Chapter 16: the new apartment
Inside an office in an apartment, there was a desk with a chair. On the desk were a computer and a few scattered books.
On the left side of the office stood a large bookshelf filled with books of all kinds, ranging from history to economics and even novels.
In terms of size, the office was quite spacious, with a large glass wall that provided a clear view of the outside.
As the office door stood open, two figures entered. One of them was a man who did not appear to be older than 20. He wore a white priest's robe with matching gloves. Around his neck hung a necklace with a silver cross. His jet-black hair, with golden roots, contrasted with his bright golden eyes. The other person was a little girl, around 5 years old. She wore a purple dress with golden ornaments, matching her violet eyes and hair.
As the little girl's eyes widened, she ran around excitedly before heading toward the window behind the desk. Placing her hands on it and looking through, she could see houses, shops, and people outside, all appearing very small.
As the man slowly walked toward her without rushing, a faint smile on his face, he asked, "Do you like the view this office offers?"
The girl, Elara, upon hearing his voice, turned around and smiled brightly, her hands behind her back. Leaning slightly forward, she replied, "Yes, I like it a lot." After a brief pause, she looked at her father and asked curiously, "Are we going to stay here? I thought I would stay at the church."
Hearing his daughter's question, Adam answered warmly, "Yes, we will stay here from today onward. This apartment is a gift from the mayor, but since I spent most of my time at the church, I never used it."
After exploring the entire apartment together, Adam and Elara, father and daughter, sat down in the living room and watched TV.
The apartment was located in one of the best buildings in the capital, with around ten rooms, including bedrooms, a large living room with a kitchen, and even game rooms, along with a private terrace.
As Adam watched his daughter, who was focused on the cartoon playing on the screen, he thought, 'For now, she is a five-year-old child, and she has the right to act like one. But she cannot keep this behavior forever. She must improve, because no one would want an immature and uneducated leader.'
'Her destiny will be to become someone capable of moving planets with the mere mention of her name, and to stand tall before everyone. This means that many things a normal person should have will be out of her reach,' he continued, thinking about the path he had planned for her. Unlike a typical father, Adam only considered her future usefulness.
As he began planning Elara's future without her knowing, he raised his hand and touched the silver cross on his chest.
"Elara," Adam called, prompting the little girl to turn her head toward him. He slowly lifted his hand and placed it on her head. Before she could even respond, Elara felt her father's gloved hand gently touch her.
While the sound of the television echoed faintly in the background, Elara paid it no attention. The only thought in her mind was that her father had touched her. Her lips instinctively curled upward, forming a bright smile.
Yet, despite her warm expression, Adam's smile seemed somewhat cold in comparison.
"Starting tomorrow, you will have a personal teacher and you will study with her. She will teach you everything you need," Adam said as he withdrew his hand. Elara, feeling his touch disappear, pouted slightly before nodding.
The father and daughter spent the rest of the evening together until bedtime, as Adam, as usual, stayed in her room to read her a story before she went to sleep.
The next morning, in the apartment's library, Elara was seated at a table, still wearing a dress, this time light pink with blue ornaments. Across from her sat a woman who appeared to be over 30 years old. She wore a black suit with a skirt and a matching top, her long hair falling down her back.
She wore glasses, and her face showed no emotion. Seeing the cold demeanor of the woman in front of her, Elara could not help but feel a bit of pressure. She unconsciously grasped her dress and lowered her head.
After a moment of silence, the woman adjusted her glasses and spoke slowly, her voice as cold as her expression. "My name is Stéphanie, and I will be your teacher for the coming years. I will teach you everything you need to know."
Although her speech was brief and concise, Elara could clearly feel how cold she was. As she hesitated, she noticed her teacher crossing her arms and simply staring at her.
After a short moment of confusion, Elara realized that she was expected to introduce herself. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she spoke with energy, unlike the woman before her. "My name is Elara. I am 5 years old this year, and I love playing games in my free time."
Stéphanie said nothing more and simply picked up a book, which appeared to be about the history of Solaria-IV. She also took a pen and a sheet of paper.
As a teacher, she had prepared in advance to fulfill the saint's request. However, as she observed the little girl, who resembled the saint neither in behavior nor in appearance, she thought, 'How could the saint have had a child, especially with an unknown woman, over the past five years? And who is this woman?'
Stephanie tried to understand the mystery behind Elara's birth and her unknown mother, but outwardly, she maintained her cold expression.