Imperial Palace grounds, south side, Eldarion Academy’s affiliated kindergarten facing the plaza.

In front of it, a mother and daughter with eyecatching black hair appeared among the throng of carriages.

The woman and child, dressed like dolls in milky silk blouses, purple skirts, likewise in silk dresses and purple sandals.

They exuded a festive atmosphere, showing that they were undoubtedly very close, and it seemed as though they had dressed this way to give a good impression during the interview, like many other families gathered here.

Of course, this good idea was not Lucia’s, who didn’t notice social cues.

It was the strong opinion of the more sensible members who stopped her, deciding that wearing a uniform was proper.

Thanks to this, there was no one who recognized her, so she felt at ease under the gaze, but the high heels and unfamiliar skirt made her walk uncomfortable.

It seemed the same for Nia.

But for Nia, it was probably not the uncomfortable clothes, but the unfamiliar environment that was uncomfortable.

If Nia had been a normal child, she would have been more curious and wideeyed about the world she had just entered.

But instead, she was looking down at the ground with her head bowed, holding Lucia’s hand, until she entered the academy.

Is it because it’s her first time coming to such a place?

Before Lucia could even sort out her worries about the child, a staff member approached her.

“Are you a family here for an interview today?”

He checked something, and then gave her a number.

As she followed his lead into the academy’s inner waiting room, there seemed to be many families sitting on sofas, waiting.

As soon as she sat down at the table she was guided to, she heard the voice of a staff member at the entrance to the waiting room.

“Parent number 128? Please come to another waiting room for identification. Ah, only one person needs to come.”

Lucia examined the paper in her hand.

‘133……. So this is why they gave it to me.’

It was busy with many people, but the staff didn’t need to explain separately because the parents had come knowing all the preliminary information.

Five teams ahead.

It looked like it would take less than an hour to get in.

When a young male staff member called a number, one of the corresponding parents stood up and headed somewhere else.

Calling numbers instead of names seemed to be a measure to prevent any conventional incidents that might arise if family names were revealed.

It was unexpected luck even for the members who had deliberately hidden Lucia’s identity.

If names and family names had been called here, this place would have surely turned into chaos for some reason.

But without time for such thoughts, all her attention was focused on Nia.

The child was still clutching her arm with an anxious face.

From the carriage to here, it was the same anxious look.

Nia, seeing a place so full of people and activity for the first time.

It definitely looked hard for a child who had been confined to an orphanage and warehouse in that small village to adapt, even to the unobservant eyes of Lucia.

But she thought that Nia should learn to live together rather than live her lonely life, and to do that, Nia had to adapt to this kind of life someday.

So, although born a saintess, Lucia planned to let her live an ordinary life again once she awakened and exercised her power.

But she had doubts about the child’s trembling, despite her firm thoughts.

‘But what if it’s my selfish desire from regret?’

Would being here, where she doesn’t even want to be, forcibly making her ordinary, really be the right path for Nia?

Lucia couldn’t shake the feeling that she had forcibly brought an unprepared child here on her own whim.

“Parent number 133? Where are you?”

Just then, the voice of the staff member calling her number was heard.

‘The interview is canceled.’
Ultimately, Lucia, having made up her mind, stood up from her seat and said to Nia, who was trembling in anxiety.

“You don’t have to go to kindergarten. I’ll just cancel it, so let’s go home quickly.”

As she said this and momentarily left her seat, the leftbehind Nia was taken aback.

She was relieved by the words that she didn’t have to go, but,

‘…Why? Because of Nia?’

An anxious child can only blame herself when faced with an adult’s sudden change in attitude.

Nia, looking at Lucia’s retreating figure, remembered what she had heard from Vernon all night long.

If she attended here, she would make many friends and learn good things.

But the child’s purpose was not to enjoy better things, but to be by Lucia’s side.

Being in this place without her mother meant nothing to such a child.

And the curious looks from the children she occasionally encountered were looks she knew all too well.

Nia’s distinctive black hair, gloomy atmosphere.

To the child, all those looks were the gaze upon an easy target for ridicule.

No, in fact, it was just the innocent curiosity of the children.