TMKWPL CH 22

Chapter 22

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Rumours About Her Husband

“Is this why you adopted her?”

Lucia’s bad habit flared up in response to Mia’s sharp tone. It was the habit of simply agreeing with facts. Unaware of the misunderstanding Mia had formed, Lucia simply nodded.

“Ha! I knew it. Annie, wake up! Since when have you been using divine power? I said, since when?!”

Mia shouted, but Nia was deep in a sleep so heavy she couldn't be roused.

“You’re making a child use her power until she’s in this state? You’re insane! That poor child has already suffered enough…”

Mia, who was clearly gaunt, already knew that the woman before her was the Commander of the Black Knights. She couldn't forget the moment she saw black-clad men parting like a wave at this woman's word. But Mia, feeling she had already hit rock bottom, didn't fear for her life.

Only anger remained, trembling inside her.

Exploitation.

It was a sick game played by adults that made her stomach turn.

Mia was a smart girl. Unlike children adopted as mere servants, she had been adopted by a childless noblewoman to be an heir. She worked tirelessly to meet those expectations, and for a while, a life of nothing but studying was happy. But it ended at a social party. Other children, humiliated at being outperformed by an adoptee, framed her as a thief. Her adoptive mother arrived, and the pain of the slap that followed was more than physical. It was the realization that no matter how hard a fake struggles, they never become real.

But Nia was different. Everyone knew a child with divine powers was precious. Mia had once visited the temple for a blessing ceremony. She had seen how well the children there were treated. She assumed Lucia had adopted Nia just to harvest that power.

She had to be calm. If she lashed out recklessly, Nia might lose even the opportunity she was born with. She did not know how much weight her words would carry because she was nothing. But at least for Nia, who had lived like a sister to her, she wanted to help her receive the rightful light she deserved.

So, she quietly knelt before Lucia.

“You don't know how hard Annie’s life has been. Please, send her to the Temple. I’m begging you.”

Lucia watched the girl’s resolve before speaking.

“Nia is the Saintess. But if she goes to the Temple, she will die.”

“...A Saintess? Die? That’s impossible. Even a dog knows the Temple is searching everywhere to serve the Saintess!”

Mia shouted, but then she caught Lucia’s gaze. It was completely different from the eyes of the adults she had known. There was no mockery or contempt, only a sincere, heavy truth.

“This is a vital information that no one else knows. Why do you think I’m telling you?”

Mia was confused. Why would this Black Monster hide the Saintess? Because she was cruel? Then why was she holding Annie so... tenderly?

“…I don’t know.”

She had many questions. But the question didn't really make sense in that gentle touch.

“My child ran toward you, enough to leave my side. And you just knelt for her sake. How could I not trust you?”

“…!”

This woman could silence her forever in less than a second. Just as that violent drunk had died at a subordinate’s hand.

And now, with Annie asleep, it would be the perfect moment. But she did not do that.

She says she trusts me.

Something Mia thought had died inside her began to beat again.

Lucia reached out a hand.

“You can stay with us.”

She was already thinking of a way to tack on another childcare leave. Mia looked at the hand and shook her head, and stood up on her own.

“No. I’m tired of living off others. But... I’ll come to check on her occasionally.”

The thought of rejoining another pickpocket gang made her vision darken. Still, relying on someone again was worse.

“Then I’ll introduce you to a job. It’s nearby, so you can visit often.”

“Huh?”

Lucia pointed out the window toward the Imperial Palace. Mia had not noticed before, but they were astonishingly close. She ran to the window and pressed herself against it, looking down.

It was so close that they were essentially on the hill overlooking the white walls adorned with gold decorations. It was a dream-like view. A lake covered in flowers. Elegant gardens drawn like foreign patterns. For any young girl, the imperial palace was the ultimate dream.

Working there was not something a commoner could even approach. One needed recommendation and a family name. For Mia, who had grown up in an orphanage, it was like a fantasy made real.

Working there? …Recommend me? That’s absurd.

“But I’m a thief! Why would you recommend me? What if I steal something from the Imperial family?”

Her heart pounded at the dreamlike suggestion, but she tried to regain composure. Her trembling voice gave her away.

“Well, daily necessities should be fine,” Lucia mused.

“Just don't go for the Emperor’s crown or the national treasures.”

“W-what?!”

“Anything else is fine. Arguing with the Emperor is a hassle, after all.”

Mia was stunned. Was the rumour that the Black Monster even intimidated the Emperor true? Her head told her to refuse, but her instinct told her to trust this suspicious offer. In the end, Mia made up her mind. Her life was already in ruins. She would gamble on this woman.

• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •

In the office of the White Mage Corps, two administrative members were sorting through paperwork.

“Jena, do you know who I saw at the boutique yesterday?”

Marien whispered, she was a member of the White Corps administration, casually handing Jena half her paperwork to her colleague.

