Rachel couldn’t believe her ears.
“…What? Uhh, what did you just say?”
“I said I wanted to become your father.”
She blinked in confusion.
In the original story, Rachel was a minor supporting character, and of course her relationship with Bishop Lylus was never mentioned. She never would’ve imagined a situation like this.
Lylus spoke in a gentle voice, understanding Rachel’s reaction.
“I know you’re surprised by my sudden proposal, but I’m being sincere. I’ve decided to do this because I want to help you.”
“Uncle…”
“I was a priest and I couldn’t get married or have children, so you were like a daughter to me, and I can’t tell you how touched I was when James first showed me your tiny figure.”
Rachel thought of Graham. Tiny and adorable. She understood how Lylus felt.
“The birth of a new life was amazing, and for the first time I felt the presence of God. It was more vivid than any premonition, and I promised myself many times that I would love you as if you were my own daughter.”
Lylus laughed bitterly.
“But I was an inadequate human. To me, a ‘growing daughter’ was an incredibly difficult existence. Watching you go through adolescence made me think that distancing myself from you might be for your own good.”
It seems Rachel had spent her adolescence full of dark memories.
“You filled the whole house with Theodore Elrosa’s belongings and portraits, begging us to go see him every day. You were obsessed with that ugly man. You don’t know how much both James and I suffered.”
“…A portrait of Theodore?”
Cold sweat ran down her back.
Goodness. It’s not just a dark history. It was basically to the point of worshipping Theodore…
The original Rachel must have really adored him. No wonder his affair caused her so much pain.
“I was relieved to see you marry Theodore. I thought ‘now that you’d gotten what you’d wanted, you wouldn’t need me anymore’. I thought that ugly man would quietly disappear, and all I’d have to do is pray or work harder.”
Lylus’ black eyes flashed sharply as he spoke. It was an eerie look that didn’t resemble a priest.
“After I found out what Theodore did to you, I realized I was wrong. I decided I had to work harder than anyone else to protect you.”
He sounded both desperate and determined.
Was this what it was like to have a father?
Rachel felt touched to know that someone was willing to protect her.
“As I am now, neither Great Saint Tityenis nor Goddess Yenis could stop me. Knowing this, both of them will probably leave me alone. If you dislike me being your father, allow me to be your shadow. You won’t even notice I’m there.”
“No. Why should my uncle have to become a shadow?”
“I am a priest and have no genealogy, so I can’t adopt you, but I can be your religious father. You’ll become my daughter and also the daughter of Yenis. It’ll have no effect on your ability to obtain a title.”
A religious father. It was similar to being her guardian or godfather. Moreover, as it would not prevent her from obtaining a title, there was no reason to refuse his request and affection.
Rachel blushed.
“I don’t know if I can accept such an offer.”
“This is an offer that no one else but you could accept. Please allow me to do this.”
“If you say it like that… It’s embarrassing, but please be kind to me, father.”
Lylus smiled brightly, as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
“I knew you’d say yes. I’ve made all the arrangements, now all I must do is inform the Capital Authority and the religious order. Good luck, Rachel.”
“Do I need to watch out for something?”
“There’re a lot of troublesome things called documents in this world.”
Agh.
Rachel nodded and smiled. She was no stranger to paperwork, having prepared for an annulment all by herself before.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lylus looked at Rachel and spoke with difficulty.
“Um… Rachel, I’m sorry, but there’s one thing I need you to do if I’m going to be your father.”
“What do I have to do? Is it difficult?”
“No! It’s not difficult, but it’s necessary.”
“I’ll do whatever I can, just tell me.”
Lylus seemed to be in a good mood as he giggled like a child.
“You’ll have to call me dad.”
Lylus treated Rachel’s wrist that’d been injured by Theodore.
He then explained that the precognitive power given to a priest by the goddess Yenis was mainly used to see the future, but it could also create silver flames or heal simple wounds.
Rachel nodded in wonder, having never seen magic before.
Just then, Cian and Graham returned to the parlor from their sword training.
Rachel rose from her seat and greeted Cian.
“Good evening, Your Highness. Is today’s swordsmanship practice finished?”
“Yes. Graham was excellent today as well. This is…”
“This is Bishop Lylus Van.”
Rachel introduced Lylus to Cian and Graham.
“Dad, this is Archduke Cian Dicarsignac, who is helping Graham with his swordsmanship lessons. And that’s my son, Graham.”
Lylus bowed to Cian.
“Nice to meet you, Your Highness. I’m Rachel’s ‘dad,’ Bishop Lylus Van.’”
For some reason, Lylus was obsessed with being called dad. When she asked if she could just call him father, he drooped his shoulders like a downcast rabbit, looking sad.
In the end, Rachel practiced saying ‘dad’ under Lylus’ guidance. It was unfamiliar to her, being a title she ‘d never used before. Even before possessing this body, she’d always only called her real dad ‘that bastard’ or ‘that guy’.
She’d practiced so much, but the moment she said the word ‘dad’, her voice started to tremble. It was fortunate that Lylus didn’t look disappointed.
Rachel didn’t realize it, but Lylus was actually very happy.
Even though it was uncomfortable and difficult for her, she’d still tried to call him dad!
Graham tensed at the arrival of a stranger.
“Dad? My mom doesn’t have a dad?”
Lylus approached Graham, affection radiating from his eyes.
“Oh my goodness, you must be Graham! I’ve heard your name, but never seen your face, you look just like your mom! It’s nice to meet you, Graham. I’m Lylus, your grandfather from today onwards.”
Graham smiled a little, pleased to hear that he looked like his mother.
He rarely heard that, since people usually looked at someone’s hair and eye color first.
“Do I really look like my mom?”
“Of course, you look like her. I thought Rachel had grown younger because your mom’s face looked so much like yours when she was younger. Look here. Doesn’t the tip of your nose look exactly like your mother’s, with its straight and round shape?”
“Yeah! I think so too! Grandpa, you have good eyes!”
The two hit it off right from the beginning. They talked for a while, comparing Rachel’s beauty to Graham’s.
Feeling Rachel’s gaze, Cian looked up. A gentle smile played at the corners of his eyes and mouth.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. You just didn’t seem surprised when I called Bishop Lylus dad.”
“I already knew about that. Bishop Lylus said he wanted to become Lady Rachel’s guardian, so I offered some help.”
She really felt like she’d received so much help in so many ways, even where she couldn’t see it.
Lylus, who’d just finished greeting Graham, straightened up and bowed to Cian.
“Thank you for your help. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be Rachel’s father, officially recognized by both the emperor and goddess Yenis.”
“No, it was my honor to be of service to Yenis’s left hand.”
“I can’t tell you how fortunate I am that Yenis is right-handed. Her left hand doesn’t have much to do.”
It was Lylus who saw Cian off. Rachel offered to do it herself, but when Lylus said he needed to talk to him in private, she relented and stepped aside.
At the carriage, Lylus bowed politely once again.
“I thanked you earlier, but in the name of Yenis, I thank you again. Without your Majesty’s help, I would’ve been nothing more than a shadow to the child, even if Rachel had allowed it.”
Cian smiled bitterly.
He wasn’t helping Lylus, he was helping Rachel. It’d become natural for him to roll up his sleeves and work when it came to her.
Something else was the problem.
“Could you please stop calling me Your Majesty? I’m afraid someone might hear. I mean, there’re only two people in the Empire who can be addressed as Your Majesty, His Majesty, Emperor Sigar and Her Majesty, the Empress Beatrix.”
“I don’t know if that’s true, whether it’s Sigar or Beatrix. In the future that I saw through my foresight, Archduke Cian was the one sitting on the emperor’s throne.”
If Sigar had heard that, he would’ve slit their throats on the spot. It would endanger not only Lylus and Cian, but Dolorosa as well.
Cian shook his head.
“I gave up my position as emperor. The emperor now is my brother, Sigar. Didn’t the Church of Yenis also acknowledge this?”
“What Tityenis acknowledged isn’t necessarily acknowledged by the entire Yenis community. Damn old lady… I mean, Tityenis often pretends not to know things even when she can see the future.”
Cian was stunned by Lylus’ harsh words.
“I have no desire to be emperor, all I want is for my daughter to be safe until she comes of age, and if His Majesty finds out about this, she’ll be in danger.”
“If Your Majesty wishes it, I will stop.”
“Even the title.”
“If Your Highness wishes, I will also be careful about your title.”
Only after receiving confirmation did Cian breathe a sigh of relief.
“Then I’ll take my leave. Lady Rachel is waiting.”
“It must be tough for you.”
Tough. That’s what everyone who knew of Cian’s situation was saying. Not being able to sit where he was supposed to, not enjoying what he should’ve.
But Cian didn’t mind. He liked living with Dolorosa now.
So, he answered as he always did.
“No, I’m fine. I’m very content with where I am now.”
“That’s not what I was talking about.”
“No…?”
“She may be my daughter, but Rachel is a very attractive girl.”
“…Why are you saying this so suddenly?”
“I meant to say that you must’ve been through a lot due to her charm.”
Charm… What?
Cian tilted his head in confusion.
Thank you!