CHAPTER 64……………………
From the start, it had been a love made with full resolve.
The child’s appearance or birth didn’t strike him as much of a blow.
“Would you like to visit your mother soon? She… said she wants to see you.”
At Kaelos’s words, Esther nodded.
“Mm, where is she?”
“Near the kingdom of Surt.”
“Oh….”
Esther nodded.
‘I’ve never been to the kingdom of Surt before.’
Of course, she had heard plenty about it.
Esther’s eyes rolled slightly. A nation favorable toward demons, sworn in loyalty to the Demon God… a country founded by the human whom the Demon God had loved.
And so, it became the first among men to be branded as their enemy.
“Okay!”
“…Good. Then we’ll make preparations soon.”
“Yes!”
Esther grinned and nodded vigorously.
“But, Dad.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know Hakan Egbert?”
At that name, Kaelos froze.
He stiffened in surprise, then slowly turned his head to look at Esther.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“Um… from my brothers?”
“…Brothers?”
His brow twitched sharply.
Kaelos’s mood grew a little heavier.
“Brothers? You’re an only child.”
“Mm, Dylan and Aaron!”
“…Ah. You mean my elder brother’s children.”
He muttered softly, though his dark expression didn’t ease.
“So you met them. I had heard they returned recently.”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you asking about my elder brother?”
“What kind of person is he?”
At her question, Kaelos wore a troubled look, then simply reached out and ruffled her hair.
“That I cannot say.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s forbidden. And nothing good would come of you knowing.”
He pressed his lips firmly shut, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.
“Let’s set a day soon. If it’s all right with you, would you like to eat with me every day?”
With that, he sealed off any further curiosity.
Esther didn’t stop Kaelos as he rose from his seat.
“Dad, do you hate this house?”
“Yes.”
“Want me to get rid of it?”
Esther’s eyes gleamed as she gave a mischievous smile.
Looking into her eyes, Kaelos gave a soft laugh.
“Indeed, you might just be able to.”
“……”
Esther’s eyes widened.
It was the first time he seemed to be laughing sincerely.
She scratched her cheek and hopped down from her chair.
“But don’t forget—what matters most is that you grow up healthy.”
Kaelos pulled her close, pressed a feather-light kiss to her forehead, then let her go.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Ah, okay.”
Esther touched her forehead with a slightly dazed look and nodded.
Before heading back to her room, Esther stopped by the library.
‘It must be here somewhere.’
There were surely forbidden books about the history of House Egbert.
The library was vast, though open to anyone.
‘Places like this usually have hidden archives.’
Esther wandered slowly toward the more secluded areas. Unlike before, a librarian was present, but he was too absorbed in his books to notice her.
At last, she found it—a far corner that looked untouched, filled only with the dullest, most useless books imaginable.
“Wow…”
It really looked like no one would ever come here.
The titles alone were enough to make her sleepy. Dust had piled up thickly.
‘Huh?’
Except on a few volumes.
“This kind of trick is simple.”
Esther smirked mischievously and pulled out the less dusty books one by one.
The bookshelf slid aside, revealing a hidden door.
‘Just as I thought.’
In a grand estate this old, of course there would be a hidden chamber or two.
Forbidden texts were always hidden in such places.
Genealogies, secret documents that mustn’t be touched—such important records were stored in vaults like these.
Esther hopped over, grabbed the handle, and pulled it down.
A pitch-black staircase stretched downward.
“Hmm.”
She felt no fear at all.
To Esther, darkness was always familiar and comforting.
“Ross, summon.”
“Kyuuut?!”
Still, it was best to bring along at least one demon beast.
“Master?”
“Mm, let’s go.”
Summoned suddenly, Ross had both cheeks stuffed full of acorns.
Esther grabbed him by the scruff, set him on her shoulder, and strode down the steps.
Slide.
The moment she entered, the bookshelf slid back into place.
‘So there must be another exit.’
She glanced back, but the door gave no sign of reopening.
Focusing her magic into her eyes, they glowed red, brightening her vision in the pitch dark.
A demon’s eyes thrived in darkness rather than light; even in utter blackness, they could perceive shapes and see ahead with little difficulty.
‘Pretty long.’
Esther walked slowly down the unlit staircase.
After about five minutes, she finally reached somewhere.
“Ross.”
“Yep!”
Ross leapt down, took human form, and clapped his hands together.
Torches around them blazed to life.
Whoosh.
As flames flickered up one by one, Esther’s eyes widened.
She had arrived in a room—not too large, not too small.
At the center was an old wooden desk, surrounded by three bookshelves.
They held everything from ancient tomes and scrolls to volumes that looked nearly new.
‘Hmm….’
Esther smirked.
“Found it.”
This was no doubt a secret room, meant only for the family head or heir.
“Pretty sloppy.”
She plopped into the chair before the desk.
Some of the books were scrolls, others so fragile they had to be handled with care.
None bore titles, meaning she’d have to open them all to know their contents.
“Plenty of time.”
With her magic, Esther pulled all the books from one shelf and spread them around her, then sat down on the floor.
“Something useful will turn up.”
She began opening books and scrolls.
By the time she finished one entire shelf, it was late into the night.
“Hm. Nothing useful.”
The first shelf was entirely biographies of past family heads.
Utterly boring, without a single mention of sacrifices or offerings.
Snore, snore, snore.
At the odd noise, Esther frowned and turned her head.
The culprit was Ross, snoring.
Still in human form, he was curled up asleep in the corner.
Esther smacked the back of his head.
[Hey, wake up.]
The snot bubble clinging to his nose popped, and Ross’s teary eyes flew open.
[Ack! Th-that hurts, kyut!]
[I hit you because I wanted it to hurt.]
[Master, I hate you….]
[Then go back to the Demon Realm.]
[Sniff… No, Master, I like you….]
Despite his teary eyes, Ross yielded obediently. Esther just shrugged.
[The way back is shut, right?]
[Kkyuung… I’d assume so?]
Which meant there was only one way forward.
“Extinguish the flames.”
To leave no trace, Esther restored all the books with her magic, put out the torches, and headed deeper inside.
The passage stretched on.
There was no stairway back, but luckily, she and Ross had been right.
At the end of the path stood a wall faintly glowing with magic.
“Ah, an exit.”
Esther placed her palm against it and pushed lightly.
The wall spun around in an instant.
“Wha—!”
“……”
“……”
And then she saw them.
A man and woman, in each other’s arms, caught in a rather intimate moment.
‘…I’m screwed.’
Esther slowly lifted her hand and pressed her eyelids shut.
“E-Esth… I can’t see anythin’…! Where… where is this….”
Slurring her words, Esther covered her eyes and tried to sneak backward, step by awkward step.
But her legs lifted off the ground. Esther clenched her eyes shut.
Of all places to get caught… why here.
“He-heh… Good evening! Grandpa, Grandma!”
Plastering on a bright, innocent smile, Esther spread her arms wide.
What she saw were the shocked, embarrassed, and furious faces of the couple.
“Heehee….”
Her lips trembled as she forced a smile.
