Whether Sin Mal would achieve her first victory against Bronya after four hundred and eighty-one consecutive losses remains to be seen.
But here in the City of Sighs, three important characters had already gathered in the villa.
"Kira, you're back?" Bianka, sitting on the edge of the bed, greeted Shigure Kira who had rushed in.
The moment she saw Cecilia, Shigure Kira finally breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had found her anchor.
But just as she was about to cozy up to Cecilia as usual, she saw a small head peeking out from the other side of the bed, staring at her with a dazed expression...
Hm? Am I mistaken? Why is there a scent of "I'm saved" in the air?
But seeing Bianka reminded Shigure Kira of why she had been in such a hurry to find Cecilia. She quickly moved to Cecilia's side and whispered her secret report... her complaint into Cecilia's ear.
"Cecilia, that little girl with the golden hair, Siegfried asked me to bring her back! Do you know what her name is?"
"It's Kiana Kaslana, right?" Cecilia replied with a smile. Shigure Kira was instantly shocked and couldn't help but cry out.
"You know?!"
Cecilia nodded. "Of course, I know~ Hmm? Is there a problem?" Cecilia tilted her head playfully. It was hard to imagine that this was a mother with a seventeen-year-old daughter.
She always seemed to be like this, radiating a youthful glow yet filled with a maternal contrast.
From the moment Shigure Kira had met Cecilia, she had been like this. Compared to the past, Cecilia had only shed her youthful innocence; she had lost nothing else.
Was it because she was too perfect? It was truly incredible. Time had never left a mark on this woman. She always looked so pure...
Every time this happened, it was time to say that line... Damn you, Siegfried!
"Ah—Achoo!!" This time, the process was correct. A complete sneeze was always accompanied by malicious thoughts, whether it was the disturbance of dust or the schemes in someone else's heart.
The sky above the City of Sighs was still a closed canopy. This was still the "City of Eternal Night," but by now, the outside world should have darkened as well. Even the temperature in the City of Sighs had dropped.
Siegfried couldn't help but pull his clothes tighter, his body shivering slightly.
"Phew... I'd better hurry back. I wonder if Kira can take good care of..." Siegfried paused. It was only now that he suddenly realized he didn't even know Bianka's name.
Wait, why did I bring that kid back in the first place? Was it because I wanted to protect her, or because...
Damn, my genius brain has been ruined by that evil statement!
I really should have punched that half-man, half-machine guy one more time!
Siegfried shivered, quickening his pace toward his residence. He looked so hurried, as if he were afraid something bad would happen on the way and force him to act heroically.
Acting heroically = going to the city defense to give a statement = getting home later = seeing my dear wife later...
Dammit, that makes it even more urgent!
Fantasizing about being greeted with a hug from Cecilia, Siegfried set off on a path to the unknown.
Why unknown?
Because—
"Not only do I know her name is Kiana, but I also know that she is the daughter of the Kaslana who lives here~" Cecilia's smile was exceptionally bright, more radiant than the flowers blooming in spring.
But Shigure Kira only felt a bone-chilling cold.
As someone who had known Cecilia longer than Siegfried, she looked at Cecilia's expression with disbelief, as if she were seeing her for the first time.
The Kaslana in this house? Who else could it be?
Nicholas, Salome, herself, Cecilia, Siegfried... these were the only people living in this villa. That Kaslana could only be that bastard Siegfried!
Could her suspicion be true?
Was Bianka really...
Siegfried's illegitimate daughter?!
Suddenly, a wave of anger surged in Shigure Kira's heart.
What! This guy actually dared to have an illegitimate daughter while having the world's most beautiful, most gentle, and... second cutest Cecilia?!
Who is that person?!! I, Shigure Kira, will never acknowledge... hiss, wait.
The anger only held the high ground for a moment before reason irrationally returned.
It doesn't make sense... Let's not even talk about what reason Siegfried would have to have an illegitimate daughter... would he really do something like that?
This guy did like to drink, and he often got himself drunk.
But he was actually a very good drunk. When he was tipsy, his self-control was extremely strong. He could even handle her sneak attacks and still perfectly control his strength.
And when he was truly drunk, he would only shout, "Fight with me, Alahato!" and then jump on a table.
He would even find a place to sleep it off himself, and would make it home before passing out...
Siegfried had only been violent once while drunk, and that one time... he had broken through layers of defenses to challenge Joyce to a duel.
As for the reason... it's hard to say, but everyone who knew could only say one thing—Joyce really deserved it.
A man who could be tricked with an Alahato model, would he do something like that?
It was more likely that he was tricked with an Alahato model.
After clarifying these things, Shigure Kira's gaze towards Bianka took on a different light.
What a poor child... According to those novels from the Shenzhou region, children like this were very pitiful, growing up without a father's care, and their mothers would surely abuse this "bastard child" from a young age...
No wonder her reaction was so strong when I turned back to remind her.
And when Siegfried entrusted this child to me just now, the extreme dependence she showed towards him must be because of this, right?
Her extreme lack of love has caused her to desperately cling to every bit of affection that comes her way.
A tear filled with sadness, sympathy, and a certain determination welled up in the corner of Shigure Kira's eye. She wiped it away and nodded solemnly at Bianka.
"Child, you don't have to be afraid anymore! From today on, this is your home!"
Bianka: "?"