~Chapter 45~
Esther stared at the ceiling that felt both unfamiliar and familiar, holding her breath.
“…You’ve woken up.”
“…Father?”
Why was he here?
A glance around told her she was in the annex.
“Yes, you couldn’t open your eyes for days. How is your body?”
“…Hot and suffocating.”
“That’s because you’re buried under all these blankets.”
He pushed the heavy blanket aside and gave her an awkward smile.
Without thinking, Esther spread her arms. It was instinct. A sudden impulse. She didn’t even know why—only that there was something she needed right now.
[Due to unstable emotions, the ‘Infantilization’ curse has been activated.]
Kaelos, without her saying a word, pulled her into a firm embrace.
Esther clung to him desperately.
Thump, thump, thump.
Listening to his steady heartbeat and the rise and fall of his chest, she slowly blinked her eyes.
Kaelos tightened his arms around her.
When he had arrived at this annex with the maid Shipon, he had been so shocked he froze in place.
He knew she lived in the annex, but the actual place was far more secluded and unsettling than he imagined.
The facilities were old, with only two servants. Food supplies were clearly lacking.
Is this really right?
Normally, he would have said yes—this was the only way for the happiness of the child and her mother.
But seeing it for himself, and seeing the girl lying there as if dead, made him question everything.
Am I right?
The answer that came was smothered by an overwhelming sense of guilt.
All this time, he had simply not looked. If he didn’t see, there was no guilt to feel. He had pushed thoughts of the child to the furthest corner of his mind, using busyness as an excuse.
But now, seeing her lying on an old bed, wheezing in her sleep—
everything he had ignored felt meaningless.
“……I’m sorry, Esther.”
He could no longer leave her as nothing, nor treat her as nothing.
Kaelos felt the defeat of his own stubborn resolve.
“…For what?”
She looked puzzled, showing no sign of expectation. She seemed comfortable in his arms, but there was no joy, no disappointment, not even gladness.
It meant this small child expected nothing from anyone.
She had never had anything, and had already learned how to give up.
…Naion-uncle should be visiting soon. How much will he try to take this time?
She had no greed, no desire for wealth or power, not even small wants.
Collapsed just from mana depletion… really a weak body. I’ll become Demon King again, pile up money and food like a mountain, and make the underlings duel for my entertainment.
She had lost all childish wants, like someone who had grown up too fast and broken in ways even she didn’t know.
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone like this,” Kaelos said, holding her tighter.
“I was foolish. I didn’t think you’d… be broken this far.”
Esther, however, was fine—refreshed even, and clear about her next steps.
Why say I’m broken when I’m fine?
He pressed her close again.
“I shouldn’t have left you alone. I should have tried… I thought you’d be fine.”
Why is he confessing like this?
“…I regretted it the whole time you were unconscious. I thought you were going to die… like that person…”
So he had a reason—some trauma.
Still, his grip was suffocating. She frowned.
Has he never seen her sick before?
Perhaps it was the first time he had actually looked.
But now, it was too late.
Her heartbeat was steady and content—though she told herself that couldn’t be from happiness in his arms.
“I was wrong. I was foolish. I always make selfish choices.”
“Father.”
She lifted her face from his chest and met his gaze.
“…Yes?”
She placed her small palm on his smooth cheek and smiled brightly.
“The only one who doesn’t know it’s already too late… is you.”
His eyes widened at the unexpected words.
Esther slipped from his arms, sat cross-legged, propped her head on her hand, and tilted her body.
“To be family now, Father… you have no value to me.”
For a moment, her golden eyes seemed to flash red, but it was gone in an instant.
There was no expectation left in her. Not even hostility or resentment—emotions that would at least mean she still cared.
“I know how much I’ve disappointed you,” he said.
She didn’t bother to answer.
“Still… I will try.”
“…”
“Let’s go see your mother soon, too.”
Mother? She had never met her. If she was half-demon, her mother’s side must be demon or demon-blooded.
“They say in the Surt Kingdom there were many children like you, so she will know more about your body.”
Surt…?
Yes—the country the first Demon King’s beloved human founded. When she lived as Agreas, it was the most demon-friendly nation. Later, during the height of the witch hunts, it grew isolated, weakened, and eventually fell.
“Turns out I was the only one who didn’t know I was a coward,” Kaelos murmured.
She didn’t know how to respond.
“Father, if you never take risks, you’ll never fail or be disappointed…”
“…Esther?”
“…But you’ll also never grow stronger. You’ll just keep clinging to the past.”
Yawning, she burrowed back into the blankets.
“I’m going back to sleep. See you later.”
Kaelos nodded.
“Not leaving?”
“I’ll stay until you fall asleep. And tomorrow, we’ll move back to the main house. The construction is nearly done, and we won’t use this annex anymore.”
It was comfortable here, quiet, with few visitors and easy access to tickets—but for appearances, she’d have to return.
“…Alright.”
Time to think about what kind of act I’ll have to put on tomorrow.
Soon, she drifted back to sleep.
The warmth wrapped around her never left. It was peaceful—something she had never felt before.
