CHAPTER 93……………………….
“You truly are magnificent as always, Lady Esther.”
Esther frowned as she looked at Raxa fiddling with some sort of machine in front of her, making clicking sounds.
“What is that?”
Dressed in the pure white ceremonial clothes the temple priests had practically begged her to wear, Esther sat in the carriage.
Yes—Esther had, in the end, defeated Kaelos.
Freya had wanted to come along too, but Kaelos, having starved himself and fallen to his knees in front of her in protest, made such a desperate plea that even Freya couldn’t refuse.
Truthfully, Esther had opposed it as well.
It wasn’t good to push her body when she was still carrying the curse in such an unstable state.
Of course, Freya hadn’t been pleased with that decision.
Click, click.
After pressing the device a few more times, Raxa smiled brightly.
“This? Hmhm.”
With a proud lift of his chin, as if he’d been waiting for the question, Raxa said,
“This is a magical tool developed by humans. I had nothing better to do for the past five years, so I toured the human realm—and let me tell you, there are so many fascinating things there.”
So, while I was out cold and not even awake, you were busy taking a human-world sightseeing trip?
Ignoring the narrowing of Esther’s eyes, Raxa went on cheerfully.
“See, if you press this button, it records the very moment through this crystal lens in the center. It allows you to preserve Lady Esther’s gallant appearance for eternity—to lick—ah, no, to admire and safely keep your valiant image forever.”
“……”
Esther fell silent, watching Raxa twist his body with a flushed, embarrassed face.
Did he just say something disgusting at the end there…?
With a look of distaste, Esther turned away and climbed into the carriage.
Just as she was about to shut the door to avoid Raxa’s gaze—
“Esther.”
A face suddenly appeared at the doorway. Esther’s eyes widened when she saw Kaelos Egbert.
“Father?”
“…I…”
Dark circles shadowed his eyes; he looked like he hadn’t slept all night. The faint scent of alcohol made it clear he’d been drinking, too.
“It’s fine.”
“……”
“I’m a genius, remember!”
There was no way some pitiful battlefield could harm her, after all.
Still, just in case, she was taking Raxa along. And since Siphon was her only handmaid, she naturally had to come too.
When Esther scratched her cheek, Kaelos smiled faintly and gently closed the door for her.
Raxa would ride on horseback outside, while Esther and Siphon would remain in the carriage.
“Lady Esther, this Raxa shall always be by your side! If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to call for me!”
“Uh, o-okay.”
“Take good care of the child.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Siphon answered politely, and Kaelos rode back to the front.
Behind them stood Marie Egbert and Earnhardt Egbert, who had come to see them off—both looking as if their eyes were fixed solely on Esther.
Human affection really is impossible to understand.
Still, Esther could somewhat understand Marie Egbert’s stance.
Even from her own perspective, she couldn’t see what was wrong with raising someone strictly and strongly.
If you were used by others in that process, wasn’t that simply because you were weak?
[I still don’t really get it.]
Murmuring softly in the demon tongue, Esther sighed.
Knock knock.
The carriage had started moving when someone knocked from outside.
Esther blinked, and Siphon opened the small window in the door.
“Niece!”
“Oh…”
Esther’s face instantly twisted in visible displeasure—the look of someone who had just seen something they really didn’t want to see.
It was Kardem, wearing dazzling white clothes and jingling with far too many golden ornaments.
Why does he have so much stuff hanging off him?
“So you’re really going, huh, Uncle…?”
“Hmm? Of course! What, would I be going fakely? You say the silliest things, niece. Anyway, I’m basically essential for things like this.”
“Hmm, I suppose so. I am a genius, after all.”
“Hahaha, right you are. My niece is a genius.”
He reached through the window from horseback, brushing her hair lightly with his hand.
Ugh. Treating her like a baby again.
“Don’t do that. I’m ten now.”
“Oh my, really? My niece is already ten years old!”
“Stop it!”
Her sulky little voice was met with Kardem’s teasing laughter.
Beyond his shoulder, Raxa’s eyes gleamed like a predator’s, staring daggers at him.
“Haha, but… why does my back feel so hot…?”
