I blinked once.

But this was reality, and Duke Sisana continued her sharp words.

“Your twin is still young, she loves you, and she is very close to you. It must feel special to have a life you saved in your womb love you with all their heart.”

“……”

“But why do you think that person conducted such research? It’s because he resented not being Astariol. He hated and envied the fact that only his sibling, born alongside him, was a demigod. He wanted to become Astariol himself.”

The brilliant smile of Eciel flashed before my eyes.

Meanwhile, Duke Sisana took a few steps closer and stood across from me at the table. Her golden eyes were glowing like stars, scattering intense conviction.

“So, Lucy, you must persuade Constantine.”

“… pardon?”

“Becoming the Duchess of Yorbonne would be beneficial for your twin. Even if it’s not about twins, Astariol’s siblings always tend to suffer from not being Astariol, leading to jealousy.”

“…”

“They need to at least seize a position of similar status, so they don’t act out in vain, envious of what they don’t possess.”

Suddenly, I realized.

This was spoken from experience and conviction.

It must have been true for all of Duke Sisana’s siblings and even her own children.

They must have intensely envied Astariol, resenting their parents for not making them demigods, and scheming because they weren’t given a dukedom…

As an understanding dawned on my face, Duke Sisana’s cold tone softened ever so slightly.

“Constantine loves you, so he will listen carefully to your words. But no matter how much I urge him to send Eciel away, he won’t listen…”

“Dad loves Eciel too.”

I couldn’t help but interrupt.

I didn’t know if it was Fermata in my arms that was burning hot or if it was the chaotic jumble of emotions inside me that was on fire.

“No one would send their beloved daughter, who’s only nine years old, off to someone eleven years older against her will.”

Duke Sisana’s eyes narrowed with severity.

It was one of the scariest looks I’d ever seen, but still, my words flowed out like lava, unstoppable.

“My father loves me not because I’m Astariol, but simply because I’m his daughter with Mom, and the same goes for Eciel.”

I declared firmly.

“Dad would never marry Eciel off to Lord Yorbonne.”

And even if the decision were mine, I wouldn’t send her off either.

A life partner was such a critical matter for one’s happiness, and I wanted my sister to be with someone she could love freely and be loved in return.

Most importantly, she was still young.

‘She’s only nine years old.’

Wasn’t this the age when a child sought love from their parents, not a marriage partner?

It was far too early to even consider a marriage proposal, let alone one involving the Duke of Yorbonne…

In fact, I was amazed that Duke Sisana had come to me after meeting with my father and still hadn’t backed down. Dad surely wouldn’t have opposed her in such mild terms.

“Isn’t it because of love that you should find the best possible match for her?”

Unfortunately, it seemed that Duke Sisana had entirely failed to understand our feelings.

“Since she cannot marry the Crown Prince or Yere, I had to connect her with the Duke of Yorbonne. If there’s a better option, I will certainly arrange it.”

I blinked.

My head, which had been hot enough to spew fire, suddenly cooled down.

So… Dad had endured ten years among people like this? Wasn’t that far too much for one person to bear alone?

“… no, since it’s a matter of Chelsiers’, Chelsiers will handle it according to the master’s will and the family rules.”

I just made up some excuse that sounded reasonable enough for Duke Sisana to accept.

… only then did Duke Sisana’s expression show some signs of being persuaded.

“I’m sorry for meddling in another family’s affairs.”

I remained silent. I should have at least pretended to be grateful for her concern, but I simply couldn’t muster the will to say it.

 

* * *

 

At least Duke Sisana had been helpful in one respect. She had cut off the conversation about the memorandum at just the right moment.

Had I read even a little further, every sentence would have been filled with resentment and jealousy.

At that point, I closed the book and returned it to the Central Library’s director. When asked if I wanted another book, I politely declined.

Fermata, now smaller, perched on my shoulder and chirped quietly.

“Sorry. Dad probably understood the meaning, but I don’t.”

The phoenix whispered steadily into my ear in words I couldn’t understand, without any hint of regret.

By now, my body, which had been burning like a furnace, had cooled to a comfortable warmth.

The tea had also cooled.

As I sipped the tea, I thought of Evan.

The emperor who, with such playful ease, had hinted that I should beware of my sister.

‘… still, I guess I should be relieved that he doesn’t seem intent on forcibly marrying Eciel to Lord Yorbonne.’

The aftertaste of the cold tea was bitter.

Lost in long, confusing thoughts, I tilted my head, when suddenly, Fermata made a short sound.

