What humans called “magical talent” was usually judged by how well they resonated with mana as they grew, and how effectively they could draw it in and store it within their bodies.
He couldn’t tell if the mana in Ellie’s body was something she had possessed before birth, or if she had naturally drawn it in and sealed it after being born.
‘She’s definitely human, though…’
There was no trace of demon, deity, or any other race.
‘Can a human really resonate with and store mana the moment they’re born?’
Of course, such a genius might exist.
‘Or maybe, as my lord fears, she really was sent by Kareha.’
Kareha, who was always looking for a chance to take Lucas’s head, might have kidnapped a human child, worked some magic on her, and dumped her in front of the ducal estate.
If that were the case, they shouldn’t wait for her to grow up; they had to end her life immediately.
‘But…’
Ellie’s bright red eyes flashed vividly in his mind.
They were the exact same color as his lord’s, yet unlike his lord’s, they were wide and round.
He remembered her lips, smacking happily as she sucked on the chocolate.
Those small, plump, rosy lips.
Her chubby, maple-leaf-like hands, the thick little legs peeking out from under her skirt, and her round, pale cheeks and body.
Just thinking about them made his heart thump in a strange, unfamiliar rhythm.
‘She shouldn’t even exist.’
It really made no sense.
How could such a cute creature exist in the human realm?
Even her appetite, with her hands completely covered in chocolate, was adorable.
‘Is she really Kareha’s doing?’
Something that cute couldn’t possibly exist naturally; someone must have created her.
‘No, that can’t be it.’
But he didn’t want to believe that.
Because if Eleonore’s existence was engineered, he would have to choke the life out of her.
He realized, to his own bewilderment, that he didn’t want to see that squirming little baby grow cold and lifeless.
‘To think I would hesitate to kill someone.’
It was unprecedented.
‘And…’
He envied Masha.
The moment Ellie returned to Masha, she had looked completely at ease, snuggling deep into her arms.
He found himself wishing he could take Masha’s place—to share in Ellie’s every moment and earn her absolute trust.
Kustiel was certain that Baba and Mike had been thinking the exact same thing.
Both of them had been staring at Masha with rare, envious eyes.
Lost in these thoughts, he soon found himself standing outside Lucas’s room.
As always, Warren stood guard in the hallway outside.
“Did you see her?”