(Erza POV)
Elena's small voice trembled as she whispered, "Papa… Sister Mary…" Her words hung in the air, delicate but heavy, like they could shatter everything in a single breath.
My chest tightened. I bit down on my lip so hard it almost hurt, forcing myself to stay still.
It's over… The thought clawed at me. She's going to tell him. The secret… Sister Mary being an elf… everything we've tried to hide.
My stomach churned. If Yuuta learns the truth… if he finds out he wasn't born but created—what then? He still believes he's from Earth, that his parents are out there somewhere waiting for him. That hope is what keeps him smiling… what keeps him alive.
The truth would destroy him. And I… I couldn't bear to watch that happen.
Please, Yuuta… no matter what comes, survive it. For our love's sake. For mine.
I held my breath as Elena finally lifted her hands. Her tiny palms unfolded to reveal something glimmering.
"Papa… Sister Mary …"
My heart stopped.
"…gave me this stone. Can I keep it?"
I blinked. "Eh?!" The sound escaped louder than I intended.
Yuuta looked at me, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
I forced a laugh, waving my hand as if I'd only been surprised. "N-no, I mean… what stone? Haha… silly, isn't it?"
He raised a brow. "Uff. You're acting so weird today, Erza."
Heat flushed my cheeks as I stumbled over another nervous chuckle. She wasn't supposed to say anything! Elena's terrible at keeping secrets. I thought for sure she'd spill everything.
But instead of the truth, Elena simply stretched her hands toward him.
"This shiny stone."
Yuuta crouched down to her level, his smile gentle. "Woah. It's beautiful, Elena. Where'd you get it? Is it your toy?"
I followed his gaze. The moment I saw it, my breath caught.
The stone wasn't ordinary. Its surface shimmered a deep green, light rippling faintly inside like it was alive. Small enough to fit into a ring, yet it pulsed with a quiet energy I couldn't mistake.
"Wait." My voice came out sharper than I meant. I held out my hand. "Yuuta, let me see that."
He glanced at me, surprised by my urgency, but he passed it over without question.
The stone's weight pressed into my palm, familiar… terrifying.
My fingers trembled. The hum of magic brushed against my skin.
No. It can't be. But… yes. It is.
I swallowed hard. This Stone.
Yuuta leaned closer, his brows furrowed. "Erza? What is it? It's just a toy stone, right?"
I shook my head, unable to hide the strain in my voice. "No… it's not. This isn't a toy. It's real. A real ember."
His smile faded. The words struck him like a blade. "What do you mean 'real'? How—how could Elena have something like this?"
His hands gripped Elena's small shoulders, not harshly, but with desperate urgency. "Elena, tell me the truth. Where did you get this?"
She puffed her cheeks, glaring at him with childish indignation. "Sister Mary gave it to me!"
Yuuta's eyes went wide. "…Sister Mary?"
Yuuta's eyes searched hers. "Are you sure? You're not lying, are you?"
Elena stomped her tiny foot, her voice sharp and absolute. "Yes! Elena doesn't lie! Bad Papa!"
She puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms just like I do, then turned to the side in a huff, clearly angry.
"Oh no… my princess…" he whispered, his brows knitted in confusion and disbelief. "I'm not blaming you… it's just… it's unbelievable… how could I ever believe that?" His voice trembled slightly as he stared at her, trying to make sense of it.
Elena giggled softly, completely unbothered by his reaction. "Sister Mary gave it to me!" she said proudly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
She leaned in with a mischievous smile, lowering her voice just enough to tease him. "If I hide something from you…" she giggled again, tilting her head innocently, "that's kind of fun, right?"
Yuuta was still talking with Elena, his face full of confusion as he tried to understand how she got the stone. But my mind… it wasn't on them anymore.
The moment I saw that stone, something inside me jolted. I knew it. I had seen it before. Somewhere. But where?
I deeply thought for a second because I remembered I had seen this stone before, but I couldn't recall where…
Then it hit me—I suddenly remembered!
My chest felt hollow. Sister Mary gave it to Elena? The thought wouldn't fit into my head. That tiny green stone—if I was right, if my memory hadn't fooled me—wasn't a trinket at all. It was a Fairy Stone, a bloodline mark, a sigil forged in old, high-mana ceremonies to name those with true elven lineage.
When royal elf children are born, they're given a fairy stone as a gift. It's not just any stone—it's something sacred. Over time, the stone transforms… a fairy slowly forms within it, growing until it becomes a little companion. That fairy helps the child understand magic, teaches them the history of their people, and guides them as they learn—because they're blessed with knowledge from birth.
