chapter 20
The child instinctively realized that the newborn in front of them was themselves as a baby. The child lowered their head deeply.
“…Father did nothing wrong.”
The child spoke after a long pause. They knew.
In truth, I am taking out my anger unnecessarily right now.
That he is not truly guilty. That he did not lie.
I know, but I didn’t want to admit it.
Because I had been waiting.
I had been waiting all along.
So, I didn’t want to admit it.
It hurt, it was painful, it was sad, and I cried so much, yet no one came.
“…I was lonely.”
Lonely, hurt, and sad.
So hungry I thought I might die.
The child lowered their face. Still, as the mother had said, the father came.
Extremely late, but in the end, he came and gave me a name.
“I got a name.”
The child took their feet off tiptoe and murmured while looking at the newborn.
The newborn waved their hands in the air as if knowing nothing, staring into space.
The child silently watched that sight.
“It’s Estrella.”
The child let out a deep sigh.
No answer came from the newborn, and the birthing room, empty of anyone, felt very lonely and cold.
No one came here.
So, in that bitter winter, the child cried until their throat gave out, cried and cried, and in the end, met death here.
“Estrella… a pretty name, isn’t it? If you tell the spirits, they’ll surely be surprised.”
Forgotten by everyone in the cold, all alone.
The child swimming through the darkness suddenly opened their eyes.
Startled by Zion’s sharp teeth so close, the child screamed.
“Uwaaah!”
At that scream, Zion leaped back, sprinting to the opposite wall to keep distance.
Zion, too, seemed surprised, closing his widely opened mouth and staring blankly at the child.
“My goodness, you’re awake?”
Hearing the voice from the side, Estrella was startled this time.
Startled, she leaped down from the bed and rushed to the corner, where Uriel flinched but maintained a friendly smile while keeping a distance.
“Hello. I am Uriel, the fifth disciple of the Sun God Sol.”
At that strange greeting she could not understand, Estrella’s face twisted in confusion.
Zion waddled over and climbed up her legs, nestling into her arms.
“Kyuu…”
Hearing the low cry, Estrella stroked Zion’s back.
A subtle tension arose between Uriel and Estrella, now in an unintended standoff.
“So… I am a priest. His Majesty called me here to heal your wounds, Estrella.”
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a call so much as a pulling, but either way, Uriel wasn’t the type to vent his frustration on an innocent.
Estrella’s eyes widened at Uriel’s words.
‘Unlike some others,’ he thought, sighing deeply. His lingering thoughts were considerable.
‘Estrella…’
The child smiled brightly, realizing that someone had called their name.
The smile looked even purer than an angel descending from the sky, and Uriel was instantly captivated.
A sudden bright smile lighting up the surroundings—this wasn’t something you saw in books.
“That…”
Could this really be the emperor’s bloodline?
Uriel pondered briefly. At this point, he honestly felt the emperor might have been mistaken.
Uriel stared blankly at Estrella, imagining the impious thoughts Alias would have immediately drawn his sword for, if he knew.
“…Yes! Why?”
The previously hostile child had suddenly become somewhat friendly.
Of course, the physical distance remained considerable.
Uriel awkwardly smiled and stood up from where he had been kneeling.
Even today, he was praying that the child would wake up.
“His Majesty has waited a long time. May I bring you to him? Please stay here for a moment.”
“…”
No answer came from the child. They exchanged a look with the lizard, showing a troubled expression.
Uriel, anxious, quickly spoke again.
“Please, Estrella.”
At Uriel’s words, Estrella’s expression brightened once more. Uriel blinked.
He tilted his head slightly.
“Estrella?”
Calling her name once more, her face lit up again. Only then did Uriel understand the meaning of her smile.
The girl thought for a moment longer, then nodded.
“I’ll wait… just a little.”
“Yes, I’ll be back quickly, Estrella.”
The girl smiled again. Uriel thought she looked very cute and quickly left the room.
His task was to report as quickly as possible and return to a peaceful temple life.
His pace quickened.
After Uriel left, Estrella crept toward the bed again, dazed.
The girl tilted her head.
The ceiling glittered, and the bed she reached out to touch was soft.
Much softer than her own bed, made of leaves and weeds.
“Softer than Norangi.”
Estrella had never seen anything softer than Norangi.
The girl examined her clean hands, then smoothed the blanket a few times, finally giggling and retreating backward.
“Zion, did you sleep well?”
“Kyuu! Kyuu! Kyuu-kyuu!”
In response, Zion tapped her shoulder as if complaining.
Tilting her head, she laughed softly.
“Sorry. Did you sleep that long?”
“Kyuu! Kyuu!”
Slowly, Estrella hugged him tightly in response to his complaints.
Rubbing her face against his rough back, she curled up in a corner.
The bed was too wide, making her uneasy.
Despite having the wide bed and room, she curled up in the corner beside the bed, tilting her head.
“But… what is a priest?”
The man earlier had introduced himself as a priest.
He wore dazzlingly white clothes, but Estrella had never seen a priest before.
Bang! The door burst open loudly.
Startled by the sudden noise, Estrella leaped and curled up tightly.
Looking frightened, she tried to crawl under the bed.
The one who caught her was Alias, who had heard the news during a meeting and rushed out immediately, ignoring the meeting.
Feeling the gaze from above, Estrella flattened herself on the floor but lifted her head.
“Child, what are you doing there?”
“…Why am I here…”
“You were very sick, so we treated you. Now, please get up. Sorry to startle you. I was too surprised to hear you were awake…”
Watching Alias fumble over his words, Uriel shook his head.
Who was this person?
It was hard to believe he was the same person who had scolded her every day to pour her divine power.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“…Yes.”
The child stood up awkwardly, keeping a distance, and nodded.
The hostility seemed greatly reduced, but the distance remained.
Or perhaps, it felt even farther now.
Alias could not bring himself to approach and silently fixed his gaze on the child.
“Perhaps… are you hungry?”
“Hungry?”
Estrella pressed her stomach with her hands.
She tilted her head, then lifted it again.
“I’m not sure. I don’t feel dizzy or like I might vomit yet.”
Alias clenched his fist, forcing down the surge of emotion inside him.
Uriel, who had been listening from behind, pressed his lips tightly together.
Finally, he could somewhat understand why the emperor had hesitated to touch the child despite scolding her.
‘I had roughly heard the circumstances.’
But he never imagined it would be like this.
Uriel felt a bit ashamed for blaming the child without knowing the full story.
Of course, it didn’t mean Alias wasn’t frustrated.
“…Then, just in case, shall we try a meal? If you’re full, you don’t have to eat.”
“And Zion?”
The child lifted Zion from her arms. Alias smiled bitterly.
Estrella always tried to share what was given to her with the hatchling she held in her arms.
“Tell me what you like, and I’ll prepare it.”
“Hmm…”
Estrella bowed her head and looked at Zion.
Zion pretended to bite something with his sharp teeth.
At that gesture, the girl burst into giggles.
“….”
Alias’s eyes widened.
He had always thought her gaze was uncharacteristically dull, but now he realized it wasn’t.
Estrella was a child who could laugh.
Just not at him.
Thinking this, Alias’s mood sank further. He forced the thought away.
“Zion likes meat.”
“Meat?”
“Yes. Not hot, though.”
“Understood. Then Estrella, do you like anything?”
Alias knelt on one knee and met her gaze as he asked.
Estrella tilted her head, seeming to think for a moment.
