CHAPTER 48…..
Everyone was dead.
The one who had always taken her side.
The one who sometimes scolded her strictly.
The mother who embraced her warmly with a smile, and the father who taught her how to live.
All of them had left her side.
“Why…?”
Why?
No matter how many times she asked, there was no one left to answer.
“What a greedy pair. All they had to do was hand over you, and it would’ve been done. But no—they babbled on about useless things like love for their child.”
“…”
“Do you know this? The Duchy of Clomeus fell because of your parents’ misguided choice.”
“…”
“If they’d sent you from the beginning, the duchy would never have been wiped from the map. But it’s fortunate for me—now I’ve gained a child overflowing with the God of Life’s blessing, and even the relic of the God of Death.”
Maemon chuckled to himself, then wiped the smile from his face.
Thus Clomeus perished.
The duchy’s lands were absorbed into Revilla, and those who survived were enslaved and taken into the empire.
But Asilia was different.
Just as Revilla had claimed, she was truly invited as an honored guest—a real noble lady.
Despite the lavish treatment, Asilia could not come to her senses. Every time she saw Maemon, she lived with one question on her lips: “Why?”
She couldn’t understand how her existence alone could destroy a nation and drive so many to death.
She didn’t change her clothes when told, nor eat properly when Maemon ordered her to.
“What a troublesome girl.”
After enduring Asilia’s behavior for a month, Maemon finally reached out and grabbed her by the hair.
“Listen carefully—you’re nothing but a tool for Revilla to use.”
“…”
“So remember this—you are a tool to be used for me, Maemon Tassion.”
She didn’t understand what he meant.
But from the next day onward, Maemon began making her do strange things.
He had her meet with priests and told her to try using divine power. But Asilia, knowing nothing of such things, couldn’t use it—nor could she carry out Maemon’s orders.
“Lord Maemon Tassion. I believe… this child may be the central axis.”
“What?”
“She wasn’t simply blessed with great divine power from the God of Life—she was born with the qualities of a High Priestess.”
Maemon’s eyes went wide.
“A High Priestess! Of the God of Life! Ha… hahahaha! The heavens favor me—they truly do!”
Asilia stared at the tears of joy running down Maemon’s face. But she still had no idea what was going on.
Maemon turned to her and said:
“A long time ago, the God of Life died.”
“…”
“I killed them.”
A shiver ran over her skin.
Behind the grinning face of the man, she could almost see corpses drifting in the air.
When she flinched in fear, Maemon only laughed and stepped back.
“You’re a precious one.”
“…”
“One day you’ll be of great use. But for now, you’re too timid, too talkative, and far too willful.”
Rubbing his chin, Maemon studied her.
How could he make her obey him alone?
After a long moment of thought, he clapped his hands.
“For now, send her to the slums.”
“Pardon?”
“She needs to suffer a bit—then she’ll know how much of a luxury her life was.”
He bent down to meet her eyes and smiled faintly.
“And she’ll learn who she must follow.”
It was cold.
The chill in her heart was worse than the cold in her body.
In the blink of an eye, everything had changed.
Everyone who had given her love was gone, and the world had become a pit to test her.
“I don’t want this…”
She wanted to escape.
Even if it was Revilla, surely she could slip away from a place like the slums.
But that was impossible.
Maemon seemed to read her mind, making sure she could never leave.
The slum’s residents, knowing she was connected to the knights, harassed her.
They said she was the reason life was so hard, the reason the imperial rations had been reduced.
“I will.”
She would take revenge.
She didn’t care why Maemon had wanted her brought here.
She didn’t need to know—and she didn’t want to know.
She would kill him.
In the most dreadful way possible. In the way that caused the most suffering a human could endure.
Asilia swore it.
She ground her teeth.
No matter what it took, she would kill Maemon, the one who had taken everything from her.
It was her first and last wish.
Three years passed in the slums.
When Asilia turned eleven, on a day no different from any other, a man appeared before her.
“Ares… could it be you’ve reincarnated?”
The man’s voice was urgent, his face tense. He swallowed hard.
But Asilia only frowned and stepped back a few paces without answering.
He was tall, with long black hair falling to his waist, and golden eyes that shone like the sun—yet in them, she felt nothing.
The man lowered himself and reached out a hand to her.
As she hesitated, she thought she saw sorrow well up in those seemingly empty eyes.
“…I’m sorry. What’s your name?”
“…”
“I came because I heard a plea—to protect someone.”
“…?”
“It was a stronger wish than any I’ve heard before. But it seems… I’m too late.”
He apologized again, reaching out to her.
Moments ago she had been wary, but without thinking, Asilia accepted his hand.
He just looked so sad.
So sincerely sorry.
“Mister… who are you?”
“I am… yes, Cretes. I came to protect you.”
His voice was gentle.
Thanks to Cretes, Asilia was able to escape her harsh life.
She no longer went hungry or shivered herself to sleep.
“Will you come to Moria with me?”
“Moria? Where’s that?”
“It’s where I live. Much warmer than here, with good food to eat.”
Her eyes lit up at his words, but soon she shook her head.
“I have something I need to do here.”
“Something you need to do?”
“I’m going to take revenge.”
Asilia lifted her gaze toward the imperial capital.
The resplendent city was holding a grand festival for the knights returning victorious from war.
“I’m going to kill the man who murdered my father and mother… and everyone in Clomeus.”
It wasn’t the sort of thing a girl barely over ten should say.
But Cretes accepted her answer.
“Then… will you come to Moria once your revenge is done?”
“Once it’s done… If it’s done…”
She hesitated.
She had never met anyone as warm as Cretes.
He was different from Valen or Rowena—his warmth was of another kind.
She wanted to stay by his side. She thought she could be happy there, without sorrow.
“I’ll come. And when I do… I’ll marry you!”
“M-marry?”
Cretes’ eyes went wide. When she nodded eagerly, he looked flustered, but then he reached out and gently patted her head.
“Alright… but there’s a condition.”
“A condition?”
“If, when you come to Moria, you already have someone you want to be with—or you already seem happy—then I’ll simply help you live comfortably there.”
“…And if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll have to marry you.”
At his words, Asilia sprang to her feet and nodded firmly.
Just then, a voice called her from far away.
A familiar voice.
Maemon Tassion’s voice.
As her eyes hardened, Cretes stood up.
“I must return now.”
“Ah…”
“I’ll be waiting for the day you come to Moria.”
He reached out and mussed her bangs. She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again.
“If you ever need help, call for me.”
“…”
“Say my name, and ask me to help you.”
“…”
“That was the contract I made with your mother.”
And with those words—
Just as Asilia was about to answer—
He was gone.
