[Theresia's POV]
Being a mother to a brilliant child is a glorious responsibility.
While my daughter's precocious intelligence brought me joy, it also came with a simultaneous concern about the unnatural rate of her emotional and cognitive growth. Every milestone she reached wasn't just early, it was unprecedented.
Ever since Herta was born, her development has been rather strange.
Unlike most infants, she rarely cried. Instead, she usually stared at the lights for a while. Even before she could speak, she'd displayed an uncanny attention to conversations and explored every nook and cranny of the manor with a curious spirit.
By the time she was a year and a half old, Herta had already learned to talk, write, and count, all thanks to Albrecht's continuous teaching. He took pride in nurturing her mind, but even he seemed startled by how quickly she caught on.
Now, only a few years later, she participated in a major research project and created a device capable of unraveling the mystery within.
I've come to accept that my child might be burdened by so many expectations. Even though no one spoke of it aloud, I fear she would be heavily affected by it—perhaps she already has.
However, I want her to experience moments where she can be happy and free from pressure.
That's why, after healing her wound the other day, I showed her how to summon elementals from the flowers in my garden. I knew that teaching her this would be helpful someday. And that day came sooner than expected, when Albrecht told me he needed to bring Herta to the workshop to debate against Rubert II.
I was so nervous at that time that I pleaded for my husband to reconsider. But before I could express my concern, Herta courageously accepted the challenge, which made me even more anxious. Yet, she reassured me and Albrecht that she would prove Rubert wrong.
Hearing that from her was unexpected, and seeing her doing research in the library was both amazing and deeply concerning. The thought of her preparing to face the High Elite brought back bad memories from when I was still working within the Genius Society.
When the day of the debate came, I saw that my daughter was dressed for the occasion. Her dark dress, capelet, and beret had once belonged to me when I was young, but I saved them in case I had a child one day.
Not only that, I pinned a Clematis flower to her hat, not just because I want her to look more beautiful, but I suspected that she would use her elemental summoning magic to confirm her point in the debate eventually.
But then, as Herta and Albrecht were about to leave our home, Bellum and Benjamin showed up to escort them to the workshop. Their arrival wasn't the one that surprised me, it was the one I hadn't seen for years—Ruan Ling.
Once, she had been my closest research partner. The only individual who stood by me in my loneliest hours. But it all changed when I married Albrecht and retired from work. As a result, our friendship went sour, and she became cold and distant since then.
After they left, I sat underneath the tree in my garden, praying for my daughter to succeed in her debate against Rubert II. At the same time, I lamented what had become of my old friend, wondering what went wrong that day.
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The day passed slowly until the sun started to set.
That's when Marlene, our family's caretaker, approached me with a notification.
"Madam Theresia, someone at the front door wanted to see you."
Curious, I raised an eyebrow at her.
"At this hour? Who could it be?"
"She called herself Ruan Ling and wanted to speak with you in person."
Shocked by her response, I widened my eyes and rushed to the front door. When I got there, I found my old friend standing in the doorway with her arms crossed.
She noticed me coming and averted her eyes, looking a bit guilty.
"Hello, Theresia..."
"Ling? What brings you here?"
Silence permeated for a moment before she finally met my gaze.
"Sorry, I was wrong..."
"Wrong? About what?"
"Your daughter... I initially thought her brilliance was a coincidence, but I was mistaken."
Her confession surprised me. Did she doubt Herta's talent at first? Could be.
"It's alright," I reassured softly. "Stuff like that is inevitable sometimes."
Ruan Ling's lip curled faintly into a bitter smile.
"You know, I still remember our friendship together."
I nodded, stepping closer to her.
"So do I. Every single day."
There was a long pause between us, filled only by the rustling of wind through the hedges.
"Honestly, I was jealous of you," she confessed, lowering her gaze. "Back then, you were the one who believed we could change the world. I just followed formulas and logic. But you had hope. Then you left, and I—well, I stopped believing in hope entirely."
Clutching my chest, her statement wounded my heart deeply.
"I didn't want to leave you behind."
"You did anyway."
I bit my lip, feeling guilty of abandoning my closest friend.
"Is there something I can do to make up for my mistake?"
After I asked, she reached into her handbag, took out a syringe, and handed it to me.
