"Ms. Cecilia, what do you mean by that?"
"...I apologize. My daughter's situation is very special right now. Because a Herrscher core was implanted into her body, she might lose control if her emotions become extremely unstable."
"I can use my own abilities to extract the Herrscher core, but that won't solve the problem. I must confront the mastermind who caused all this tragedy. And under these circumstances, I simply cannot take proper care of Kiana..."
"Although I don't know why, I feel that you are someone I can entrust her to. So, if it's possible, could you take care of my daughter for a while?"
Cecilia couldn't quite articulate why she trusted this unknown young man before her so much. After all, he wasn't human at all; he might even be more dangerous than Otto. Yet, why did she believe him so implicitly? It was as if he would definitely be able to take good care of Kiana.
Xin Yu hesitated slightly. He had never taken care of a child before, nor was he sure if his guidance during this period would negatively impact this world's little Kiana's development. While he was still hesitating, Cecilia had already approached him, holding little Kiana.
She looked tenderly at the child in her arms. She truly loved her child, and she loved her husband...
A once happy and complete family had shattered in an instant.
Her husband had fulfilled all the responsibilities of a father, sacrificing his own life to save their daughter.
From now on, her daughter would bear the weight of her father's life...
Why had it come to this? It wasn't supposed to be like this. But who was it that had torn their once beautiful family apart?
Otto Apocalypse.
Xin Yu looked at the little Kiana, still sound asleep, who was now being presented to him. Finally, he solemnly accepted the child. He looked at Cecilia, whose eyes flickered with hatred.
"The child has already lost her father; she cannot lose her mother as well. Ms. Cecilia, when you make your decision, please do not forget that your child is still waiting for you... If there's anything you need help with, please come find me. Believe me, while I wouldn't say I'm exceptionally powerful, I can still lend a hand."
Cecilia looked at the earnest young man. She reached out and gently touched his face, which startled Xin Yu somewhat, unsure of what the lady before him was doing.
Cecilia, however, was reminded of when she and Siegfried were still in their dating phase; he had once said similar words to her.
Back then, although he always appeared frivolous on the surface, he never made any inappropriate advances. And when the two of them were very close, that fool sometimes couldn't even speak properly, merely clumsily telling her that the Kaslana family had plenty of strength, and if she ever needed help with anything in the future, she must tell him.
...But now, that fool was asleep forever. Really, he had promised to watch Kiana grow up, to see their daughter find her own happiness, to personally entrust their daughter's hand to someone worthy, to grow old slowly with her, to develop wrinkles together, to lose their youthful beauty together...
You also said that when we're old, we'd take out our old photo albums, and we'd reminisce, page by page, about our entire lives, starting from when we first met...
You bastard... you fool, how could you break your promise!
You said it when we got married, that you would forever keep your promises to me, that you would never betray the commitments you made to me. But now... how could you leave before me...
Xin Yu looked at Cecilia, her eyes filled with sorrow, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably, and the clear signs that this lady was teetering on the edge of extremism. He fell silent for a moment, then his clothes and body underwent a wave of change and distortion. Before Cecilia's widened eyes, he transformed into Siegfried.
"This is what I can do at the moment," Xin Yu said, using Siegfried's voice.
"Cecilia, take care of Kiana."
"Siegfried..."
Cecilia looked at that familiar face, unable to stop herself from stepping forward, wanting to embrace him. Even though she knew this Siegfried was an illusion transformed by someone else, even though she knew the Siegfried before her was fake, that identical face, that consistent voice, and the undisguisable tenderness in his eyes—it was too real, too much like the Siegfried in her memories.
Yet, Cecilia did not embrace the Siegfried before her. Her body staggered, and she almost collapsed to the ground.
Xin Yu reverted to his own appearance. He looked down at Cecilia, who had just lifted her head, her eyes filled with sorrow and confusion, brimming with tears, looking at him.
"I'm sorry, but, Ms. Cecilia, if you had embraced me, your emotions might have spun out of control. You might have mistaken me for the deceased Mr. Siegfried. That wouldn't be appropriate, and it wouldn't be fair to either of you."
"Try to take a few deep breaths and calm down a little."
Cecilia took several deep breaths, wiped the tears and a bit of snot from her face. Though her eyes were still somewhat red, her spirit had indeed calmed.
"I'm sorry, I lost control of myself just now. Treating one person as a substitute for another is, under any circumstances, very rude."
"It's alright, I don't mind. If you wish, I can create some statues in Mr. Siegfried's likeness. You can speak your heart to his statue. Voicing the emotions pent up inside will help a lot."
"I'm alright now. I apologize, I haven't formally introduced myself yet. I am Cecilia Schariac."
"Mm, hello. My name is Xin Yu."
"I'll have to trouble you then, Mr. Xin Yu. For a long time to come, I will be busy dealing with the aftermath of this incident, so... I might not be able to see Kiana for a very long time. She... I entrust her to your care."
"Rest assured, I will take good care of this child."
Xin Yu agreed to Cecilia's request with a solemn expression. At the same time, he secretly resolved that he must become stronger as quickly as possible. He absolutely had to successfully save this world's Mr. Siegfried. This once happy and complete family should not end here!
"...Could I trouble you to let me see Siegfried's appearance again? And perhaps say a few more words in his tone?"
"I know this is very presumptuous, but..."
"It's no trouble at all."
...
"Cecilia, life ahead may be fraught with many setbacks and difficulties. Please forgive my unannounced departure; many past promises and agreements can no longer be fulfilled."
"Take good care of Kiana, and take good care of yourself too."
"I've merely gone to embark on a brand new adventure. Though it might be a long one, please believe... we will have a day of reunion."