked about herself.
“If something happened, at least say it.”
But I also knew how hard that was.
It wasn’t easy to show wounds, especially for someone like Eliya, who grew up as a noble.
Well, it would be strange for her to confide in me like this.
“Yet, why does she keep tugging at me?”
Even when I stayed still, she kept pulling my clothes.
I looked down to see the cat plushie in between us, preventing her from getting close.
I couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.
“Is she dumb or what?”
With no other choice, I pulled up the blanket and hugged her.
Having already been in a position where I was half-embracing her, it didn’t change my situation at all to hug her back.
Last time, when I woke up, I instinctively hugged her too.
So it didn’t change anything if I hugged her again.
If I was going to be executed, so be it.
“Besides, did I actually hug her first? She was the one who clung to me first. This isn’t on me.”
Once I hugged her, she stopped pulling at me.
Looking relieved, her brow eased.
With a relaxed face, she slept.
As I gazed at her in her fluffy pajamas, all my tension melted away.
Finally, I could think rationally about the situation.
First off, I wouldn’t die. There’s a high chance of that.
I discreetly scanned the room.
I wondered if I had woken up in another room, but this place was indeed my room.
Which means, somehow, Eliya had slipped into my room.
So I was technically the victim here.
Of course, if a noble were to say “So what? You’re dead,” I’d just have to accept that.
From what I know, Eliya would certainly do that.
“But, if it’s not the Eliya I know…”
The night before.
Eliya had tried to protect me.
That was something the Eliya I knew would never do.
Has Eliya changed?
Maybe the future of her becoming a notorious killer and arsonist has faded away?
The arising possibility was quickly buried.
I didn’t expect an optimistic future.
I had never experienced such a thing in my life.
It wasn’t just because of some cynical perspective.
The fire she dealt with was anything but ordinary.
The more she used it, the more it stimulated her destructive instincts and murderous impulses.
That’s why it was called the ‘Cursed Fire.’
Yet, she protected me while using that fire.
At least, she wouldn’t be mindlessly hostile towards me.
I could hope for that much.
Tomorrow morning.
There might still be a chance she’d spare me after seeing this situation.
“By the way, she’s still a kid.”
They say kids are angels while they sleep.
Eliya was one of them.
Eliya had two expressions in everyday life.
An expressionless, tough face.
And a somewhat eerie smile.
But right now, neither was present.
The peaceful and gentle face of Eliya sleeping, looked just like a child her age.
Just like the plushie I gave her.
“Look at that round little face, sleeping without knowing a thing. But… why is she so skinny? Her cheeks are nice, but her body looks like it has only bones. Kids should be chubby, but how could she be like this…”
Grumbling inwardly, I closed my eyes.
I wasn’t sure if I could sleep, but I couldn’t stay awake all night either.
“What am I gonna do tomorrow morning…”
What kind of chaos would unfold when I wake up?
Eliya wouldn’t scream immediately, would she? I mean, she came here herself, surely not.
“For now, let’s sleep…”
Thinking about it now would just give me a headache. I wouldn’t find any answers.
Although this was a luxurious room, the heating was terrible.
Being in the position of a suspect, it made sense.
The late winter dawn was chilly.
In my half-sleep, I thought the warmth of her embrace was comforting.
*
A quiet cosmos.
The sun shined alone.
The stars hid in silence.
The sun’s scorching heat rose like thorns, repelling all things.
As the sun burned itself up and began to fade away, a tiny sphere approached like it was drawn in.
A small and helpless child that couldn’t shine on its own.
It was the brave moon.
The moon’s light touched by the sun was not halted.
It fell, leaving a comet-like tail.
The two collided in a spiral orbit.
When they joined as one, the sun was nestled in the warmth of the much smaller moon.
That gentle embrace was comfortable yet cold.
The boiling heat inside, which longed to explode, subsided.
As the violent glow dimmed, starlight that had been hushed in the void began to emerge one by one.
The small sun held the stars in its gaze.
As it slowly closed its eyes, the shimmering afterimages remained beneath its eyelids.