"Please use this to collect a sample of your blood."
Upon receiving the equipment, I blinked in confusion.
"What do you need my blood for?"
"I will use it as a blueprint in creating my own offspring."
For a moment, I was speechless. My hand tightened around the syringe as the implication of her statement settled in my mind.
"You're creating... a child?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if anticipating judgment.
"Yes, one created not from affection or betrothal, but from ambition. If Herta shows the apex of nature's genius, then mine will be the apex of design."
I looked down at the syringe, feeling a cold twist in my stomach.
"And you need my essence... because why?"
"Because you believe in hopes and dreams, but I didn't. Your belief produced Herta. I need to understand what that belief changed in you. I want to replicate the potential I once ignored."
"And what about the child?"
"I will ensure she has everything she needs. Knowledge, logic, and discipline. I will not repeat the mistake of blind admiration like others have done with your daughter."
Her voice carried a grief buried deep, hidden beneath ambition and pride. Perhaps she saw it as redemption, or maybe she was just lonely.
"And if your creation ends up just the same as mine?"
Ruan Ling hesitated, contemplating.
"Then... I'll finally understand what you saw in all this hope."
I exhaled slowly, unsure of what decision to make. I hadn't spoken to my dear friend in years, and now here she was, asking for a part of me to construct a legacy in response to mine.
Was this desperation? Or rivalry.
I stepped back into the manor and used the syringe to collect a bit of my blood. Then, I went to get a small vial that I stored in the study. Then, I transferred the sample into the container and sealed it. Once done, I returned to the entrance and gently placed it in her palm.
"Don't lose yourself again, Ling."
"I won't."
And with that, she turned and walked into the descending twilight, carrying the past and the future in her coat pocket.
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[Marlene's POV]
I wasn't always a caretaker to a family of brilliant human minds.
Back then, I was just a humble messenger of the angelic race, delivering prophecies of future events designed by our all-powerful creator, the Star King Dragon.
Until one day, a high-ranking Serephs summoned me to give a direct order.
"Hey, young one, I have a job for you."
"What is it, Milord?"
"You must go to the Nasca Kingdom and act as a caretaker for a child from a human family."
Confused by their demand, I questioned about the context of the mission.
"Why must I tend for a mortal offspring?"
"Because he wishes this human to grow as an important figure and his closest companion."
While I was initially reluctant, I accepted the task and disguised myself as a mortal caretaker, hiding my wings and blending into human society with my extra skill, Divine Concealment.
When I arrived at my destination, the child had not yet been born. The parents, Theresia and Albrecht Wissenschaft, welcomed me with cautious curiosity.
"Can we ask who you are?"
"And what brings you here to our home?"
"My name is Marlene, and I'm a traveling caretaker looking for long-term employment."
Hearing my introduction, the two exchanged curious glances before returning to me.
"I guess you could stay."
"Are you sure about this, Theresia?"
"I mean, we could use some extra hands now that the baby is almost here."
Theresia smiled warmly, though her hand lingered cautiously over her swollen belly. Albrecht, on the other hand, watched me with curiosity and estimation, but neither discerned the truth of what I was. That was how it should be to accomplish my mission.
I stayed by the mother's side in the following weeks, blending seamlessly into the household, pretending to be a devoted midwife. And when the day came, I was there to deliver the child.
"Just a bit more, Madam Theresia. Push harder."
"Hrrghhh!!"
Finally, the infant emerged, and it was a girl. The parents named her Herta Wissenschaft, and the one destined to walk alongside our divine creator was born.
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That was four years ago, and now I am watching Theresia seeing her friend, Ruan Ling, leave the manor. However, there was one thing that's been bothering me ever since they spoke to each other, so I approached her gently.
"Madam Theresia, may I ask you something?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Why did you agree to give that person a sample of your blood?"
She turned to me, her eyes reflecting an exhausted sort of resolve and resignation.
"Because I wanted to make up for a mistake I made a long time ago."
"Was it worth it?"
"I hope so."
Just as our conversation started to calm down, the front gate creaked open. Theresia looked ahead, her expression softening with joy as Albrecht and Herta returned from their trip to the workshop.
I stepped forward and bowed, greeting them with my usual tone.
"Welcome back, Lord Albrecht, Young Lady Herta."
