“I want to become very close friends.”

“No, you can’t.”

“What?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

Usually, in moments like this, don’t people confess their feelings? I, who flatly refused without even considering such a possibility, felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

I went too far, huh? It feels like asking for honey rice cake when the other person isn’t even thinking about it.

“Uh… could it be uncomfortable for you?”
“No. We’re close friends. Haha…”

“Thank you. So… because of our relationship… I want to tell you about myself. I became the Vice Chancellor only with my divine power. What I want to say now might be a weakness to others, but not to me. Nevertheless, I want to say it. I… I hate my lineage.”

Like a miracle where new shoots sprout on a tree that has been dead for hundreds of years. There are significant changes that people experience in their lives. The moment when the tree that had stopped in time started living again, changing its course for the future.

And perhaps, Caritos also experienced a significant change.

Because of my existence, he changed. He became friends with Matapju, whom he would never have faced before, and he became worried about that friend.

He realized that his lifelong life, his personality, and the way others looked at him were not always right.

When he realized that there was also a positive emotion towards the gaze directed at him, he finally began to change.

“Why do you hate your lineage?”

“My ancestors… were a sorcerer named Rediak.”

The unforgettable name Rediak echoed in my mind. There was no way I wouldn’t know who he was. A Matapju who existed a very long time ago. An inhumane race who experimented on Sehelus and used all his disciples to maintain his position.

“Ah.”

Suddenly, something came to mind. The child of Rediak mentioned in the diary I saw thanks to Matapju.

Rediak’s wife hated her husband, informed her children about him, and left the country with her children.

But I thought there would be no chance to meet them. But Caritos being Rediak’s descendant.

“Could it be… could it be.”

“I’m the descendant of a murderer. So, because of my humble origin, I used to stake my life on my origin. I felt like I had to associate with people from good families to feel noble.”

I couldn’t answer and just stared at him. So, it seems that Caritos had a big change because of me.
“So, every time I saw Sehelus, no, Matapju, I got angry. Clearly, he was the victim, but I wanted to torment him. Because my ancestor was such a person, afraid that undisclosed things might be revealed, putting myself in a dilemma. Afraid that he might recognize me. It was truly pathetic and foolish.”

“Ah…”

“Even though it couldn’t become my weakness, I was just scared. Rather than others knowing, Matapju knowing was… I couldn’t control the guilt that kept surfacing in my heart. So, I often found myself saying the opposite.”

Caritos awkwardly smiled.

“I see… about this fact… Does Sehelus know?”

“We talked recently. He’s a bit strange… so I told him. In fact, I’m Rediak’s descendant. I didn’t wrong you, but my ancestor did… and I apologized.”

“Ah.”

“He laughed at that. He said he already knew. He asked why I was apologizing, called me stupid. He already forgot about it, but he still thanked me for apologizing. He laughed like a relieved person.”

It seemed like I could see it even without looking. How Sehelus would have smiled.

“Anyway… Sehelus… he’s still my friend, and Empress Mama is my friend too… So, I told them. I felt like I should tell my friends fairly.”

“Thank you. For letting me know too.”

“No problem. Anyway… that’s my story. So… please be my friend for a long, long time.”

“Okay.”

“Ahem, and I investigated what you mentioned last time.”

What he mentioned was about the orphanage director. The hint to find the princess. I looked at him with anticipation.

“What did you find out?”

“Yes. Various information came out. Stories hidden by the former Vice Chancellor. However, it might not be directly related to the princess. But since it’s not something hidden for no reason, I think it’s right to tell you.”

A gulp of saliva went down my throat. Maybe the information I wanted would come out. The expectation kept rising in my chest.

“Empress Mama thought that after the princess disappeared, she might have entered the orphanage.”

“Right.”

“But there’s no new child who entered.”

“The fact that there is no new child…”

I thought there was none, but Caritos added the word ‘new’. I stared at him intently.

“Instead, there was only one case where a child who disappeared was found after two months.”