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Chapter 06
Seth was called to the leader’s office. The atmosphere inside the base felt unusual—tense, heavy. Rumor had it the leader was angry. Was Seth going to be punished because of her?
She worried and pressed her ear against the office door, only to almost fall backward when Adele suddenly opened the door from the next room.
Luckily, Adele caught her before she hit the floor.
Adele led her into her room. The moment the door closed, she burst into laughter, telling her how ridiculous she had looked crouched outside the leader’s office.
“So, Teah, what exactly were you trying to eavesdrop on? Hahaha.”
“…I was worried Seth would get scolded by the leader.”
She let her arms drop, her mood sinking. Adele, still laughing, patted her back gently.
“Don’t worry. I listened in. He wasn’t being scolded. The leader just needed a situation report… and they also found out about your amazing ability.”
She blinked in surprise.
“My… ability?”
“Don’t act innocent. You know, the one where you can tell what someone’s ability is just by looking at them.”
Only then did she remember what she had done. That was supposed to be her secret.
If people found out, they might think she could expose their weaknesses and start hating her. She didn’t want that.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t tell you. I was afraid you’d feel uncomfortable if you knew I could see your abilities.”
“It’s fine, I understand. Some people might find it unpleasant. But I think your ability is impressive. I’ve never heard of anything like it before.”
“R-really?”
“Probably. It doesn’t seem dangerous, so it’s not a Dark-type ability… more like Light-type.”
Adele’s words made her realize something she had never considered.
So even this counted as an ability.
How had she never thought of that?
She had been living thinking she was powerless.
“By the way… does everyone here know I have this ability?”
“Nope. Only the leader, Seth, and me. And I only heard it by eavesdropping. I have sound amplification perception.”
“Thank goodness…”
She sighed in relief. Adele laughed again, calling her cute.
She was about to ask Adele to keep it a secret when Adele beat her to it.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take this to my grave. I won’t even say it in my sleep.”
“…Thank you.”
Even after their conversation, one thing still bothered her.
Why couldn’t she see Seth’s ability?
Time passed again.
She turned nine and was living relatively happily.
“Teah. The leader is calling you.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. Someone came to visit.”
A visitor?
Uneasy, she went to the leader’s office.
And her worst fear came true.
“…Mom.”
There she was.
The woman who had abandoned her.
“Teah, my daughter…”
“Mother.”
Her mother acted as if nothing had ever happened, pretending to cry dramatically.
“I’m not going with you. I already have a new family.”
Her mother pleaded, saying she had changed, that she now had a home, that she wanted to be a good mother.
But Teah refused firmly.
“I said no. I won’t go.”
Tears rolled down her mother’s face.
It was nothing but crocodile tears.
Even the leader seemed moved by the act.
“Even so… she is your mother…”
“No.”
Her voice broke out in desperation.
“I won’t go. This is my home!”
Finally, the leader gave in.
“…If Teah wants to stay here, I can’t force her.”
Her mother’s expression darkened.
A strange silence followed.
Then—
“One last thing,” her mother said softly.
“Have a meal with me. Just once.”
Against her instincts, she agreed.
She followed her mother, expecting a simple meal.
But they stopped in front of a high-end restaurant.
La cuisine de Charles
A place for the wealthy.
Where did she get the money?
Her mother led her inside as if she belonged there.
Inside, everything felt unreal. Her mother ordered with ease, cutting steak and offering it to her.
“Come on, Teah. Open up.”
She hesitated, but the smell was irresistible. She took a bite.
It was delicious.
Then her mother handed her a glass of deep red juice.
She drank it without thinking.
The taste was sweet—different, unfamiliar.
Then—
Poison?
Her body suddenly weakened.
The glass slipped from her hand and shattered.
Her vision blurred.
The last thing she saw was her mother smiling brightly… and unfamiliar figures approaching her.
“Don’t worry, Teah.”
“…You’ll be going somewhere very good.”
Her consciousness faded.
When she woke up, she was in a luxurious room in what looked like a noble estate.
“Is… anyone there?”
A maid entered.
“You’re awake, young lady.”
Young lady?
She was confused. She wasn’t a noble.
Before she could speak, footsteps echoed outside the door.
The maid leaned closer and whispered:
“The Grand Duke and Duchess are here. They have been waiting for you.”
