Episode 57
Chesha was so startled that she let out a strange “Eek!”
She wasn’t the only one.
Everyone present had clearly heard Duke Ivroiel’s declaration.
The interior of the temple erupted in a great commotion.
The story of the Basilian count’s adopted child had already spread to the capital temple.
The baby Hailon had casually brought in was that very famous adoptee.
It was impossible not to be shocked.
Yet Hailon showed no reaction.
Looking at his impassive face, the duke curved a crooked smile.
“Thank you for looking after the child. I’ll take her now.”
She boldly proclaimed that she would take Chesha.
“Y-Yes! Please take her at once.”
The bishop in charge of the temple answered, half out of his wits.
The godmother’s status was overwhelmingly assured.
No one could oppose the duke taking her own goddaughter.
Except Hailon.
He simply stood still, still holding Chesha.
Duke Ivroiel’s eyes narrowed.
“You there.”
She pointed precisely at Hailon.
“If your ears work, hand over my goddaughter.”
Only then did Hailon speak.
“The fact that she is Your Grace’s goddaughter is irrelevant.”
“Oh?”
Duke Ivroiel raised one eyebrow.
She hadn’t expected such a reply.
The other holy knights and priests gasped.
The bishop looked as if he might pass away at any moment.
Hailon continued in a slow but clear voice.
“No one can force their will upon this child.”
He met the duke’s gaze directly and declared,
“If the child wishes it, she will go with Your Grace; if not, she will remain here.”
And the moment Hailon finished speaking,
Duke Ivroiel burst into laughter.
She laughed so loudly that the temple rang with it.
After her roaring laughter, she waved a hand.
“That’s a funny thing to say. I’ve never heard such nonsense in all my years.”
She said it with a laugh,
but the face that followed, stripped of mirth, was icy.
The supreme duke of the great empire did not tolerate insults.
“Who are you to dare speak insolently before me?”
Hailon showed no fear or trepidation.
He answered calmly, no different from before.
“Her escort knight.”
Just that one phrase, dropped without elaboration.
Yet surprisingly, that single line quelled the duke’s anger.
“My goddaughter has acquired quite the formidable escort in such a short time.”
Since he was Chesha’s knight, the fierce aura that had flared moments ago softened a little.
She even looked somewhat pleased.
“The child’s opinion does matter, I suppose.”
There were rumors that Duke Ivroiel was hot-tempered and emotional, and it certainly seemed true.
A warm atmosphere began to swirl between Hailon and the duke.
Of course, it was entirely one-sided on the duke’s part.
Chesha wasn’t sure, but somehow…
The duke seemed to be imagining poaching Hailon from the temple to serve as Chesha’s personal knight.
‘She has quite the imagination.’
Hailon had no intention of leaving the temple.
Feeling a bit dumbfounded, a sharp *clack* sounded as a cane struck the stone floor of the temple.
The sound rang out distinctly in the silence.
Kierne, who had been standing back, stepped forward.
Chesha looked at Kierne approaching her.
It had only been a few days, yet he already felt a little unfamiliar.
Perhaps because she was used to seeing him at home in little more than a robe, half-dressed, and now he was impeccably suited from head to toe in formal attire and coat.
The long hem of his coat swayed lightly with his steps.
“Chesha.”
He spoke to her affectionately.
“Daddy’s come to take you home.”
At his cloying tone, Duke Ivroiel frowned.
But Kierne paid no mind, gazing only at Chesha.
“You must have been startled because of Belzeon. Let’s go home now.”
Kierne extended his hand to Chesha.
A low voice followed.
“Chesha is a Basilian.”
His whisper, like a brand, stung her heart.
Chesha stared at the outstretched hand.
But she did not take it.
As the silence stretched, the smile on Kierne’s lips slowly faded.
“Chesha.”
He called her name again, patiently, persistently.
The cautious voice strangely tugged at something deep inside her chest, making it ache.
She knew better than anyone that he had come to reclaim her out of necessity.
After all, Chesha was the baby best suited to Kierne’s purposes.
So she knew he was cunningly, serpent-like, coaxing the soft parts of her heart to get what he wanted.
She knew all of it,
yet Chesha still cared about him.
Perhaps because he had gone out of his way to show his face.
With Kierne right in front of her, it was hard to turn away coldly.
‘I should have stayed in the room and refused to come out.’
Then at least this wouldn’t be happening.
Chesha regretted it too late and quietly answered him.
“I’m sorry…”
The words tasted bitter in her mouth.
She felt like she needed a piece of candy.
“……”
Kierne said nothing.
He remained with his hand extended.
Chesha turned her head.
Hailon silently adjusted his hold on her,
as if shielding her from Kierne’s gaze.
Watching this natural sequence of actions, Kierne let out a short, hollow laugh.
“…Well now.”
He spoke slowly, as if chewing the words.
“What could our Chesha possibly have to be sorry for to Daddy?”
His eyes burned crimson.
Silence fell.
The knights and priests visibly tensed into alert stances.
They sweated cold sweat from instinctive fear, yet could not tear their eyes from Kierne.
It was as if they were seeing some new, unknown entity.
From the supposedly ordinary Count Basilian…
They sensed something chilling.
An oppressive dread, like witnessing the onset of an inescapable natural disaster.
The holy knights placed hands on their sword hilts, ready to draw at any moment.
The air in the temple stretched taut with tension.
“……”
Hailon’s hitherto impassive eyes twitched almost imperceptibly.
He did not reach for the holy sword at his waist.
His blue eyes, catching the lamplight, flickered strangely.
The eyes of a hunter who had set a trap and waited.
Chesha instantly understood Hailon’s thoughts.
‘He’s just waiting for him to make a wrong move!’
Waiting for Kierne to take one more step inside.
To be caught in a snare from which he could not escape.
The moment Kierne so much as pretended to use black magic inside the temple,
Hailon would condemn him as an inquisitor.
Countless eyes watched Kierne.
Kierne could not possibly be unaware of the situation.
The quick-witted man knew everything plainly,
yet teetered on the edge, as if ready to throw himself away.
“Now you won’t even answer Daddy…”
Kierne no longer smiled.
Chesha saw the temple shadows writhing unnaturally.
So far, only she could see it.
But if it went further, others would surely notice.
‘Kierne, why are you acting like this!’
As Chesha wondered whether to slap his cheek, a low voice reached her.
“It wasn’t Belzeon who took you away.”
Kierne asked expressionlessly.
“Chesha left Daddy on her own?”
