CH 15

Episode 15

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Knock, knock.

Thiel cautiously knocked on the door. Upon doing so, the servants standing on either side of the door announced loudly,

“Lord Cassius, Miss has arrived.”

Shortly after, the servants opened the massive door. Thiel hesitated for a moment before sticking her head through the open door.

In front of a large table at the end of the room, there sat a man with neatly combed hair and sharp eyes that matched Thiel’s own golden irises. He was Cassius Celeste Asterian., the owner of the room and Thiel’s own father.

Thiel glanced at Cassius for a moment, then knocked on the door once again and asked cautiously, “Um, may I come in?”

“Ah, come in, Thiel.”

Cassius carefully set down the pen he was holding and spoke. Thiel tilted her head slightly and walked into the study with hesitant steps.

The servants closed the door behind her.

“Have a seat there, baby.”

Cassius lowered the gold-framed glasses that were resting on the bridge of his nose and pointed to the sofa in the center of the study.

Thiel obediently took a seat at the end of the sofa, as Cassius had instructed.

However, Cassius’s expression showed a hint of dissatisfaction, as if something didn’t please him. He swiftly approached Thiel.

“Don’t sit like that.”

Cassius approached Thiel with a slight smile and lifted her up in a gentle hug. Startled, Thiel’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Ca, Mr. Cassius!”

Cassius paid no attention to Thiel’s squirming or protests and swiftly sat down on the sofa, placing the child comfortably inside.

Thanks to that, Thiel, who had been sitting on the edge of the sofa with only her bottom on it, could now sit comfortably, sinking into the depths of the couch.

Finally satisfied, Cassius smiled and plopped down on the opposite side of the sofa, facing Thiel.

Thiel blinked her eyes as she gazed at Cassius, who was sitting on the huge, plush sofa.

‘That was a surprise…’

She had been taken aback when he suddenly approached and hugged her, but it was all to make her sit comfortably on the sofa.

It was something she had never imagined happening in Nestian, of course.

In Nestian, the touch of an adult to Thiel had always been something scary and cruel.

That’s why it was fascinating and delightful. She had never experienced this kind of care before. She had never even imagined receiving it…

Thiel’s wariness towards Cassius slightly diminished. The child, without realizing it, looked at Cassius with eyes full of curiosity, setting aside her fear.

And Cassius’s mouth curled up at the sight, which he had been watching the whole time.

“It seems like she’s adapting quickly. That’s fortunate.”

He had been worried that she wouldn’t let go of her guard, but the child quickly let her guard down, to the point where his worries seemed irrelevant.

Cassius felt relieved about that aspect, but at the same time, it saddened him deeply.

After enduring such prolonged abuse, how could she easily let her guard down with just a few gentle touches?

What kind of treatment had she received all this time?

‘How she was treated and what kind of life she lived without knowing…’

Cassius’s golden eyes, filled with energy directed towards Nestian, simmered down and gradually settled. He easily contained his anger.

He was worried that Thiel might notice the emotions reflected on his face and become frightened.

Fortunately, Thiel didn’t notice.

Soon, the maids entered with trays piled high with snacks and set them down in front of the two, along with tea.

Since Thiel was still young, orange juice was provided instead.

“You’ve worked hard. You may leave now.”

“Yes, Lord Cassius.”

The maids lightly bowed their heads in greeting and left the study with hesitant steps.

“Thiel, I called you because I have something to say.”

Cassius picked up the most appetizing-looking cookie from the ones placed in front of Thiel and handed it to her as he spoke.

Thiel accepted the cookie and cautiously gauged Cassius’ reaction. He said he had something to tell her… What could it be? Is he planning to change his mind and send me away again…?

Just as Thiel’s thoughts were starting to take a negative turn, Cassius’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“That day, you seemed to remember something from the basement.”

“Yes? Yes, I did.”

Thiel nodded her head. She couldn’t remember vividly, but she had a vague recollection.

Cassius had come down to the basement himself to find her, and at that moment, an unidentifiable light had burst from the palm of Thiel’s own hand.

“I can’t remember it clearly, but I slightly remember it.”

How could I forget?

Even now, when I close my eyes, it feels like the situation from back then flashes before me. The desperation I felt, thinking that Asterian was going to kill me. The shimmering lights within my hands responded to that desperation.