“The usual suspects? Lady Hanna? Countess Deoni?”

Jaina sorted the papers as she replied.

“Oh, please. We only see them at social gatherings. That shop makes children’s clothes.”

“Then who?”

Marien leaned in dramatically and whispered.

“…Commander Lucia!”

“No way! Is she sending the child to the academy kindergarten?”

Marien nodded excitedly.

“But Jena, the real question is, who is the father? Rumour has it...”

Jena raised her hand excitedly.

“I heard! It’s all over the young ladies’ circles. She said it herself—she has so many lovers she doesn’t even know whose baby it is!”

“Ah, how cool. Truly. She lives a life we married women can’t even dream of.”

“Switching men at her whim. Anyone else would be shamed to death, but Commander Lucia is a legendary Sword Master.”

They stared dreamily toward the window. Baroness Marien and Jaina, they had grown up constrained, married for strategy, borne children. They did not resent their husbands, but they had never experienced youthful romance. And so they envied Lucia, the talk of the moment.

Suddenly, Marien remembered another detail.

“Wait! I saw the child’s eyes. They were gold!”

“Gold? Oh my god! Then!”

“Exactly! Commander Leon! It explains why he’s been so obsessed ever since the child appeared!”

“Of course! Men are so sensitive about their own bloodline!”

Were they bored with work? With life? Probably both. They were piecing together a baseless puzzle with great delight until Marien’s face darkened again.

“But we can’t be sure. There’s one more person with rare golden eyes.”

“…You don’t mean…”

They silently mouthed together

Crown Prince Airen!

Their eyes widened in exaggerated shock.

“A forbidden holy angel and a decadent younger man”

“...It’s paradise.”

They sighed, completely abandoning their work for immoral daydreams that they failed to notice that the door was swung open.

“AAHH!”

“EEEK!”

The man who entered jumped back at their screams.

“C-Commander! You’re here?”

“Whew, it’s hot in here. Welcome, Commander.”

“Why are you two so startled?”

When they saw their commander enter the office, they frantically tried to hide their feelings, as if a fire had been lit on their feet. Leon looked at them suspiciously but he was not the type to pry.

He walked slowly to his desk and sat down. He simply started working on the tasks he had to complete today. But he couldn't concentrate. His racing heart was in no position to be calmed by work.

Lucia was injured but it wasn’t life-threatening. The spell placed on her had registered impact but had not broken. He knew this because he was the one who cast protection spells on all commanders. But, mana stones that reveals their locations were only carried by their subordinates, All he could do was worry.

I should have stolen one of those stones. I’m such a fool.

For a man who had lived by the empire’s etiquette book for twenty-six years, he suddenly hated his own honesty. He had grown increasingly fixated on her. He had been so anxious he’d even been loitering around the Black Knights’ empty training ground.

“Commander? Is something bothering you?” Marien asked.

“There’s no reason to go see her… I mean, no.”

Leon stammered, covering his forehead. The two women shook their heads, they were even more frustrated. He was clearly suffering from a serious case of lovesickness for days!

“Think about it, Commander,” Jena advised.

“Sending gifts out of the blue just makes her feel burdened. Especially a single mother, she needs someone she can rely on, but she’s someone who can’t settle down in one place.”

Settling down. That's the story behind the rumours. How much must she have been hurt to say something so hurtful that she didn't hesitate to say something that would hurt herself too?

Leon didn't believe the scandalous rumours. The emperor had told him a man had abandoned the mother and daughter. He believed Lucia was protecting the identity of that scoundrel.

How could such a principled woman have had countless lovers?

He smiled bitterly, he wanted the rumours to be true.

“Oh, Commander, I saw Commander Lucia at the tailor yesterday, she’s likely going to the kindergarten entrance ceremony next week.” (Marien)

“What a shame you didn’t run into her. It would’ve been a chance to meet the child.” (Jena)

Oh, so it was just preliminary research?

Leon sighed. He remembered the embarrassment of picking up a childcare book that contained stories of his own childhood.

Of all parenting books, why had she chosen that one?

He wanted to help, but for some unknown reason, his own mother had been avoiding him for ten years since he came of age.

“Sigh…”

“Next week is the entrance ceremony. Everyone will attend with a partner.” (Marien)

“It’s a pity, everyone will be there as a couple. She’ll really stand out as a single parent...” (Jena)

Either way, Lucia would stand out regardless, her presence alone as the Commander of Black Knights says it all. But the three people in the room failed to notice because they didn't have any prejudice against Lucia.

Leon was simply heartbroken, he was imagining the discrimination she, a single mother, would face there, while listening to their conversation.

The three people’s face became bitter. And eventually, no one was doing their work anymore.

“Wait! I just had a brilliant idea!”

Marien exclaimed, looking at Leon’s miserable face with a growing grin.

Chapter 21

Chapter List

Chapter 23