Chapter 83

83

'Family is useless.'

Maids and family were different.

Especially this fake family, which was nothing but a facade, even more so.

They would only be a burden. A burden that would leave me with a deep scar.

I chased away the maid standing beside me.

The maid looked quite troubled at the sight of me saying I would go back alone, but what could she do? I just wanted to be alone right now.

In fact, I knew how solid the internal security of the mansion was, so most maids would back off with a helpless expression after I insisted a few times.

I walked aimlessly, staring at the ground, and squatted behind a large tree where I couldn't be seen, holding a pacifier in my mouth.

Sucking on it with force seemed to calm me down a bit.

I tilted my head back and looked at the sky.

'Why is the sky so blue again?'

As I sucked on the pacifier aimlessly, I wondered what I was doing.

'I'm five years old...'

Now that I'm five, why can't I get rid of this pacifier?

People often mumbled, wondering if there was something wrong with me because I couldn't even give up the pacifier.

Of course, since my birthday, I hardly ever sucked on it unless I was really frustrated. After all, I was born to be pretty, so I had to grow up pretty.

Still, I couldn't give up the habit of putting it in my mouth.

"Hmm, there you are, Miss."

A snicker came from above, and something suddenly dropped from the tree branch.

Startled, I lifted my head to see Chaeser hanging upside down right in front of me.

His light voice and playful actions, along with his lack of dignity, made him look completely different from the knight who had stood composed in front of Shutock earlier.

"Wh-what?"

"You're really small, even when I see you again."

No, do you think you're big? You look like you're only fifteen.

I was so taken aback that I almost dropped the pacifier in my mouth.

He landed softly on the ground from the tree branch.

"I've heard a lot about you, nice to meet you."

He mumbled in a small voice.

Crouching to match my eye level, Chaeser grinned, showing his sharp teeth.

"Sh-erina."

"Who are you?"

"Or should I call you Hella?"

His chuckling voice made me frown.

I wondered how he managed to look so composed earlier, but now his tone and actions were as fierce as if he were looking at an untamed beast.

As the name I hadn't heard in a long time slipped from his lips, my heart sank coldly.

I clenched my jaw, trying to hide my confusion, and met his eyes.

"Who are you?"

"Me? I'm Chaeser. We already introduced ourselves, didn't we? Anyway, it's troublesome, so quickly give your blessing. The leader told me to get it from you."

Chaeser bowed his head slightly, showing me the top of his head.

His unexpected words threw me off. The spell I had been reciting in my mind was instantly shattered.

I looked at the familiar yet distant word with a bewildered expression.

"Leader?"

"Yeah, the leader."

Leader...? Who is this leader?

No, I think I know, but I don't want to think about it.

So far, I've only given my blessing to one person.

"You said you would take responsibility for us. You said you would give us your blessing and make us belong to you."

"Dantarian..."

I thought he had given up after not showing up for two years, but it seems he hadn't.

When I didn't say anything, Chaeser laughed.

"Or are you trying to abandon us too?"

What kind of ridiculous thing is he saying?

How could he not know that this kind of talk would make the other person feel uncomfortable, having lived in the dark for so long?

I felt a bit sorry for him.

"Tell me earlier."

"Tell me what?"

"I was going to kill you and leave cleanly before we got in each other's way. I'll let the leader know."

It's so brutal, I'll definitely tell him.

You're making it so complicated that I can't even leave the house.

To free these people, I would have to kill Melaine, the leader of Silophia.

'And close down all the experiment records and labs.'

If I get the chance, it wouldn't be bad to kill all the elders.

The old men, who had no talent, sat in their positions, only fattening their bellies.

Maybe it would be better to bring back the 'father' who was in hiding.

I lacked the ability to build a country. I was short on many things, and most of the administration had to be divided among clueless magicians.

'I should have studied more.'

If I had studied more about politics, economics, and management, I could have made a proper country.

The regret came too late, making my head ache.

"I'll do it, the blessing."

I nodded obediently.

