Chapter 57: You Have Too Many Secrets
"You have too many secrets. Ellen, I hope that you could learn to open up to me or your mother. You have always been a smart child and many times, you have made me and your mother proud. Your instructors often praised you and described you as someone remarkable. You were able to understand advanced books without any difficulty." He placed a hand on his temple.
"As a father, I feel proud that my daughter is capable and smart. But sometimes, I can't help but worry. You are still young, Ellen. However, like Valrug, you are choosing to forsake your childhood by delving deeper into the realms of knowledge and magic."
The Count was telling her that she was being too hasty and perhaps he was right since Ellendise was thirsty for knowledge. She felt like she would not be able to stay afloat if she did not further her knowledge about this world.
Was this her being paranoid? Yes.
Even after ten years of being reborn, she could not help but prepare for an uncertain tomorrow.
She was not contented with what she was right now.
And of course, this was all for the sake of a peaceful future and to ensure that she would live a prosperous life as the villainess.
She smiled.
She was glad that he understood what she was aiming for and that he did not have any plans to stop her. This was good. This was very good.
Having a supportive parent was an advantage. She was really lucky that she was born in this body. Other people from the nobility might have shipped her off to the Mage Tower or called her a heretic.
The prophecy from the elf priest...
She surmised that only the Count knew about this, otherwise, the Countess would not only be spying on her. She would have made a move and maybe tried to find out the truth from her.
Well, they do not need to make any extra effort anymore because she was willing to come clean.
"Father." She called in a soft tone, looking to the Count with a tender expression.
Perhaps she rarely showed this kind of emotion which was why the Count's eyes were a little wide with surprise. He immediately felt the change in her and the feeling that the words he was about to hear next would cause a big impact on how he was going to interact with his daughter.
Ellendise maintained her calm exterior.
She opened her mouth and said the words that would determine her existence and position in his eyes.
"This is my second life."
Five words.
Eighteen letters.
This one sentence made the Count turned mute for a few seconds. He stilled in place.
"This is my second life," Ellendise repeated.
"I came from another world where magic didn't exist but technology ruled the world. I came from a place where nobility was a thing of the past and all men and women were equals." She continued.
"In that place, I was not Ellendise. I was called by a different name." She grabbed a lock of her hair, twirling it slowly, a very calm expression on her face as she spoke. "I lived the life of someone's daughter and died as someone's daughter."
Her red eyes glowed as she looked at the Count who was processing her words.
"Three years old. I became aware of my rebirth when I was three years old and since then, I tried my best to accept this new life in a new world with unfamiliar people."
The Count listened attentively to her words, allowing her to continue.
"Eventually, I managed to adapt, or at least, I tried my best to adapt. I experienced being loved for the first time, having parents who love me for the first time, to have a sibling that didn't hate me for the first time. I also made real friends for the first time without having to worry that they would betray me or try to kill me.."
She laughed lowly even though there wasn't anything funny in her words but she did find her predicament quite amusing.
"Father, this is the answer you wanted to hear the most and so I decided to give it to you."
She stood up and raised her chin, a confident smile on her face.
"I am that entity." She admitted.
"I died and was reborn as your daughter."
"I am Ellendise but at the same time, I am not."
"I am someone who doesn't belong to this world. I.."
The Count stood up. She trembled a little as he approached her.
"Yes, I am that entity and you probably hate me so I won't be surprised if you feel the need to.."
A pair of arms wrapped around her.
Ellendise stilled. Her world became quiet. Her heart was thumping wildly against her chest.
The sound of the birds chirping became a distant memory and all the words she wanted to say vanished.
The only thing she felt was warmth.
A warmth that came from someone else.
"You are my daughter," she heard the Count say.
"No matter what, you are my daughter."
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Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone