Episode 74
Even the fact that Lillian possessed divine power felt like destiny.
When you think about it, when Damian was young, he said he would marry the “Daughter of the Moon,” the Maynard Lady, who possessed the temple. Maybe even this is all fate.
Lillian hadn’t been told about these things yet.
“When the implications become firmer, I should tell her.”
And then, at that time, he would speak. Maybe you are my destiny.
Misfortune and hardship are also part of fate.
As a faint smile appeared on Damian’s lips, Grayson shrugged.
“Well, it’s not a very pleasant sight for her.”
Saying that he will be admitted practically means he will be driven out.
At the end of Grayson’s words, there were Sethrik facing Odile.
Sethrik, who had become sharper in appearance in the last few days, carefully observed Odile. And then he asked the standing Kennis Lady beside him.
“Lady Kennis, are you sure about this child being my lost child?”
“Not only me, but anyone here will give you the same answer, Duke. Above all, I know the face of the Duchess well. This child really resembles the Duchess. Duke, can’t you feel it too?”
Some nodded at Lady Kennis’s words.
It seemed like an emotional reunion of the ladies, but Sethrik still asked coldly.
“Then when you first saw Odile, why didn’t you contact me directly and treated him as the Duchess’s stepdaughter?”
“Didn’t the Duke already find his daughter? I didn’t want to confuse the Duke by contacting him when I wasn’t sure. Above all, at that time, I couldn’t clearly remember the Duchess’s face.”
“So because I couldn’t clearly remember my wife’s face, I adopted Odile, and now, because Odile is definitely my child…”
Saying that memory doesn’t come back well is a convenient excuse. It’s a story that’s like putting the cart before the horse, and it’s a story that’s like a bracelet if it’s put on the nose.
Sethrik also seemed to be aware of this fact, as he chuckled at Lady Kennis’s words, then nodded soon after.
“Well, fine. Anyway, the important thing is that Odile really resembles Agnes. Bishop Grayson, please assure.”
Grayson approached Odile’s side at Sethrik’s words, pretending to search here and there a few times, then said.
“He is not wearing any such tools. And we have not found any traces of using magic or other methods to change his appearance.”
“Are you sure?”
“I guarantee it on the position of the bishop. Odile is—”
The moment the words “Odile is real” were about to come out of Grayson’s mouth,
The door of the banquet hall creaked open.
And the joy and sorrow of those who saw the person who appeared crossed.
Because the person who appeared through the open door was Lillian and Theo.
“…Lillian?”
They weren’t supposed to be here.
* * *
The truth was simple.
It was the night of Lady Kennis’s charity party.
“Hey, I like you.”
“I know.”
In the moments of this whimsical confession,
Lillian’s words were not everything.
She held onto Theo tightly and whispered quickly.
Lillian had two requests.
“Ask Dad to host a party to admit Odile. And, on the day of the party, you come to pick me up.”
It was a fleeting secret.
* * *
Theo kept his promise.
He conveyed the message to Cedric to host the party, and on the day of the party, he came to pick up Lillian.
Above all, he was a reliable contact for keeping the secret very well.
Lillian’s steps approached Cedric, leaving Theo behind.
“Long time no see, Dad.”
“Yeah, honey.”
Cedric gazed at Lillian’s face, which he hadn’t seen in a long time. It had only been a few days since he last saw her, but why did it feel so unfamiliar?
‘What are you thinking, Lillian.’
When Cedric first heard the message from Theo, he intended to go and pick up Lillian.
But right after that, Cedric remembered Lillian’s voice.
– Odile is not Dad’s daughter.
This was the time to trust Lillian’s words, he sensed.
So, without asking anything, he followed Lillian’s words. This time, he wanted to be on the child’s side, even if he had to cover up everything.
Whatever it takes.
‘I hope you won’t get hurt anymore.’
Meanwhile, Odile made a considerable effort not to show her astonishment.
The moment Lillian appeared, Odile almost lost hercomposure and was about to scream.
‘It’s all over! Why here!’
Why did that kid appear here!
Lately, Odile felt that the treatment from the House of Maynard was not the same as before.
Perhaps it was because Lillian disappeared, everyone was too preoccupied to pay attention to Odile as before. People were increasingly worried about Lillian. Moreover, Cedric’s attitude seemed subtly colder for some reason, and he didn’t meet Odile as before, which was suspicious.
‘Yet now that I’ve even received the endorsement of the bishop, all that’s left is to confirm the admission!’
The moment Lillian appeared, everything came to a halt. She felt that public opinion was flowing strangely. Just seeing Cedric, who had been looking at her coldly, speaking affectionately to Lillian made her feel that way.
‘No, snap out of it.’
Just because Lillian appeared didn’t mean she could change anything.
Nothing would change.
‘I’ve been shaping this face for seven years!’
Changing one’s face required a great deal of divine power. Moreover, since there were no known methods to change faces until now, the temple had reached its current method through long research and various attempts. Because the current method also required a lot of divine power, Damian had to periodically replenish the divine power.
Naturally, not all of those methods were always peaceful.
– Hey, will you follow me? If you follow me, I’ll give you a new identity and a wonderful life.
Yet, it was because she trusted that promise that Odile endured everything. Perhaps she worried that someone might recognize her face or that there might be difficulties in changing her identity, so for seven years, she couldn’t leave the temple.
But now, there’s no way that one girl could have the power to change everything.
Odile bit her lip inwardly, then turned her head back to Cedric.
“So, what happens to me?”
“What are you asking?”
But it was Lillian who answered.
“You’re a fake.”
“What? Hah, are you still saying that? How much more do you want to torment me? Pouring tea on me even in the greenhouse—”
“Stop.”
Cedric cut off Odile’s words. Odile hoped for a moment that Cedric would take her side, but what came back was unexpected rebuke.
“Don’t be disrespectful to my daughter. We already know through witnesses that this was your doing.”
“W-what?”
“The gardener witnessed you pouring tea on yourself outside the greenhouse. Although the crime of attempting to slander the Lady of Maynard is grave, considering your young age and for the sake of Lady Kennis’s dignity, we were willing to overlook it, but…”
If it comes out like this, there’s no choice but to properly punish her. Cedric’s voice, so cold, was something Odile had never heard before.
Something’s going wrong. When Odile unknowingly took a step back, Lillian walked up to her and said,
“You thought you could deceive everyone, didn’t you?”
But the place you tried to snatch away already has an owner.
And I know that owner. She’s much kinder, prettier, and more lovable than you.
“S-Stop…”
“So don’t you dare mimic her in front of me.”
Lillian’s hand gently touched Odile’s forehead. Then, in an instant, Odile’s true form was revealed.
“It’s disgusting.”
