Chapter 128: Nathaniel finds My Identity
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 128: Nathaniel finds My Identity
[She ate the same strawberry cake as you, Master. Oh my, she’s chewing so well with that tiny mouth!]
‘….’
Bibi’s commentary was a bit biased, but it was more detailed than Desmond’s, so it was worth listening to.
Still, I wanted to see it for myself. I wondered how much she was enjoying that cake topped with whipped cream and strawberries. I could only imagine how adorable she looked.
But I had to hold back. If I didn't, my cute little brother—who firmly believed I was a fairy—would have his childhood innocence shattered and run away again.
‘And some people thought I was an angel.’
I wondered why anyone would think that, looking at my pitch-black hair.
Nathaniel had mistaken me for an angel when he first saw me. Unconsciously, I glanced at Nathaniel, who was sitting silently across from me.
Perhaps because there were no chocolate desserts on the table, he wasn't even putting on a minimum performance anymore, his hands resting limply at his sides.
“Dia, what is it?”
“…!”
Our eyes met. I was momentarily flustered.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
I shook my head instinctively and looked down at the dessert plate I’d barely touched. For some reason, I felt a bit embarrassed.
‘Why did I have to go and remember that misunderstanding from when we were kids?’
It was something from ten years ago; it shouldn't matter to Nathaniel anymore.
It was just a joke now—the kind of thing we could laugh about if the topic ever came up, teasing him about how he used to be like that.
It seemed the time difference I felt was different from everyone else's. People around me had suddenly grown up or aged, while I was still conscious of the moment I had first possessed this body.
I firmly resolved not to bring up things from our childhood. Just then, I felt a persistent gaze from somewhere.
“…!”
[Ooh, he’s staring at you so hard, Master!]
[He must be full after finishing his dessert.]
I could feel it even without the demons telling me. Whether Marianne had intentionally stepped back or not, I could feel a fervent, blatant gaze fixed on me.
‘Is it okay to look?’
[How about just a slight turn of the head?]
‘I guess I’ll do that, then.’
Agreeing with Bibi’s meticulous coaching, I turned my head just a fraction toward Kairen. I heard a small, sharp intake of breath.
“F-fairy….”
“Prince, she is not a fairy, but the Princess. She is your older sister.”
“B-big sister.”
Hearing the tension in his voice, I turned my head further. A small, beet-red face came into view.
“Hello, Kairen.”
“H-hello.”
“Can I call you Kai?”
“O-of course.”
Kairen nodded his small head frantically. I was worried he might pass out from holding his breath.
“You call me Dia, too, Kai.”
“But….”
“It’s okay. We’re family.”
“Ah.”
Finally, I was able to have a proper conversation with Kairen. I let out a long, silent sigh of relief.
“Y-yes.”
Kairen was simply an excessively shy child. I wondered who he took after; even after our brief exchange, he couldn't properly lift his head.
‘Maybe Mom, but I don’t think Veronica would have been like this when she was little. Dantalion wouldn't have been either.’
Well, children don't always take after their parents. Still, I was glad to have such a kind and lovely child as a brother.
It would have been better if I could have watched him from the moment he was born. Even from when he was in Mom’s womb.
It would have been wonderful to see Mom’s belly grow, to feel his first movements, and to be there when he first kicked.
In my past life, I was an only child with no siblings, and it was the same after I possessed this body. It was a shame I missed the "firsts" of the brother I finally had.
“Our Kai, you’ll come to see me often from now on, right?”
“Y-yes.”
“I’ll go to see you every day, too.”
“Yes!”
Well, we could just see each other often from now on. I looked down at Kairen’s happy face and smiled broadly.
*
Most of the people who had come to see me had left, leaving only Nathaniel by my side.
Kairen had returned to his palace when it was time, and Marianne had headed to the Temple. Abel had also left the palace on business.
Only Nathaniel remained, and we were walking through the garden together. The garden of the Princess’s palace, which was unnecessarily large, seemed to go on forever.