The chill from the moon drifted in like icy dust scattered upon the heart.
Cozy, refreshing.
And warm.
For the sun, it was a sweetness akin to sugar.
The rhythmic breaths of the sun and moon matched perfectly.
The small sun had, for the first time in a very long time, not dreamt of nightmares.
It felt so long ago, it seemed like a new kind of comfort.
In the desolate void of space, a lullaby from a beloved one echoed softly, like a cradle.
*
I didn’t wake up normally in the morning.
“Miss—!”
Someone barged in as if ready to break down the door.
“Gah!”
I jumped up startled and completely forgot that Eliya was in my arms, tumbling out of bed and scrambling to my feet.
Ria, the maid, glared at me with wild eyes.
Soldiers followed behind her.
I wide-eyed checked on Eliya, as if I was seeing her for the first time.
As if I had no idea why she was here, shock painted on my face.
I had just been genuinely surprised, so there was no need to act.
My heart raced.
“What on earth…!”
“Shh…”
Eliya rubbed her eyes and mumbled sleepily.
“Too noisy…”
“A, Miss…”
“I came here.”
With that single sentence, Eliya absolved me of my guilt.
The soldiers and Ria stood there with blank expressions.
“So don’t touch innocent people.”
“When, no, how…?”
Ria stuttered over her words as a commotion erupted outside the door.
A few familiar faces appeared.
Balak de Bevel. Eliya’s biological father.
And Countess Narcissi.
Balak’s beard twitched as he looked at me.
His clenched fist exuded restrained anger.
Narcissi couldn’t hold back.
“You little brat…!”
As she strode toward Eliya, I instinctively realized.
She was the one who hit Eliya.
Her walk radiated dominance.
With her shoulders drawn back, poised to hit, she had an air full of sadism.
Eliya stared at her blankly before smiling warmly.
“Good morning, Countess.”
It was like a mask was slipped on her face.
“What a shame. The goods I was supposed to sell off for a marriage have a defect now.”
Narcissi’s hand twitched.
She wanted to hit her but was holding back due to the onlookers.
“Madam.”
It was Balak who stopped her.
“Enough of that.”
“But, look at what this child has done!”
“I’ve also heard of your mistakes.”
“…What do you mean?”
He looked down at Narcissi, lifting her chin.
“You refused the request to change Teacher Sardis.”
“That’s….”
Eliya watched the two talk, her face expressionless.
“I heard that one of the candidates you selected was an assassin.”
“…….”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Narcissi’s hand trembled.
Her face went white.
“Though I did leave the matter to you, I had hoped you wouldn’t handle things without my knowledge.”
“You. What are you talking about?”
“Haa… It doesn’t seem there’s anything more to discuss here.”
Only then did Narcissi turn to look at me.
What a fascinating woman.
Even though I wasn’t her daughter, I thought she should have been looking at me with more disdain than Eliya.
“From today forward, remember that you cannot arbitrarily harm Eliya, Madam.”
Narcissi nodded wordlessly.
It was a loaded response.
While Balak might have turned a blind eye to Narcissi’s abuse and violence, he had officially revoked that blindness today.
The reason was quick to assume.
A wizard.
Eliya had perfectly awakened the power of the cursed fire.
Wizards were scarce and precious within the whole world.
Among them, Eliya possessed overwhelming talent.
From this point on, her growth would be uncontrollable.
At this point, other than me, only Balak recognized her potential.
And he was a powerful and excellent wizard himself.
“Probably, at her current level, he’s stronger than Eliya…”
His declaration signified he wouldn’t turn a blind eye any longer.
“How disgusting.”
That was my succinct impression.
This person had ignored everything till now, showing care only after realizing her usefulness.
“That’s what familial bonds are like….”
I couldn’t hold back my disgust.
But Eliya remained calm as usual.
With an expression as if she was used to it, she casually brushed her hair flat.
“More importantly, Eliya. What happened?”
Eliya glanced at Balak with a look of annoyance, letting out a soft sigh.
“I got confused about the rooms.”
