Previously
Thiel collapses from exhaustion after using her massive power, prompting Cassius to carry her to safety while worrying about the political fallout of her being identified as the Child of Light. Birdie feels deep guilt for his initial suspicion of Thiel after she risked her life to save him from his curse-induced loss of control.
They hurried through the estate and reached Thiel’s room.
Leah had been pacing the hallway in anxious hesitation, but when she saw Cassius return with Thiel in his arms, her face filled with concern.
Cassius laid Thiel down on the bed.
Thiel did not truly look as if she had fainted, just as Cassius had said; she simply appeared to be sound asleep.
Leah asked in a worried voice, her eyes fixed on Thiel.
Cassius gave a nod.
Leah nodded in response to Cassius’s order.
Cassius watched the sleeping child for a moment longer before turning to leave the room.
Outside, Alvinus was waiting.
Alvinus and Cassius walked slowly down the corridor toward Alvinus’s study.
Alvinus was the first to break the silence. Cassius nodded.
And it truly was not good.
The fact that Thiel possessed the Power of Light had been revealed before the paternity test could even be finalized.
Still, this was House Astrian.
They were more than capable of handling such petty complications.
Even so, it would be best if the test results were released as soon as possible.
Following Alvinus into the study, Cassius spoke.
Cassius was right.
A paternity test at the Temple was conducted directly by the Pope or his appointed representative, immersing a strand of hair into special holy water.
If kinship was confirmed, the holy water turned golden; if not, it turned red.
Yet if someone intended to manipulate the outcome, altering the results would be child’s play.
Sending the hair ahead of time had the potential to bring about thoroughly unwelcome consequences.
At Alvinus’s casual remark, Cassius gave a bitter chuckle and tilted his head.
Only the Pope or his proxy could administer the test. Thus, if the Pope or his surrogate refused a retest, there was nothing more they could do.
It was a truly vexing situation.
And yet, they were not entirely without a solution.
Alvinus replied calmly.
Cassius paused. Before long, servants brought in tea and coffee.
A cup of coffee was set before Cassius, and a cup of hot tea before Alvinus.
Since neither of them cared for light refreshments, nothing of the sort was served.
Alvinus gave a light nod to dismiss the servants.
After a brief pause, Cassius lifted his cup and broke the silence.
Neither Birdie nor Lodian had looked to be lying.
In truth, Birdie’s flow of power had been unstable, plunging him into the same state of madness as before.
Yet he had regained his senses. Which meant… Thiel had genuinely calmed his rampage.
Alvinus murmured, a faint trace of astonishment lingering in his voice.
Cassius felt the same.
The power of myth was undeniably great and glorious, but it brought with it an equal measure of hardship.
Everyone would seek to claim her, and the day would come when even Cassius and Alvinus could not shield her.
Cassius let out a sigh.
He had thought all his fears vanished after losing Lena, but that was no longer true.
He was terrified of losing Thiel.
He could not bear the thought of every eye turning its sights on her.
His precious daughter—so precious he felt she might break at a touch.
Cassius let out a dry laugh and brought the coffee cup to his lips.
Alvinus nodded in quiet understanding.
His own heart was no different from Cassius’s.
As Cassius took a sip of his coffee, Alvinus pondered for a moment before speaking cautiously.
The Astrian Crypt.
It was a secret chamber known only to the Astrian bloodline for generations, and the place where documents detailing the legend of the Power of Light were preserved.
Countless other treasures were kept there as well, but above all, it was a sanctuary prepared for whoever in future generations manifested the Power of Light.
Alvinus nodded.
"…"
With those words, silence descended upon the two men for a long while.
The only sound in the room was the occasional clink of a teacup set upon its saucer.
Just as Cassius and Alvinus had feared, most of the world had learned of the existence of a child who wielded the Power of Light.
It was impossible to keep hidden.
Throughout the Crassion Empire, light shaped like a fish was the sacred symbol of Lucet, King of Light.
That brilliant glow had surged from the Astrian domain and spilled far beyond its borders, visible even in the lands of the other beast clans.
Cassius said casually.
Naturally, all of the Crassion Empire was abuzz, talking of nothing but the legend and the Power of Light.
The Imperial Palace declared:
The Temple proclaimed:
That night, House Astrian maintained complete silence regarding the pillars of light that had erupted from the northern estate and engulfed the night sky in an instant.
Yet everyone was convinced that the one who held the Power of Light resided within the Astrian estate.
And the first to send missives were the Imperial Palace and the Temple.
Alvinus muttered, tossing the imperial missive aside with complete indifference.
The letter from the Imperial Palace demanded that Duke Ewald of Astrian report to the palace immediately and provide a detailed explanation of what had transpired the previous night.
Cassius skimmed the letter Alvinus had dismissed, then tossed it aside with equal disregard.
Cassius let out a heavy sigh.
Normally, paternity test results were delivered discreetly to the estate. It was extraordinarily unusual for them to demand their presence in such a manner.
It seemed the Temple had deduced that Thiel possessed the Power of Light.
While others remained unaware that Thiel was even staying in Astrian,
they knew that someone bearing the Power of Light was inside the Astrian estate.
And the Temple knew that Astrian had requested a paternity test.
What was more, they had Thiel’s hair in their possession.
Cassius muttered indifferently, crumpling the letter from the Temple and tossing it aside. Then he asked,
A flicker of discomfort crossed Cassius’s face as he spoke.
Yet he was adept at masking his emotions, and his expression swiftly smoothed over.
Cassius was the first to rise as he answered. Alvinus nodded.
Shortly afterward, Cassius stepped out of the study.
An untouched cup sat alone where Cassius had been sitting.