Chapter 12 - I Became Your Daughter
Everyone received a name at birth and she didn’t even have that. He had no idea how she had lived until now.
Miltiades’s expression turned dark.
He had believed that the child was always happy because she lived happily without lacking anything in the Vatican.
‘It was an illusion. How funny.’
“Callian.”
Callian, who was quietly standing next to the wall, bent his knee.
“How long will it take for preparations to end?”
“They’re almost complete. I believe they’ll be done by tomorrow. There wasn’t much to investigate since most places are open.”
“What about the thing we were looking for?”
“It’s not there.”
Miltiades smirked after hearing Callian’s response.
“I suppose they moved it somewhere else.”
The reason he came to the Vatican was that the Vatican had secretly hidden ‘that thing.’
“I thought the holy relics would be here. Where did they put it then?”
It was sloppy thinking.
“…What is Valentino doing?”
“Duke Ravenhook seems to be in contact with most of the members of the Vatican. I believe…”
“He wanted to be the saintess’ father.”
It was an obvious ambition.
He could use the temple to solidify his power.
“It seems the talk about the temple and the senate working together weren’t rumors.”
They were observing and keeping each other in check. It wasn’t a good signal.
“Tell Achillios to keep both of them under close watch.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Callian looked at Miltiades as if he wanted to ask him something.
“What will you do with Duke Ravenhook?”
“Who knows.”
Miltiades displayed a languid smile and propped his chin. He had an inkling of what Duke Valentino Ravenhook wanted in exchange for helping the temple.
Probably Rahel.
He wanted the Northern Empire.
“What should I do?”
Miltiades would have no regrets about giving up the throne since he never wanted to rule anyway. He had even thought about throwing away his power before.
‘I would like to see what he’ll do if I give it to him…’
However, he had changed his mind.
He didn’t care what happened to his life or the land, but one thing was certain.
Miltiades didn’t want to give the child away.
“Callian.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Have you ever given a name to someone?”
Callian nodded. “I’ve named my dogs and horse…”
It was something everyone had done once, but Miltiades was an exception.
He knew the importance of a name and that was the problem.
“What name will you give her?”
“I don’t know.”
He didn’t know what came over him when he had agreed to give her a name.
‘Did I pity her?’
He might not have been able to turn down her look of expectation.
‘Maybe I was interested.’
“Your Excellency?”
Miltiades decided that it was simply because of impulse, and he got out of his seat.
“There’s somewhere I need to go.”
* * *
It had been three days since Miltiades agreed to give me a name.
Three days. Yes, three days had passed.
“It’s taking too long!”
Luciana shook her head while watching me scream and pull my hair.
“I hope no one else ever sees you like this.”
“Aaaaaah! Luciana, what’s going on? Huh?!” I grabbed onto her arm and kicked my legs. “We can’t push this back anymore! We’re leaving in a week! I have to tell them my name tomorrow!”
“I told you it would have been better to be named as per the customs.”
Getting a name from the old pope!
“I don’t want to! A name is precious! Don’t you know the poem Flower by Kim Chun Soo?”
‘When I spoke her name, she came to me and became a flower—don’t you know this line!’
“Do you think Daddy’s acting like this because he doesn’t want to give me a name?”
“I doubt it.”
“Right? I thought he would give me a random name after thinking about it for a day.”
“…Saintess, what do you think of Emperor Miltiades?”
“He’s my dad.”
I knew this because he’s my favorite character. He knew nothing about being meticulous.
“Ah, what’s wrong with him!”
One of Miltiades’s merits was that he didn’t blindly make promises, but I didn’t know what was going on.
I poked Luciana’s side for no reason.
“Luci, have you heard anything from Callian?”
“I tried looking around once because you were being so bothersome, but I found nothing.”
“Do you think he forgot to give me a name?!”
“Of course not.”
I wanted to think positively as well, but I didn’t know what life would throw at me.
“This won’t do. Let’s go.”
I couldn’t take it anymore and got out of my seat.
“Let’s go ask when he’ll give me a name! I’m not the kind of person who can wait around!”
I’d rather ask instead of thinking about it! I squeezed my fists together and stood up.
“Let’s go!”
I went ahead and opened the door.
“…”
“…”
Pope Raphael was standing in the hallway smiling at me.
I closed the door.
