TEWMDD23

Episode 23

“Kyle Blake…?”

At my urgent outcry, the people approaching me froze in place.

“The genius inventor?”
“The devil who left us with nothing but despair…”

“Wow! You really know him!”

Well, of course they would. They were researchers. There was no way they wouldn’t know my dad.

Though… it does feel like his infamy weighs heavier than his fame.

Brightening, I hurriedly pressed on.

“He’s my dad.”

“…Your dad?”

“Yup! And this is something I learned from him. It’s not dangerous at all. I promise I’m completely fine.”

Besides, even if they tried to strip me down and search every pocket, they wouldn’t find a single speck of dust.

The sneeze powder absorbed directly into the body the instant it touched skin.

So—please don’t pat me down!
And definitely don’t wash me off!

“Ah… oh!”

The researchers finally let out a chorus of understanding.

“Then it should be fine.”
“If your father’s Kyle Blake… it all makes sense now.”
“Wait—but that man used his brilliance to make sparkly powders? Out of these materials?”
“Probably just invented it to amuse his kid.”

Exactly.
As long as they kept brushing things off like this, I was safe.

“…Hold on, everyone.”

Just then, one man spoke with a troubled look.

“Doesn’t something feel off?”
“His Majesty said ‘granddaughter’ earlier.”
“Right.”
“But His Majesty only has sons.”
“…Right?”

Every researcher’s gaze snapped back to me.

I gave them my most awkward smile.

Clearly, these people were so buried in their work that they hadn’t the faintest clue about my parents.

Seriously, they don’t know anything outside their research.

“Don’t tell me… an illegitimate child?”

Their pitiful deduction skills—shining through in their narrow world of labs and formulas—were about to run wild when…

“Cici.”

A voice I knew all too well slipped straight into my ear.

I poked my head around the researchers, beaming.

“Dad!”

My savior!

Pushing past them, I dove straight into Father Harzen’s arms.

I didn’t need to look back to know it: those stares boring into the back of my head were full of even deeper confusion after what I’d just blurted.

“What were you doing here?”

As naturally as ever, Father lifted me into his arms, ignoring the bewildered researchers.

“Grandfather gave me a laboratory as a gift, so I was playing!”

“A laboratory…?”

Harzen’s sharp eyes flicked to the researchers.

I quickly added, “It was fun pretending to be Dad Kyle again!”

Just like the games I played at home—pounding leaves with a stone.
Pretty much the same thing, right?

“Ah, I see.”

Thankfully, Father didn’t press further, just nodded.

I seized the chance to change the subject completely.

“But you came early today.”

Normally, he only came to fetch me when night had nearly fallen.

“Things are improving.”

He tapped my cheek with his fingertip, then, after a pause, said softly:

“Cici… Your grandmother. Would you like to meet her?”

“Really? I can?”

My eyes flew wide. I thought I wouldn’t be able to go near that place for a long time.

“I’ve wanted her to see you, at least once.”

Cradling me close, he turned away from the researchers and began walking down the corridor.

Dangling in his arms, I kicked my feet lightly.

So he wanted to show me to her…

“Dad, you don’t hate Grandma?”

I had always wondered.

In the story, the Empress treated Mom kindly—
the only one who opened her heart when everyone else shunned her.

If she had shown such kindness, surely she’d been gentle even to young Harzen.

But if he had truly felt a mother’s love, would he have believed he’d grown up unloved?

Would he have lived as the loner of the imperial palace?

“Not hate… but I resented her.”

After a silence, Father spoke quietly.

“In the end, she never defied him.”

I understood who he meant.

His large hand stroked the back of my head slowly.

“But once… when I was your age…”

His voice drifted like he was reaching for a memory long faded.

“She called me to her secretly. Took my hand. Whispered she was sorry. And pressed a candy into my palm.”

The way he said it—sweet, like rolling that little candy in his mouth again.

“Because of that one memory, I could never hate her completely.”

I buried my face in his shoulder.

Harzen—who always looked the coldest, yet had the softest heart.

“When we get back, I’ll give you a hundred candies, Dad.”

Don’t cry over the past anymore.

He chuckled, a dry, almost brittle laugh.

Then he patted my back.

“I’m all right now.”

“Why?”

“Because she gave to Yuria the warmth she could not give me.”

I raised my head, staring at him.

So that’s why he was bringing me to the Empress.

His blue eyes said enough.

Even if he tells himself it’s too late… he’s still waiting. Still hoping.

“We’re here.”

He stopped, murmuring softly.

I turned my head toward the slightly open chamber door.

From within floated a clear, pure singing voice—like crystal.

It was my mother’s voice.

Peering in from Father’s arms, I saw only two people inside: the Empress reclining in bed, and my mother seated at her side.

It looked like something out of a fairy tale.

The sunset spilled through the window, gilding the room.
Her humming swelled, and with it the air shimmered.

The pink light of magic rose and danced—like waves stirred by the tide, like blossoms swaying in the wind.

Mother’s gift…

My mouth hung open.

I had heard her sing countless times. At the nursing home, she often volunteered—playing instruments, singing for the elderly.
She always sang me lullabies.

But this was different.

Here, her song made magic itself come alive.
Here, the world felt torn from reality.

“Beautiful, isn’t it.”

Father’s low murmur brushed my ear.

I couldn’t even blink, transfixed.

No, beautiful wasn’t enough.

This was inevitability.

Who could witness this and not fall in love?
Who could resist?
Even I, a child, was utterly spellbound.

“She’s the best.”

The words slipped out of me, dazed and breathless.

And at last, I understood why Grandfather had so suddenly declared, “This is my granddaughter.”

I wanted to boast too—
that such an amazing person was my mother.