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CHAPTER 08
Seila slowly opened her eyes.
As soon as she did, the world seemed unusually bright.
I…
A handsome middle-aged man stood before her.
He had an intimidating, cold appearance, yet somehow his eyes seemed warm.
“You’re awake?”
His voice echoed in her ears.
She had opened her eyes, but her mind still wasn’t fully conscious.
“Why did you push yourself that far? What is it that drives you so desperately?”
As if tomorrow were your last day alive.
Why did you go that far?
Most people give up long before reaching that point.
I… I think I want to say something.
Perhaps because her mind wasn’t fully awake, her mouth moved on its own.
“I…”
It had little to do with Seila’s own will.
It was more like talking in her sleep.
“I’m a daughter of House Devernon.”
A tear rolled down the corner of Seila’s eye.
The tears streamed down, soaking the white bedsheets beneath her.
“I want to be loved too.”
“…”
“That’s… what makes me so desperate.”
Seila herself wasn’t even aware of what she was saying.
They were merely instinctive murmurs.
She wouldn’t even remember them afterward.
I’m sleepy…
Seila lost consciousness once more.
She didn’t open her eyes again until three days later.
* * *
“I’ll escort you back to your room.”
Mmm…
She still felt slightly dizzy, but fortunately there didn’t seem to be any lasting problems.
That was dangerous.
Still…
There was something to be thankful for.
At least now I know how this ‘constant threat of death’ affects me.
Though seriously… is it true that even while collapsing I managed to faint beautifully without making a sound?
That was all thanks to that ridiculous trait—
The Right to Die Beautifully.
Honestly, it would have been much better if she’d simply screamed and collapsed dramatically.
Instead…
She had quietly fallen over with perfect elegance.
Had it not been for the sharp-eyed head attendant Teikan and the skilled physician Frix…
She might truly have died.
Huh?
She suddenly noticed something strange.
Teikan was holding her hand.
“Head Attendant?”
“Physician Frix stressed it several times.”
“He insisted I support you properly.”
…This reminds me of the old days.
When she was little, she’d held her father’s hand while they went all over the place together.
It brought back those memories.
But…
He’s not my father.
And it’s not like he cares about me.
“You don’t have to force yourself to do something unpleasant.”
She gently withdrew her hand.
“I’m sorry for causing trouble.”
But then…
Teikan took her hand again.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Miss.”
“And I’m not forcing myself.”
Judging by his expression…
He still looks a little annoyed.
No matter how I look at it, he’s definitely forcing himself.
He must really hate listening to Physician Frix’s lectures.
Still…
Holding someone’s hand like this…
Feeling another person’s warmth…
It wasn’t unpleasant.
Maybe…
Maybe this body simply wanted someone—anyone—to hold its hand.
This body had truly been unbearably lonely.
It felt strange that something this small could make her heart feel so warm.
A fragile, sentimental heart won’t survive in this world.
She withdrew her hand once more.
“I’ll decline any excessive protection.”
She felt a little sorry for this body’s instincts…
But she had no intention of seeking affection from the people around her.
Love.
Attention.
None of it mattered if she didn’t survive first.
Eventually, after letting go of her hand, Teikan suddenly asked an odd question.
“Is it really possible… to have never been sick since birth?”
“Huh?”
“I suppose that’s impossible after all.”
Why did he ask himself a question and answer it himself?
She didn’t really understand.
Still, she answered honestly.
“I think that would be difficult for most people.”
“…Yes.”
“I suppose it would.”
Seila felt Teikan gently squeeze her hand.
Huh?
When did he grab my hand again?
They weren’t kidding when they said his movements were ghostlike.
A year passed.
* * *
Just as she had promised her father, Dephelto…
Seila accumulated quite a number of achievements for House Devernon.
About a year earlier, during dinner with Dephelto, she had accurately predicted the great wildfire that would engulf the Drolli region.
“I promised I would become an asset to this family, Your Lordship.”
“The annual Fireworks Festival, normally held in summer, was postponed because of Crown Prince Leon’s first subjugation ceremony. The new date is October 2nd.”
“According to the records kept by the Meteorological Observatory Tower, that is when the prevailing westerly winds are at their strongest.”
At first, Dephelto paid no attention to her words.
“So?”
“You’re saying a stray spark will cause a wildfire?”
“Can you even read a map?”
“Do you honestly believe a spark could travel that far?”
“This year’s festival is different.”
“It’s being held to commemorate Crown Prince Leon’s first military campaign.”
