Chapter 64

"……!"

I snapped my eyes open.

As my vision adjusted to the darkness, light began to seep in. I frowned, and my focus slowly returned.

'Where am I...?'

It was a familiar ceiling.

I couldn't tell what was dream and what was reality.

I slowly retraced my memories.

Before long, I remembered Oblivion, the man, and even Duke Schuets.

All the memories came flooding back.

'And then... I fainted.'

I let out a deep sigh.

I managed to uncover Oblivion's spy, but it caused a big commotion.

'And I said some strange things too.'

I felt like I wanted to sleep forever. I closed my eyes tightly in embarrassment.

'I didn't expect to faint like that.'

I thought I had eaten and slept well, but apparently not.

'And that dream.'

What was that all about?

'And the light from my hands.'

I subconsciously raised my arm, but it wouldn't move as if it were tied down.

'What is this...?'

As I blinked in confusion,

"...Eli?"

A familiar voice rang out, followed by a thud and the sound of a chair falling over.

"Eli, you're awake?"

Damian, who looked noticeably pale, examined me.

"Are you okay? No, more importantly, the doctor. The doctor should... "

Damian fidgeted and jumped up. I hurriedly called out to calm him down.

"Damian, I'm fine."

"But... "

"Really. I feel refreshed, like I just woke up from a nap."

I squeezed his hand tightly.

Only then did his busy movements stop, as if he had finally relaxed.

"You stayed by my side the whole time?"

"...Yeah."

"It must have been hard. Thank you, Damian."

I reached out with my other hand and stroked Damian's head.

"This is nothing... "

Damian, muttering to himself, looked up at me.

"...I was scared."

His eyes were red, as if he was about to cry.

"I thought you might never wake up... I was so, so scared."

A tear fell down his white cheek.

'Oh no... I made him cry.'

"I'm sorry for scaring you. This won't happen again. I promise."

"From now on... "

"Hmm?"

Damian gripped my hand tightly.

"Don't do that again."

What do you mean? I was about to ask, but I quickly realized. Damian's gaze was on my injured arm.

"Oh, this? It's fine. It doesn't hurt at all. It's just a-"

"It's not fine!"

"..."

"How can it be...!"

I blinked at his immediate rebuttal.

Was he more surprised by his own voice? Damian quickly clamped his mouth shut. Then, with a pained expression, he moved his lips.

"Eli is hurt... "

"...Damian."

"I don't like it. I'm scared. This is too terrible."

Thick tears began to roll down his cheeks.

"Don't leave me alone... "

"I promise, I'll be more careful from now on."

"...Promise me."

Then Damian extended his finger, as if to make a promise.

Seeing his slightly smaller pinky finger, I couldn't help but smile a little, even though I knew I shouldn't.

"Okay, I promise."

I entwined my finger with his, a smile on my face.

"I won't get hurt again."

Only then did the worry on Damian's face fade.

"I'm sorry for worrying you."

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.

"You've taken the spotlight again."

"...Duke."

"You're awake."

As the Duke approached us, Damian quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

The Duke glanced at Damian, then looked back at me.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine."

"Good. I'm relieved."

And then silence fell.

'I thought he would scold me for causing such a commotion.'

But the fact that he said nothing made me feel uneasy.

"Eli."

At that moment, the Duke called my name.

I was startled, having been on edge.

"Did you know who the priest was?"

I hesitated, but decided to be honest.

"...I knew he was deliberately approaching me, but I didn't know who he was exactly."

"The holy water. I heard you deliberately asked for an extra one."

"..."

"That was also part of your plan, I assume."

I remained silent.

The Duke knew everything. He was asking just to scold me.

"That wasn't the image I wanted to show you that day."

"..."

"Then you wouldn't have shown any interest in the holy water, either."

There was a hint of self-reproach in the Duke's voice.

'So he noticed everything.'

The Schuets family's hereditary madness could only be purified in the temple, and the temple used this to interfere with the Schuets.

