Chapter 68
I felt like I had dreamt something, but I couldn’t remember. Only a vague memory remained, as if I had been talking to someone.
“…….”
No, that wasn’t important right now.
Where am I?
This wasn’t the room I had been staying in. My own room was cozy, though sunlight didn’t reach it well.
No, more than that, it was strange that someone was taking care of me.
Gradually, I started to regain sensation in my body.
Just before collapsing, I had felt pain that made me think this might be how death feels—but strangely, there was no pain at all.
Rather, my body felt lighter than before I collapsed.
I slowly moved my body.
Then, the person holding my hand gasped in surprise. It was a familiar, longed-for voice.
“Jaina!”
“It’s not Hilbenzia’s fault.”
I spoke in a faint but certain tone.
To think the first words I spoke after waking would be something like this.
Hilbenzia was taken aback.
To think that, upon waking from near death, someone would put another person first……
“But you ate the tart I made……”
“You did it for me. I’ve always been grateful that you cooked for me, Hilbenzia. It wasn’t just the taste—I’d never had anyone do that for me before.”
The soft, gentle voice of a child.
Hilbenzia stared at Jaina intently.
At first, Hilbenzia had taken interest in her because among the apathetic mages of the Dragon Tower, Jaina was the only child who seemed to truly enjoy her food.
She had claimed to be Diamid’s daughter, despite being a half-dragon.
Moreover, she rarely showed fear in front of Michael or Hilbenzia.
That was how it started…
Gradually, concern grew. Hilbenzia wanted her to taste more than just white bread, to experience other foods, to stay in a nice room rather than a moldy one……
Such trivial concerns eventually became grief and guilt when the child collapsed.
When did it start like this?
If someone said Hilbenzia of the Verdant Grove was head over heels for a child, everyone would laugh and call it a lie.
A small face, pale white cheeks, transparent blue eyes.
There are countless children in the world.
But… the child before him thought of others first as soon as she woke.
How could he not care for her?
“I’m glad you didn’t die.”
Suppressing the sudden surge of emotion, Hilbenzia held Jaina’s hand tightly.
Diamid lay on the bed, gathering himself. His signature black hair had been cut short to his shoulders.
The aftereffects of breaking taboo had lasted a full week.
The pain was one thing, but the biggest change was that he was no longer a transcendent being free from death—he was now a mortal who could not escape it.
Diamid didn’t care much, but Michael, who knew how much effort Diamid had put into becoming a transcendent, was uneasy.
“Even though I asked it of you… why did you save the little one—no, Jaina?”
Michael stood with his back to the sunlight streaming through the window. His low voice echoed in the bedroom.
Diamid placed a hand on his forehead, staring at the ceiling as he answered.
“Did you know the child’s name was Jaina?”
“Eh? Ah, yes. I realized it at first. Ashurid said it was a name the dragons made up in their own way.”
“…….”
“……So Hilbenzia knew as well.”
Even though he was a cousin, the fact that Hilbenzia, a complete stranger, knew was surprising.
Diamid brought his hand to the collar of his shirt, undoing a button. Beyond the loosened fabric, his prominent Adam’s apple was exposed. But the feeling of suffocation didn’t ease.
Hilbenzia was not the type to do things for others. She was capricious and stubborn.
She remained under the Dragon Tower Master only because he was needed for her research. She had no loyalty.
Yet she had made a special tart for Jaina.
While pushing the child away, insisting she could not be her real daughter…
She’s my blood. I’m her father.
Diamid closed his eyes. Waves of guilt crashed over him.
Had he ever been of help to her?
No, rather, being her father probably only brought her suffering.
She had almost died from a trivial thing like an allergy.
He chuckled bitterly.
He felt Jaina’s presence shake him and sneered.
I told you, Michael Bellafanian. Don’t let emotions control you.
Even when the little girl claiming to be his daughter collapsed, he remained cold and closed off.
People said:
The Dragon Tower Master, Diamid, was more rational and cold than anyone.
But in truth, he always doubted whether he was a coward.
She’ll shake me. Break me. Tear me apart hideously.
So, afraid of being hurt, he excluded emotions, encased his heart in ice, and built an unyielding wall.
Instead, he pursued truth and power. Without emotions, it was easy to ignore everyone and everything. Just look forward and run.
Thus he achieved immortality, became a grand mage, and planned to bring the world under his control.
Over time, the plan became concrete, and the world seemed within his grasp.
But why… did I choose the young dragon?
I just want to die right here.
Why did he take the hand of a child wanting to die, discarding everything he had worked and suffered for… why……
Foolish.
The blood on his hands could never be washed away.
Even counting all the lives he saved while defeating the Demon King wouldn’t suffice.
All for just one child……
Is it because she’s special? Not a spy of the dragons, but my daughter?
He should have turned away.
A daughter of Bezritsche, leaving only pain behind.
But isn’t she the fruit of love?
At least when Bezritsche was pregnant with Jaina, didn’t she love him?
Even if it isn’t the fruit of love…
It didn’t matter. He could never let Jaina go anyway.
Just as when he first met Bezritsche, knowing the choice was irreversible, he would have grasped her hand.
It’s all my fault.
Jaina had nearly lost her life.
As a father, he hadn’t fulfilled his duty, but at the very least, he should have warned her about Sheismel before this happened……
No, he should have acknowledged it before that. That the child was his daughter.
In fact, he had known for some time. Ever since it was revealed that Jaina was not a dragon’s spy, he knew she was his daughter.
Yet he turned away. Erased it from his mind.
Afraid the carefully stitched-over wounds of his heart would reopen.
But seeing the face of the dying child, hearing the name Jaina—
He realized that beneath his fear, longing resided.
He had left Bezritsche’s belongings in the garden instead of burning them, and secretly watched the child, even after telling her never to appear again—all because of that longing.
With healing, the seal must have also been lifted.
Even the ice barrier he had built to seal his emotions seemed to have melted away.
His chest felt tight, his mind muddled.
Running his hand through his hair, Diamid spoke to Michael beside him.
“How do you think Jaina sees me?”
“‘Jaina’?”
“Yes.”
Michael’s face brightened at hearing Diamid say Jaina’s name. Though a little late, it seemed she now had a guardian.
Michael spoke cheerfully.
“I think this will make her greatly fond of the Dragon Tower Master.”
“Is that so.”
Diamid smiled in satisfaction at Michael’s reply.
Yes, he would catch up.
Though later than Michael and Hilbenzia, Diamid was not impatient.
He was not anyone else—he was her father.
Having returned from among relatives to her real parents, she would long for family.
He only needed to make up for the wounds he had caused.
He had much to give. Things other fathers could not. That was enough.
“How about buying new gems at the upcoming auction? Using gems makes it easier to practice magic properly.”
Diamid spoke of gems as if they were consumables. Michael’s eyes widened.
“You plan to teach her magic personally?”
“Of course.”
He spoke casually, but it was a true privilege.
Learning magic directly from the Dragon Tower Master. A situation entirely different from her previous, floating status.
I can resolve all the discomforts she’s ever felt.
Diamid now spoke leisurely, calmly.
“And I will grant rank and title. I will provide land—Albrand would be suitable.”
“Then she’ll be Jaina van Albrand Bellafanian.”
Albrand was a fertile, famous plain in the continent, known for diamond mines.
He’s really giving her proper treatment.
Even though Michael thought he had treated Jaina well, Diamid’s scale was far beyond.
It stung slightly that his own position with Jaina would shrink, but it was for her benefit.
“Soon, Jaina will also see the Dragon Tower Master as a good father and follow him.”
At this point, neither Michael nor Diamid knew the consequences of underestimating the events with Jaina.