But… how could Sister Mary just hand something like that to my child?
As if it's nothing more than passing a biscuit?
Before I could unravel that question, she stepped out of the bedroom doorway.
Sister Mary looked… emptied. Her Nun robes hung on her like a shell. The color had drained from her cheeks, and the light in her eyes was thin, as if someone had dimmed it from within. She moved slowly, each step an effort, but there was a strange, sorrowful peace in the set of her shoulders.
"Yuuta…" she said, voice barely above a whisper. She raised her hands, palms open. "Do not shout at her."
My breath hitched. For a second I thought she might crumble, but she steadied herself as if pulling a frail robe tighter against the cold.
The wordless weight of the stone sat heavy in my palm. It felt suddenly obscene—this relic of another world, turned into a child's plaything. Yuuta stared at Sister Mary, every line of his face warring between confusion and something like reverence.
"I gave it to her," Sister Mary said simply.
Yuuta's face contorted, disbelief cutting into anger. "But… Sister Mary, that— that's yours. It must be valuable. How could you just give it away?"
She managed the faintest smile. It didn't reach the tired depths of her heart. "It was yours, Yuuta. I only returned what should have been given long ago. I should have done this sooner."
"Mine?" Yuuta echoed, as if testing the word in the air.
"Yes… it was originally yours," her voice was thin, almost fragile, but unwavering. "I'm just returning what's rightfully yours. Keep it safe… and think of it as my farewell gift."
"How can it be mine?" he asked quietly.
Sister Mary opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but fear stopped her. She was afraid that even accidentally saying something might trigger Yuuta's memory.
I tried to speak up, to cover for her. "It's... it's nothing, Sister Mary—"
But surprisingly, Yuuta smiled gently and spoke with calm assurance. "It's okay. I know it's one of your secrets, right, Sister Mary? You don't have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable."
For a moment, both Sister Mary and I just stood there, stunned. We couldn't believe how easily he trusted us—even though it was a lie, even though it should have raised suspicion, he didn't care at all.
Yuuta blinked, then let out an incredulous laugh—a reflex born of one part relief and two parts disbelief.
"But, It must be worth a thousand—no, ten thousand dollars —at least, right, Sister Mary? How can you give me something so precious?"
Sister Mary let out an exasperated little huff, as though sighing through tired lungs. "Uff, Yuuta… are you seriously going to haggle over my farewell gift?"
"I dare not," he replied softly, lowering his voice with humility. He cupped the child's small face gently in both hands, the panic that had gripped him just moments ago melting into something tender. "Sister Mary… thank you. Thank you for giving Elena, something so precious. I'll always remember your kindness."
She shook her head, a faint, sorrowful smile brushing her lips. "Don't make me feel like an outsider, Yuuta. I'm your godmother—remember that?" She stepped closer and wrapped him in a brief but careful embrace. The hug felt strangely familial and final all at once. "You don't owe me anything. Just… don't forget Righteous way, alright?"
Yuuta pressed his fingers into her shoulders, anchoring the moment as if to hold it in place. "I won't," he whispered.
Sister Mary's voice was soft, yet every word carried weight. "Yuuta… remember this. If you ever discover something about yourself, don't be afraid. Don't let thoughts of revenge take root in your heart. Accept your Fate and Love your God, trust Him… He guides the fate of everyone."
Yuuta swallowed, his chest tightening. He nodded, his voice steady despite the lump in his throat. "Yes, Sister Mary. I… I remember what you taught me. I won't take revenge, no matter what I learn about myself."
Her eyes softened, and a proud smile tugged at her lips. "Good. Now I can say… truly say… you're growing into a man. Mature, wise… someone who can face life without letting it harden him."
Yuuta felt a sting behind his eyes. He quickly turned, forcing his gaze elsewhere. "Oh no—wait! I just remembered! We haven't eaten dinner yet. Let me… I'll prepare the table for you!"
Sister Mary's gentle laugh echoed in the room. "Still trying to hide your feelings, aren't you, Yuuta? Some things never change."
He gave a small, sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "I… I've made something special. Please sit at the dining table. I'll be right back, You will love it."
Her eyes softened even more, glimmering with warmth and affection. "I will, Yuuta. For this… our last meal together… I'm really looking forward to it."
With a nod, Yuuta turned and hurried toward the kitchen with Elena, his footsteps light but purposeful. Left alone with Sister Mary, the room felt quiet, almost sacred, as if time itself had slowed to hold the moment for just the two of them.
I fixed my gaze on Sister Mary, my voice sharper than I intended.
"Tell me honestly… is that a Fairy Stone, Sister Mary?"
