~Chapter 15~
“Quite the ruckus.”
The low, cool voice alone froze the priests in place. Their faces went pale, and they quickly scrambled backward.
The chaotic crowd parted like the receding tide, leaving a clear path down the center.
And through it appeared a man—unfamiliar, yet somehow instantly recognizable.
No way…
The moment our eyes met, he stopped dead in his tracks.
As expected, he recognized me too, his face hardening.
We stood there, stiff, staring at each other.
At last, he let out a short sigh, rubbing his temple like I was already giving him a headache.
No explanation needed—I knew exactly who he was.
His expression only grew darker.
Well, well. My potential business partner, here of all places…
But just as I was about to think further—
My body suddenly froze, stiff like stone, then spread its arms wide and flashed a bright, sunny smile.
Huh? What the hell?
My eyes widened as my body moved against my will.
“Dada!”
Even the words came out with a lisp.
[Since I gave you what you wanted, I’ll also give you a handicap.]
[What?]
[To hide your identity, you’d best act like a child. Sweet, obedient, lovable. Don’t you agree?]
Oh no.
“Essh… I wanted to see Dada!”
The mouth spoke words I’d never say, while my body rushed forward and hugged his leg tight.
Damn you, Michael Enoch.
You bastard.
“…”
“…”
Slurp.
To chase away the awkwardness of this “reunion,” Esther sipped her tea in silence, stealing a glance at him.
A graceful figure, skin so pale it was almost cold.
Golden eyes, lifeless, indifferent to all things—glaring enough to freeze anyone in place.
Hair, silver-white, long enough to reach his waist, tied loosely with a golden laurel crown.
The man said to be “God’s most beloved human.”
The proof was etched in golden divine markings down one of his arms.
So that’s why this body turned out cute.
No wonder. Both parents were absurdly beautiful. His gaze especially—just like a duke’s.
Michael probably loves this sort of thing.
Esther blew on her hot chocolate, sipping it with a sly thought.
Meanwhile, Kaelos Egbert leaned sideways, chin propped on his hand, brows furrowed.
Looking at the strange yet familiar child across from him, he felt both cold and bewildered.
The child sat boldly in front of him despite their shabby appearance, sipping sweet hot chocolate like it was the most natural thing in the world.
In this solemn atmosphere, they even crunched cookies without a care.
Kaelos’s head ached.
It felt like facing a problem he’d never expected.
He studied the child he hadn’t seen in some time.
How did she even get here, looking like that?
His frown deepened.
The estate was far from here. On those little legs, it would’ve taken hours.
“So, whose permission did you get to come this far?”
“Granpa’s… permishun. Dada!”
The child answered with a bizarre lisp, flashing a huge grin.
What’s she so happy about?
Neither of us has good memories together.
“Why?”
“Um…”
Esther hesitated. What answer would work best?
In truth, she was here partly because of that sly god, and partly just to see this man’s face.
Clearly, this called for a mix of childlike charm and a strategic lie.
But this body won’t move the way I want.
Every question made the lips curl into a bright smile, no matter what.
Fine. Then I’ll ride the flow.
If I can’t move it freely, I’ll just use what the body gives me.
Esther tapped a finger against her lips and tilted her head.
“I wan’ed to shee Dada!”
His brows furrowed.
This was the child who used to throw tantrums and run at the mere sight of him.
And now she said she wanted to see him?
Obvious lie. His golden eyes narrowed further.
Someone put her up to this?
She’d been kept away so long—were they now using her to reach me? The thought soured his mood.
“Me? Why?”
Esther peeked up, then dropped her head.
“’Cuz… I wuv Dada…”
The once bold child hunched her shoulders, staring down weakly.
Kaelos froze, hand halfway to his cup.
For a moment, his heart plummeted.
Unconsciously, he brushed at his chest, then jerked his hand away.
That lavender hair… it reminded him too much of someone.
He pressed his lips tight and turned his head.
“Dada… when you come home?”
Golden eyes now filled with life looked straight at him.
In his memory, those eyes had always been dull, lifeless.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d truly met the child’s gaze.
Was it always like this?
He thought it had been darker. More tired.
“I’m not.”
“Why not?”
“I’m busy. And what’s with that tone? Like you’ve no manners.”
His curt words, laced with a click of the tongue, made the child pause.
The real owner of this body didn’t speak properly, did she?
That must be why—Esther’s interference.
She tilted her head inwardly.
He hadn’t noticed, even though the child’s speech had clearly improved.
“’Cuz I nevah learned.”
She mimicked his words. He stiffened.
Time for a new approach.
“Then here’s the deal. I help Dada. Then Dada helps me. Then I don’ bother Dada no more.”
“I don’t need your help. And if you need something, ask the butler. Or your grandfather.”
He gave a harsh reply, clearly wanting to avoid involvement.
Kaelos rubbed at his temple, showing how little interest he had.
That hostility was familiar.
“S’okay. Even if Dada don’ like me. I need moneh. I be Saint. I earn moneh. I help Dada. Then earn more moneh.”
Esther laid it out plainly.
Dirty, maybe, but what choice did she have?
A Saint was, after all, disgustingly virtuous by definition.
Being virtuous meant good deeds. And good deeds meant being a Saint wasn’t the worst option.
Besides, plenty of people would come begging for help.
That’s what Saints were for.
Yet Kaelos stayed silent.
Unable to bear the wait, Esther tore her eyes from the cocoa and looked up—
And blinked.
The magic in her eyes made something flicker into view.
[Also, if you focus magic in your eyes, you’ll see marks on those in need of help. That will guide you.]
[…Marks? And how am I supposed to recognize those?]
[The urgency of their need will show by color.]
She remembered Michael’s words, focusing her gaze—
[!]
What the—?
Above Kaelos Egbert’s head floated a large exclamation mark.
Bright orange.
No matter how you looked at it, it screamed “important help needed.”
So what am I supposed to do about it?
As she frowned, a huge parchment materialized before her eyes, blocking her view.
…What now?
Ancient script covered it, line after line.
[Sleepless Nights]
Kaelos Egbert has lately suffered from unexplained headaches, leaving him sleepless.
At times, his vision doubles. At night, light itself becomes painful—even moonlight feels unbearable. Thick curtains don’t suffice; he must cover his eyes with a blindfold to rest.
Even now, he endures a severe headache.
Unwanted knowledge, spelled out in detail.
Esther blinked in confusion, and the parchment vanished.
“You think anyone can just be a Saint?”
At last, Kaelos spoke, disbelief heavy in his voice.
“Ah… I met God. Got a gift too.”
At her words, Kaelos’s gaze snapped to the bracelet on her wrist.
There were two kinds of holy items:
Relics, created by devout priests infusing their sacred power.
Divine Artifacts, bestowed directly by gods.
Relics were rare enough.
But divine artifacts? The word “rare” didn’t begin to cover it.
There were only five in existence.
The child clearly held one.
It hadn’t just appeared from nowhere, nor could she have forged it herself.
That alone proved she wasn’t lying.
And if she’d truly been chosen, then yes—she qualified as a Saint.
Still, Kaelos’s lips pressed thin.
The temple was no place for a child.
Esther, watching his silence, spun her mind quickly.
So that exclamation mark… that’s the good deed I’m supposed to help with?
Judging by the symptoms, she had a good guess what the problem was.
Maybe I should help him. Win him over first.
If he knew she might be his business partner, that’d be useful.
Suppressing a sly grin, Esther beamed at him.