“… why?”

I asked aloud, but still looked cautiously toward the door, wondering if Duke Sisana had returned.

But the visitor this time was my father.

“Let’s go now, Claire.”

He took my hand, and we left the private room.

My father seemed somewhat tired and slightly fed up, but when he smiled at me, I said nothing in return.

‘… Dad probably doesn’t want to stay here longer either.’

A place that didn’t understand his perspective. A place that rejected the one he loved. A place that bound him in every moment of his life.

Who would want to continue living in such a place?

But Dad couldn’t run away like Mom did. He couldn’t ask her to take him away either.

Because he was Astariol.

A person whose responsibility and origins were determined by scripture even before birth.

Someone everyone would search the entire world for, only to enforce his duty.

So, the man who could never run away sought to bring back the woman who had fled, to keep her by his side.

So that he could keep living.

After my thoughts flowed that far, I slowly lifted my eyes and looked at him.

The sky was filled with a gentle sunset.

In the open surroundings, colorful light poured in, shimmering vividly over his face.

He felt my gaze, and a faint smile spread across his cool, elegant face—beautiful, almost overwhelmingly so.

“Why, Claire?”

“… nothing.”

The flower may not be too abundant, the blade may not be too scarce.

Dad… how many blades did he sharpen and conceal inside that eerily sophisticated exterior?

I spoke impulsively.

“I already miss Mom.”

Dad laughed softly and whispered, languidly and gently.

“So do I.”

His voice shimmered like the surface of a lake, deeply devoted yet selfish, absolute yet grotesque.

 

* * *

 

The next morning, my father woke me up at dawn, as I drifted in and out of sleep.

I would have liked to wake up on my own… but this time it was impossible.

I had gone to bed late, filled with thoughts, and it really was still a dark, early morning before the sun had even risen.

‘How does Dad manage to look so fine at this hour?’

That was my last thought before slipping back into a haze while my father dressed me in layers of flowing clothes.

“… shouldn’t we wake her now?”

“She’s still young. Instead of making her sleep less, shouldn’t we let her sleep more?”

“Constantine, are you out of your mind?”

“Has that ever changed?”

“…”

As the voices softly murmured around me, I struggled to open my eyes, and when I finally did, sleep fled completely.

Gold-embroidered white robes. The crisp, rustling material of the mantelletta. The long stole that reached down to the knees.

The Astariols, dressed in their formal vestments, had all gathered in one place.

… even Lucrezia. She was looking at this way with an indescribable expression on her face!

Startled, I frantically patted Dad on the shoulder.

“Dad! Put me down, quickly!”

Seeing my desperation, my father must have realized this wasn’t the time for jokes. He set me down without a word.

Naturally, the ceremonial robe I had barely put on was now completely wrinkled.

As my father knelt down and straightened my collar, he calmly asked.

“Did you sleep well?”

“…”

“Do you want to sleep some more?”

“No…”

Speaking emptily, just short of panic, my eyes met Duke Sisana’s.

Duke Sisana spoke plainly.

“You sleep a lot.”

I was mortified. I had never felt this way before.

I couldn’t even muster a denial and simply hung my head, only for my father to reply smoothly.

“They say it’s good to sleep a lot when you’re young, it helps you grow up well later. Since it’s my child, I’ll take care of it.”

A blatant dismissal, clearly telling her not to speak any further.

Thanks to him, the already awkward atmosphere plunged past the point of recovery.

One of the people waiting a little farther off hesitantly opened their mouth.

“Uh, Lady Lucy has already coughed, so may we begin?”

Finally, I had the presence of mind to take in my surroundings.

Judging by the robes and decorations similar to what the Astariols wore, the people across from us were likely the pope and the cardinals.

They formed a small circle, surrounding us with an even larger circle of their own.

We seemed to be in a chapel built long ago.

Thick columns, so wide that even a grown man would need to stretch out his arms to embrace them, stood in long rows, supporting a ceiling of staggering height.

The grandeur was overwhelming, and without realizing it, I clutched a bit of my father’s robe.

At Duke Sisana’s signal, my father spoke in a calm voice.

“Fermata.”

With that word, sacred power echoed from all sides.

The divine power illuminated something huge that had previously been invisible.

Amulets, shields, walls, fortresses—protections.

From the smallest individual letters to the structures formed by entire words, everything shimmered with a similar meaning, flowing in and out.

And at the pinnacle… a glowing blue creature appeared.

A phoenix.