The enthusiasm, akin to worship, erupted instantaneously and gathered around in a clamor…

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Summoning the wind, I recklessly drove it into the ground.

A resounding crash, shattering the solid floor without hesitation. From the ashes of praise and uproar emerged an astonished awakening, forcibly drawn out.

People paused nervously at the shattered ground.

Never before had I wielded such power before so many.

‘I fear they might mistake me for a demon and banish me.’

Yet now, their gazes swayed uniformly not with fear or disgust, but reverence.

Amid the collective gaze, I spoke out.

“Let me ask one last time. Do you know who I am?”

It was the third inquiry. Nathan couldn’t endure beyond this.

The boy took a step back, lowering his head.

“Oh, no, no, I… I must have been mistaken. I apologize…”

Whether my expression held, whether my hands and feet retained composure, or if I betrayed any hint of hesitation—

All of that was unimportant.

Upon hearing his response, I grasped Eciel’s hand and began to walk.

The crowd instinctively parted towards the door. Wherever I stepped, they made a sign of cross, bowing their heads, some even knelt as if in worship.

He appeared just beyond the slightly ajar door.

Viscount Louis Rezena.

As always, with courteous formality, the man himself opened the door and bowed.

“Miss.”

One escort hastened forward, opening the carriage door, while the other retreated back to the store.

It was likely to settle the compensation with the owner.

Never did I consider obstruction. Momentary regret may have surfaced, yet swiftly washed away by other sentiments.

‘My heart is pounding.’

The signet  ring placed just above my heart was also jumping in excitement.

Excitement? Anticipation? Disappointment?

Emotions too complex to articulate surged forth explosively, nearly overwhelming me.

Amid this, Eciel grasped Louis’s hand and climbed into the carriage.

He extended his hand to me, but I declined, summoning the wind instead.

My power was never once unresponsive to my will.

As always, the wind obeyed and lifted me effortlessly onto the seat.

Soon after, Louis joined us in the carriage.

Tap, tap. Louis lightly tapped the carriage wall, and we set off smoothly like a river current.

After a while, trembling, I spoke—not from fear or apprehension, but from vibrations resonating deep within.

Louis assured me.

“It’s alright.”

“The shop… so many people, and we shattered the floor.”

“That’s also alright.”

“And… him, from earlier, who was he? I mean… why did he…?”

“It’s all alright, Miss. Even without your explanations, it will be handled.”

Eciel tightly held my hand.

Breathing slowly, I inhaled and exhaled while holding her hand.

Beside me, Louis spoke gently and directly.

“Forgive my boldness, but surely His Excellency will understand.”

“… I know.”

My voice remained steady. And the next thing too…

“For my father, it’s inevitable. But please, don’t tell my mother.”

Louis gazed at me quietly, with a transparent, respectful look.

Slowly, my head cooled, my heartbeat slowed. A composed, rational voice emerged.

“Please conceal this as much as possible.”

“… understood.”

He didn’t ask for reasons.

Didn’t seek explanations. Or logical persuasion. No mention of countermeasures.

He simply accepted, as if it were a command to be obeyed without question.

In that silence, I realized he acknowledged me as his little master.

Only then did my tension ease.

I fell and leaned against Eciel, my sister hugged me tightly.

When had this child been silently crying? Perhaps since we boarded the carriage.

“Claire… you did so well. Truly, well done.”

Did I really do well?

Silently, a question floated up within. Soon, a web of thoughts expanded, mostly in a negative direction.

Eciel. I pondered how a father who hadn’t experienced such trials might have reacted.

If he were a father with no fear, able to handle everything with one hand, what would he have said? How would he have behaved?

Or rather… perhaps… I could crush that kid with the palm of my hand. I wanted to feel like I had that kind of power.

While thinking about that, I smiled lightly.

I was a little jealous of Dad.

… to be honest, right now, I envied him a little.