Theresia hurried over towards them with an excited smile.
"You're back, you two. So, how did it go?"
Albrecht smirked proudly and puffed up his chest.
"You wouldn't believe it. Herta absolutely defeated Rubert II. Then Zander, the Director, made a surprise arrival and ruled in our favor. After that, Patavia, the main proponent of the Solitary Particle Theory, arrived and invited us to her lab. Speaking of which, the research had finally been solved and will soon be published, all thanks to Herta's device."
Hearing his proclamation, I couldn't help but be amazed. As expected of the divine creator's future companion, she was brilliant and talented.
And yet, her eyes were too calm for a mortal girl who just made history. I knew that gaze too well. It was the same one as my Seraph superiors had whenever they estimated the outcome of wars before they even began.
Just then, Herta quietly approached me and leaned forward.
"Come with me to the garden, Marlene."
Her words were hushed and confidential. It doesn't sound like a typical request. But I nodded and discreetly followed her, walking behind her small but confident stride.
Eventually, we stopped at a secluded part of the garden, surrounded by hedges and silence.
She then turned to meet my gaze with a calm yet resolute expression.
"Did you deliver the letter I asked you to?"
"Yes, just as you instructed, Lady Herta."
"Good, did you send it straight to the Director's office?"
"Of course, but was there something wrong?"
Herta shook her head, folded her arms behind her back, and tilted her head.
"Well, Zandar proclaimed that an angel lady appeared at his office window and coincidentally delivered him a letter. Not only that, she told him a "prophecy"...that I would one day join the Genius Society."
My wings tensed up under the divine concealment I used. That damn mortal snitched me.
"That was a likely story, Milady, but I delivered the letter through the door."
As I tried to deceive Herta, she narrowed her eyes, studying my strained expression.
"If that were the case, Zandar would have mentioned two letters instead of one, which could only mean one thing... You're that angel lady."
Ah, she knew.
And in that moment, I realized the truth I had been hiding was already exposed. My instincts urged me to flee, to vanish back to the heavenly realm before judgement occurred to me. But I couldn't move. Her gaze held me in place, firm yet not unkind.
Panicking, I dropped to one knee and clasped my hands together.
"Lady Herta, I beg you. Don't tell your parents about this. I—I was doing what I was told. The mission must remain confidential. I'll do anything to keep this a secret."
She pondered momentarily, her expression unreadable.
"Then how about this? Become my bodyguard."
Hearing her response, I blinked in confusion.
"Excuse me?"
"In exchange for your secret being safe, I want you to protect me from anyone who attempts to harm me, especially that Rubert II. Also, I want to investigate more about angels."
Her words carried the weight of something far beyond her years.
I hesitated, knowing I wasn't supposed to meddle more than necessary. But if the prophecy was true, and I believe it was, then perhaps this was still within the line of duty.
Thus, I nodded reluctantly.
"...Very well. I shall protect you, Lady Herta. But no one else must know what I am."
She smiled, understanding my proposal.
"Deal."
While we finally settled our agreement, I heard footsteps approaching in our direction.
"Herta? Marlene? Are you there?"
It was Theresia's voice calling for us. I turned to the young lady beside me, meeting my gaze, and nodded before we both stepped out of the hedges.
"Over here, Mama."
Hearing Herta's response, Theresia blinked as she noticed us emerging from the foliage, her eyes flickering between my strained serenity and Herta's composed face.
"There you are—I thought I'd lost you two," she remarked, clearly relieved.
"Apologies, Madam Theresia," I responded smoothly. "We're just chatting. The garden is quite soothing after such a long day."
The mother nodded, though her eyes lingered on Herta, studying her daughter. Something in her gaze hinted that she, too, was noticing how the young lady had grown.
"We'll be preparing dinner soon," she reminded softly. "Come inside when you're ready."
As she and Herta turned back towards the manor, I suddenly heard a voice.
"Marlene, I have a new mission for you."
It was my Seraph superior contacting me telepathically.
"What is it, Milord?"
"I want you to tell the human director to persuade the King and Queen to create an academy for young prodigies tomorrow. It's the divine creator's commands."
"I understand."
With that command, I calmly withdrew into the manor, preparing to confront Zandar the next morning. I would ensure that he and Herta were the only ones who knew my true identity.