TYFGU 28

Episode 28 

“How old are you, exactly?”

“…I’ve never bothered to count. Age is a concept created by humans in the first place.”

The demon’s eyes shifted with a hint of contempt.

As expected, it must have lived for a very long time. But perhaps because it only ever dwelled in human bodies, its learning seemed shallow.

It had no humanity and acted purely on instinct.

After all, wasn’t the demon described in myth the very embodiment of jealousy? It envied the gods for not being one of them, and in its jealousy, killed the humans that gods loved.

And when those humans couldn’t die by divine power, it went as far as to parasitize a human body to become a god.

Why did the demon want to become a god so badly?

As Leiana stared without looking away, the demon glanced at her.

Its large, round eyes rolled slowly before it muttered with hesitation.

“This time…”

After a long moment of contemplation, the demon finally spoke.

“This time, I asked first.”

Asked what first?

Leiana didn’t immediately catch on, and the demon cursed before snapping irritably.

As her ears flushed hot, she suddenly recalled what she had said before heading to the Count’s room:

“I don’t need unwanted help. I’m tired, so please leave.”

Leiana’s eyes widened in shock as she looked at the demon.

It had been ripping apart pillows, tossing blankets, and now was about to tear the wardrobe door off.

“I didn’t expect you to be hurt by that.”

Was the demon… actually affected by her words?

She blinked in disbelief.

She knew she was treated as an individual unlike the other humans, but she hadn’t expected the demon to take things so personally.

She had thought she was just a fun toy to it.

Maybe even discovering her biological father hadn’t been some random prank after all.

Her perception of the demon softened just a little.

Maybe handling it wasn’t all that difficult after all.

It was like a child.

Or more precisely, like Theodor.

As Leiana’s gaze softened, the demon placed the wardrobe door on the floor and slowly walked toward her.

It looked dazed, like it had just found some mysterious treasure.

As the demon quietly looked up at her, Leiana offered a small smile.

“Well done. And thank you for helping me. I was nearly caught, you know.”

The demon taking over Theodor’s body might become her weakness someday.

After all, she was always weak when it came to Theodor.

Even if it was just a shell of him, she had quickly let her guard down.

So much so that before she knew it, her hand was stroking the demon’s head.

“I-I’m sorry.”

How old was the demon, really?

If it was older than the first emperor, it must be at least three thousand years old.

Realizing she had been patting something far older than her ancestors, Leiana quickly pulled her hand back.

But the demon didn’t move, frozen like a stone.

When she waved her hand in front of him, he finally scurried away like it was too much trouble.

“How did you find out? That my real father is… Count Chester?”

“I can go anywhere. I just followed the traces of that necklace. It wasn’t difficult.”

The demon spoke quietly, staring at her.

“So now you’re going to Valencia?”

“Valencia was part of the plan from the beginning.”

As Leiana replied calmly, the demon narrowed his eyes.

“You’re not having second thoughts?”

“Do you think I’m an idiot?”

Leiana gave a faint laugh, but the demon didn’t.

He only looked at her coldly, as if he had expected that answer.

Maybe he was right. Here she was, calmly talking with the very demon that had once tried to kill her.

But Count Chester’s household was different.

She had no feelings left. She didn’t want to stay a moment longer.

“I just hope tomorrow comes quickly.”

Leiana murmured softly.

The Next Morning

As the sun rose, the Count’s household prepared for the adopted daughter’s departure to Valencia.

While Leiana was packing her small bag, a group of maids barged into her room.

“Excuse me, but what are you doing?”

“There are orders from the Count to change your clothes and prepare you for departure.”

In an instant, the maids seized her. She was bathed, dressed in unfamiliar clothes, and had her hair combed.

She wore very low-heeled flat shoes since she couldn’t walk in proper heels.

As she stared blankly at the unfamiliar figure in the mirror, one of the maids took her luggage and disappeared.

“Where is she going with my things?”

“The Count said your belongings were too worn out to bring to the Grand Duke’s household. He said he’ll provide you with all new items, so please don’t worry.”

“…So you’re saying everything I packed is being thrown away?”

The maid nodded, and Leiana raised her eyebrows.

She let out a long sigh, causing the maids to glance nervously at her.

But what was the point of getting angry? They were just following the Count’s orders.

Luckily, she had a bad feeling and sent her most important items away early that morning through the demon.

“I knew they had no intention of sending me off nicely, but I didn’t think they’d take everything.”

Leiana’s eyes sharpened as she looked at herself in the mirror again.

“Let’s just finish this quickly, shall we?”

The maids hurried to complete the preparations.

Dressed awkwardly, Leiana left her room.

She glanced around the now-empty space to say her silent goodbye.

She would never come back here again.

“You should get going. The Count is waiting in the garden.”

At the maid’s prompting, Leiana closed the door and turned away.

In the garden, the Count’s household was waiting—including the Count, the butler, and even Isabel.

The Count and Isabel looked very much alike—soft features, light brown hair, and green eyes.

Leiana shivered slightly. The reflection she’d seen in the mirror resembled Isabel too closely.

The maids must have dressed her similarly.

That eerie resemblance seemed to upset Isabel, who scowled deeply.

The servants whispered amongst themselves at the uncanny likeness between the two daughters.

“Leiana, are you all packed?”

“Yes. Thanks to your help, there wasn’t much to take.”

The Count sensed some hidden meaning in her words.

But surely a well-trained child like her wouldn’t be sarcastic, so he let it go.

“You must be nervous about going to Valencia.”

The Count patted her shoulder.

“But from now on, you belong to House Valencia. Always carry yourself with dignity and watch what you say. Royal circles are often dangerous.”

“I understand.”

“And Isabel.”

At the Count’s call, Isabel stepped forward with clear displeasure.

“I know Isabel has made you feel left out. But you’re the older sister. She’s just young and didn’t know any better—don’t take it too personally.”

The Count wanted to clear the air before Leiana left.

It couldn’t leak to the public or noble society:

That they adopted a girl and locked her in a separate annex.

That they gave her no basic education, barely fed her, and made her undergo intense military training.

That they never intended to raise her as a noble because they thought she’d die in battle before turning twenty.

That they clearly favored one daughter and abused the other.

All of it had to be buried.

So please, keep your mouth shut until the day you die.

The Count silently prayed. Did Leiana understand that wish?

Her expression remained as calm as always.

“There’s no need to feel upset between family.”

At that, Isabel looked at her like she was insane.

There was one clear difference between Leiana and the Count’s family—

Leiana was significantly taller. She must’ve taken after her tall mother.

“Ahem, well… yes. I knew you’d understand,” the Count said, relieved.

“Go on now. If anything happens, contact me through your attendants.”

As Leiana stepped into the carriage, the Count approached the window and whispered in a low voice—