Chapter 7: A Dawn of Uncertainties

I woke early the next day. The surroundings were still steeped in darkness, leaving me unsure of the hour. Outside, however, the clank of metal armor on the ground suggested that some soldiers were already stirring.

A chill permeated my limbs, the warmth of the previous night having vanished. Yet, a lingering warmth remained in my arms. I looked down to see a tiny head gently breathing against my chest; Lia had returned to her familiar, adorable, and petite form.

‘Could it be that Lia transformed into that alluring figure only at night?’ Her mind, however, still seemed to be that of a child. Perhaps succubi enter a predatory state during the night, which explains her nocturnal transformation.

Yet, Lia, having lived solely within the palace, appeared unaware of her true purpose, acting purely on instinct, just as she had yesterday.

Regardless, Lia was now like a daughter to me. Even if her succubus instincts manifested, I would never do anything to harm her.

With a pang of affection, I stroked Lia’s head. She suddenly opened her eyes, glancing around in a panic, her hands clutching my chest tightly. Only after seemingly confirming there was no hostility did she relax.

This series of actions broke my heart. She was just a child, yet she had received so little kindness from the world, constantly being hurt no matter where she went. It was this perpetual trauma that made her so terrified upon waking, regardless of her location.

“Good morning, Papa.”

Rubbing her eyes, she looked at me and whispered softly. Before I could reply, a nervous expression suddenly crossed her face. She murmured, “Papa… someone’s coming…”

“Don’t be afraid.”

I held her close, my gaze fixed on the doorway. Soon, not only did the succubus hear footsteps, but I, too, discerned the approaching sounds, followed by the sinister jingle of metal keys at the door.

A key slid into the lock, but the visitor did not immediately swing the door open. Instead, they allowed light to filter in gradually, preventing us, who had been in darkness, from being momentarily blinded by the sudden glare.

Clutching Lia tightly, I watched the door with extreme vigilance. I had no idea who was about to enter or what they intended. We were Vilya’s spoils of war now; there was no telling what someone might do.

For a man, the options were limited: either kill me or humiliate me. But for a little girl, the possibilities were far more sinister.

I would not allow them to approach Lia. I had always protected her, and I would continue to do so.

The door finally creaked open, and a cascade of silver hair drifted in first. This was immediately followed by a gleaming suit of armor, a longsword at her hip, and metal greaves and boots that chimed with a martial rhythm at her every step.

Perhaps a helmet wasn’t deemed necessary at this moment, for she wore none. ‘Yet, despite the war being over, was she truly fully armed just to visit prisoners of war?’

Vilya held a bundle of thick fabric, clearly clothing. She glanced at us, showing no surprise at seeing Lia emerge from the cage, as if she had deliberately left the door ajar.

I watched her warily. While she might be a hero, the brave warrior who ended the war for humankind, to me, she was neither a hero nor a champion. Even though we were both human, she had shown me no kindness.

Ignoring my gaze, she approached us with the pile of clothes and set them down. Then, she drew a dagger from her waist and severed the ropes binding our wrists and ankles.

Her expression impassive, she looked at us, pointed to the clothes on the ground, and said, “Change into these. Get ready to depart.”

“Where to?”

Still holding Lia, I asked her.

“The North.”

Her reply was terse. She then turned and walked outside, saying without looking back, “It’s cold up there. So, put on your clothes.”

I looked down, only then realizing that Lia’s small clothes had vanished, perhaps due to her transformation. A flush crept up my face. ‘What kind of person did Vilya think I was?’

‘I had imagined myself appearing righteous and dignified, but in Vilya’s eyes, I must have looked like a pervert holding an unclothed little girl.’

Vilya, however, paid no mind and exited the cell. I looked at Lia, perplexed by what was happening.

If Vilya intended to banish us to the North, I wouldn’t mind. While this ‘North’ was certainly not the North I knew, I felt that as long as we were away from Vilya and Queen Sisi, we would be free.

As for our future, I was an adult and confident in my ability to care for Lia. After all, I had even managed to deceive modern people; these ancient humans, without fully developed doctrines, would be easy prey.

‘As long as we could escape these deviants, that was all that mattered!’

I picked up the clothes from the ground and examined them; they seemed rather normal. There was an ordinary overcoat and a thick, cold-weather cloak, substantial enough to serve as a blanket at night.

Additionally, there were heavy mittens, a peculiar fur scarf, and two pairs of tall boots, one large and one small, laid beside them. The preparations were remarkably thorough.