“They’re certain to use much stronger magical fireworks.”
“Just as Your Lordship has now done… they’ll overlook the combination of strong westerly winds and unusually dry weather.”
Dephelto still dismissed her prediction.
But Seila refused to give up.
“I don’t think there’s any need to deploy large numbers of firefighters in advance or publicly announce the possibility of a fire.”
“However…”
She spread out a map and pointed to one location.
“The Levitan Academy is here.”
Officially, it was a place where mages and scholars gathered to study and exchange knowledge.
In reality…
It also housed many of House Devernon’s confidential documents and priceless historical treasures.
“Wouldn’t it at least be worthwhile to inspect several of its safety measures?”
“If only to ensure the safety of the scholars and mages who regularly travel there?”
Dephelto frowned slightly as he studied Seila.
Does this child actually know what the Levitan Academy really is?
Yet reading her expression proved nearly impossible.
She seemed to be smiling…
And yet she also looked completely expressionless.
Though she was his own daughter…
Understanding what she was thinking had become remarkably difficult.
“I don’t agree with your speculation.”
The Drolli region and Erder Island, where the fireworks festival was being held, were simply too far apart.
Surely a stray spark couldn’t travel such a distance.
“However…”
“Your reasoning is plausible.”
“We’ll inspect the safety measures.”
Several days later…
A massive wildfire truly broke out.
The inferno ravaged Drolli for sixty days before it was finally extinguished.
Countless lives and properties were lost.
Yet everyone—people and animals alike—who had taken refuge at the Levitan Academy, located near the center of the disaster, survived safely.
Newspapers across the continent reported:
“House Devernon’s rigorous safety standards save countless lives.”
“A perfect example of why House Devernon remains one of the Three Great Houses.”
Regional publications flooded the continent with articles praising the Levitan Academy.
Naturally…
House Devernon’s prestige rose even higher.
Later, Dephelto quietly summoned Seila.
“What is it that you want?”
“I simply wished to be of service to the family.”
That…
Was only the beginning.
A few days later, Seila once again visited Dephelto’s office.
“The struggle between Marquis Residon and Count Bail is reaching its limit.”
“There will be war.”
“Do you even understand the difference in strength between those two?”
“Of course Count Bail cannot defeat Marquis Residon in open battle.”
“But Count Bail has Sir Cain…”
“The One-Armed Knight.”
The One-Armed Knight, Sir Cain.
He was the key to the coming war.
Contrary to everyone’s expectations that the conflict would end within a week…
Count Bail held out for more than two months.
His resistance was nothing short of remarkable.
“I won’t waste your time explaining the complicated political interests involved.”
“You understand them far better than I do, Your Lordship.”
It was a subtle way of praising her father.
And it made Dephelto listen even more carefully.
“Indeed.”
“If events unfold as you predict…”
“The neighboring barons allied with Count Bail will unite.”
“Marquis Residon’s influence will instead diminish.”
“That, in turn, will trigger countless changes throughout international politics.”
“Exactly.”
“Thank you for your insight.”
“Whenever I offer one observation, Your Lordship teaches me ten more.”
That day…
Dephelto experienced a strange feeling.
He had heard countless flattering words throughout his life.
Seila’s sounded exactly the same.
And yet…
Somehow…
They didn’t feel like flattery.
It simply felt as though she were calmly stating the truth.
Oddly enough…
That made him feel even better.
“So…”
“What’s your real point?”
“Marquis Residon’s territory is the continent’s largest producer of mana stones.”
“Count Bail’s lands are one of its greatest grain-producing regions.”
“If the war drags on, both mana stones and food will become extremely expensive.”
“House Devernon should prepare in advance.”
Time passed.
Once again…
Seila’s prediction came true.
Because they had prepared beforehand, House Devernon suffered far less from soaring prices.
They weathered the turmoil with ease.
And once again…
Their reputation only continued to grow.
One late night…
Dephelto summoned Head Attendant Teikan.
“Care for a drink?”
“You seem troubled, my lord.”
“Seila’s words came true again.”
“Once may be coincidence…”
“But can it really happen twice?”
“Perhaps she’s simply fortunate.”
“I cannot answer that.”
“However…”
“There is one thing I know for certain.”
“One thing?”
“The young lady is more desperate than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Even on the battlefield…”
“I have never seen eyes like hers.”
But Seila’s accurate predictions…
Didn’t stop there.
The truly astonishing part…
Was what came next.
