Emilya paused when he mentioned her parents.
— Melvis and I tried to find out who I was, and later my master helped us too, but no one knew me.
After all, Emilya is a very common name, so having only that clue made things difficult.
One day, my master came with some information, but I couldn’t hear anything she said.
— What do you mean?
Lucius asked.
— Whenever I hear information about my past, even something as simple as my last name, I get tinnitus and headaches, and then I eventually lose consciousness because of an electric shock.
Lucius was horrified.
Even her last name?
— That’s why I think the demon’s power goes far beyond simply stealing memories.
It’s clearly a curse that follows you to the point of making you question your very existence.
Eventually, I came to the conclusion that if no one knew me, I would just have to create a new identity, she said with a resigned expression.
— Honestly, you’re strong.
If I were in your place, I think I would have gone crazy, he said, trying to comfort her.
— If Melvis hadn’t been there, I think I would have.
She supported me a lot in my search for my identity, and so did my master.
— You’ve got good people around you.
— I guess I’m lucky.
I couldn’t have asked for better people.
While they were quietly talking, Melvis appeared through the balcony door.
— I finally found you two.
Thanks for leaving me alone in the middle of the room.
Emilya laughed at the situation, and the three of them returned to the ballroom.
They went over to the buffet, where several people came over to talk to them and asked how they had become so strong, along with other questions of the same sort.
Then it was time for the ball.
All the participants paired up, moved to the center of the room, and began to dance.
Several people approached Emilya and Melvis, who were standing together, and asked them to dance, but they were coldly turned down.
Lucius did his best to refuse the young women’s requests without offending them.
Wanting them to stop asking, he walked over to Emilya and asked her to dance with him.
Since he had spoken a little louder than intended, everyone turned toward them.
Emilya looked slightly panicked.
He thought she was going to refuse, but to his surprise, she accepted.
He raised his head with a surprised expression.
— Why are you looking at me like that?
You’re the one who asked me, Emilya said, slightly embarrassed.
— I thought you were going to refuse, that’s all, he said.
He took her hand and escorted her to the center of the room.
The two of them began to twirl and dance in harmony with the music.
— Since when do you know how to dance?
Emilya asked.
— I learned from my adoptive father, he said with a slightly nostalgic expression.
— I’m sorry.
I shouldn’t have said that.
— Don’t worry.
I’ve already gotten over it.
They continued dancing in silence.
Emilya looked at him for a moment, but he was already watching her.
Their eyes met, and they didn’t look away from each other until the end of the dance.
They hadn’t noticed that everyone had moved aside to give them some space.
When they finally came back to reality, they felt a little embarrassed.
The Count spoke again.
— Thank you once again, and I wish you all a pleasant evening.
With those words, he withdrew and left his guests to enjoy the rest of the evening.
Everyone continued dancing and feasting until late into the night.
Maria had retreated to her room long ago.
She was torn between confronting her father before leaving and doing nothing.
After thinking about it for so long, she eventually fell asleep, especially since she hadn’t slept much the night before.
She woke with a start at dawn, realizing that it was already time to leave.
She got dressed and, once she was ready, went to her father’s room before departing.
She stood hesitantly in front of his door.
Eventually, she went inside.
Her father was already awake, looking out the window with a gentle, nostalgic expression.
When he heard her enter, they looked at each other and froze for a moment.
They seemed to have so much to say, but neither of them dared to speak.
Finally, the Count was the one to break the silence.
— Maria, there’s something you need to know… — I’m listening, Dad.
What is it?
she asked nervously.
— You know, many years ago, I promised your mother that I would watch over you forever, but I don’t think I’ll be able to keep that promise, unfortunately.
— What?
Why?
she asked, panicking.
— You’re going to get married and live somewhere else with your husband.
I can’t stay by your side forever.
And after you leave, I’m going to travel.
I want to see a little more of the country again, he said with a faint smile.
Realizing what he had just said, she began laughing and crying at the same time.
She didn’t know whether it was sadness or something else.
She tightly embraced her father.
I can’t tell him.
I’m sorry, Dad.
I know what you did wasn’t right, but I can’t blame you for trying all of this.
It’s my fault.
I kept asking you to bring Mom back, and all this time, you were the one suffering the most because of that childish wish.
I’m sorry, Mom.
For so long, I made Dad feel so guilty.
Even if no one else forgives you for your crimes, I’m ready to.
She couldn’t stop crying as she thought about all of this.
Her father tried his best to comfort her, but he couldn’t calm her down.
In the end, he couldn’t help shedding a few tears himself.
The two of them remained in each other’s arms, both carrying a heavy weight in their hearts.
Then, after a while, they realized it was time to leave.
Maria wiped away her tears and went to the carriage they had prepared for their journey to the capital.
There were enough supplies for three weeks of travel.
Before she left, the Count hugged his daughter one last time and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
— Have a safe journey, my princess.
I wish you all the happiness in the world.
Instead of crying, she gave him her best smile and said goodbye.
He watched them disappear into the distance as the sun slowly began to rise over the horizon.
The light dazzled him, but he refused to take his eyes off his daughter, because this was the last time he would ever see her.
When they were finally out of sight, he returned to his castle, where he had dismissed all of his servants.
He walked through the rooms and went to the one where his wife had died.
He looked around the room, remembering the woman who, despite all these years, had never left his heart.
All the jewelry he had given her was still there, along with all the letters they had exchanged.
— Do you remember?
At her age, we were just like her.
She looks so much like you.
You would see it.
My dear Isabela, I’m sorry.
I tried not to think about you and to raise our daughter in happiness and innocence, but I think she knows what I did.
I don’t think I failed as a father, but as a man, I was clearly wrong about everything.
I committed an unforgivable sin.
He sat down on a chair facing the window and began to write a letter.
My dear Maria, could you ever forgive your foolish father?
In trying to bring us together again, all I did was make things worse, and now my time is running out.
If I didn’t accompany you to the capital, it wasn’t because I don’t love you.
I am paying the price for my crime.
By binding myself to all those fused beasts, I shortened my lifespan, and it was reduced according to the number of beasts I had bound myself to: 19.
Your birthday is in two weeks, and I won’t be there to celebrate it with you, nor the ones that follow.
So I decided to prepare ahead of time and bought you all the gifts you wanted.
Someone will deliver them to you every year on the same date.
I hope you have a life filled with as much love as I was able to give you.
So please, don’t be sad when I am no longer there.
I am leaving on a long journey with no return, hoping that at the end of the road, I will find your mother again.
I wish you the happiest marriage and a happy birthday for all the years to come.
I love you.
Your father.
After they left, Maria watched the castle grow smaller and smaller as they moved farther away.
A gentle breeze brushed against her face.
She didn’t understand why she was suddenly overwhelmed by a deep sadness.
— Are you okay?
Emilya asked.
She turned to look at her.
— Yes.
Why?
Maria asked.
— …Because you’re crying.
She felt the tears running down her cheeks and quickly wiped them away.
— I think some dust must have gotten in my eyes.
It hasn’t been long since I left him, but I already want to see him again.
— I miss you, Dad, she whispered sadly.