Chapter 6
“I memorized it all.”
“Then… this will be the second lesson. This time, it’s about the Child of Prophecy.”
At Ehin’s words, my ears perked up. Everyone kept calling me the Child of Prophecy, but I didn’t even know what that meant.
So I focused on him. He said:
“The Child of Prophecy is a very precious and special being. But evil exists everywhere. There are also those who hate the Child of Prophecy.”
“They… hate me?”
“Yes. That’s why this fact must not be revealed until you are under full protection. It’s dangerous.”
Ehin’s words were a little difficult, so he softened his tone.
“You must understand this now, Lady. I don’t want to frighten you, but outside these walls are people who want to kill you.”
His firm gaze made me flinch.
Death.
That single word brought images of cold corpses to my mind.
I was young, but I knew death well. The continent was at war.
The mutilated bodies of soldiers, the starved people lying dead on the streets, the endless funerals.
The blood soaking the dirt, the hollow eyes of the dead, the twisting worms and their awful stench, the crows waiting to feed.
No one could answer when spoken to, their hearts had stopped, and even as beasts tore at their flesh, they could no longer flee.
That was what death was.
“…Why do they want to kill me?”
Did I do something wrong?
As fear crept over me, Ehin seemed a bit regretful. He chose his words carefully.
“Hmm, you know there are many nations on the continent, right?”
“…Yes.”
“The Haspelt Empire desires you, Lady. With you, the war can end. Simply put, the Child of Prophecy is a symbol of peace. But there are those who do not wish for peace. They want humans to keep killing each other.”
My eyes widened.
War—the endless fighting between nations.
So many people had died. So many still were dying.
Even the children of Panaso Orphanage had lost their parents to the war.
I was a war orphan too.
[“We found you on the battlefield as an infant. There was embroidery on the cloth that wrapped you—it read Adel. That’s why we named you Adel.”]
The headmistress had said that.
A winter night, on a ruined battlefield—
I was sleeping soundly, not even crying, wrapped in a cloth.
They said it was a miracle that I hadn’t frozen to death among the bodies.
[“It was unbelievable. That winter was especially harsh.”]
It was the only trace of my parents—one I could never forget.
Maybe they didn’t abandon me, I used to think.
Maybe they lost me in the chaos of war.
Maybe, somewhere, someone was still looking for me.
It was a small, stubborn hope.
[“I tried to find your family, but it was impossible. The corpses were piled like mountains. Your parents probably died… or maybe they couldn’t handle it and ran away.”]
The headmistress had added that we could never know the truth.
Her realistic words didn’t wound me.
They just made me think more about the horror of war.
A war that made people fight to the death over moldy bread.
That sent cheerful soldiers home with missing limbs.
That made the smell of blood part of daily life.
That was the war I knew.
Why do they fight?
I couldn’t understand.
Why would anyone want the war to continue?
Everyone was sad. Everyone suffered.
“…Do you understand now, Lady? How precious you are?”
I raised my head.
Ehin’s sincerity was clear. The eyes that looked at me were kind and pure. My first impression was right—he was a good person.
He was someone who cared about me.
“You are very special and chosen, Lady. You are the one we’ve waited for hundreds of years—the only hope who can end this war.”
…So that’s why some people liked me.
War had taken away so many precious things from everyone.
Whether it was the sadness of not wanting to lose more, or the desperation to protect what remained, I could understand those feelings.
“So, Lady, you must treat yourself as precious too.”
“Me… treat myself?”
“Yes.”
That was a hard thing to grasp. How did one treat oneself preciously?
I tilted my head, puzzled. Ehin smiled and said gently:
“In future lessons, you’ll learn more about the Child of Prophecy. But for now, something important—your personal protection detail has been decided.”
“Protection detail?”
“It means knights whose duty is to guard you, Lady.”
Ah, so that’s what it was.
I listened closely.
“The military power of the House of Archibades is famous across the continent. Those who serve the strongest duke of the Empire will be guarding you.”
The strongest duke in the Empire.
Just hearing that made me strangely proud.
“There will be five knights assigned to your protection. All are members of the ducal knight order.”
He added,
“You’ll be formally introduced after class.”
Five knights just for me.
That surprised me—especially during wartime, when every knight was precious.
Could Michael be one of them?
…I hoped so.
The knight with violet eyes came to mind.
He was the only one whose name I knew.
“Teacher, but… what does it mean to treat myself preciously?”
Ehin smiled.
“A very good question, Adel. Let me give you an easy rule to follow from now on.”