“I’ll be busy starting tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
Today was the final day set by Mom and Dantalion to confirm that my body had fully recovered.
I had been a bit flustered by not being allowed to leave the palace, but since I would have to officially take on my duties as a Princess starting tomorrow, today was the last time I could spend with a relaxed mind.
“How about you, Niel? Since you’re the successor to His Holiness the Pope, aren't you hounded by the Temple?”
“Not really.”
“Why? Isn't there a lot to learn? Like the scriptures?”
“I’ve already memorized all of those.”
“Ah, I see.”
It seemed Nathaniel wasn't just born with a lot of Divine Power; he was also a genius.
I had heard I was smart, too, but I was just a gifted student at best. I had filled the rest with pure effort. This was what a real genius felt like.
Even at such a young age, he spoke with confidence, as if he had mastered everything and no one could say a word to him. Nathaniel seemed to have grown up quite splendidly.
“Speaking of which, how is it at the Temple? Is it difficult because of your contract with Ilnes?”
I asked as I suddenly thought of Ilnes. Even Luers had chattered away next to Mom when I woke up, asking if I was really okay, but Ilnes was Ilnes.
He had been quiet until now, not saying a single word to me. Perhaps he was fast asleep inside the gem. No, that was definitely it.
I made a cold assessment of Ilnes and gazed at Nathaniel. He met my eyes with a calm expression.
“Don’t worry about that. Even the Pope doesn't really know.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
The Archdemon was truly incredible. To think that even the Pope couldn't notice. No wonder Desmond was so smug.
I nodded in admiration.
Since Nathaniel possessed Divine Power, he had no choice but to become a priest or a paladin. The fact that he had caught the Pope’s eye and become his successor was a very good thing for him.
I had been worried that his contract with a demon might become an obstacle, but I was relieved to hear it wasn't.
I was about to speak to Nathaniel again with a smile, but he was faster.
“Dia.”
“Yes?”
A more serious face than usual gazed intently at me. I looked at Nathaniel, a bit surprised. His blunt but kind voice reached my ears.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you for a long time.”
“…!”
For some reason, it didn't seem like an ordinary conversation, and I unconsciously swallowed hard.
Was he finally going to ask about the demons in earnest?
I had tried to brush it off as nothing when we were kids, but since he was destined to become a High Priest and eventually the Pope, he must be planning to interrogate me deeply.
It would certainly be a burden to continue on the path of a priest while being contracted to a demon. Was he going to ask if there was a way to break the contract?
Ilnes had said that the only way to break the contract was for the contractor to die. Should I tell him the truth?
Perhaps because of my complicated thoughts, I waited for Nathaniel to speak, my body stiff. Then, Nathaniel continued in a relaxed tone.
“Dia, you’re someone from another world, aren't you?”
“Wh-what?”
My eyes widened in shock. I instinctively turned my head to check if anyone was around.
Fortunately, Mom and Dantalion had strictly prohibited outsiders from entering the Princess’s palace until today, and the guards were quite far away, perhaps because they trusted Nathaniel.
Of course, Nathaniel knew that and had asked openly. I managed to calm my racing heart and looked at him again.
“How do you know that?”
“We met in a dream in your original form. Twice, even.”
“Ah.”
Once when the Archdemon showed me to him to recruit him, and a second time when he gave him my location.
I thought I was the only one who remembered the first dream, even if the second was different, but I hadn't expected Nathaniel to know about it as well.
“Since your appearance was different, I always thought you were an angel.”
“Ah, I-I see.”
I remembered again how Nathaniel had called me an angel when he first saw me at the tea table. I felt my face heating up.
“But I realized that wasn't the case. Since you’re the Archdemon’s contractor.”
“Hmm, I suppose so.”
“So I came to a conclusion. That you must be a being from another world.”
“Mmm.”
Nathaniel was seeing right through me. I had no choice but to nod my head heavily.