Chapter 11
Reunion — Meteor Pluto
‘Wow! I did it!’
Just as planned, I became the ward of the Pluto Ducal House.
Once it was settled, I said farewell to Eva and the children at the orphanage. Since I had no luggage to pack, my hands were light.
But my heart was anything but light. After all, I had spent four years with them in my first life, and half a month with them this time.
‘Even in the tutorial, it was hard leaving alone… and now I’m leaving them again…’
“You’re really going to a wonderful place. Congratulations, Crescent. Live healthily and happily, okay?”
“Thank you, Director. Thank you so much for taking care of me all this time!”
“No, I should be the one grateful for meeting you, Crescent.”
“Hehe, me too.”
Though it was a moment of parting, I forced myself not to cry. I didn’t want to shed tears. Some of the kids were already sniffling, so I had to quickly turn away.
Just as I was about to step onto the carriage with Learwin’s hand guiding me—
“Are you really leaving?”
That voice made me look back.
Cyril, who hadn’t shown himself earlier, was standing there.
“Hm? Ah, yeah…”
“That’s sad.”
With a faint smile, Cyril walked a few steps closer.
Why does someone who says he’s sad look like he’s smiling?
“Ah, yeah. I see…”
Worried I sounded too blunt, I quickly added a farewell.
“You take care too, Cyril.”
“We’ll meet again someday anyway.”
“…Really?”
I doubted it—we probably wouldn’t see each other again.
Still, Cyril had been my companion for four years before my regression. We weren’t exactly close, but calling him not a friend at all felt wrong too.
At least, he was the one I talked to the most at the orphanage.
During the tutorial, I hadn’t gotten along with the other kids. I was grieving my dad’s loss and terrified someone would discover I was the Demon King’s daughter.
Instead, I spent all my time studying to uncover what potion Dad had drunk.
Meanwhile, Cyril had always approached me first.
Thinking back, maybe I should’ve been kinder to him. A little regret tugged at me.
“…Yeah. Thanks. Let’s meet again someday.”
“Alright. Take care.”
Cyril’s eyes curved as he smiled.
There was no hint of lingering sadness in them.
The Pluto Duchy’s lands were northwest of the imperial capital, the heart of the Sientri Empire.
Its reputation across the empire could be summed up in one phrase: “A dangerous yet mysterious land where magic sometimes appears.”
Despite the danger of demonic energy, the people of House Pluto thrived with an abundance of holy power.
‘And now I’m actually visiting the place I’d only ever heard about…!’
I felt oddly thrilled.
Of course, people born with holy power existed outside the Pluto family too.
But the Plutos’ power was overwhelming, practically divine in its strength and scale. Among them, Meteor stood out most of all.
As I thought about that, maids of the duchy led me along.
The ducal mansion was dizzyingly enormous and majestic.
No matter how far I craned my neck, I couldn’t see the ceiling. Everywhere I looked, marble and gilded gold sparkled.
“This is your first time in a place like this, isn’t it? The Duchess searched high and low for a child to sponsor, and I’m glad she brought someone so precious.”
“Thank you.”
Their kind words made me force a smile. But even my faintest grin seemed to make them beam as though flowers were blooming.
Soon, they guided me to the bath. Their hands were gentle as they washed my hair with fragrant, foamy soap.
‘Wow…’
They even wash my hair for me!
Not quite as well as Dad did… but still!
“You shine even more after a bath, young lady!”
“You’re glowing like a star!”
Once my hair was dried and I changed into new clothes, the maids buzzed in excitement.
I sneaked a glance in the mirror—and even I had to admit I looked pretty decent.
‘Of course. Whose daughter do you think I am?’
If Dad saw me now, he’d embarrass me to death, calling me an angel descended from the heavens.
“You must be tired from your journey. Please rest well. The Duchess said you may rest as long as you need until you’ve recovered.”
“Yes!”
“Hohoho.”
Answering brightly, I let them guide me again—this time to a nearby bedroom.
I carefully climbed onto the bed and buried myself in the blankets.
As the soft, warm covers wrapped around me, the world’s coziest happiness seemed to envelop me.
“If you need anything after you wake, just ring that bell over there.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
With gentle smiles, the maids withdrew.
Once alone, I closed my eyes.
I thought of Dad. If he was worrying about me somewhere, I wanted to tell him not to—at least for now.
But I had no way to say it.
Tears threatened, so I quickly forced other thoughts.
‘When will I get to see Meteor?’
He was the one destined to obliterate the Demon King Baal nine years from now.
I wanted Baal gone too, but more than anything, I had to reclaim my dad—Lloyd Delight.
For that, I needed the strength to face the Demon King.
‘I’ll have to stick close to the male lead who’ll slay Baal…’
After all, who else was closer to the Demon King’s downfall than Meteor?
If he secretly killed Baal without me, I’d lose my only chance to get Dad back forever!
‘…Well, that won’t happen for a while, at least.’
Sighing in relief, I let sleep take me.
My body, weary from the long carriage ride, sank easily into sweet slumber.
How long did I sleep?
It felt like I was floating in clouds, dreaming of nothing, wrapped in comfort.
Then—rustle, rustle.
The sound of something brushing against my blanket.
…What?
Was someone here to wake me?
The faint presence roused me. Absentmindedly, I rolled over and cracked my eyes open.
At first, my vision was blurry. As it cleared, I saw it—
A small back, bigger than mine, turned toward me.
Silver hair shimmered, spilling across the bridge of his nose.
‘…A person?’
The bed was wide enough that there was distance between us, but it felt as if he were right beside me. I couldn’t even blink.
He stirred, as though waking too. His eyes opened wide—brilliant blue.
Shock mirrored my own.
For a long moment, we stared at each other.
“…Who are you?”
“……”
The words weren’t mine.
When had he even gotten into the same bed as me?
“I asked who you are. Did you come from the Demon Realm? Trying to bewitch someone…?”
“Huh? Demon Realm?”
Out of nowhere?
Could he sense demonic energy from me?
Was my identity as the Demon King’s daughter already exposed?
No—it couldn’t be.
During the tutorial, maybe. But now, no one should know I was Baal’s child.
Just as panic started rising, he added quickly:
“I don’t feel any demonic energy at all… so what are you?”
“…I—I’m from Ebony Orphanage. I came here with the Duchess.”
“What? Then you must be…”
As though realizing, the boy spoke.
Yes—this boy was Meteor Pluto.
When I first met him in my first life, he’d been thirteen. Now, he was only nine.
Four years younger, he looked unexpectedly cute. His forehead was round, his gaze both radiant and calm, his cheeks adorably plump.
But that wasn’t the issue.
‘Why on earth are we in the same bed?!’
Meteor suddenly sat up, and I scrambled up too.
“Orphanage? So Mother really brought back the child she wanted to sponsor?”
“Seems like it…”
“!”
Meteor was at a loss for words.
Was he unhappy that his mother had brought me here?
Feeling awkward, I forced a sheepish laugh.
“But it’s kind of strange…”
“What is?”
“…Your lips are heart-shaped.”
Had he said that when he was thirteen too?
His upper lip curved like the top of a heart, while his lower lip bulged gently downward, forming a red heart perfectly.
Even the slight lift of his mouth corners was cute.
‘Heart-shaped lips? That’s adorable.’
I smiled at the thought—just as Meteor abruptly covered his mouth with one hand.
His face flushed red as he pointed at me and backed away.
“Y-you! Don’t look at my lips!”
“…?”
“U-ugh!”
Thud!
“…!”
What the—?
For some reason, Meteor had rolled right off the bed.
