Chapter 64
“…She would often tell me things like that. I deliberately didn’t let the words slip out, worried it might cause unnecessary disturbance.”
Kiriel said flatly.
Bunny would say things like, this was bound to happen once or twice a week, or you could become filthy rich if you invested here, or there might be massive rains causing floods in some region.
When asked where she got that information, Bunny always blamed the phoenix.
‘She’s no good at lying, though.’
Even as her eyes fluttered telling such tales, it wasn’t very convincing.
But he didn’t pry.
It was a certain line. One he felt he shouldn’t cross, so he hadn’t.
“What’s the accuracy rate on those predictions?”
“100% so far.”
But Kiriel knew.
Given that the child possessed such ability or power, she couldn’t live quietly and obediently forever. Nor could they keep ignoring it indefinitely.
“…Are you saying she really prophesies? Is it the phoenix’s power?”
“No idea. We haven’t learned anything about the phoenix.”
Rudbride crossed his arms and groaned in distress.
“As I said before, don’t force anything else on the child. Let her grow up normally. At least until she’s old enough to understand her own situation.”
Kiriel warned in a stiff voice.
Rudbride shot him a displeased glare but clamped his mouth shut without a word.
He too had someone unforgettable who had been pushed away by the name of ‘hero’ and vanished.
Even if a remarkable child was born into the family, it was a problem. The world wouldn’t leave such a child alone.
“…Understood.”
After a long silence, when Rudbride replied, Kiriel’s eyes widened sharply. It was an answer he hadn’t expected at all.
He’d assumed it would be something like, power comes with responsibility, or everyone has their role to play.
It had been like that before.
As Kiriel stared with intense eyes, Rudbride slowly gathered his thoughts before speaking again.
“Since it’s you saying it, it’s probably not nonsense. Being cautious won’t cause any issues…… Let’s hold off on arguing with those guys until after the strategy is complete. Any objections? Klein.”
“What objections? You’ve all decided already—what does my opinion matter? I have no complaints.”
His expression looked thoroughly reluctant, but with three out of the four direct family members casting votes in favor, he couldn’t voice any dissatisfaction.
“Then for this matter, we’ll first pass it along to the Imperial Palace and request cooperation from the Magic Tower… no, now it’s the magic nation or whatever. Anyway, ‘Alphatria’ through the palace.”
Once even Klein backed down, Rudbride nodded and closed out the topic.
“Next is… the phoenix matter. Rumors have already spread, and we’re getting all sorts of gifts and audience requests left and right, plus lots of calls to invite her to the upcoming Moonlight Banquet. What about you all?”
“Don’t even get me started. Every temple I visit asks if the phoenix is real…… How should I know when I haven’t even seen it?”
“Who would’ve thought that little thing was the phoenix……”
“We didn’t even consider it at first since it was in egg form.”
Rudbride let out a long breath at Salame and Klein’s words.
In truth, they knew little about the phoenix.
That it was the divine beast of the Yudia Ducal Family’s first family head, with hardly any known details.
That it hadn’t appeared even once since the initial family head.
That it possessed immense healing powers capable of curing any illness as long as the person didn’t die.
That was about the extent of the known information.
And piecing together recent info, there was speculation it might have future precognition abilities too.
Oh, and that it fed on Holy Power Stones.
But apparently not just anytime. They’d brought piles of Holy Power Stones afterward, but the phoenix neither grew nor absorbed them as nutrients.
Kiriel, watching the back-and-forth at the table, spoke up.
“No need to put the phoenix on the agenda. She’s my daughter, so I’ll handle it. I’ll report if anything unusual comes up.”
Rudbride narrowed his eyes.
He wasn’t thrilled, but he didn’t particularly want to shove that still young, pure, and bright-eyed child into this world of schemes and plots just yet.
He’d already suffered one painful failure.
“Nothing on Bunny’s parents?”
“Isn’t uncovering that your job, Father?”
“I tried. I gave some strands of the child’s hair and asked. But… Pegasus couldn’t find them.”
“No, it didn’t even pretend to search.”
“If Pegasus couldn’t find them……”
“…They’re probably no longer in this world.”
Kiriel clamped his mouth shut at Rudbride’s words.
Kiriel had investigated too. About Bunny, about her background.
But he’d uncovered almost nothing. No, most of the information and traces had been completely erased.
‘The orphanage director didn’t know much either.’
Just that on a warm day, the child had been found crouched alone in front of the orphanage.
“Have you pinpointed which collateral relative the parents are from?”
“No. There’s more than one or two collaterals. I’ve ordered them to check the family records one by one and cross-reference.”
Rudbride answered Klein’s question with a short sigh.
There was nothing they could do about it right now.
“So for now, we’ve decided to place Bunny under you.”
As Rudbride spoke, Kiriel’s gaze landed on him.
“Take proper care of her.”
Rudbride tacked on slyly.
Ahem!
After clearing his throat once, Rudbride spoke again.
“Keep information on the phoenix as quiet as possible. Until Bunny grows up, don’t let her out of the mansion or the ducal territory if you can help it. Nowhere’s as safe as here.”
“…Got it.”
Rudbride nodded at Kiriel’s curt reply.
“Next……”
“Don’t drag weird nonsense like Bunny’s engagement into such an important meeting, Father.”
Klein cut him off sharply before he could even get the words out properly, and Rudbride snorted unpleasantly before opening his mouth.
“Tch. I was going to say of course not. She’s too young! And too clever! Her future’s too promising too. How could we hand a child like that over to the imperial family? No need to think it over—reject.”
“I’ll handle that.”
“…Everything else is fine, but it’s the imperial family, so choose your words carefully.”
As Kiriel stepped forward, Rudbride added the words with an uneasy look. Kiriel shrugged indifferently.
“Finally……”
“By the way, what about brother? You said there’s a lot to discuss about him.”
Rudbride crossed his arms, brow furrowed, and slowly spoke.
“Your brother… Dios, it seems he had a daughter.”
As soon as the words ended, silence fell over the room.
