Chapter 335: Interlude: Admitting Fault
"Theresa, something's off!"
Charging down the road ahead, Siegfried kept up the imposing, half-draconic form, speaking to Theresa, who stood perched on his shoulder.
From the smoothness of his speech, it was clear he had gained significant control over his body in such a short time—perhaps unreasonable physical talent was just another trademark of the Kaslana family.
Arms crossed, Theresa carried the golden-framed cross on her back, her black nun's robe fluttering in the wind. Her voice was calm:
"The fact that no one's tried to stop us means Grandpa is willing to see us."
"And how do you explain Durandal, then?"
"She was probably testing my strength after breaking free from the shackles in my heart… and checking how much your power has changed after your transformation. Something like that. In any case, we just keep moving. We'll have an answer soon."
"Alright, I'll go with your lead. You know, when you're not acting clueless, you're actually pretty reliable."
Siegfried's deep tone carried genuine feeling.
Theresa glanced at his horned head, giving the faintest shake.
This big lug… I still have no idea what Cecilia saw in you back then.
With a silent sigh, she suppressed the tangle of emotions building for the moment she was about to meet Otto.
. . . . . . . . .
Rumble… rumble… rumble!
The battle raging above still burned fierce, the clouds in the surrounding sky entirely dispersed. The whole base shook violently, as though it might fall from the heavens at any moment.
In that chaos, Siegfried crashed into the towering temple at the heart of the floating citadel.
Bang!
His clawed foot slammed down on the dark-golden floor tiles, cracking them in several places.
At the same time, the rumbling and tremors that shook the base abruptly vanished—cut off entirely, as though the temple's mysterious power had sealed them away.
Outside, the world trembled; inside, the temple was calm and serene.
The sharp contrast made both Siegfried and Theresa pause in surprise.
Then they saw it—at the center of the hall, a faint golden circle of light illuminated a delicate white tea table. On top, a white lace tablecloth, fine white porcelain tea set, steam curling from freshly brewed tea.
Seated beside it, a golden-haired young girl held a teacup, gently blowing away the heat. Her features were like a painting, her lips soft and pink as cherry blossoms. Behind her stood a tall, elegant, silver-haired maid, silent and still.
The scene was the complete opposite of the fierce confrontation they had been expecting.
"Grandpa, it's been a long time. Good day to you."
Jumping down from Siegfried's shoulder, Theresa curtsied and lifted her skirt, her manners graceful yet adorably formal.
Hera sipped her tea and smiled faintly.
"It has been a while, little Theresa. Would you like something to drink?"
Boom!!
While Hera and Theresa exchanged greetings, Siegfried—still in his beastlike state—could no longer contain himself. He charged past Theresa, appearing before Hera in an instant. His sharp claws closed in a rending motion, the air bursting with a sonic crack and a blast of wind.
Bang!
The claws stopped in midair, colliding against a faint, transparent golden barrier that suddenly appeared around the tea table. The two forces ground against each other, locked in a tense deadlock.
"Ot—TO!!!"
Siegfried's eyes burned crimson as the dragon scales on his legs dug into the ground, bracing him as he poured more strength into shattering the shield. It quaked under the strain, cracks beginning to form.
Just then, Hera continued to blow gently on her tea, not even looking up.
"Are you here to vent your rage… or do you want to know how your daughter is doing?"
"… …"
Siegfried held his tearing stance for a long moment. Slowly, the bloodlust and fury faded from his eyes, and he retracted his claws.
"Tell me—where is Kiana?"
"I don't feel like talking to you. Go wait over there."
"You—"
Before he could finish, a sudden force gripped his tail, hurling him backward.
"Siegfried, step aside. Leave the talking to me."
Theresa spoke the words as though giving him a choice, but didn't actually allow one—she slammed him into a nearby stone pillar, shattering it. The falling debris buried him before he could respond.
As for her cute granddaughter's violent behavior, Hera only kept smiling pleasantly, looking quite satisfied.
But that smile vanished the moment a human arm reached out from beneath the rubble of the shattered pillar.
Hera glanced at her adorable granddaughter, then shifted her eyes to Amber, whose expression remained unreadable, before narrowing her own.
Snap!
With a crisp snap of her fingers, a wide sheet of white cloth fell from the air, draping over the now fully human—and completely unclothed—Siegfried as he climbed out of the debris.
Only then did Hera seem to relax a little, casting a look at Amber.
Amber stepped forward, carrying a glass of green liquid she had picked up from the table, and presented it respectfully to Theresa.
Fresh bitter melon juice—healthy, and Theresa's favorite.
Theresa hesitated for a moment, but still accepted it, sipping through the straw.
"…Thank you, Grandpa."
"You're being too formal, little Theresa."
"That's true… after all, you are my grandfather."
"That's right, my little Theresa. Why don't you come over here and let Grandpa hold you? We haven't had a proper moment together in such a long time… Grandpa has missed you very, very much~~"
Beaming warmly, arms spread in welcome—this version of Hera made Theresa unconsciously tighten her grip on the glass, her fingers turning slightly pale.
Theresa drew a deep breath, calming herself before speaking in a steady tone.
"Grandpa, let's leave the catching-up for now. You know why I'm here. Can you tell me—is Kiana here?"
"Do you understand the consequences of making a scene at the Sky City right now? And dragging that young lady outside—the one who can't be touched or scolded—into this mess? You're giving me quite the headache."
"Grandpa, is Kiana here in this base? What must I do to see her?"
"Oh my, the damage to the base is getting worse. There's no way to pass it off as a joke or an accident anymore. It seems even my little Theresa will have to be ready for punishment. Let's see… how about stripping you of all authority, bringing you back to my side, and having you be Grandpa's good little granddaughter forever?"
Hera smiled.
Theresa's face remained cold.
After this back-and-forth, the two fell into a long, silent stare.
A moment later, Theresa exhaled softly, unshouldered the great cross from her back, set it upright on the floor, and bowed deeply toward Hera.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa. I've caused you trouble."
Hera set down her teacup, absently brushed a strand of golden hair from her face, crossed one leg over the other, and said:
"I forgive you. After all, you are my little Theresa. But you should know… I can cover for you now, while you make trouble. Soon, though, the order of the world will change. In the new order… my little Theresa, you'll need to learn to measure your actions for yourself. Grandpa can't protect you forever. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Grandpa."
"Good girl. Come, sit with Grandpa."
"Yes."
Theresa moved to the tea table and sat down slowly.
At that moment, Siegfried—still draped in the white cloth—strode toward Hera. But before he could get close, Amber's figure suddenly appeared before him.
Raising one arm, she looked at him with an impassive face, silently making a dismissive gesture.
Siegfried stopped, hesitated for a moment, then stood quietly a dozen paces away, leaving the space for Theresa and Hera.
What he wanted was an answer—and whether he got it himself or through Theresa made little difference. It wasn't worth fussing over.
As for settling his score with Otto, once he had his answer… there would be plenty of time for that.
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