Chapter 73

Chapter 46 I Am Sylvia

Pitter-patter—

The unidentified white birds roosting under the bridge flew overhead in flocks against the azure sky.

I walked leisurely towards the castle. The hand that was touching my lower abdomen had subconsciously moved up to my upper abdomen.

Soon after, the lady’s footsteps could be heard behind me.

“Why didn’t you say hello to Mr. Carlos before leaving? That’s impolite.”

Her words already carried a hint of reprimand from an elder.

I pouted.

“Not necessary. With him, there’s no need for politeness.”

“What, you don’t like him?”

“Not really.”

“Then what?”

“Just… never mind, it’s nothing.”

My brows furrowed slightly.

The lady walked beside me and, seeing my fluctuating expression, couldn’t help but ask.

“Does it hurt much?”

“Yes, a little.”

It wasn’t so much the pain, but more the hunger.

“You should go back to your room and rest for a while. I’ll have a servant heat some water for you to clean up, but no soaking… do you have sanitary pads?”

“Mm-hm.”

“After you shower, come to the dining hall for lunch. There will be plum scone for dessert.”

My eyes lit up.

“Good~”

It must be the lady who made it, it’s bound to be delicious!

“Was it because of you that young Parcifal acted that way?”

“Yes… no, not really.”

… This is terrible, I slipped up at the last moment.

Distracted by thoughts of the sweet and sour scone, I hadn’t been paying attention, but the lady unexpectedly asked a crucial question.

She must have done it on purpose!

I felt somewhat uneasy and sneaked a glance at her.

Seeing her face with a warm, spring-like smile.

Her slightly curled lips looked somewhat teasing, but mostly filled with genuine joy.

There was a glint of triumph in her eyes.

“Miss Sylvia, I know you better than you know yourself.”

My nose was gently flicked. It tickled, so I reached up to touch it.

Really?

Perhaps it’s true.

The lady next to me took my hand, interlocking our fingers. Her palm was warm.

“I suddenly feel as if a heavy stone has finally been lifted from my heart.”

“Lady…”

“Miss Sylvia, how do you view Shunter Castle in your heart?”

Hearing this, I was somewhat puzzled, tilting my head to look at her.

“The desserts you make, Lady, are very good?”

The lady burst out laughing.

“Really, is that all? For example, isn’t the castle beautiful, the scenery stunning, and the rooms comfortable?”

“Lady, what do you mean?”

“In fact, I want to say, if possible, can you consider this place as home? Okay?”

I hesitated for a moment.

“Will it be troublesome?”

“What trouble?”

“In every sense.”

“… Although I don’t know what kind of trouble you’re referring to, I think there won’t be those meanings you’re worried about.”

“But…”

“But what? Are you trying to say that you’re not my daughter Peyelo?”

“…”

“I’ve said, I understand you better than you understand yourself.”

Two figures, one tall and one short, passed through the garden.

The blooming flowers vied with each other in beauty, yet none could compare to the allure of a person.

“Can you tell me about your time in Silgaya?”

I nodded.

“… I woke up in Woodward…”

I narrated my story to the lady in fragments.

From encountering the Great White in the forest,

to the nameless village,

to Grandma Claire in the village,

to kind and simple-minded Elia, and the little manly boy Barry.

And then to the endless abyss.

Elia sacrificed herself to protect me, being swallowed by the abyss’s darkness.

The smoke consumed everything.

When she spoke of the beginning, her voice choked up.

When she talked about the lady, her eyes also turned red.

“So, you became a Pontiff Knight… ” She touched my head, “Going to the Order City is also to fight those monsters properly, right?”

“Mm. There’s a lot I don’t understand.”

“Mm… It’s not hard to understand for the sake of belief in your heart. It seems all Pontiff Knights are like this. Miss Sylvie, amazing… really amazing… but…”

The lady hesitated for a long time.

“But if I say I don’t want you to do this? Can you not go and fight those monsters… This is too scary, you shouldn’t… Just stay here… Is that okay?”

What followed was more like a humble, helpless plea than a discussion.

It was completely unlike something that would come from the lady’s mouth.

A moment of silence.

I didn’t know how to respond at all.

After a while, the lady smiled somewhat sadly.

“Indeed. Such a request is unreasonable… After all, you don’t remember anything from before, just that small village… You probably think Grandma Claire is more important to you than me.”

“…”

I didn’t deny it because that would be lying.

My feelings were complex.

It was clear that the Duke and Duchess were making an unrequited effort for me.

They certainly saw me as Peylo, and I had already figured out some things.

I could empathize with the pain of losing close ones. Because I could empathize, I couldn’t refuse such kindness.

That would hurt their hearts.

But, there were no memories.

Without memories, it was like being strangers.

And I had necessary persistence, which was doing what I believed was right.

What determined me was not what I was, but what I did.

“Miss Sylvie.”

“Yes?”

“Regardless, I hope you can remember one thing. If one day in the future, you feel pain, tiredness, or want to rest, come back then, back to Centorburg. This place will always be your home, and Scarlidge and I will always be your family. Do you… understand?”

“…”

“Mm, I understand.”

I looked at her deep, pearl-like eyes, where my earnest little face was reflected.

…

After returning to the room, not long after, the maid had heated water ready, placing the bucket in the bathroom.

After they left, I undressed completely and slowly walked to the mirror.

A pair of autumnal eyes trembled lightly.

This was the first time I had so nakedly examined this body.

Delicate shoulders, slender waist, slender arms, long legs, snow-white skin like jade as clear as crystal.

There was no sense of shame in my heart, my eyes fixed on the small charm on my chest, carefully observing every detail.

Then, at a hidden spot below my right breast, I discovered a small black spot resembling a tear mole. If not for looking in the mirror, I wouldn’t have noticed it even if I bent down, as it would be covered.

Is this why the lady stared at my chest in the infirmary?

It seems she has fully recognized it…

After all, the lady doesn’t know I am a monster from the Abyss. I haven’t told her either.

Because I dare not.

If I were just Peylo…

There is no if.

I am not just Peylo, nor am I the Chen Yuxuan in my memories.

I am who I am.

I am Sylvie.

Sylvie Labishemus.