Then Lady Yuria managed to alleviate the Duke's symptoms, which worsened the relationship with the temple.

But Lady Yuria passed away. Without the temple's help, he would have gone mad.

'Just like in the original story.'

That's why I tried to get the holy water.

"I'm sorry, Duke. I won't cause such trouble again-"

"Don't."

"..."

"Don't think I did this lightly."

"..."

"So you don't need to apologize."

I blinked in confusion.

Why did his indifferent face seem so affectionate?

"...Duke."

I slowly spoke.

"Can I... stay here?"

"..."

The Duke's expression didn't change.

Is it not allowed? I bowed my head deeply.

"Do you remember what I said before?"

After a moment of silence, the Duke spoke.

"I hate being bothered."

"...Yes, I remember."

"Then why are you asking the same question? Didn't you make the choice?"

"Huh?"

I looked up in surprise.

"You came to me and said you wanted to be my daughter."

"..."

"Now you want to change your mind? How fickle."

Though he said it in a teasing, brusque manner, I knew.

This was the Duke's clumsy way of comforting me.

"Then... can I stay here?"

I asked, my voice trembling.

"Yes."

The Duke's large hand rested on my head.

"Just be yourself. Don't worry about anything."

His hand was so warm. I couldn't help but sniffle.

"Now I see you're a crybaby."

"I'm not a crybaby."

"You are. Both of you are."

The Duke reached out with his other hand and ruffled Damian's hair.

It was a rough gesture, but I could feel the affection.

Damian and I, with our messy hair, looked at each other.

Our tear-streaked faces were a mess.

We both smiled, as if we had made a silent agreement.

* * *

The letter arrived at the Porger family estate that evening.

"What is this?"

Letters from Riccal Porger, Oblivion's father, were rare.

Few families would contact a house that used black magic and became the emperor's dogs.

Riccal flipped the letter over. There, boldly stamped, was the family crest.

The roaring red lion.

The emblem of the Schuets ducal family.

The moment he saw it, Riccal instinctively knew something had gone wrong.

And when he read the letter,

Bang!

"What a pathetic girl!"

Riccal roared and slammed his fist on the table.

'After promising to do it, you still caused this mess?'

How much hardship had he endured to push his daughter, who had no divine power, into the temple!

'Not only did she get caught, but she was caught by Duke Schuets!'

Not only would she be punished by the temple, but she might even be abandoned by the emperor.

'No... that must never happen.'

If they lost the title of the emperor's dogs, the Porger family's position would become even more precarious.

'...I need to do something.'

Riccal stood up and ordered his attendant.

"Prepare the carriage. I'm going to the palace immediately!"

* * *

The Imperial Hall.

Despite the grand symbol of the World Tree, representing the divine blessing, it was a solemn place where the empire's major and minor affairs were decided.

However, the emperor, Ventus, who sat in the middle, looked incredibly bored.

"So, that's all you have to say?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Hmm."

The officials present were all excellent talents, but Ventus paid no attention to their words.

Such outstanding people were maintaining the empire's peace without his direct involvement.

How incredibly... dull and monotonous this daily routine was.

The sensation of drawing his sword and indiscriminately slaughtering people was so vivid.

'Just sitting here nodding along.'

Ventus muttered, his face devoid of emotion.

"Peace is so incredibly boring."

The official who was discussing the agenda was startled by his words.

Everyone present exchanged glances, but no one dared to contradict the emperor.

"Let's end it here."

At Ventus's words, everyone quickly stood up.

Alone, he scanned the room with a bored expression.

Fifteen years had passed since the divine revelation and the end of the war.

He had preserved the empire, but there was still something he had not obtained.

'If only I had that in my hands.'

I could have had everything.

But how could he recover what was already lost?

"What a pity, what a pity..."

As he muttered like a sigh,

"Your Majesty."

An attendant approached him.

"What is it?"

The attendant, who was watching his reaction, cautiously spoke.

"Lord Riccal Porger has requested an audience with Your Majesty."