But what the hell was that? It was definitely not a freezing ability. The moment, a question popped into Thiel’s mind.

“That was your ability, baby.”

“… My ability?”

Yes, a very special ability.”

Cassius’s gentle voice gently settled in Thiel’s ears. Thiel blinked as if she couldn’t believe it.

A special ability?

The child tilted her head in confusion.

Thiel did not have the ability to freeze or fire. At that time, it was clear that the superpowers she used would be nothing more than insignificant abilities. But, what a special ability…

Could there be a misunderstanding?

‘… It can’t be that small light is a special ability.’

Thiel had never heard of the “Light Ability” that was passed down in the Krasion Empire. It was natural since she had never received a proper education.

So it wasn’t unreasonable for Thiel to think of her own ability as “insignificant.”

Cassius slowly began to tell Thiel the legends surrounding the Light Ability that descended in the Krasion Empire.

The legends about the Light Ability that descended in the Krasion Empire, and the nature of the Light Ability.

And even what the fish-shaped light emitted from Thiel’s palm symbolized in Krasion.

However, Cassius didn’t mention another legend that was only passed down in Asterian and Nestian to Thiel. He did so out of concern that the child might feel burdened. It was a small consideration from Cassius.

After listening to everything, Thiel’s eyes widened. She carefully clasped and unfolded her own palm, then asked a question.

“Th-then, what should I…?”

“That’s right, Thiel. You’re a special child who has manifested a special ability from the legends.”

Cassius’s words were unbelievable. It felt like listening to a story from another world. Just a while ago, she was being ridiculed and treated as a useless mixed blood, and now she was being called a special child…

She wondered if something was wrong, but the Cassius in front of her didn’t seem like someone who would lie.

Thiel clenched her palms together. A small pool of light flickered within. And cautiously, she attempted to use her ability.

A faint light briefly appeared within her hands before quickly fading away. Disappointment flickered across Thiel’s face.

Thiel had never properly learned how to use her ability, so it was natural that she couldn’t control it. However, she couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

Thiel cautiously lifted her head to face Cassius.

“Um,… Then, what can I…?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Well… then… Can I be of help to the Asterian family?”

Thiel muttered with her small mouth. The office fell silent at Thiel’s question.

Cassius inwardly let out a short sigh.

Cassius’ kind of terrible things did they do to this child in Nestian that she would ask such a question?

Cassius brushed away the awkward expression and shifted his gaze toward the young child.

“Thiel, you don’t have to be of help to the Asterian family. Even without that, you are my daughter and a rightful member of the Asterian family.”

The results of a bloodline test didn’t matter.

Thiel was Cassius’s daughter.

The golden eyes, the symbol of the black leopard, the white fur, the symbol of the snow leopard, and Lena’s locket proved that fact.

The bloodline test was only meant to announce Thiel as the successor of Asterian. Nothing more, nothing less. Thiel was definitely his daughter.

He could tell from the moment he first saw her.

There are no parents in the world who wouldn’t recognize their own child.

Upon hearing the words “my daughter,” Thiel’s face turned red, and her eyes widened. The child, in a flustered tone, hastily added more words.

“But Grandfather always said that if you’re a child, you should be a support to the family…”

“If things that rely on a child’s help for their existence need to disappear, then it’s only right. Thiel, young children don’t need to worry about such things. All you have to do is eat well and play well.”

Cassius’s voice as he spoke was very firm. Thiel nodded her head as if entranced.

“Yes.”

“The reason I told you about your ability is not because I expect something from you or because I want something from you. It’s because you have the right to know about your ability.”

Thiel nodded once again. Despite Cassius looking quite uncomfortable… it didn’t seem to be because of Thiel herself.

After wiping his face with an awkward expression, Cassius took the cookie that Thiel still hadn’t eaten from her hand and placed it in her mouth.

“Uh, uh?”

“That’s why, remember, Thiel. Children… don’t need to do anything. At least, in the Asterian family, that’s how it is. Just eat well and play well.”

It was the first time she had heard such words.

Just eat well and play well. It was an unimaginable concept in Nestian. But Cassius simply said that’s all she needed to do.

“Yes… Mr. Cassius.”

As Thiel took a small bite of the cookie given by Cassius, her cheeks reddened with a kindness she had never experienced before, and she nodded her head.

A faint light flickered once again from Thiel’s hand.