Chapter 128
In the past, she had once asked Hailon a question.
“Why did you become a holy knight?”
Hailon had replied that there wasn’t any particular reason.
On a snowy winter night, his parents had abandoned a bloody lump that hadn’t even opened its eyes yet on the street.
The child who should have frozen to death miraculously survived and, by good fortune, ended up in an orphanage managed by the temple.
There, along with his divine power, his talent for swordsmanship was discovered.
Thus, he naturally became a holy knight, he said.
Rising from a mere orphan to the position of inquisitor was unlikely to have been a smooth process.
Naturally, she had imagined that Hailon, like Cheshire, must have endured all sorts of hardships.
But she didn’t know the detailed circumstances, and she hadn’t bothered to ask.
They weren’t close enough to share such stories.
Hailon’s past, which she had only vaguely guessed at, was now unfolding right before her eyes.
‘What on earth did the Holy King do to Hailon?’
Suddenly, the scars etched on Hailon’s back came to mind.
Eight horrific scars carved along his shoulder blades.
They were scars from receiving a holy relic, but Hailon had never mentioned the details.
Why did those scars now seem to overlap with the wing-clipped bluebird before her?
Cheshire swallowed dryly.
Clearly, Hailon hadn’t been tamed to the Holy King’s satisfaction.
He must have undergone training that was no different from abuse, just like the bluebird in front of her.
Perhaps even now, as the head of the inquisitors.
Not long ago, Hailon had been summoned by the Holy King.
Because Cheshire had released the fairies, he had been called back to the Holy Empire early.
When they met again, Hailon looked a bit gaunt but appeared fine on the surface.
She had thought he was okay, but his strange words kept nagging at her.
“…So this is what your face looks like.”
“I’ve missed you.”
It had only been a few days, yet he whispered affectionately to Cheshire as if they hadn’t seen each other in ages.
Perhaps at that time, Hailon had been “educated” by the Holy King.
Like a bluebird dying in its cage for not obeying its master…
Cheshire slowly clenched her small hand into a fist.
She wanted nothing more than to slap Sianor right in front of her.
But this wasn’t anger that could be vented with a single punch.
Instead, Cheshire resolved to properly scratch at Sianor.
Drooping her eyes like an innocent child who knew nothing, she made her demand.
“Give it to me now. The bird looks like it’s in so much pain.”
At her words about wanting to give it water and food, Sianor replied with feigned difficulty.
“It’s still fierce, so you might get hurt…”
“Then if I behave well, it’ll be okay?”
She looked up at him with wide eyes.
And she exclaimed in a bright voice.
“All the birds here!”
“Of course.”
At the readily given answer, Cheshire smiled brightly.
The moment Sianor narrowed his eyes, sensing something off about the smile that burst like a flower bud.
A splendid flower bloomed from Cheshire.
It was the power of the fairy.
Dozens of butterflies made of light blossomed along with the flower, scattering brilliantly in all directions.
The butterflies fluttered elegantly, sprinkling sparkling light.
Their destination was the birdcages.
Butterflies clung to each cage hanging densely from the trees.
Then, with a click, the firmly locked doors of the cages opened on their own.
Though the doors swung wide open, the imprisoned birds didn’t budge.
As if they dared not fly without permission, they sat still, merely preening their pretty feathers with their beaks.
The Holy King, who had been hardening his face, curled his lips.
“…See for yourself. Those children don’t want to leave their cages.”
But Cheshire paid no heed.
She simply said in a clear, ringing voice.
“Come here!”
Fairies were beings born from nature.
Thus, all things belonging to nature were also friends of the fairies.
No rule set by a mere human could dare defy the words of a fairy.
Following the fluttering butterflies, the birds began to leave their cages little by little.
At first, they hesitated timidly, flapping awkwardly and wobbling.
But soon, they regained their wild nature and beat their wings vigorously.
Singing beautiful songs, they circled around Cheshire in a whirl, mingling with the butterflies.
The bluebird with its wing feathers clipped also flew safely with the help of the butterflies.
Though it was parched and starved, unable to make a sound.
The bluebird fluttered its wings joyfully and happily.
Cheshire spread her hands wide.
Then, the birds and butterflies intertwined, disappearing among the flowers blooming in midair.
After the flowers scattered into petals.
No birds remained in the glass greenhouse.
A rich floral fragrance wafted from the fluttering petals.
It was a scent that enveloped all the plants filling the glass greenhouse.
“Wow…”
Remil, who had been watching with bated breath, let out a small gasp of admiration.
The boy whispered with a flushed face.
“It’s so beautiful.”
The unintended praise sounded as if he had witnessed a miracle from God.
Cheshire retracted her power and looked at Sianor.
“…”
She could see Sianor’s jaw trembling.
Though he clenched his teeth, his wrinkled face couldn’t fully hide the boiling rage.
He was a Holy King with pitiful divine power.
In his presence, she had shattered the space he had painstakingly cultivated with the immense heretical power that revived all things.
She had utterly crushed his pride.
From his bloodshot eyes, she could feel the murderous intent to tear the tiny child before him to pieces right then and there.
However, the old Holy King didn’t recklessly unleash his emotions.
Though trembling, he contained his anger and smiled at Cheshire.
Cheshire smiled back at him.
“Child.”
Sianor chided in a voice chillingly benevolent.
“You mustn’t use your power recklessly. This is heretical, a wrongful power.”
Remil, who had been entranced watching, realized his mistake and belatedly covered his mouth with his hand.
Sianor let out a deep sigh.
As if it pained him to say such things, he spoke gently in a voice filled with anguish.
“But God forgives all.”
His hand softly stroked Cheshire’s cheek.
The touch felt rigid.
The sensation of the hand hidden beneath the glove didn’t seem like that of a living person.
“Don’t you want to try using your power for the right purpose?”
“How?”
“You met your biological father today.”
Cheshire pretended to hesitate for a moment before nodding.
Sianor continued in a soft, regretful tone.
“Your father has committed a great sin. No matter how much he repents, he won’t be able to go to heaven. But…”
Sianor, who had been touching her cheek, grasped Cheshire’s hand.
It was a careless grip for holding a child’s hand.
“If you use your power and repent in the name of God, you could wash away even your father’s sins.”
“Really?”
“Indeed. I swear it in the name of Sianor Hilderd, Holy King of the Holy Empire.”
Sianor asked Cheshire with gleaming eyes.
“Will you do it?”
Cheshire pretended to ponder.
She dragged it out for a while, tantalizing Sianor, before finally opening her mouth.
“But…”
“But?”
Sianor, growing increasingly anxious in the lengthening silence, asked back with delight.
Watching him lose his reason to the enticing bait dangling before him, Cheshire let out a deep sigh inwardly.
“I have two daddies right now.”
“…”
“If you forgive the other daddy too, then no.”
Asking to forgive the fake dad and Kierne along with it darkened Sianor’s expression.
He must have wanted to keep Kierne locked up at least until the Little Saints’ Prayer Assembly ended.
That way, he could separate her from Cheshire and manipulate the situation as he pleased.
‘No chance.’
Inwardly smirking slyly, Cheshire clasped her hands together with an innocent face.
“Chesha will work really hard!”
“…Yes.”
In the end, Sianor couldn’t ignore the bait and bit down hard.
After a low groan, he replied.
“I’ll do as you wish.”