“Do you seriously think that excuse will work? Even if you did, what about the guards outside?”
“I was doing something else.”
“…….”
Balak’s head turned slowly.
The two soldiers guarding the door all looked like they were about to burst into flames from the embarrassment.
“…Is she serious?”
But does that even make sense?
No matter what else she was doing, she wouldn’t have gone far.
Unless she had multiple lives.
There was no way she could not see Eliya.
“How did she even get in here?”
Eliya spoke nonchalantly to Balak.
“I was weary and exhausted from last night, confused…”
“…….”
Once that event was brought up, Balak couldn’t press any further.
At least, he must have retained some bare minimum of conscience.
“Okay, I understand… Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
“You should have breakfast with your family…”
“No thanks.”
Eliya rejected Balak’s offer without hearing the rest.
Balak didn’t insist any further.
“I’ll have it brought here.”
It seemed like Eliya was planning to have her meal in the room.
…Wait a minute, here?
“Eliya, I cannot allow that.”
Balak must have understood what I meant.
“You cannot dine with one like her…”
“If you don’t allow it…”
Eliya gave him a blank look while tilting her head.
“What will you do? Kill me? Or will you take away all my rights and assets?”
“…….”
“You should’ve done it sooner.”
Her eyes gradually changed to an unfamiliar color.
Orange, then yellow.
The glaring golden pupils looked up at Balak.
“If you were going to kill me, you should have done it long ago. And if you wanted to take everything away, you should have done that before.”
If he were going to kill her, it would have needed to be before her awakening.
Her position was going to change significantly from now on.
Unless someone kills her.
“Maybe it’s not too late. I might not be able to defeat a duke with my currently awakening power. Will you kill me now? Or will you take everything away before word spreads about me?”
“…….”
“If that isn’t the case, then please leave. I have nothing more to say.”
“…After breakfast, send that one in. We need to speak about last night.”
“I will.”
Balak wore an expression of heavy displeasure as he took Narcissi with him out of the room.
Before leaving, he cast me a fierce glare.
I felt complicated.
It wasn’t just that Eliya called for her death or that she was being sold off.
It troubled me that she spoke those words so effortlessly, like it was nothing.
Even more unsettling was how calm she was while saying it.
It hinted at some aspects of her life I could barely begin to understand.
In the room, only Ria, Eliya, and I remained.
“Judas, bring some food.”
Ria commanded a maid outside.
“Uh, Miss…”
I turned to Eliya.
“May I ask how you got in?”
My curiosity was unbearable.
Ria seemed to feel the same, glancing at Eliya.
Eliya looked up at me quietly.
With tousled hair and swollen eyes from just waking up.
…No, wait.
She nodded and commanded Ria.
“Ria. Stay outside for a moment.”
“Yes…?”
“Just for a moment.”
Reluctantly, Ria stepped out.
Eliya said, “Watch carefully.”
“What…?”
Suddenly, Eliya disappeared.
“Huh? Miss….”
Before I could finish my sentence, Eliya reappeared.
“…What?”
“Teleportation.”
“Pardon?”
I was momentarily taken aback.
Eliya answered without a hint of concern.
“I tried it, and it worked.”
“…….”
Her response had a casual nonchalance.
It felt surreal.
Teleportation was something only a very select few geniuses could master.
To the extent that the wizard character could die trying to learn it in the game.
In this game, death meant deletion.
I knew a few from actual history who died attempting to learn teleportation.
Eliya was simply saying she tried it last dawn and it worked.
“I understood the theory a while back, but this was my first time succeeding. The distance is short, though…”
She spoke as if it wasn’t impressive that the distance was still small.
It seemed that even her level of deception had reached new heights.
Eliya looked at me, smiling brightly.
“I’m telling you this just for you, so keep it to yourself.”
Why would she only tell me…
“Now tell Ria to come back in.”
She commanded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I had to obey.
I opened the door and called for Ria.
As she entered, Eliya looked at her.
“Ria. I have a task for you.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Clean the room next to my bedroom.”
“I will do that.”
“Judas will be staying there.”
