SPCD 03

Chapter 3

Conditions for Succession to the Dukedom (3)

On a rough, stormy night, a newborn baby had been held in Theresa’s arms with her umbilical cord not even properly cut.

“This child is the one who will resolve all the calamities that will befall the world.”

Leaving those desperate words of plea, she had scattered like stars and disappeared. Having witnessed that scene, Theresa could not deny Bel’s uniqueness. Theresa reconsidered whether it was truly alright to send Bel away for adoption. Her counterparty was none other than the Duke of Ibek’s house.

Though I’ve heard plenty about his reputation. Ruminating over the earnest plea left by Bel’s birth mother, Theresa let out a sigh.

In the Oriana Empire—especially here in the capital where the Imperial Palace was located—there was no one who did not know Duke Ethan Ibek. He was the strongest knight who had defeated a dragon that had lost its sanity while tainted by a curse, and at the same time, a hero who had lifted the disaster looming over this nation.

Theresa knew that Bel was a very special child. Because of that, Bel’s very existence could potentially bring a crisis upon the orphanage.

If Bel is adopted into the Duke of Ibek’s family… His outstanding martial prowess and powerful soldiers, his far-reaching fame and vast wealth—all of those things would protect Bel.

However, he is also a figure at the very center of power. The problem was that the position of a duke’s house could also become a double-edged sword for Bel. If Bel’s uniqueness were to become known… And if she became a member of a hero’s family… It was obvious that everyone would demand sacrifice and duty from Bel as naturally as breathing.

“Ughhhh.”

After groaning and agonizing over it for a long while, she barely managed to reach a decision.

Alright. Let’s send her. Regardless, Bel had chosen Ethan as well, and Ethan also seemed willing to take good care of Bel.

Bel is a child blessed by the stars, after all. Still, just in case, she intended to check on Bel herself to see if she was doing well.

“I just need to sign here, right?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Finally, Ethan’s signature was deeply engraved at the very bottom of the adoption papers. Looking at that signature, Theresa bowed her head deeply to Ethan.

“Please treat her with love and affection.”

Ethan quietly stared at Theresa’s gentle smile before snapping back grumpily.

“I have no intention of picking on a little kid.”

It was a response truly typical of him. Maintaining his crooked attitude, Ethan gathered up the adoption documents and walked outside. Lily, who had packed up Bel’s bag, handed it over to Ethan.

“This is Bel’s favorite doll. She can’t sleep without it, so please pay close attention to it and wash it cleanly once a month.”

“You’re telling me to do laundry?”

“And this is…” Ethan questioned her, but Lily firmly continued with what she had to say. “I ask you to take good care of her.”

Lily, who finally let go of him, gave Bel a tight hug this time.

“Go safely, Bel. You must be happy.”

“If a stranger saw this, they’d think I was taking her somewhere terrible.”

“Always making comments like that.” At his sarcasm, Aspe’s eyes narrowed sharply.

Be that as it may, Ethan casually cast a glance down at the top of Bel’s fist-sized head. Bel’s gaze couldn’t seem to tear away from Lily. At a glance, it looked like she might burst into tears.

“Let’s head out now. We have more places to drop by.”

Fearing she might change her mind now, Ethan decided to leave quickly. Tucking the tiny child under his arm, he strode up into the carriage. He set the child straight onto the seat, but Bel immediately stood up and clung to the window.

“Don’t step on the seat with your shoes on.” Ethan warned her in words only.

“Go safely!”

“Goodbye!”

“See you again, Bel!”

Bel even stood on tiptoe, clinging to the window as she received their enthusiastic farewells.

“…Bye-bye.”

At the sound of her voice, which sounded like it was crawling away, Ethan’s gaze flicked toward the small top of the child’s head.

She’s not crying. Fortunately, Bel didn’t cry. She simply remained stuck to the window until the orphanage was no longer visible, waving her tiny, adorable hands that were as small as maple leaves.

The orphanage, growing smaller and smaller, eventually disappeared beneath the winding road.

“You’re gonna fall.”

“Eeing.”

Ethan pulled Bel off the window and set her down on his lap.

Not comfortable. Bel’s lips pouted out. Feeling quite uncomfortable in that position, she wriggled around to find a comfortable posture herself when a large piece of bread suddenly appeared before her eyes.