Her expression didn't falter. Instead, she offered me the same gentle smile she always wore, lowering her voice as if speaking to a sovereign rather than a friend.
"Slow down, my queen."
I huffed, folding my arms across my chest. "Forget the titles. Just answer me—is it?"
Her smile deepened, though a shadow lingered in her tired eyes. "Yes. It is a Fairy Stone, My Queen."
The words landed like a weight in my chest. My heart gave a sharp, painful skip. "But… that's a royal bloodline treasure," I pressed. "An Elf Identity Stone. Why would you hand something so precious to Elena of all people?"
Sister Mary's eyes softened, her voice steady but threaded with quiet resolve. "Because she promised me she would keep it secret. That's why I entrusted it to her."
I frowned, confusion tightening my brows. None of it made sense. "But… how did you even come to possess this in the first place? This isn't something that just falls into one's pocket."
She drew a long breath, as though racing herself before stepping onto dangerous ground. "Yes, my queen. Originally, that stone belonged to Yuuta."
My breath caught. "What?"
Her gaze drifted toward Yuuta, who was in kitchen still crouched beside Elena, gently brushing her hair from her face. For a moment, the weariness in Sister Mary's expression broke, replaced by something more maternal, almost mournful.
"When Yuuta was a child, the Elf Queen herself gave it to him as a farewell gift. A charm to keep him safe, to remind him he was loved. After leaving the Elven Kingdom, he clung to it night after night. He wept, holding it close, whispering her name in his sleep Although his memory were Sealed he remember Queen name. To him… she was like a mother."
I swallowed hard, my throat tight.
"That's why," Sister Mary continued, her voice lowering further, "I hid it from him. Every time he touched it, the nightmares grew worse. Nightmares of the lab… of what was done to him there. I thought it would be kinder to keep it from him, to give it back only on his final day."
Her words pressed down on me like stone. "So… this isn't actually a Fairy Stone?" I asked cautiously. "I thought they manifest as tiny living fairies, not inert gems. And if it's been fifteen years—then surely it's lost its power?"
But she shook her head firmly. "No, my queen. It is a Fairy Stone. But to awaken it requires an immense amount of mana—more than this land could ever offer. That is why I dared to pass it to Elena. Here, it will never awaken. To her, it is only a treasure to keep safe."
A shiver ran through me, a mix of relief and unease. "I see… But how do you expect a child—my little troublemaker—to keep from blurting out everything? She nearly exposed you tonight."
At this, Sister Mary chuckled softly, a spark of mischief flickering in her tired face. "It was simple. I told her that if she guards my secret from Yuuta, then one day the stone will bloom into a true fairy of her own but if she tell My secret it will not bloom. And she agreed without hesitation."
For the first time that night, I felt my shoulders loosen. The tension in my chest ebbed, if only a little. I let out a long breath, nodding slowly. "So that's why she's so obsessed with the stone instead of the secret… That actually makes sense."
Sister Mary's lips curved into a faint, weary smile. "Yes, my queen. Sometimes, a little hope is all that's needed."
I drew in a long breath, closing my eyes. At last… everything is in our hands now.
A wave of relief washed over me, and I let out a soft sigh. "Uff… this mortal always troubles me so much…" I whispered to myself, the words barely escaping my lips.
Then a flicker of worry hit me. "Oh no…" I muttered, freezing for a moment. My eyes shot open. What if he remembers… that perverted act? A flush of panic rose in my chest. He'll definitely tease me… laugh at me… How can I erase his memory before it's too late?
But even as I fretted, a strange feeling stirred deep inside. I didn't hate the idea as much as I should have. A small, reluctant smile formed on my lips before I could stop it.
Just then… I heard it.
A soft, shaky sound—like someone trying not to cry but failing.
My heart skipped.
I opened my eyes slowly, trying to locate where it came from.
Sister Mary.
Her face was streaked with tears. They poured down in steady streams, as if a dam inside her had finally burst. Her shoulders trembled, and she struggled to keep her composure—but her grief spilled out like an unstoppable flood.
My breath caught. "Sister Mary…?" I whispered, stepping closer.
Her sobs choked her words. She didn't answer. Her tears kept rolling down her cheeks, wetting her gown as she wept in silence.
I stared at her, bewildered. Why all of a sudden? What happened? My heart ached at the sight, and I wanted to reach out, to comfort her—but I hesitated, unsure of how.
"What… what's wrong, Sister Mary?" I finally asked softly, fear and concern threading my voice.
She remained quiet, only her tears speaking for her—soft, sorrowful, relentless.
"This Aroma…?" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief.
"Aroma.??"
To be continued…