Chapter 34: Two Gifts

Lying in bed, I stared blankly at the ceiling.

Finding the boring morning quite displeasing, I vigorously kneaded the cheeks of Jahy beside me.

“Nyeh?”

Jahy, expressing confusion with slurred pronunciation, blinked her violet eyes.

“Bored.”

“Uh, um…”

Jahy, seemingly flustered, darted her eyes around, searching for something to say.

Not expecting much, I wasn’t disappointed.

And so, I played with Jahy’s cheeks for about 10 minutes.

Knock knock knock.

Along with three knocks on the door, Edwyn’s voice came from beyond it.

“Young Lady Sia. May I enter for a moment?”

Why would Edwyn come at this hour? Come to think of it, today is the day Lilac arrives…

Bolt!

“Mommy?”

Jahy looked at me with puzzled eyes, rubbing the cheek I abruptly released.

I was definitely worried about Lilac before falling asleep. But I had forgotten the day Lilac was returning.

I immediately got out of bed and opened the door.

Creak.

“Edwyn! Has Lilac returned by any chance?”

Perhaps not expecting me to come out myself, Edwyn looked slightly surprised but quickly maintained his composure and nodded.

However.

“She has returned, but…”

“?”

I tilted my head towards Edwyn, who was strangely drawing out his words.

Finding his slightly troubled tone bothersome, I urged him with my eyes, and he smiled awkwardly and continued.

“Well… Her Grace returned to the Duchy estate first. The Butler and Lady Diana also went along, and the Sword Empress reportedly moved with them as well. Therefore, I was ordered to fetch the remaining young lady…”

Hearing Edwyn’s words, I finally understood why he smiled awkwardly.

If the servants and knights saw it, Lilac’s and my relationship could be seen as lovers… but…

‘I haven’t really thought seriously about romance.’

I just stuck close to Lilac because I liked her. Is that being lovers…?

Anyway, seeing Edwyn’s reaction, perhaps Lilac left first without a word, and he dragged out his words thinking I might be disheartened.

Feeling grateful for his consideration, I spoke.

“Is that so? Hmm. Then there’s no reason to stay at the Central Temple any longer. And thank you for thinking before speaking.”

“Haha. Not at all. Rather, I’m relieved that the young lady seems unfazed.”

‘Why does he seem to be smiling more energetically?’

Considering Edwyn’s position, he sometimes seems like Lilac’s bickering childhood friend.

“Then I’ll get ready and come out. Could I trouble you for a carriage?”

“Of course. Please prepare slowly, and we will adjust accordingly when you come out.”

Closing the door, I turned around and smiled at Jahy, who was still fiddling with her cheek.

“Jahy. Let’s go to the mansion now!”

“Oh. We’re finally going? But what about the Duchess?”

“Ah. Lilac apparently returned first. Seems like she had urgent business.”

‘What urgent business could possibly… without even giving Edwyn details…’

I was slightly worried, but knowing how foolish it is to worry about Lilac, I didn’t think much of it.

“Ah, really?!”

‘Why are you so happy?’

At my words that Lilac left first, Jahy’s eyes sparkled, and a crazed look filled them as she smiled brightly.

Of course, it was a sight Sia couldn’t see.

“So let’s head out now too. We don’t have anything to pack anyway, so we just need to move ourselves.”

“Okay.”

Lastly, I looked around to see if anything was missing, but the only thing I brought was the white coat, so I sighed.

‘Stayed at the temple, yet didn’t even think of buying anything.’

Usually, when traveling or staying somewhere, things tend to accumulate…

Looking at it now, it’s questionable what Jahy and I did here for several days.

‘Really had nothing, how did we manage?’

All there was was a wooden table and a soft bed. Ah, and simple cooking utensils.

“Mommy?”

Just then, Jahy approached from the side and called me, startling me and making me turn my gaze.

“Y-yes?”

“Not going?”

“No. We should go.”

Smiling, I stroked Jahy’s head, and Jahy, seemingly pleased, purred and closed her eyes.

‘Like a cat.’

Her actions were becoming so similar to Lilac’s that it almost felt like she was Lilac’s alter ego, looking awkward.

‘Later, on the way… no.’

‘What am I thinking about Jahy?’ I must be quite the improper human myself.

Checking the clock, remembering Edwyn waiting outside, I removed my hand from Jahy’s head and opened the door.

“Tch…”

Jahy clicked her tongue, showing her disappointment without hiding it.

“Ahaha. I’ll do it later at home.”

“Do it in the carriage.”

“Okay.”

Growing increasingly strange, Jahy became frightening, but I forced myself to ignore it, walked down the corridor, and emerged into the temple lobby.

Coming out to the lobby, Edwyn, who was waiting first, greeted me warmly and approached.

“There are many people.”

As Edwyn approached, I blurted it out unintentionally.

“Ah… Was it perhaps inconvenient during your stay?”

“Ah, no. Just curious.”

