Chapter 40: Shocking Truth and Faith

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I’m feeling completely overwhelmed here.

After that, I sat between Father and Mother, listening to what they had to say.

A distinguished gentleman in his fifties with the same blue hair and emerald green eyes as Lord Alexander was actually the current head of the Bayerlein Ducal House. In other words, he was the Duke himself.

And, as it turns out, Mother is the Duke of Bayerlein's daughter! This shocking truth has left my mind reeling!

Mother was kidnapped when she was thirteen and had been missing ever since. Her real name is Hermina. But her status says Alyusha.

When I asked about it, they explained that a person with amnesia loses their original name in the status. It changes to the name given to them afterward. In some cases, their blessings can change as well. I almost shouted, “Is that for real?!”

Even though it happened twelve years ago, and I thought it could just be a remarkable coincidence, that possibility had already been ruled out.

First, the Duchess—Mother’s mother, who would be my grandmother—looked exactly like Mother did when she was young. Her golden hair and those clear emerald green eyes were inherited from her. That alone wouldn’t rule out coincidence, but there was one undeniable proof.

Mother has a star-shaped birthmark on her right chest. She’s had it since birth, and it’s still there. The Duke had requested Father to confirm its existence. Well, Father must have seen it many times, and I, who nursed from her, remember that mark well. This confirms that Mother was indeed the daughter of the Duke of Bayerlein.

It turns out Lord Alexander had been staring at Mother not because he was mesmerized by her beauty, but because he had found his long-lost sister. And he immediately sent word to his father, the Duke of Bayerlein.

The Duke made the four-day journey using a high-speed ship owned by the ducal family, docking it right beside our residence. This ship is intended for emergencies, like communicating with the royal capital, and isn’t equipped with the Duke’s usual luxuries. As soon as the messenger arrived, the Duke boarded the ship. This story truly shows how deep his love for Mother runs.

“Toma. I’m your grandfather. Let me take a good look at you.”

Being called “grandson” all of a sudden, I didn’t know how to react.

“Toma.”

While I hesitated, Father gave me a reassuring push from behind. It seemed he wanted me to go ahead.

“Um… I’m Toma.”

“Indeed. I am Karl Axel Bayerlein. You resemble young Hermina so much. Haha.”

With tears in his eyes, the Duke embraced me. It was a firm hug, showing how much emotion he had invested in this moment.

“I had privately given up hope about Hermina. But now, to find that my daughter is alive and that I can hold my grandchild like this—it’s such a blessing.”

His gentle voice was trembling. In this world, my family has been nothing but kind, unlike the so-called “father” I knew before. I can only feel gratitude for this life, and I owe it all to Lord Deuro.

After hugging me, the Duke then embraced Siegvalt, who burst into loud wails, much to his dismay.

Surprisingly, Lord Alexander seemed quite skilled at soothing infants, as Siegvalt didn’t cry in his arms, even smiling. I saw the Duke kicking Lord Alexander’s shin in response, but I’ll pretend I didn’t notice.

The day ended with all these overwhelming events, and in the early morning the next day, Lord Dardell arrived.

“Hehehe. It’s been a while, Duke Bayerlein.”

“Lord Dardell. Still alive, I see.”

“What a way to greet me after all this time.”

It seems the two were well-acquainted.

One was a high-ranking noble representing the nation, while the other was a cardinal at the heart of the temple. Given their statuses, it wasn’t surprising that they knew each other, though they seemed to have some tension between them.

“Oh, not again. Can you two stop this? There are children here, after all.”

Lord Alexander, familiar with their dynamic, sighed at the sight of them glaring at each other.

As Lord Alexander explained, these two had been teacher and student back when the Duke was young. Even then, the Duke often questioned the temple's teachings, leading to heated debates with Lord Dardell.

The tipping point was when Mother was abducted. Lord Dardell apparently told the Duke to pray earnestly to the gods, saying his lack of faith was to blame. As a devout believer, Lord Dardell likely meant that praying would bring Mother back, but honestly, that’s not something you should say.

Telling a person bearing a painful burden that it's their fault for not having enough faith is just rubbing salt in their wounds. Perhaps that’s a typical tactic of organized religion, but preying on people's pain and vulnerability is something I’d strongly oppose.

People face hardships whether they believe in gods or not. If it’s truly the gods’ doing, then no one would offer prayers to them. Trials from gods? Who ever asked to be tested? Don’t impose trials on us without consent; it’s just a nuisance.

Since then, the two have been on even worse terms.

In my previous life, I endured both mental and physical hardship. I encountered a false god who claimed to be divine, trapping me in a void of darkness. It was Lord Deuro who saved me.

The only one who rescued me was Lord Deuro. That’s why I won’t believe in anything outside of what he has shown me.

If you want faith, if you desire devotion, you should give, not take. Only a few masochists willingly seek trials.

I want to live happily. And right now, surrounded by my kind parents and good friends, I am truly happy.

This is the life Lord Deuro has given me.

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Greetings, it’s the author, Dayu Hanbei.

Regarding Alyusha’s memory loss, the cause isn’t revealed here, of course, since she herself has no memory of it.

This will become clear much later, so please be patient until then.

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