“Daddy!”

Lilith’s eyes widened.

Without the slightest effort, Helio lifted Lilith onto his arm, letting her sit comfortably.

“I’m in a hurry. Please put me down!”

At first, Lilith pushed against Helio’s shoulder, but then she seemed to realize something and sat up straight.

“No, wait. Daddy! Take me to Mommy! Hurry!”

No matter how fast she ran, she could never be as quick as Helio carrying her.

“Hm, but Mommy is very busy right now.”

“I have something really urgent too!”

“Really? Then I suppose we should think about which is more important. Let’s see…”

“Daddy!”

Helio paused as if teasing his young daughter, but soon, his long legs moved effortlessly, carrying them up the stairs in an instant.

As if he already knew exactly where Liliana was, he didn’t ask anyone for directions and instead stopped in front of a particular door.

It was the largest of Liliana’s studies—a place filled with important documents, where even most maids hesitated to enter.

But Helio and Lilith were free to go anywhere within the Empress’s Palace.

“Oh, Helio? And you brought Lilith with you? What brings you here?”

The greatest privilege of all was that, whenever they found Liliana there, she would greet them with a bright smile.

Setting aside the book she had been reading, Liliana immediately approached them.

“Our daughter was crying, saying she missed her mother.”

“Crying? Lilith, did you really cry?”

“I didn’t cry! I came because I have something to discuss with you!”

It wasn’t just something to say—it was something to discuss.

Helio burst into laughter at Lilith’s mature phrasing.

Liliana, too, found her daughter adorable and gently stroked her soft cheek.

“What is it that Lilith wants to discuss with Mommy?”

Lilith raised one hand high and declared,

“I want to go to the academy with Brother too!”

Helio chuckled, adjusting Lilith’s small body in his arms.

“The academy isn’t a place for playing.”

He seemed to think she just wanted to follow her brother for fun.

But Lilith was serious. Pressing her lips together stubbornly, she refused to back down.

Realizing that she was determined, Helio set her down on a plush sofa.

He sat beside her, while Liliana took a seat across from them and began speaking.

“Lilith, why do you want to follow Carl?”

“That’s…”

Lilith’s lips parted slightly.

In the future she had seen, Carl and Liliana were already dead.

A forgotten empress. The child she had lost.

But now that she had been born, both of them were alive and well.

Even without Helio acting like a tyrant, the imperial authority was absolute, beyond anyone’s challenge.

The people of the empire revered the Empress, and they both admired and cherished the prince and princess.

There was nothing to fear.

And yet, sometimes, Lilith felt anxious.

The moment she left this safe haven, she might lose her mother and brother.

‘If Brother leaves the palace, he might be in danger!’

Her mind was consumed by that one thought.

No matter how much they strengthened security outside the palace, there would always be gaps.

And through those gaps, someone might harm Carl.

Just like in the future she had originally seen.

Lilith’s eyes, full of worry, darted between Helio and Liliana.

‘Should I tell them the truth? Even if I do, Mommy and Daddy won’t think I’m strange.’

Helio and Liliana had always been on her side.

Yet, for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out.

Where should she start? How could she explain a future vision that had already changed so much?

Seeing her hesitate, Liliana reached out her right hand.

“Lilith, if it’s hard to talk about, you can take your time and tell us when you’re ready.”

At Liliana’s gentle words, Lilith suddenly jumped to her feet.

She leaped down from the sofa and ran straight to Liliana, throwing herself into her lap.

“Mommy, I want to go to the academy…”

Before she could even explain why, she was already pleading again.

Liliana lightly tapped Lilith’s cheek with her finger.

“Do you know what kind of place the Imperial Academy is, where Carl is going to enroll?”

There it was.

Lilith froze, her eyes filled with fear.

Liliana was always kind. Whenever Lilith acted cute, she would melt and grant her whatever she wanted.

But there were always exceptions.

When it came to things she absolutely couldn’t concede, Liliana would not budge, no matter how much Lilith cried or threw a fit.

Now, Lilith knew—she had already lost this battle.

With her confidence draining away, she muttered in a small voice,

“…It’s an academy that receives the highest level of support from the imperial family to nurture talented individuals.”