Sure, there's nothing to do after leaving the mansion, so I might as well shake things up in Silophia.

"Really? If you don't bring it, the leader said he would cut off your limbs."

I chuckled at the kid crouching and getting closer.

'Everything that gets tangled up is strange.'

It seems the only person who got tangled up properly in my life was Bella.

'Even though she can't cook and has no talent for raising children...'

She's kind and affectionate.

"But why the knight?"

"To protect you."

No, why do I need protection again?

I shook my head, deciding not to add more.

'He must have some skills to be here.'

I slowly scanned Chaeser from head to toe.

'Nothing?'

"What are you looking for?"

Chaeser asked, noticing my gaze.

He doesn't seem hostile, despite his fierce appearance. Maybe he's just naturally that way.

"No."

"Maybe this?"

Chaeser lifted his shirt.

A metal 'test subject' mark was literally embedded in the area near his collarbone. A small name tag, similar to a dog tag, was strangely mixed with his flesh.

I forgot to breathe at the sight of the number 972, which was forcibly embedded in the surrounding flesh.

His body was covered in scars, as if he had repeatedly opened and closed them.

"I was quite rebellious. I got punished a few times as retaliation. They got angry because I kept breaking it, so they just embedded it."

Chaeser explained casually as he put his shirt back on. He crouched again and asked,

"How old are you?"

"How old? Now twelve? Or thirteen?"

"...What? In Hadiman Empire!"

"Oh, I faked it a bit. Here, I'm about seventeen."

Hey, that's employment fraud. You're quite bold, who are you trying to fool?

Of course, in the Simula Knights, only those who have worked for a long time or are trusted can be promoted.

The Simula Knights are a direct subordinate of the Clown family, a small elite group, and there are other knights employed by the mansion.

The head of the Simula Knights is in charge of the new recruits' exams and management.

"So, the blessing?"

My mouth was dry.

What kind of terrible thing did you do to a twelve-year-old, Melaine?

After a long silence, I put the pacifier back in my mouth.

Huh, huh. Huh, huh.

I used a breathing technique I learned somewhere to calm my heart along with the pacifier.

I felt like my blood was going to rush up.

I took the pacifier out of my mouth and looked at Chaeser, who was waiting for my blessing.

I gently placed my hand on his forehead.

"By the order of Serina Clown, I bless you."

The language that came out of my mouth was much more human than when I blessed Dantarian.

The change after nearly two years made my eyes a bit moist.

"Break the flower of despair that has grown, born from the ashes. For the flower of hope that will bloom in the ashes."

He's a fiery person.

I hope he doesn't give up, as he can adapt anywhere. Now I understand the sin Dantarian spoke of.

"Chaeser."

As I called his name, magic power flowed from my fingertips into Chaeser.

The black magic power, which had become a bit darker than before, seeped into him.

'...Not long now.'

Time is running out.

Once the black magic power enters the body, it taints even normal magic with its color.

When I blessed Dantarian two years ago, the black magic power and normal magic power were about equal, but now the black magic power makes up more than 70%.

"I'm done."

I removed my hand and told him.

Chaeser straightened his legs with a subtle expression.

He moved his hands a few times, looking a bit strange, and then laughed mischievously.

"Hey, did you know? After the leader received the blessing, he was dazed for a while."

"Huh?"

"He just stared at his hands or stroked his head, looking a bit out of it."

Chaeser lifted his hand and stroked his head a few times, then chuckled.

"This is definitely a strange feeling."

Chaeser moved around and then knelt in front of me again. He took my hand and kissed the back of it.

I shivered with embarrassment and pulled my hand away.

"What are you doing?"

"Blessing has meaning to a magician, right?"

"Sort of."

I showed a small gap between my thumb and index finger. I've never really cared about it, though.

Chaeser laughed heartily.

He seems to have a fiery temperament, which might be why his personality is also outgoing.

Despite growing up in pain, I don't understand why he's so bright.

'Make him feel guilty.'