Episode 8
Dad looked completely exhausted.
And it wasn’t just from being sick and getting treated.
‘Maybe… he used up all his energy losing his temper. Not like him, for someone so introverted…’
Even when he’s just dealing with me, it’s obvious how drained he gets. He must’ve really pushed himself to get angry on my behalf.
At some point, Dad realized something and slowed his pace.
“…Ah, I was walking too fast.”
He must’ve finally noticed I was struggling to keep up with my short legs.
‘He’s still not used to taking care of a child.’
Well, to be fair, after I was sent to the Tower of Necromancy around age three, we barely spent time together. There wasn’t even a chance for him to learn how.
He gave me a slightly awkward look of apology.
When I still had only my memories from this life, I just thought of him as “Dad.”
But now that I remember my past life—
‘My dad is seriously handsome.’
But as I stared at his face, admiration quickly gave way to concern.
“…Dad, why are you so skinny? You look like a skeleton…”
There’s no doubt. He hadn’t been eating properly.
Dad looked at me with half-lidded eyes and let out a small sigh.
“Skeleton? That’s so mean… That hurt, you know…”
“But you’ve lost more weight than the last time I saw you! What did you eat today?”
“Blueberries. And wind.”
“…That’s not food! And what do you mean, wind?”
“Well… it went through my throat, didn’t it…?”
“Ugh, seriously!”
This happened every time I met him.
He never, ever ate properly. It was honestly infuriating.
Out of habit, I raised my hand like I was about to smack his back—but hesitated.
It wasn’t just because he had been a patient not long ago.
‘I’m not even his real daughter. Is it okay for me to act like this?’
Of course, Dad doesn’t know I’m not really his daughter.
As long as I act like usual, there shouldn’t be a problem.
But my memories of my past life and my knowledge of the original novel were tangled up, and I couldn’t figure out how I was supposed to act around him.
Just then, Dad knelt down to meet me at eye level.
“Mia, what’s wrong?”
“Huh?”
“You always scold me without hesitation… So why are you hesitating now?”
It was just a brief pause, but he caught on immediately.
My heart filled with warmth… and sorrow.
‘If he ever finds out I’m not really his daughter… this kindness will probably disappear too, won’t it?’
Of course, this Dad was different from the one in my past life.
He wouldn’t suddenly turn violent or cruel.
‘But he’ll feel distant, like in the original novel.’
I didn’t want that.
No matter what, I couldn’t let him find out I was the Saint.
I gathered my thoughts and answered with forced cheer:
“It’s just… you were sick until a moment ago. I can’t hit a patient, right?”
He looked into my eyes for a moment, then said clearly:
“…It’s not because of what those bugs said?”
“That I’m not really your daughter or some late-blooming failure…”
I should’ve said “no” right away.
But the words caught in my throat.
Dad sighed deeply.
“…I should’ve just let them die.”
“No! It’s not that, really—”
“Mia.”
He gently placed both hands on my shoulders.
He was clearly awkward with physical affection, but he was trying.
“Mia, you’re my daughter.”
“That’s an undeniable fact. So stop worrying about stuff like that.”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
‘But, Dad… I’m the Saint. I don’t even have dark magic…’
Even so, I desperately wished his words were true.
I wanted to be his daughter.
I loved Dad that much.
The way he had risked his life to stand up to the family head, the way he had lost his temper for my sake when he usually didn’t care about anything—
It was all for me.
I wanted that love to continue.
So—
‘I just have to keep doing well.’
If the truth never comes out, then isn’t that the same as it being the truth?
Maybe it was deception, but I would live as the perfect daughter.
Like I was really his daughter. Like he was really my dad.
“Dad, you’re really fully recovered, right?”
“Yeah… It looked worse than it was. I think the old man went easy on me.”
“…He went easy on you?”
That didn’t sound like something anyone from House Hamruloren would do.
“Yeah… He didn’t use any other spells, just pure poison magic.”
Only using your specialty magic in battle might make you seem petty, but in the end, Dad hadn’t gotten too hurt. I guess that was worth being grateful for.
“Anyway, I’m fine now. So no need to hold back. Be your usual self.”
He was obviously worried about how I’d been acting strangely reserved.
‘For Dad’s sake, I’ll act normal again.’
As long as I’m not exposed as the Saint—I’m Dad’s daughter.
That’s the truth.
Resolute, I puffed up my cheeks and replied teasingly:
“Wow, so Dad wants to get smacked by his daughter, huh?”
“…No, definitely not.”
“Did you skip meals on purpose so I’d hit you?”
“Why are you making me sound like a weirdo… I just find eating annoying, okay…”
“If you don’t eat, you’ll get sick and die! Eat properly!”
Even as a child, it upset me that he neglected meals because of research.
Now that I remembered my past life, I was even angrier.
As someone from a culture that worships food, I could not let this slide.
Eat your meals!
But Dad just made it worse by adding fuel to my fury.
“Mia, human lifespan and disease susceptibility are determined at birth. So, even if I skip a few meals—”
“Don’t give me that nonsense!”
Typical of someone who researches the human body—talking nonsense with a straight face.
Sure, maybe genes set some limits, but without proper nutrition, even healthy people fall apart!
“From now on, I’m watching you. You have to eat all your meals. And dessert too!”
“…Okay.”
Dad got up with a weary look.
“But Mia… has this kind of thing happened a lot? You looked a bit too calm…”
“I said I’ll be watching you!”
“…No, I was seriously just asking…”
“It’s not like that.”
If anything, the real problem was the noble kids, especially that Buffer gang.
Though now that I think about it, their boldness might’ve come from the fact that the staff—including Max—were indirectly encouraging them.
I remembered the ominous look Max had given me.
“…You should’ve told me sooner.”
“I hate not knowing things that happen to you…”
“From now on, I’ll tell you everything.”
Up until now, I’d worked hard to hide everything from Dad.
Even though I couldn’t use dark magic, I was always top of my class in theory exams, so I acted tough to avoid making him worry.
But not anymore.
This time, I’d prove myself for real—so no one could ever look down on me again.
I clenched my fists tightly, full of resolve.
—
Meanwhile, Administrator Max gave orders to deal with the maids and returned to his office.
Seated at his desk, his eyes glinted as he pulled a letter from a drawer.
There was no sender’s name—likely for security reasons—but the message was from Lady Marie, the head of House Feidel.
He read it over carefully, then wrote his reply with firm resolve.
> “I accept your proposal.
Please place the ‘poison’ at the designated location before 7 p.m.”
Max bit his lip, remembering the humiliation he had suffered earlier.
“…How amusing. So now the Tower of Necromancy is a joke to the direct bloodline?”
Just wait, Sylvan Hamruloren…
Thanks to your little outburst, your daughter will be back to being a powerless fool tomorrow.
And you’ll both be disgraced.
