Theresa was furious.
In her haste to meet "Siegfried's daughter," she had scrambled aboard the Hyperion warship with Himeko and headed for Nagazora City as her grandpa had instructed.
But before the Hyperion had even reached the city, it was hit by a cannon blast.
The sudden impact had startled Theresa, who had been dozing in her seat, sending her tumbling right off her chair. She landed on the floor with her butt in the air, completely losing face in front of her surrounding subordinates.
She initially thought it was an enemy attack, but she immediately received a communication from the Valkyries stationed in Nagazora.
The message ordered the Hyperion to halt its advance and permitted only Branch Director Theresa and a retinue of five or fewer members to enter the city.
And this was an order from Overseer Otto.
Hearing that it was her grandpa's command, Theresa's anger immediately deflated. If Otto was the one who gave the order, there was nothing she could do to change his mind.
Even though her grandpa doted on her, when it came to decisions he had already made—unless they were truly trivial—he would not alter his course.
Theresa knew her grandpa's personality all too well.
He only allowed her to act unruly within the boundaries he himself had set.
Just like a caged bird.
That was why she had been so surprised a few years ago when her grandpa had, against all expectation, directly approved her request to leave Schicksal Headquarters.
And so, she had come to the Far East Branch and established St. Freya Academy.
Everything about St. Freya made her proud.
If she could face her long-departed best friend now, Theresa could finally say to Cecilia, "I've grown up."
...Even if her height hadn't changed one bit.
However, Theresa always felt that perhaps she had only leaped from her original cage into another, slightly larger one.
Otto's chain was forever fastened around her neck.
---o---
Bringing the Hyperion to a hover a considerable distance from Nagazora City, Theresa didn't call for anyone else, asking only for Himeko to accompany her.
Walking along the city streets, Theresa glanced around and noticed the sparse crowds, as if a portion of the population had been evacuated.
Is something about to happen here? Don't tell me Grandpa is planning something wicked in my territory?
Theresa closed her eyes for a moment, but a warm hand enclosed her own slightly cold one. She opened her eyes to see Himeko by her side.
"I'm here," Himeko said with a comforting smile.
Her smile gave Theresa a sense of warmth and strength. In the past, she had Cecilia to accompany her; now, she had Himeko.
She had never been truly alone.
Mustering her courage, Theresa walked forward, hand-in-hand with Himeko, toward the designated meeting place.
At that moment, Kiana's heart was also in a state of turmoil. Her earlier bold actions had made her too embarrassed to even look at Otto. She sat curled up on the chair, hugging her knees to her chest.
Otto still stood behind her, calmly playing with her hair.
Kiana rested her chin on her knees, trying her best to push thoughts of Otto from her mind. If she kept thinking about him, he would completely occupy her mind, and she didn't know how she would endure the days without him.
She fidgeted, her body still feeling a little warm, and focused her thoughts on the person coming to get her.
My great-aunt?
Kiana didn't really have a concept of relatives.
But that didn't mean she didn't yearn for them. The taste of loneliness was a bitter one, and in a soft corner of her heart, she craved the warmth of family.
She hadn't found Siegfried, but now a great-aunt was appearing out of the blue.
What kind of person is she?
Kiana was incredibly curious.
She must be a very mature, beautiful woman.
---o---
Just then, the door to the room was pushed open.
Kiana and Otto simultaneously lifted their heads toward the entrance.
Two slender figures stood in the doorway.
One was a mature woman with beautiful, fiery red hair. The other was a little girl who was holding the adult's hand, as if afraid of getting lost.
Seeing the two of them, Otto released Kiana's hair and gently patted her shoulder, signaling her to stand up.
"The person who's here to get you has arrived," Otto said with a smile.
He wasn't surprised by Aunt Himeko's presence. After all, she was effectively Theresa's right hand and, more often than not, her brain. Without Himeko, Theresa was little more than a mascot whose legs were her best feature.
Hearing Otto's words, Kiana scrambled clumsily to her feet.
She smoothed down her hair, which Otto had slightly disheveled, then looked toward the two figures in the doorway, feeling a little awkward and shy.
This... is my family?
Kiana's heart began to race. Aside from Siegfried, this was the first relative she had ever met.
And, my great-aunt is indeed... exactly as I imagined.
Her body trembled slightly. Otto, standing behind her, gave her back a gentle, encouraging pat.
As if bolstered by his support, Kiana slowly walked forward.
Seeing her approach, Himeko and Theresa released their hands.
Theresa's body trembled as she gazed at Kiana's face.
She looks so much like her... Cecilia...
The name of her dearest friend surfaced in Theresa's heart. Her eyes shimmered, and a warmth spread through them. Tears threatened to fall.
"Kia..."
Theresa raised her hands, preparing to give Kiana a heartfelt embrace.
But Kiana walked right past her...
No, to be precise, Kiana happily trotted over until she was standing directly in front of Himeko.
Then, Kiana gave Himeko a slight, respectful bow.
"Hello, Great-Aunt," she said with perfect politeness. "I am Kiana Kaslana. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Instead of leaping into her arms, Kiana wanted to leave a good, stable impression, not a reckless one.
As she straightened up, she looked at the utterly bewildered Himeko. Her great-aunt was just as mature and sexy as she had envisioned. For some reason, however, another strange thought surfaced. So, the 'granddaughter' Otto adopted really is a mature beauty with big breasts, a curvy rear, and long legs. Just like me. Hmph, that old lecher!
Next, Kiana turned her gaze to the small girl beside Himeko and offered a compliment.
"Is this your child, Great-Aunt? How old is she? Ten? She looks so small and adorable."
Kiana was a bit surprised that her great-aunt, who looked so young and beautiful, already had a child this big. By relation, this little girl must be her cousin.
Should I give her some allowance money later? I'll have to ask Otto how much would be appropriate. She looks like a child from a prominent family; what if she scoffs at me for giving too little?
Himeko, who had just been addressed as "Great-Aunt," stood frozen for a second before glancing at her friend.
Theresa was rooted to the spot. Her hands, raised for an embrace that never came, were still suspended in mid-air. The white-haired dwarf looked as if she had been flash-frozen solid in a moment of utter devastation, about to shatter into a million pieces.
The brilliant light in her cerulean eyes, so very similar to Kiana's, had completely vanished.
Theresa is the cutest in the world!