Moreover, I noticed that the two sets of clothes were not the same size. If Vilya had simply retrieved them from military supplies, they should have been identical, as no army would specifically outfit children.

However, one set of clothes provided was clearly tailored for Lia, perfectly matching her size.

Inside the garments, there was even specially prepared underwear—simple shirts, but welcome nonetheless. I picked up the clothes and gently helped Lia into them. She looked at the garments on her with a hint of surprise, whispering, “So warm…”

“Yes, it looks like your clothes were altered.”

I pinched her clothing. The stitching was entirely different from the larger set, much tighter and more delicate. It appeared these clothes had originally been intended for an adult male, but someone had altered them to be smaller.

Furthermore, that person must have known Lia’s measurements exceptionally well, as the modified outfit fit her perfectly.

I reached out and tightened Lia’s belt, securing the front of her cape with ropes to protect her shoulders. The scarf prevented wind from seeping into her collar, and the tall boots were lined with what felt like wool—though, perhaps it wasn’t wool here. Regardless, they were soft and warm.

Lia happily stretched out her arms and twirled, then looked at me, smiling, and asked, “Papa, do I look pretty like this?”

In fact, no.

While practical, the outfit was far from aesthetically pleasing. Its color was a dull, grayish-white, clearly undyed. It had also been smoked to prevent insects, giving it an unpleasant smell.

Yet, Lia’s innocent smile imbued the simple, unadorned clothing with endless charm.

‘It truly was a world that judged by appearance, no matter where you went.’

I nodded at the little girl before me and said, “Very cute.”

“Hehe…”

Lia chuckled happily and threw herself into my embrace. I ruffled her hair, then loosened her scarf slightly and removed her hood, as such extreme cold protection wasn’t necessary indoors.

I quickly changed into my own clothes, then walked out with her.

No sooner had we stepped out than the creak of metal armor reached our ears from the side. Vilya hadn’t left; she had been leaning against the wall, waiting for us.

Upon hearing her, Lia beside me trembled, clutching me tightly and burying her head behind my back like a startled ostrich. I, too, instinctively pressed Lia behind me, gazing at Vilya.

Vilya, still expressionless, reached out, grabbed Lia’s hand which was clutching my arm, and then unceremoniously shoved me aside.

‘I couldn’t possibly contend with her in strength.’

Lia’s body stiffened with fear, watching Vilya before her like a block of wood. Vilya, however, paid no attention to Lia’s terror. Instead, she reached out and pinched Lia’s arms, then her legs, and finally her shoes.

She then stood up, seemingly satisfied, and said, “Good. The size is still appropriate. No further alterations needed.”

“These clothes, did you alter them?”

I looked at Vilya with some astonishment, observing her gleaming metal armor and longsword. It was genuinely difficult to reconcile this figure with someone capable of such delicate handiwork.

Normally, such needlework wasn’t associated with warriors; even the tale of Mulan was merely a fabrication.

“Yes.”

Vilya, however, reacted quite normally, as if I had asked a remarkably foolish question. She rose from in front of Lia, who still gazed at her with such apprehension that tears of fear welled in her eyes.

I looked at Vilya, bewildered. ‘Didn’t Vilya have no fondness for us? So why would she alter clothes for Lia now?’ And she must have done it overnight, too. ‘Staying up all night to tailor clothes for a little girl didn’t seem like the act of a soldier who could raise a blade against a child.’

“Why…”

“Because you are mine now.”

Vilya looked at us calmly, then stated, “And I don’t want you to die.”

Following this, she walked past me, pointed to a smoking tent nearby, and continued, “Breakfast is over there. Eat, then go to the tent entrance. Hurry, I won’t wait long for you.”

“Mm…”

“The answer is ‘Yes.'”

“Yes…”

“Louder.”

“Yes!”

Vilya withdrew her gaze and turned to walk away. I went to Lia’s side and gently took her hand.

Lia, as if waking from a nightmare, suddenly threw herself into my arms, sobbing softly, “Papa… I’m so scared… I’m so scared… That woman… that woman… does she still want to kill me?”

“I don’t know… but no matter what, Papa will protect you… Still, looking at it now, perhaps… perhaps Vilya isn’t a bad person after all?”

I myself couldn’t understand what kind of person Vilya truly was, or what her intentions were. What were her feelings towards us? Was she similar to Queen Sisi?

This journey to the North, it seemed, wouldn’t be just Lia and me, but all three of us, together, heading into that unknown territory.