Previously
Cassius returns Thiel to her room after she faints from using her powers, leaving her in Leah's care. He and Alvinus discuss the urgent need for a paternity test at the Temple to protect Thiel, despite fears that the Temple might manipulate the results to claim the 'Child of Light.'
Leah asked, touching Thiel’s forehead.
Thiel rubbed her sleepy eyes with her sleeve and nodded; aside from feeling a bit tired, she was fine.
Thiel blinked and asked.
Her last memory was grabbing onto Birdie in the Training Room.
She could not remember anything that happened after that.
Just then, the door opened quietly, and familiar faces walked in.
It was Birdie and Lodian. Thiel’s round eyes widened with delight.
Seeing Thiel sitting up in bed with her head resting on her hands and blinking, Birdie and Lodian hurried over to the bedside, calling her name together without hesitation.
Cassius had summoned Birdie and Lodian to hear about what had happened to Thiel at the Nestian estate.
About the abuse this small child had suffered…
Birdie’s face was utterly troubled.
Lodian was no different.
Thiel reached out a hand, puzzled by the disheveled and distraught state of her older brothers.
Birdie asked with an intensely worried expression.
Birdie and Lodian blamed themselves, believing that Thiel had collapsed and that Cassius and Alvinus were in a bind, all because of their fault.
Birdie blamed himself most of all.
‘If only I hadn’t done something so unnecessary…’
Thiel would never have fainted.
The image of Thiel collapsing in his arms still rose behind his eyes every time he closed them.
Even the sight of her small hand dropping limply.
Thiel did not know their true thoughts, but she could tell that her brothers were deeply worried about her.
Thiel gently cupped Birdie’s cheeks with her hands and nodded.
Thiel examined Birdie’s condition with a trembling gaze.
Her last memory of Birdie was of him standing unsteadily amidst the flames.
Fortunately, Birdie looked a little disheveled, but he did not appear unstable or in agony like he had been back then.
Thank goodness.
Thiel smiled brightly.
Birdie muttered in a raspy voice as he looked down at Thiel.
He seemed to have lost all his strength.
Lodian grumbled.
With a bewildered expression, Thiel rolled her wide eyes.
Birdie turned his head, trying to calm Lodian down.
Sparks flew between Lodian and Birdie.
Their worry for Thiel had suddenly devolved into a squabble between brothers.
Thiel quickly grabbed Lodian’s hand tightly.
Thiel looked at Lodian as she spoke.
A faint strength seeped into the hand holding Lodian’s.
Thiel’s eyes sparkled.
That you wouldn’t hurt me.
Thiel whispered softly.
Everyone in the room held their breath.
After a moment, Lodian turned his head away and spoke.
Birdie, who had remained silent the entire time, finally forced the words out.
Thiel’s gaze shifted back to Birdie. His face looked as though he were about to cry.
Birdie pulled Thiel into his arms and embraced her tightly.
The little girl nodded, burying her face into his warm chest.
After a while, Birdie finally let go of Thiel.
A cozy warmth lingered throughout Thiel’s body after being held in his warm embrace for so long.
Leah, who had been watching them with relief, gathered Thiel’s hair and tied it back as she spoke.
Even after Leah left the room, Birdie and Lodian apologized to Thiel several times.
Birdie, in particular, had been deeply affected by the incident.
The strange wariness Birdie had harbored toward Thiel had vanished completely and for good.
Consumed by guilt, Birdie had stayed by Thiel’s side throughout her sleep.
Lodian snickered when he saw that, but Birdie simply ignored him.
Thiel did not mind seeing Birdie and Lodian acting like this at all.
In fact, she loved it.
The fear and caution Thiel once felt toward her older brothers—whom she thought would despise her—had melted away completely the moment they showed their care for her.
Moreover…
‘The fire…’
The flames that had enveloped Birdie as if to swallow him whole had vanished entirely at Thiel’s hands.
‘Jump in, sweetheart. Jump right in.’
‘You can save him…’
What was that voice she had heard back then?
Whoever that voice belonged to, one thing was certain.
‘I can save him.’
If something like that ever happened again, she could save him once more.
Thiel’s bright golden eyes sparkled again.
Just that thought filled Thiel with immense joy.
Knowing she could be of help to Astrian.
Knowing she could be helpful to the kind people of the Astrian family and to her older brothers.
Lodian gently pinched Thiel’s cheek, careful not to hurt her.
Thiel giggled softly. “Hehe.”
But Lodian’s hand was swatted away immediately as Birdie slapped the back of it.
Just as the two brothers were about to bicker again, the door slowly opened.
All three children assumed Leah had returned.
Unexpectedly, however, the person who opened the door and walked in was Cassius Astrian.
Thiel’s eyes widened, while Birdie and Lodian narrowed theirs.
They were wary of being kicked out of Thiel’s room.
Cassius chuckled as if reassuring them.
Cassius lightly nudged the two boys aside and sat beside Thiel, taking in the little girl’s condition.
Thiel looked up at Cassius, placing her small hand over his large one.
Thiel nodded cheerfully.
Everyone in the room smiled with relief at her bright demeanor.
Soon, however, Cassius composed his features and looked down at Thiel with a solemn expression.
Cassius’s tone was stern. Thiel nodded, her expression immediately wilting.
Had she been in her beast form, her ears and tail would surely have drooped.
Unable to bear seeing Thiel like that, Birdie cut in abruptly.
At Cassius’s call, Birdie pressed his lips tightly together.
Even so, his face remained sullen. Cassius watched his son for a moment, then shifted his gaze back down to Thiel.
"…!"
Cassius gently patted Thiel’s soft cheek, caressing the child with tenderness.
“I’m not scolding you. I was only worried about you. Because I am your father.”
Thiel nodded.
Cassius truly worried for Thiel. He was entirely different from her grandfather, Sinder Nestian.
Cassius always prioritized Thiel in every situation.
Thanks to that, Thiel was slowly learning how to value herself, bit by bit.
Thiel nodded and smiled softly.
After a moment of hesitation, Thiel squeezed Cassius’s broad hand and opened her mouth.
Cassius smiled as he stroked Thiel’s hair gently.
Cassius’s broad hand rested tenderly on the child’s head.
Cassius looked steadily at Thiel, and Thiel met his gaze without looking away.
Two pairs of matching golden eyes held each other’s gaze.
After a brief pause, Cassius whispered in a low voice.