Even in my past life, I didn’t understand why so many people believed in gods. This place wasn’t much different.

[God actually exists.]

A certain philosopher said it. God is dead. I was deeply impressed by those words, took them to heart, and became a respectable non-believer.

[Child?]

Who is your child?! Huh?

[…My child was an apostate.]

‘Shouldn’t you have thought more carefully when choosing a Saintess?’

[Didn’t know she was a non-believer.]

‘Unfortunately, that’s not my problem.’

[Hoo… Fine. Go to the prayer room. Sent a gift to commemorate your visit to the Central Temple.]

Seemingly angered, the Goddess exhaled deeply and spoke.

However, right now, the word ‘gift’ caught my ear more than the Goddess’s mood.

‘A gift?’

[Something created to help you utilize divine power more easily.]

At those words, I briefly looked at Edwyn and Jahy and spoke.

“Could I visit the prayer room for a moment?”

Edwyn and Jahy turned their heads sideways, seeking an answer.

“Well… the Goddess said she bestowed a holy relic.”

It would actually be a holy relic, right? Since the Goddess herself said it and gave it.

[Sigh.]

‘Sighing makes luck fly away.’

[Seems like luck flew away long ago.]

‘Somehow feels like she’s referring to me.’

Ignoring it, I waited for Edwyn’s reply.

“It doesn’t matter… Did you also converse with the Goddess?”

Ah. They wouldn’t have known. I don’t think I ever told Jahy either.

“Yes. Sometimes when I’m bored?”

“I-I see…”

Telling the surprised Edwyn and the subtly expressive Jahy that I’d be right back, I headed to the prayer room.

Opening the pure white doors, a vast prayer room came into view.

“It’s huge.”

About half the size of a school playground.

From the outside, the space itself looked small.

Magic?

Though that thought occurred, there were people waiting, so I quickly walked to the center of the prayer room.

And what I saw was a white bandage in the very center, bathed in sunlight.

[The Holy Shroud. A gift.]

Ignoring the Goddess’s words, I blankly knelt and picked up the Holy Shroud.

An unknown warmth emanated from the piece of cloth.

[P-piece of cloth?!]

Carefully lifting the light-infused Holy Shroud, I tucked it into my bosom. Then, towards the statue of the beautiful woman in the prayer room.

I knelt, clasped my hands together, and lowered my head.

And closed my eyes.

“Please let me live happily. And thank you for the gift.”

Happy… I don’t know if I can say that yet.

But I hoped that happiness lurked in the events to come and joy would bloom fully.

[…Blessings.]

With those words, I left the prayer room and rejoined Edwyn and Jahy.

Then we boarded the carriage waiting outside and departed.

The feeling of wanting to see Lilac soon and the thought of finally being able to rest at home made me happy.

Perhaps it was happiness I hadn’t yet realized.

Meanwhile, at the Duchy estate.

“Vassals are dying left and right. Do you intend to become a tyrant?”

Frowning at Master who suddenly picked a fight, I returned her words.

“Master was also a tyrant when teaching me.”

“Tsk. Can’t win a single argument.”

“There is only one opponent I can lose to.”

“…Are you referring to that child?”

For a moment, I felt a cloudiness in Master’s words. Meaning, Sia simply shared the same name as her daughter.

I was already convinced of that, and since returning to the mansion with Master, I maintained composure and coolness.

Standing up from the sofa, I left the head’s study and headed towards the room Sia and I stayed in.

Seeing the room’s scenery after not seeing it for a while made my heart ache, but I didn’t show it.

“Is that rocking chair hers?”

Master calls Sia ‘that child’.

Probably to avoid confusion with her daughter.

To her, her daughter was already as good as dead. Unless she sees Sia, it will probably remain that way.

“Yes. She liked it very much.”

As Master replied in a trailing voice, swept up by the atmosphere, I finally brought up the topic I had suppressed.

“Perhaps, Master.”

“What is it. Foolish disciple.”

‘Did you really have to add that modifier?’

Anyway.

“Ahem. If, Master’s daughter was alive-“

Drip.

A stinging sensation pricked my neck.

Remaining unfazed, I lowered my gaze to see a sword glowing with blue-silver light had lightly nicked my neck.

Blood flowed, ran down the blade, and dripped onto the floor.

“…Patience has its limits. Disciple.”

Raising my gaze again, I met Master’s. No, Noah’s eyes.

In Noah’s eyes, who always said emotions were a luxury to be discarded.

Very deep anger and sorrow resided.

Feeling sorry, but intending to give her, who lived with the guilt of failing to protect her daughter her whole life a gift, I continued speaking.

“Master’s daughter. Is living with me now.”

“What…?”

As the words left my mouth, Master’s eyes trembled violently.

Then, with ragged breath.

“Lies-.”

“Soon, she will arrive.”

This is why I didn’t show Sia to Noah right away.

To tell her where Sia had been and what she had been doing until now.

Noah’s unstable heart.

To reassure her.