CHAPTER 24
After that day, the High Saintess would answer Carion’s questions—though her tone was often a little brusque.
It was also she who taught him how to “turn off” the sounds when he wanted silence, and how to listen again.
“Hmph. You’re quite sharp. Well done.”
“……!”
It was the first praise he had ever received in his life, and it filled him with joy.
He loved seeing her smile, even if she usually stayed quiet like a blue bird in a cage.
He truly, deeply loved it.
Carion, age 6.
Develops the sensory ability to detect others’ presence—simply to survive.
Meets the 13th High Saintess.
Secretly visits her using his ability whenever she remains in the palace after imperial events.
Lives through long, grueling days each year just for a chance to see her—if only for a week in total.
When Carion turned seven, a war broke out in the Kharon region, near Tartarus.
“I have to go to the battlefield too.”
One day, the Saintess said this with startling calm.
Carion’s heart dropped at her words. He nearly dropped the bowl of cherries he had stolen from the kitchen.
“Careful, Carion. Didn’t you bring those because you know I like cherries?”
“Why are you going to the war, Saintess?!”
“I like cherries because they’re tasty. Do I need a reason?”
“That’s not what I’m asking!”
At first, everyone thought the war would be over quickly.
But the situation grew worse, and more Holy Knights were drafted.
The Saintess simply shrugged, as if it were no big deal.
“The battle’s dragging on longer than expected.”
“But—what will you be doing there—?”
“Healing at the rear. Setting up barriers.”
“Still—”
“Hey. Why do you look like you’re being sent to the battlefield?”
“Because obviously…!”
Countless questions were caught in Carion’s throat.
“When will you be back? You will come back safely, right? You’ll be somewhere safe…?”
The Saintess quietly looked at the boy who always found her like a ghost whenever she visited.
Then, she held out her clenched hand.
“Carion, take this.”
“What is…?”
When she opened her palm, a radiant lapis lazuli gemstone sparkled in the light.
It glowed softly, imbued with divine energy.
“It contains my healing power. Use it if you’re ever in danger.”
“I—I want to give you something too…”
He wanted to give her something, anything that might help her in battle.
But there was nothing he had that could be of use to someone going to war.
‘No… I don’t have anything worth giving to anyone, do I?’
That helpless thought made it hard to even accept the stone.
But the Saintess just smiled.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m not the kind of adult who takes from a child.”
“Please… Please come back here. Safe.”
“……”
“I’m begging you.”
Carion’s voice trembled with emotion.
He had never pleaded with anyone like this before.
‘But… the Saintess’s expression…’
He couldn’t see it clearly through the backlight, but it looked complicated and conflicted.
She replied quietly, almost as if forcing herself to say it.
“Yes… I suppose I should come back. I will. Probably.”
But in the end, the Saintess couldn’t keep her promise to Carion.
A few months after her departure, tragic news spread across the entire Holy Kingdom:
[13th High Saintess dies at the rear lines of the Kharon battlefield.
Before her death, she successfully transferred her divine power to the 14th Saintess, fulfilling her duties with honor.]
After that, Carion’s world changed rapidly.
The Holy Kingdom was defeated. The Imperial Family was demoted.
And a few years later…
The bastard child everyone avoided became an official member of the royal lineage.
His name was changed to something befitting nobility: Deucalion Nereus Alcyone.
His siblings could no longer beat him.
The servants no longer ignored him.
But Deucalion, who had grown up too fast, understood everything.
‘This is like a condemned man’s last meal, isn’t it?’
Still, it didn’t matter—he had no reason to live for tomorrow anyway.
Deucalion Nereus Alcyone, age 11.
Loses the one he loved before he even understood what that love was.
And unexpectedly reunites with her… in the most unthinkable of places.
He had thought it would be a small, quiet gathering when he came here.
‘But looking around, these are some pretty high-profile guests.’
Members of the Marquess of Tartarus, sons of dukes, and even a prince from the neighboring country had shown up.
‘Ah… and me too.’
A princess from a demon kingdom… who is secretly the High Saintess of the Holy Kingdom.
‘…Incredible.’
Minte and Lete were startled when Prince Deucalion appeared.
But they quickly recovered and greeted him with the composure of proper nobles.
Though Minte did mutter under her breath from behind me.
“We’ll have to replace the entire guard unit. They’re all too lax!”
Well, Carion probably used his divine power to get in.
With his training, it would’ve been easy to find a weak point.
‘I was the one who taught him how to use that ability… But wow, it works on demons too?’
Even now, Carion was looking at me with bright, sparkling eyes.
When he had greeted me with that tearful face, my heart dropped.
“I waited… and waited. My High Saintess.”
I wasn’t sure if I should play dumb until the end.
Pretend I didn’t know what he was talking about. Say, “The Saintess is over there, at the banquet.”
But this was the child who once begged me not to leave.
The boy everyone mocked.
The one who clung even to someone he only saw once or twice a year.
‘I can’t turn him away.’
So, for now, I covered his mouth with my hand.
“Saint—mmph?”
“Shh! Not now!”
Please, let’s talk later!
‘If you call me Saintess right now, I’ll be in so much trouble!’
Thankfully, Carion seemed to get the message and nodded.
I gave him my brightest, most innocent smile.
“Hello, Prince Deucalion~ Are you joining us?”
“Sion?! Why him?!”
As expected, Ares immediately shouted in protest.
He was also glaring daggers at Carion now.
‘Ares, please. Don’t pick a fight with Carion right now. My head’s about to explode.’
But this was Ares we’re talking about.
“Hey. Blue-eyes.”
……Minte instantly grabbed the back of her own neck.
Lete’s teacup trembled in her hand.
Even the cookie in my mouth suddenly lost its flavor.
‘Unbelievable.’
Minte clenched her teeth and grabbed Ares by the shoulder.
“You have to call him Lord Alcyone, Your Grace!”
“Fine. Bird-eyes, then.”
“Your Grace!”
What kind of logic brings you from “Lord Alcyone” to “Bird-eyes”?
He probably owes an apology to every blue-eyed person on earth.
‘That boy’s going to be running a hundred laps after this party is over.’
Judging by Minte’s expression, she might drag Dracon into joint punishment too.
Still, Ares kept his furious glare locked on Carion.
“What are you, acting all close to Sion?”
“Your Grace!”
Now it was Lete’s turn to gasp like she might faint.
But Carion’s face remained calm, serene like a still lake.
He smiled politely, like a perfect nobleman.
‘He’s gotten so mature…’
But the words that came from that sweet smile hit just as hard as Ares’s outburst.
“You’re surprisingly barbaric.”
“What?!”
“A prince and a princess from two nations are greeting each other, and you’re… what exactly? Who are you to interrupt?”
…Wow. The age and experience gap really came through.
Ares might be big and smart for his age, but Carion was definitely the “older brother” here.
‘And it’s not like a beloved noble from the Phaersen Palace and an Imperial bastard would’ve had similar childhoods.’
Carion continued his verbal assault.
“And to call the princess ‘Sion’ so informally—regardless of your title, isn’t that incredibly rude?”
“Ugh.”
Even the Epikus sisters fell silent at that one.
‘Um. Aren’t you two technically Ares’s mentors?!’
Their faces clearly said, “We should stop the fight, but… the Holy Kingdom prince is right…”
Ares turned red with anger.
“She gave me permission!”
“Then Her Highness must be quite lenient with your behavior.”
“What did you say?!”
“Such a kind person.”
Carion beamed at me like he couldn’t be happier.
Ares, meanwhile, looked like he might explode any second.
“Uuuugh…!”
Oh no. Ares is about to blow!