To meet Tara and entrust my heart, unwaveringly tend to my children upon recognition, even with the Emperor and the world watching…

… that confidence.

The countless ordeals, tragedies, and sorrows my father endured. Nothing could break his prideful, resolute coldness.

Yet here I am, crumbling alone, curious, ultimately relying on someone…

‘Are we truly of the same Astariol?’

Did something ‘Astariol-like’ within me vanish forever in that village?

Dismal thoughts surged outward as if overflowing, rippling to the very back of my throat. My abyss bubbled up from deep under, threatening to engulf my existence.

Then, like towering waves and fierce currents, it all poured forth, shattering everything until the final piece.

It took me a moment to scramble gathering the debris of my heart.

I finally gave up.

For a while, I stared blankly into the abyss, filled to the brim beneath my throat, watching Eciel weep in my place with a sense of despair.

My younger sister sniffled for a moment, then suddenly widened their eyes.

“Claire… don’t cry.”

She said softly, cautiously, kindly. Her small hand approached my eyes.

“Ah.”

I muttered shortly.

Tears welled up in round drops, rolling down my cheeks along with a brief sigh.

These tears weren’t Eciel’s; they were mine.

“Am I crying now?”

It was a remarkably foolish and whimsical thing to say… but Eciel didn’t laugh.

Nor did she cry any longer.

Now it seemed as though all of her tears had been passed on to me.

Moisture blinked continuously from my eyes without a hint of sobbing.

Even as poor Louis handed me a handkerchief and Eciel fretted over wiping my eyes, not knowing what to do.

The tears kept flowing.

It felt like years of accumulated depths, once tightly held, had burst forth with a pop, as if clearing out everything I hadn’t cried over in nine years. Tears streaked down my face endlessly.

I felt so dazed that I kept my eyes shut for a long time.

Finally, the carriage halted.

Without a knock or a word, the door swung wide open. Only two people in the world would do that.

Father’s crimson eyes met mine, already crying, and faced Eciel’s tear-streaked visage.

“… Louis, you’ll need to explain everything later.”

His voice flowed like a blade. It made me shudder, but Louis offered no excuses.

“I apologize for my shortcomings.”

I shook my head.

“No, Dad, it’s not that… it’s not Louis’s fault…”

I wished the tears would stop. I couldn’t speak coherently while crying.

Why now, of all times?

‘Oh, dear…’

Even Mom seemed to rush out behind Dad, draped in a thin shawl.

I really wished Mom didn’t know about this.

“Claire, are you crying? Goodness… Eciel too?”

Dad gently lifted me. Tears continued to fall, wetting his palm, cheek, and shoulder, and then…

Dad sighed softly.

“We should have all gone together.”

A profound and intense regret.

Then he helped Eciel down from the carriage with his free hand.

Eciel darted into Mom’s embrace, clinging tightly to her. Mom bent down, almost touching the ground, and held her tight.

Just like before we met Dad.

“What on earth happened?”

Eciel shook her head.

“Later, when Claire calms down. Later.”

Dad briefly watched them, then seemed to leave Eciel entirely to Mom.

He adjusted me in his arms and took firm steps.

As if a flood, all surrounding confusion was washed away until only Dad and I were left.

Tears covered my vision entirely, but…

Dad didn’t tell me to stop crying.

He didn’t tell me to cry freely either.

Silently, he sat me on the couch and delicately wiped away my tears for a long while.

Even as I cried uncontrollably, without a hint of a sob, I spoke my first words.

“Why aren’t you asking me anything?”

“I wondered if it was something I had a right to know.”

I looked up suddenly.

Dad’s face was downcast, not the face of someone filled with self-reproach.

“Dad… you can ask me anything. Really.”

He pulled me out of the endless swamp of doubt, lifting me up slowly.

Then he took me to a new world, where he placed me at the highest position.

If Dad hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t have been able to face Nathan today…

Was it because I was so surprised by those words?

At some point, the tears stopped.