Hearing the clear and precise answer, Liliana patted Lilith’s head.

“That’s right. You know it well. Then, do you also know how old you have to be to enroll in the academy?”

“Ten years old. But Brother…”

“He’ll be turning eight soon. It’s very rare for someone to enroll two years early, like him. And how old are you, Lilith?”

“I’m four…”

“Then you need to grow a bit more, don’t you?”

Lilith hesitated, glancing around before lowering her gaze to the ground.

In a barely audible voice, she murmured,

“What if I make a contract with the Spirit King? Then I could enter early, like Brother, right?”

Besides, she would be able to stay by Carl’s side and protect him.

She had asked with a small hope in her heart, but Liliana was firm.

“That won’t do.”

“Why… why not?”

“Contracting with the Spirit King requires a great deal of energy. You’re still young, and after making a contract, you’ll be exhausted for a while. I don’t want that for you.”

“But I can do it!”

“I know. If there ever comes a time when you truly have no choice but to make a contract with the Spirit King, then you should. But that time is not now, is it?”

Liliana cupped Lilith’s cheeks and met her eyes.

Two identical pairs of eyes stared at each other.

Why was it?

It felt as if Liliana’s gaze was saying,

‘If your life were in danger, you may contract with the Spirit King. But that will never happen.’

Almost as if she, too, had seen the future Lilith had witnessed.

Lilith, overwhelmed by Liliana’s unwavering resolve, dropped her gaze.

Convincing Liliana right now seemed impossible.

* * *

As soon as Lilith returned to her bedroom in Aris Palace, she shouted loudly.

“Therier!”

It was the name of the Spirit King of Light, the most revered spirit in the Carlo Empire.

Golden dust shimmered in the air before quickly taking the shape of a tall woman.

The woman, so immense that her head nearly touched the high ceiling, smiled at Lilith before gradually shrinking her form.

“Lilith, calling upon a spirit without even being contracted yet?”

“But you still came.”

Therier did not deny it.

In this era, the only person capable of contracting with Therier was Lilith.

But this time was unique.

While Lilith was the only one who could form a contract with Therier, there were two people who could command her.

“You called me because you wish to form a contract, correct?”

“Yes! You promised before that you would contract with me!”

“I refuse.”

“What?!”

Therier’s firm words left Lilith gaping in shock.

“I’ve heard that spirits can be fickle, but a contract is supposed to be a serious matter! How can you go back and forth like this? Do you not want to contract with me?”

“No. I have been eagerly awaiting the day I can form a contract with you, Lilith. However, someone has told me not to contract with you yet, because you are still too young.”

Lilith’s large eyes wavered in shock.

“You didn’t contract with me until now because you were waiting for my decision… wasn’t that the reason?”

“Of course, I was waiting for your decision. But I was also waiting for hers.”

Lilith had a strong suspicion about who Therier meant by “hers.”

No—she was almost certain.

“You mean my mother, don’t you?”

Even at Lilith’s question, Therier merely smiled without answering.

The fact that Therier, who already treated Lilith as her master, was reacting this way!

Lilith, her face full of disbelief, asked Therier,

“Therier, you’re supposed to be my spirit. Spirits only listen to their contractor. So why are you putting my mother’s words above mine?”

When Therier remained silent again, Lilith grabbed her sleeve and demanded,

“I know you’re talking about my mother! Do you think I’m stupid?”

She wasn’t just testing the waters—she was completely convinced.

Therier, smiling fondly at Lilith’s determined expression, bent down so her eyes met the four-year-old’s.

“Then, I shall answer. It is because I deeply respect your mother, Liliana’s, will.”

“Her will?”

“Liliana is a very ordinary human. She has a good memory, but humans like that have appeared many times throughout history. Her talent for spirit arts is neither exceptional nor lacking—she is simply average. But her heart is firm yet gentle, passionate yet serene.”

“…I don’t understand what that means.”

“Let me put it simply.”

Therier placed a hand over Lilith’s chest.

“Liliana’s love for you is as pure as the love we Spirit Kings hold. We spirits, who cherish you, cannot ignore such a love.”