Chapter : 10
Even if the young head of the Huizel family, who had never met Rosietti, did not feel it, the retired former head would surely experience the exact same sense of déjà vu upon seeing her.
How could someone possibly resemble another person this much? Her appearance, her voice, and even her ridiculously overpowered abilities that were second to none…
Regina felt her mind going blank and closed her eyes. At that moment, the keepsake the child had left behind flashed through her mind.
Rosietti’s Planetarium!
The planetarium, an astronomical projection device possessed by every Kirges warlock, responded only to its owner’s mana. Rosietti Kirges’s planetarium had stopped functioning at the exact moment she breathed her last.
Regina still had that broken device in her possession.
What if that girl named Rosien was connected to Rosietti in some way?
Then the planetarium would work.
Eventually, determination filled Regina’s black eyes as she opened them.
“Immediately after the Continental Conference ends two days from now, send an invitation to Winyak in the name of the Imperial Family.”
“Who will be invited?”
“The head of the Winyak family, the heir, and the disciple named Rosien. All three must attend together.”
“Do you think the little Winyak will come willingly?”
“They will. If only to determine the identity of that holy relic in their harem.”
The identity of a holy relic whose true nature had never once been revealed to the world.
How could they possibly not be curious?
To the Transcendent families, a holy relic was nothing less than a sumptuous feast capable of whetting their appetites.
Only then did the corners of Regina’s lips lift slightly.
So bring that precious child you treasure so dearly to me, little Winyak.
Because it seems I’ll have to see that girl one more time.
After finally making our way back to the mansion where we were staying, I immediately sent Kalian into the bathroom.
Then I asked Lina unnie, one of the maids, to make me some milk with melted chocolate.
“No, Rosien. You haven’t been eating enough protein lately and have been stuffing yourself with nothing but snacks. Didn’t you say you wanted to build muscle?”
The people in this household sometimes acted as though I wasn’t twelve years old, but two.
I boldly shook my head.
“It’s not for me. It’s for the young master, Lina.”
“The young master? Surely not…”
Of course, it would be mine soon enough.
Lina looked at me as though I were crazy as I grinned slyly.
I took the mug I’d successfully pilfered from her and returned to the room, where Kalian was shaking the water from his hair.
“Kali. How about a cup of cocoa to soothe your body and mind?”
“It’d be better if Rosy, who couldn’t sleep a wink worrying about me, drank it.”
Back in his usual obedient young-master attire, Kalian fed me the cocoa I’d brought as he normally did.
What an angel. He really shouldn’t treat anyone else like this.
Even as I thought that, I was utterly spellbound as I finished the entire cup of cocoa, which was piled high with marshmallows.
Sob. Somehow, those twelve years of living in the slums must have awakened a greed for food that I hadn’t had before.
“Should I ask them to bring another cup?”
“No, don’t. I’ll get in trouble if they notice. You know it’s an absolute secret from Lina, right?”
“Sure. Now let’s eat some cookies.”
Kalian leaned lazily against the sofa opposite me and watched contentedly as I demolished chocolate-chip cookies.
Then, in a casual tone, he asked,
“By the way, Rosien. There’s something I happened to hear when I met the Emperor.”
“Hmm?”
“They say there’s a holy relic hidden in the Delphiam Imperial Palace. And it’s one left behind by the Star of Winyak.”
“Oh, that?”
“…Oh, that?”
Kalian slowly repeated my words.
I casually continued.
“It’s a sword, isn’t it?”
“A sword.”
“Yeah. I heard it’s an old, broken sword. Apparently, only the hilt and half the blade remain, lying there without even a scabbard.”
I only realized how unusually quiet Kalian had become after noticing that he was still holding the cookie he’d been about to hand me.
Puzzled, I tugged at his sleeve.
“What’s wrong, oppa? It’s like you’ve never heard of it… before…”
Something felt ominous.
Only then did I realize the one fact I’d carelessly overlooked.
The corner of my mouth twitched awkwardly.
No way. After twelve years, that holy relic still hasn’t been revealed to the world…?
Oh, damn it. If that relic had fallen into Winyak’s hands, there was no way I wouldn’t have known about it!
You stupid Rosietti!
Kalian stared at me with exactly the same expression as always.
I, on the other hand, felt a chill run down my spine. It would be harder not to become suspicious now.
There had only been two holy relics discovered on the continent so far—the ones owned by the Transcendent families Yelzewa and Railo.
The holy relic of the Transcendent family Yelzewa, whose members dreamed of the future, was the Eye of Prophecy.
Railo’s holy relic, which could perform miracles of healing, was the Crystal of Resurrection.
As far as I knew, the holy relic secretly kept by the Delphiam Imperial Family was the one left behind by the Star of Winyak.
In my previous life, when I had lived as Rosietti Kirges, I had once secretly infiltrated the Imperial Palace just to get a look at that relic.
I’d overheard the heads of the families discussing it and, overwhelmed by curiosity, decided to do something so reckless.
Of course, I’d gotten almost all the way there before Head Regina caught me.
Still, I remembered it clearly. I remembered exactly what the relic looked like and even what kind of power it possessed.