“Pardon?”
Both Ria and I responded simultaneously.
What on earth did she mean?
We exchanged bewildered glances, both perplexed.
“Miss, what do you mean by that…?”
“It seems the Moon Deer is starting to follow you around too, but I really should be getting going, shouldn’t I?”
“Don’t go.”
Eliya didn’t explain her reasons.
Whatever she was, she didn’t need to explain herself.
Her pleading not to go echoed in my mind, lingering like an extension to the scream I heard yesterday.
Just waiting a moment to explain made her jump.
She only wanted to wipe the blood off her hands.
“Miss, even so, you can’t just…”
Just as I started to protest, the door opened.
A few maids entered with breakfast.
They unfolded a collapsible table and laid down food all over it.
The endless feast drew my eye for a moment.
“Why so much food for just the two of us?”
I worried whether my younger self would be able to finish it all.
I thought it would be different if I were my old self.
Just as Eliya was about to sit down, Ria spoke.
“Miss, you need to set down whatever you have in your hands while eating.”
Eliya looked down at the cat plushie she was hugging.
It was plain she didn’t want to let it go.
“If you eat while holding it, it may get dirty with food…”
Before Ria could even finish, Eliya handed the plushie to Ria.
She quickly unwrapped the blanket too.
With an astonished expression, Ria set both items gently onto the bed.
Eliya sat first and said to me, “Enjoy your meal.”
I sat across from her.
The table was large, and she felt quite far away.
Just the two of us at such a big table.
This seemed a little extravagant.
“Should I really say I can’t stay here after the meal…?”
As I thought this, Eliya casually mentioned, “There’s not too much difference in staying in the main building. The living rules may be slightly different, though. And meals will be served like this every day.”
“…….”
I took a glance at the table.
Half of it was one serving. That was my share.
There was no comparison to what they usually served in the annex.
“With this amount and variety… maybe I could follow the meal plan our nutrition coach laid out…”
…Oh no! What am I thinking?!
I quickly shook my head.
I mustn’t let myself be swayed.
Nutrition and skill level are deeply intertwined.
I know that painfully well.
Even if I hated theory, I learned the basics of nutrition.
Besides, I was in a younger body.
To grow up nicely, I need to eat well during my growth period.
Thanks to that, this offer feels so enticing it’s almost painful…!
“But living here together isn’t an option!”
Although I was disappointed in the meal plan, I had to decline.
I felt some pity for Eliya.
How she came to me at dawn.
Crying.
I remember that scene vividly, like a fog that wouldn’t lift from my mind.
Yet…
I can’t take on matters I’m not responsible for, relying solely on cheap sympathy.
To just say I’d stand by her side or help her out of pity was arrogance.
I experienced something like that in my past life. Powerless justice. Useless morals. It threw my life into disarray.
That being said, the reason I helped Eliya was purely moral.
It’s not that I’m significant or special.
Anyone in that situation would have stepped in.
She might have potentially changed.
My actions could have influenced her.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t risk my life on mere probabilities.
That would be reckless.
“I really don’t need to refuse right now.”
After all, I would have to do what Eliya said anyway.
Honestly speaking, I couldn’t turn her down.
It was fine.
Someone had stepped up to fight in my place.
*
“I cannot allow this.”
Balak spat those words out, gnashing his teeth to suppress his anger.
Beside him stood Countess Narcissi.
She twisted her face like a demon and shouted shrilly.
“Say something that makes sense! This is ridiculous!”
Just as I expected.
“Moreover, that child…!”
Eliya interrupted her and retorted.
“I made my decision, and it’s granted.”
Narcissi bit her lip, glaring at Eliya.
Balak’s gaze was just as sharp.
Eliya, unrelenting, stood her ground.
The tension was taut.
None were willing to yield or compromise.
I found myself in the strange position of inadvertently supporting these intolerable individuals.
Sitting beside Eliya, I mentally prayed.
“Balak, Narcissi… I might not like you, but at this moment, I hope you win…”
Eliya’s father, stepmother, and daughter starting a heated debate.
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