Looking into my green eyes,

All the worries from last night about the divine power test and his brother seemed utterly futile.

“Time for the divine power test. Nervous?”

All the tension about the divine power test melted away like stirred egg.

Acid nodded absentmindedly.

“Yes, I’m, I’m nervous.”

“Then, take courage!”

Acid didn’t understand what taking courage meant, but I held out my left hand to him.

“Come on, hand!”

Acid hesitated, pondering whether a commoner like him could hold the hand of a noble like me.

Just as his hand was about to falter,

“Ah, my hand hurts.”

I held out my hand without giving him a chance to hesitate.

Therefore, the boy cautiously took my small, precious hand.

I casually interlocked our fingers.

“Heh, let’s go for the test!”

“Yes.”

Whenever I walked with Acid, a pleasant baby smell filled the air.

‘I really want to protect…’

Lost in thought, Acid didn’t notice Matthias, who was quietly observing from the side, narrowing his eyes.

He was simply excited about the upcoming divine power test.

‘I hope I can be of help to her…’

The ornate door of the sanctuary appeared.

Acid walked out with firm steps.

He had to stand tall and be confident.

Because he had me to protect.

(This is a time separator.)

The morning after Acid took the divine power test, a small sketchbook letter was delivered in front of Delphia’s mansion.

The crooked handwriting was clearly mine.

As this was her first tea party invitation, Delphia was a little bewildered for the first time in her life.
Moreover, it was a rather docile and abrupt letter. She had thought Matthias would at least make an appearance a month later.

“Isn’t Cien Mirmode a child Matthias particularly cherishes?”

If she were truly a beloved daughter, he would never have allowed a tea party with her. Given what Delpia knew about Matthias, Matthias also knew about Delpia. He would’ve done his best to avoid her.

“It could be a trap set by Matthias Mirmode. That guy is sinister enough to kill…”

“Getting killed by Matthias is, well.”

The maid’s complexion turned pale.

“If it’s fun, then that’s enough.”

Delpia smirked.

It was a laugh from someone utterly clueless about her own future.

(This is a time separator.)

That afternoon at two o’clock, inside Matthias’s mansion. Delpia, who had entered alone, was led to the reception room by unusual maids.

The reception room was decorated like a formal tea party venue.

“Not bad.”

The pink tea party setting to a girl’s taste. A little tot, half the size of her own body, hurriedly stood before her.

“Hello, big sister!”

For the first time in her life, Delpia was slightly taken aback.

Facing Cien, she realized that she had never been this up close and personal with a little kid of that age.

“What, so tiny.”

…So tiny she looked like she might die if poked.

Moreover, nobody had told her that Cien Mirmode looked this cute.

Although she had briefly seen her as a welcome messenger, seeing her in person was an entirely different level of cuteness.

First, the chubby cheeks.

So chubby that she wanted to squeeze them and go ‘boing.’

“Why do you look like that?”

Next, the end of her sentences slightly slurred… it sounded like a steamed bun talking. And yet, she looked very serious.

“Miss, I want to touch…”

“Uh?”

“Can I touch your cheek once? Can I?”

Cien shook her head side to side.

“No.”

Her chubby cheeks and twin tails fluttered as she shook her head. Although Delpia had always managed to survive even in dire circumstances, for some reason, she didn’t want to be disliked by Cien…

So, Delpia just stopped.

And decided to enjoy this tea party prepared by this little tot sitting opposite her on the sofa.

She had no idea what exactly had been prepared for today’s tea party.

Half of her thought that this tiny child could hardly have done anything. The other half hoped for some new event.

“So, I’ve added fresh lemons to this tea.”

The little lady, who had finished her debutante, guided quite properly.

“Really?”

Cien pointed to the table and spoke formally.

“Yes. Drink up!”

Without thinking, Delpia took a sip of the lemon black tea.

Looking at her, Cien grinned. Again, her smile was captivating.

She took another sip of tea, and Cien revealed her tiny front teeth.

“Um, this tea, Grandma gave it to give to you…”

She thought of Duchess Lukella, but Cien shook her head and spoke cheerfully.

“The silver spoon has changed color. It’s poison!”

The change in the color of the silver spoon meant that the tea was poisoned.

Feeling fooled, Delpia set down her tea cup and smirked.

“So, it’s poison, huh? Guess I’m going to die now?”

She talked so casually about poison in her first tea party. She definitely didn’t look like a petulant fiveyearold.

She looked perfectly in line with the villainous Mirmode family and even a bit cute.

Now Delpia started to take a liking to this cute little kid.

It might be the poison’s effect.

Did Cien know the tea was poisoned? If she only realized now, how would she respond?
A tingling sensation coursed through my body anew.

Until now, she had only encountered boring masses of humans. These alltooconventional humans, fitting so perfectly into their mold, had instilled in Delphia a disdain for mankind.

But Cien was different.

This petite girl disarmed me with her endearing presence, then like a demon, poisoned my tea, and audaciously handed down a death sentence.

Every single one of these actions was as if watching a wellcrafted performance art, utterly flawless.

“Ah…”

With a euphoric expression, Delphia gazed at Cien. Their eyes locked in a solid confrontation.