“Here.”

Its deliciously baked brown surface gleamed with a fine sheen, and because its warmth had not yet faded, it even gave off a sweet, savory aroma.

“Woaaaah!”

Bel quickly reached out both hands and grabbed the bread. Then, without a moment’s hesitation, she bit into it.

“…!”

“You think it was a good idea to follow me now, don’t you? Huh?” Seeing Bel’s wide eyes, Ethan asked triumphantly.

Nod, nod. Bel willingly nodded her head. Regardless of this mister’s personality flaws, the bread was truly magnificent. It seemed Ethan was an adult who kept his promises well. What a relief.

Yum, yum. Every time Bel’s mouth moved busily, her plump cheeks jiggled softly. Along with that, the spirit clinging to Bel’s side fluffed and wriggled as well.

[Oh, oh…!]

Its cloud-like, vague surface became smooth, and its faint presence gradually grew thicker. It was gradually refined into a solid shape, and before long, it began to take on a human form.

[Baby Star.]

Looking blankly at its elongated arms and hands, the spirit looked toward Bel.

[Only now can I embrace you.]

Its slender arms made a gesture of giving Bel a tight hug. Although she couldn’t feel a single thing, it still felt nice. It felt as if the world, full of dark clouds, had become a little more colorful and pretty.

“Bwead.”

Tapping and pulling on Ethan’s sleeve, Bel boldly held out an empty hand.

“…Already?”

“Oung.”

“How much does a little thing like you eat?”

Though Ethan grumbled softly, he handed her a new piece of bread anyway. Unlike the previous one, this bread was drizzled with sweet syrup. Bel opened her mouth as wide as she could to bite into the bread, but the amount that vanished was only about the size of a fingernail. Seeing that, a smirk formed at the corner of Ethan’s mouth.

“Is that all?”

Bel quickly put on a bad face and glared at him. As if finding her appearance laughable, Ethan poked at Bel’s soft cheek with his index finger.

“Oh ho? Glaring at me?”

“Ooo-ugh.”

“A tiny thing like you has quite a temper.”

Bel scrunched up the bridge of her nose as much as she could, glaring at him with a bad face.

Don’t tease me!

Be that as it may, Ethan was busy chuckling and picking on Bel.

“His Majesty is waiting in the reception room.”

In the meantime, the carriage had arrived somewhere. Ethan, who had been teasing Bel the whole time, carelessly scooped the child up and tucked her under his arm. So as not to lose her bread, Bel quickly exerted all her strength in her grip.

[Hold our Baby Star properly, you personality-flawed human!]

The spirit scolded him, but there was no way Ethan could hear it. Bel herself didn’t mind at all. More than that, the scenery visible before her eyes was more important.

Where is this?

It was a place she had never seen before. An enormously huge building and an extraordinarily vast courtyard captured Bel’s attention.

Black.

The scenery was covered in a deep black that was darker than ash. Thick ether rose up from the ground and enveloped the building in a shape that could not be more ominous.

“Black.” Bel spoke up, but Ethan was busy conversing with the person beside him.

Could Ethan not see those dark clouds? With an unbothered expression, he headed toward the pollution-covered building.

[Baby Star. There seems to be something here.]

“Oung.”

The scene inside the building was even more of a spectacle. There was nowhere the black fog hadn’t clung to, and even the people walking around were as pitch-black as shadows. Even if Bel’s world had always been colorless, it had never been to this extent. There was definitely something here. Sensing a risk factor, Bel began to eat the bread held in her arms even more aggressively.

“Mo’!”

“You’ll get sick if you overeat.”

Though Ethan scolded her simply, he handed her the last remaining piece of bread.

Munch, munch.

While Bel diligently filled her belly, Ethan strode forward toward the Emperor’s reception room.

“My goodness. To think I’d live to see a baby being held in your hands.”

“Now that you’ve seen it, shall I help you pass away peacefully?”

“Haha!”

The door to the reception room opened, and a black figure seated on the sofa greeted them.

[That human seems to be the Emperor. The one who is the master of this country. But…]

The spirit, whose expression had now formlessly taken shape, put on a serious face.

[As expected, the ether is polluted. The entire Imperial Palace is like this. If so, there must have been difficulty in manipulating ether as well.]