I looked at him expectantly. He asked gently:
“Lady, what is a ‘Lady’?”
“…?”
I grew shy and murmured,
“…The Duke’s daughter.”
Even though I spoke so quietly, Ehin nodded proudly.
“That’s right. ‘Lady’ is the title given to a duke’s daughter. Aside from royalty, you are the highest noble in the Empire.”
“…”
I still wasn’t used to that—especially not in front of Sarina.
“A noble must use familiar speech with servants, maids, and knights. That is etiquette.”
“Oh.”
So that’s why everyone looked so awkward when I spoke politely to them.
My cheeks flushed—partly from embarrassment, partly from discomfort.
No matter how many times I was called “Lady,” I didn’t feel like one. I still felt like the orphanage girl.
“Shall we practice? Try speaking to the maid next to you.”
Ehin turned toward Sarina, and I followed his gaze.
Her clothes were spotless, her hair neatly tied up, her face expressionless. She stood by the wall, stiff and formal.
He said to try speaking, right?
I hesitated, then opened my mouth.
“Um…”
“You must use her name, Lady.”
“S-Sarina.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Just as Ehin had instructed, Sarina turned toward me and bowed.
Oh no, she bowed to me.
What now…?
I glanced at Ehin, who nodded encouragingly.
“Say whatever you wish to say.”
“…”
Whatever I wish to say?
Maybe something like “Don’t worry, I’ll go home soon”?
But I couldn’t say that in front of Ehin.
So instead, I said softly:
“I like you, Sarina.”
“…?”
It was something I often told Madeline, but Sarina clearly hadn’t expected it.
She froze, looking both confused and conflicted.
“…I see.”
“Y-Yeah.”
“…”
Sarina looked thoughtful. I felt my cheeks grow hotter under her gaze.
I know.
I had overheard her words last night—her muttered resentment toward me.
She must hate me. But I didn’t hate her.
Just because someone hates you doesn’t mean you have to hate them back.
Her expression grew complicated—too complex to name.
She only said, “I see,” and no more.
I bit my lip, flustered.
“Well done,” Ehin said warmly. “Continue speaking that way from now on.”
I quickly looked away. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice the awkward mood; he just looked pleased.
“Now that you’ve learned the three most important things, shall we move on to reading and writing?”
He handed me a pen, its yellow feather matching my dress.
He had long since set aside the thick, gold-lettered books.
“Yes, teacher.”
“It makes me happy to see you so cooperative. I’ll tell the Duke what a diligent student you are.”
That made me brighten and grip the pen tighter.
The lesson continued kindly and patiently.
“Lady, about earlier…”
Sarina hesitated to speak. I lifted my head.
The lesson was over.
Ehin had left, promising to return tomorrow. He was kind, but strict.
So much homework…
Even for someone eager to learn, it was a lot. I stared at the pile of papers on the desk, trying to steady my breath.
Sarina lingered near me, perhaps still thinking about what I’d said earlier.
“You said you liked me.”
“…Yes.”
“…Did you mean it?”
I wished I had a pillow—to hug tightly and hide my face in it.
Her eyes met mine, and my cheeks burned.
“Yeah. Because I don’t dislike you.”
“If you don’t dislike someone, does that mean you like them?”
“What’s the difference?”
She looked confused.
“Then why say it out loud? You could just think it quietly to yourself.”
“Because when you like someone, you should say it. If you wait too long, you might never get the chance.”
“…Who told you that?”
“The fruit shop lady… t-told me.”
I still stumbled over my informal speech, but I said it anyway—
because speaking casually proved I was truly a duke’s daughter.
The fruit shop lady had lost her husband to the war.
She once said she regretted never telling him she loved him while he was alive.
“So you should always say it when you can. That’s why I said it.”
“…”
Sarina met my eyes, then fell silent—as if it was something she’d never thought about before.
“I…”
She, who had never avoided my gaze, looked away this time.
“…I’ll bring you some tea.”
Was my company uncomfortable for her?
She quickly stepped back and moved away.
She really must hate me, I thought, accepting her retreat in silence.
I looked down at my homework again, but before she left the room completely, Sarina paused.
“…I’ll bring the finest tea on the continent.”
Tea.
The finest tea on the continent.
Her voice was quiet, but I heard it clearly.
When I looked up, she had a dazed expression before quickly turning away and hurrying out.
Left alone in the study, I hesitated, unsure of how I felt.
It’s… soft.
Warm and ticklish.
I didn’t know what this feeling was—only that it made me feel like a piece of fluffy cotton candy.