Kardem scratched his head in confusion and glanced behind him.
Of course, Raxa pretended complete ignorance, as if he had nothing to do with it.
“Still, I didn’t expect you’d really end up going.”
“Well, if everyone’s going to die, then I have to go too.”
“Yeah, I heard about that. Your father had a huge fight with Mother and Father over it.”
“Yeah.”
Esther nodded.
Kardem’s mouth curled into a faint, bitter smile, which Esther silently watched.
“Uncle, are you good at fighting?”
“Huh? Of course I—”
He stopped, face stiffening, then leaned close to the carriage window with mock gravity.
“Not at all.”
His seriousness completely deflated the moment.
“…Huh?”
“Haha, I told you, didn’t I? I’m purely a support type. I only barely learned how to ride a horse. You can tell just by looking at me—no talent whatsoever for swordsmanship or martial arts.”
Kardem shook his head with an exaggerated expression.
Esther squinted and turned her head away.
“That look is very rude, niece.”
“What look?”
“The look that says, ‘Ugh, this useless uncle—please go away already.’ I can see it plain as day.”
“Oh…”
Esther widened her eyes and smiled sweetly.
“So you do have some awareness, Uncle.”
“…Wow, you really are cheeky, you know that?”
“Mm-hm. But I’m cute, right?”
“Well… I suppose you are.”
“Then all’s forgiven.”
Esther pressed her finger into her cheek and grinned smugly.
Kardem furrowed his brow in mock irritation, but then smiled softly.
“Still, I’m glad my cute little niece is here.”
“Why?”
“Because it means my brother might not die.”
Esther blinked at the gentle smile spreading across his face.
“He’s the only one who ever treated me like real family. I’m like a stray stone that rolled in, really.”
“Yeah?”
“Mm. He and I entered the temple together when we were kids.”
“The temple—does it serve the god well?”
“If there’s one act of kindness before your eyes, it’s probably built on a hundred acts of cruelty.”
That made Esther pause.
“At least, that’s what I believe.”
She’d never thought someone else would voice something she herself had often wondered.
“Good and evil are separated by the thinnest line. Some even say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
“……”
“Yes. The temple claims to serve goodness—but think how many have been sacrificed or trampled to uphold that ‘good.’”
His low voice carried a quiet loathing that made it clear how deeply he despised the temple.
“Still, saving someone in need—that’s something to be happy about.”
Before she realized it, Kardem was smiling brightly again.
That mischievous grin of his was somehow pure, almost radiant—so much so that even Esther felt a touch of reverence.
“Ah, I said this before, but you’ll be staying in the rear with me, niece. So, let’s get along for a while.”
“Okay. If the god tells me anything, I’ll tell you.”
Though honestly, that damned Mikael Enoch probably wouldn’t say a thing anyway.
How long do I have to keep pretending to be the god’s apostle…
Esther’s face twisted with annoyance, and she yawned, unable to fight off her drowsiness.
“Ah, my niece’s nap time already, huh? I must’ve kept you up. Go on, sleep tight.”
“’Kay.”
Without hesitation, Esther shut the window in his face.
Outside, she could hear him grumbling about how cold she was being.
Smiling faintly, Esther lay down on the plush seat. The carriage barely shook—it was quite comfortable.
“You’re going to sleep, my lady?”
“Mm-hm. You too, Siphon. Let’s nap.”
Esther rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.
Even for the ten-year-old genius Esther, there was no way to resist sleep when it came.
“Esther, time for a short break.”
Yawning, Esther lifted her head. When she came to her senses, they were out on an open plain.
“We’ll be resting here for the night,” said Kaelos Egbert, opening the carriage door. Beyond his shoulder, soldiers and knights were busy setting up camp.
“You must be tired of being cooped up. Come out for a bit. Supper will be ready soon.”
“Mm.”
Did she really have to step out among all those sweaty knights?
“Sir Kaelos.”
As she hesitated, a soft, honeyed voice floated from behind him.
She had never in her life heard a voice so gentle—one that could melt away even the strongest defenses.
“What are you doing there?”
At that voice, Esther slowly lifted her gaze.
