“And for the sake of your sister, that level of sacrifice is possible.”

Since he had just spoken, Sillian couldn’t immediately refute his words.

“Why are you scared now that it comes to actually doing it?”

“It’s not that I’m scared…”

“Then try it. Trust me.”

Now, everything from the past made sense. It felt like a missing puzzle piece that seemed impossible to solve had perfectly fallen into place.

“What are you asking me to believe? It might be risky. Of course, it wouldn’t be that dangerous if I do it, but…”

“If you’re really concerned, you can do it after finding the relic.”

“…Is that so?”

“I still can’t believe in my family. The saying, ‘the power of a god calls in the power of a god.’ So, you can wait a little after finding the relic. The real relic will soon come out.”

It wouldn’t take long. It didn’t take long in the past. So, it didn’t matter if Sillian acted after confirming the relic.

“…Really?”

“Yeah?”

“Is there really a way to awaken my sister? Do you really know about that? I mean, you know everything, don’t you?”

“Everything is an assumption. But that assumption will fit perfectly.”

Otherwise, Sillian would not regard the Imperial Temple, the High Priest, in such a manner. It could be considered a contractual matter of the heart, but Sillian’s following of the High Priest transcended that dimension. Moreover, the High Priest had not said a word to the Emperor about that aspect, proving it further.

Until recently, even if the Salmon Kingdom’s royal family was accepted, the High Priest, on multiple occasions, had asked and sought the Emperor’s approval.

Suddenly, the High Priest did not report anything to the Emperor.

“The High Priest… understood only now. Now that he doesn’t need the Emperor’s help anymore.”

The fact that the High Priest had caught the Emperor’s eye to that extent was because the temple was in jeopardy. The Emperor had to maintain the temple for his benefit. That’s how their interests matched.

However, the Salmon royal family and the relic they discovered provided the perfect power that no longer required the Emperor’s watchful eye.

“…Still, I’m uneasy.”

“Sillian.”

“Yeah.”

“Have you seen me before?”

“What do you mean? If you ask if I’ve seen you somewhere other than at the orphanage, the answer is obviously no.”

“But haven’t I known too much about you? Suspiciously so?”

Sillian fell silent.

“I suspected if you were somehow related to the Salmon, right?”

“You know well.”

“But I’m just someone unrelated, someone who knew too much about you guys.”

“It’s still questionable.”

“I can’t give you the answer to that question, but what I’m saying will surely help. We made a heart contract. I won’t tell you to do it right away. But even if you try it in a very small way. I, well… I hope Pepe opens her eyes.”

“Is it beneficial for you to do that?”

Sillian’s expression and actions became strangely skewed.
“No, I couldn’t be happy. My childhood was unhappy. It may not be as bad as yours, but I didn’t receive love from my family. Still, I sought love from my family. I wanted even a bit of attention.”

“…”

“For me, both my sister and father were those kinds of people.”

“Are you suggesting a competition to see who’s more unfortunate?”

“No. Pepe has you. An older brother who protects her even at the cost of sacrificing everything. Family. So, I hope Pepe sees it. That your world wasn’t a hell. Although the past might have been tough, there’s someone who will give you love. So, yeah. So, I hope she wakes up from hell as soon as possible.”

Sesenia forced a smile.

“…Really trying to make me do it.”

“If you don’t believe it, you don’t have to. But that’s just how I feel.”

“…?”

“You know. If I had an older brother like Sillian, it would have been great. The only family who loved me, even if I gave up everything. I often think about that.”

For a moment, Sesenia bit her lip.

‘I really can’t live like this. Saying things like this, swept up in the atmosphere… Why am I doing this…’

In this life, she tried not to reveal emotions. She wanted to remain strong and resilient, more so than in the past. So as not to get hurt in any situation. But her nature hadn’t changed.

Sesenia had opened her heart only to her people.

She honestly expressed her emotions. Sesenia, not knowing how strongly it affected them, once again blamed herself today. She had said this and that.

“Sesenia Vestel.”

“Huh? What?”

“If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have come this far. If I hadn’t taken that carriage back then, I would have been dragged to my country and lost my sister. Back then, I thought I could do anything if I just lived, but now, it’s funny that I’m scared.”

Sesenia’s ruby-red eyes, redder than blood, sparkled more brilliantly.

“Thank you for helping me get out of being a coward.”

Sillian patted Sesenia’s head.

“Did I help?”

“Yeah. I’ll tell the temple about what you said. And I’ll… try what you did. I trust you.”