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Chapter 14
As the memory of her cleanly severed horns and wings resurfaced, Seiri suddenly felt the urge to check her back.
She kicked off the bed and stood up.
But the unfamiliar room made her stagger for a moment as she pressed a hand to her head.
Unlike the demon realm, where rooms were decorated in dark tones, everything here was white. On top of that, it was adorned with dazzlingly colorful jewels and gold—so much so that it felt excessive.
It was the complete opposite of her relatively simple room in the demon realm—extravagant and spacious.
After wandering around for a bit, Seiri finally found a full-length mirror attached to the wall and stood before it, turning her back to it.
A smooth, pale back—flawless like freshly whipped cream.
Then—
Two long, vertical black lines appeared.
Crack.
From those lines, short black wing stubs—barely the length of two finger joints—sprouted outward.
“…This…”
Seiri’s eyes widened.
They weren’t even fully wings yet, but they were much larger than she had expected.
“They’ve… grown?”
Compared to when they had been cut off, they had grown at least the length of a fingernail. She was certain—she had touched them herself right after they were severed.
Does that mean they’ll keep growing?
Then… does “recovering my power” mean I won’t regain everything at once after a year—but gradually until then?
Just as a faint glimmer of hope began to appear on her face—
Bang!
The door burst open.
“Saint, your meal— Kyaaa! Oh my goodness!”
Startled by what she saw, the maid dropped the entire tray she was carrying.
Flustered, she immediately rushed to the wardrobe, grabbed one of the many saint robes hanging inside, and knelt before Seiri, holding it out.
“His Majesty will be arriving shortly, so p-please put this on quickly!”
The maid wasn’t shocked by Seiri’s wings—
—but by the fact that she was completely naked.
It hadn’t been intentional, but Seiri had been standing facing the door, so her wings hadn’t been visible.
Ssshhh—
Her back returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
“Why is he coming here?”
“…Pardon? What did you just—?”
“I said, why is the Emperor coming here?”
The maid, timid by nature and easily startled, was terrified of the Great Saint’s cold gaze.
Her casual, irreverent tone—showing not the slightest respect toward the Emperor—combined with her proud attitude and aloof beauty, only made her more intimidating.
The Emperor himself was said to be frightening—but only when angered.
This Saint, however, was terrifying just to stand in front of.
“I-I’m sorry, but I don’t know either. Within the Imperial Palace, His Majesty’s will is absolute. No one can question it. Please understand.”
“….”
Do I really have to see that damn face again…?
Lost in thought, Seiri tried to put on the clothes roughly—
“…Th-that’s not how you wear it… If it’s alright, m-may I help you?”
Seeing Seiri trying to put her head through a sleeve, the maid carefully asked.
After receiving permission, she stood behind Seiri and began assisting her properly.
“Why make such uncomfortable clothes in the first place? You can’t even throw a side kick in this.”
“Th-that… I-I’m sorry! I just follow orders. I’m sorry!”
Ah… she’s scary… I want to run away…
The maid steadied her trembling hands as she helped dress her.
Yet even in that tense moment, once she tied the ribbon-like necklace in place, a quiet admiration escaped her lips.
She’s scary… but unbelievably beautiful. If I could live with a face like this for just a day—no, even an hour—every man in the Empire would be desperate to have me.
It wasn’t just her face.
Her petite shoulders, firm chest, slender waist that didn’t even need a corset, and the smooth curve of her hips—
It was breathtaking.
Even as a fellow woman, touching her soft, cream-like skin while dressing her made the maid strangely flustered.
Noticing the subtle change in her expression, Seiri narrowed her eyes.
Is she under that “love” thing too? What’s with that look?
Just then—
Something warm and soft clung tightly to her leg.
“…?”
Looking down, she saw a small child—about four years old—staring up at her with round eyes.
Golden hair, lightly double-lidded eyes, deep blue irises, and a sharp little nose.
…He looked like someone.
The child spoke first.
“Are you the Great Saint?”
“What?”
“Are you the Great Saint?”
Blink. Blink.
His large, clear eyes sparkled with curiosity—like a small animal staring up at her.
Who is this? There’s a child in the Imperial Palace?
“My mother said there’s a Saint in this room.”
“Oh my—Y-Your Highness, the Crown Prince! When did you—?!”
Only then did the maid realize she had left the door wide open in her shock.
She tried to pick up the Crown Prince to take him away, but he clung tighter to Seiri’s leg.
“I’m Lucerne Kanan Cezarion. But everyone just calls me Kanan. What’s your name?”
“I will take care of His Highness, Saint. So please—Saint?”
The maid spoke cautiously, but Seiri ignored her completely.
Instead, she stared down at the prince with an intense gaze, making the maid look like she might cry.
“S-Saint…?”
“….”
With no response from Seiri, only the maid grew more anxious.
What do I do? She calls His Majesty ‘that guy’ and talks like that—what if she hits the Crown Prince? If something happens, I’m finished! I need help!
Trembling, the maid ran outside—
—but her fears were completely unfounded.
He’s… adorable… What is this?
Seiri was already half-dazed, captivated by the child’s irresistibly cute face.
His cheeks were like freshly puffed macarons—soft enough to sink like cake if pressed.
Where did something this cute come from?
Without realizing it, her lips parted slightly.
“They call me Seiri.”
“Sheri?”
“No, Seiri.”
Sitting down on the floor, Seiri placed Kanan on her lap.
As if used to it, he immediately burrowed into her chest and shouted:
“Sheri!”
“I said it’s Seiri.”
“Sheri, Sheiri!”
As Kanan called her name and smiled brightly, Seiri felt her chest tighten.
Why is he so cute… This is insane.
Whether demon or god, whenever she saw a smiling child, her heart went out of control.
Even elders in the demon realm used to scold her for being too weak around children.
But she couldn’t help it.
Could anything in this world be more precious than this?
Even if her fingers were pierced with thorns, it wouldn’t hurt as much as seeing a child suffer.
“…Fine. Call me whatever you want.”
The innocent laughter of children was the thing she loved—and wanted to protect—the most.
This fact was well known even in the demon realm.
After she became Eides, all cruel laws related to children had been completely abolished.
Even the Demon King supported severe punishment for anyone who harmed or abandoned children.
Because of that, laws protecting children were stricter than even in the divine realm—and Seiri had always been proud of that.
Poke.
She gently pressed Kanan’s left cheek with her finger.
Giggle—
He offered his right cheek.
Press.
Then the left again.
Right… left… right…
Smile.
Poke, poke, poke.
“What is this kid? He looks like freshly baked bread. Seriously cute.”
A soft laugh escaped Seiri’s lips.
If the maids who had only ever seen her expressionless face were here, they would have been shocked.
“Sheri, are you the Great Saint?”
“Of course not.”
At that, Kanan’s bright expression crumbled instantly.
His brows drooped, his lips trembled—
Sniff…
“…What? Why are you crying all of a sudden?”
“Sheri… isn’t the Great Saint?”
Great Saint, my ass. I’m Eides of the demon realm.
But the words never left her mouth.
Seeing tears well up in his eyes felt like an arrow piercing her heart.
No. Absolutely not.
Even if demons knew, they’d faint—but the former strongest of the demon realm chose cowardice.
“The High Priest said I’m the Great Saint.”
At that, Kanan’s face bloomed like a sunflower in sunlight.
He burst into laughter, hugged her tightly, and rubbed his face against her chest.
“Hehe… Mom…”
“…Mom?”
Did he just call me… Mom?
She had never heard it before—
—but somehow…
…it felt incredibly nice.
Her chest tightened even more.
“Seiri.”