Since it was a relic left behind by the Star of Winyak, it was useless to anyone who wasn’t a member of Winyak. In fact, there was a greater possibility that it would run wild because it had never found its proper master.
And yet, it hadn’t returned to Winyak for the past twelve years?
Then that meant no one knew about it except the people connected to the Delphiam Imperial Family, the Transcendent family Kirges, or the executives of Huizel.
Not even Oen Winyak.
Not even Kalian!
But if a Winyak child of unknown origin knew this much about the holy relic…
I wanted to beat my own mouth to a pulp for being lighter than a paper boat.
At this rate, I’m going to sink without even being able to make a peep!
I was careless.
Kalian was staring straight at me without even blinking.
The humorless expression on his face made my mouth go completely dry.
If Kalian started pressing me about the source of my information, I would inevitably run out of answers.
I might even be branded a spy for either Kirges or Huizel.
As it was, there were already plenty of people, including Head Oen himself, who were displeased with the fact that a child of unknown origins was hanging around the young master.
I nervously watched Kalian’s expression.
Maybe I’ll have to use memory manipulation…
But the risks were far too great.
No matter how weak he appeared, Kalian was the sole heir of Winyak.
There was no way he wouldn’t detect the Star’s mana—the kind that could turn someone’s brain into mush.
Moreover, unlike simple brainwashing, sorcery that tampered with memories required a variable amount of mana. A planetarium, which helped calculate the exact coordinates of the Star—the source of mana—was essential.
What if I try it and accidentally make the poor kid even stupider than he already is?
While I was inwardly fretting, Kalian suddenly broke into a bright smile.
“I see. A broken sword.”
Gah! It’s blinding.
Whenever he smiled like that, I couldn’t help wondering whether someone was shining a halo behind him.
“Our Rosy really does know a lot.”
He smiled sweetly, completely guileless.
It was Kalian’s trademark smile—the kind that made him far too busy looking for the good and positive aspects of things to suspect anything negative.
I responded awkwardly.
“Uh… well, I actually heard it from the Head of Huizel. Though she didn’t tell me the details.”
“Louise?”
Well, technically, it was Louise’s father.
But it was true that I’d heard it from the head of Huizel.
Kalian asked, still smiling,
“When did you become so close to Louise Huizel, Rosy?”
“Huh? Um, on the way to find you…?”
“In that short amount of time, you became close enough to discuss even holy relics?”
Apparently, I’d been mistaken to think he would simply let it go.
I awkwardly turned my head away from his curious reddish-orange eyes.
“Do you really need a long time to become friends with someone?”
“I heard you even rode on the head’s back.”
Rather than rode, I’d more or less freeloaded on her without asking…
As I broke into a cold sweat, Kalian continued to press me.
“So you met the head of Huizel for the first time today. Correct?”
“Uh, yes. I suppose so.”
“Then why did Rosy follow a stranger without any suspicion? You always tell me not to do that.”
“Uh…”
Why was he so sharp today?
“We’re Winyak, and she was Huizel. Even if there is a taboo between the families, there was no harm in being cautious. What did Father tell you about how to deal with the executives of the Transcendent families?”
“…Keep your tone formal, don’t reveal your emotions, maintain a certain distance, and act without giving them anything they can use against you. We never know what they’ll latch onto and use at the Continental Conference.”
Somehow, the atmosphere seemed to be sinking.
I fidgeted with my fingers, hesitating.
The smile gradually disappeared from Kalian’s voice.
“Especially since information about holy relics should have been a family secret. And yet you casually shared something that dangerous.”
“…”
“Rosien. How am I supposed to take this?”
Kalian was now sitting deep in his chair, his head tilted slightly to one side.
As though contemplating something, he rubbed his lips and the area around his chin with his long fingers.
The sternness in his gaze was unfamiliar.
I was always the one scolding Kalian, so I wasn’t accustomed to being in this situation.
“Don’t recklessly approach someone you’ve never met. Don’t follow them. Even if they seem trustworthy, always get Rosy’s permission first. Those are all things you taught your oppa. Aren’t they?”
“That is true, but…”
That’s because you’re way too softhearted.
I swallowed those words before they could escape and awkwardly rolled my eyes around.
For some reason, his words sounded strangely similar to the stern scoldings my teacher used to give me back when I was Rosietti Kirges.
Don’t act however you please.
“Exercise restraint, Rosietti. I know very well that your abilities are exceptional, but excessive arrogance will only become poison. I will not tolerate such insolent behavior.”
For no good reason, I felt wronged.
Back then and now, I hadn’t meant any harm.
“But I did it because I was worried about you, Kalian.”
The moment I saw Kalian flinch, I attempted my own little rebellion.
“You said you’d be back soon, but you didn’t come. I was worried. You took so long that I really thought the Emperor had eaten you.”
“…”
“And I’m almost twice as old as you.”
Obviously.
I should be twenty-nine, after all!
Of course, if you excluded the first three years when I’d genuinely lived as a child, the difference was somewhat smaller. Still, I was hardly at an age where I should be getting scolded by a fifteen-year-old boy.
I kicked the innocent floor with the tip of my shoe.
Then, suddenly, Kalian rose from the sofa.
