Goddess Kingmaker Chapter 4

『Don’t you have something to tell me before then, Siren?』

 

『hmm…』

 

Belzer’s eyes narrowed slightly, and despite myself, my lips twitched. As annoying as he was, business was business.

 

He had bought me when my real mother died, when I was treated as nothing more than baggage in the backstreets, and personally delivered me to the emperor.

 

I should be bowing in gratitude to him.

 

Being born as the daughter of Targa, who didn’t even have a wife, this was the only way to be born from the beginning, but if I had been born in a normal and ordinary way in a corner of a house like this, there would be no guarantee that I would still be alive.

 

『…..I won’t forget your kindness. If things go well this time, I’ll definitely repay you.』

 

『Of course it should be like that.』

 

Belzer nodded proudly, but he didn’t seem to have much expectation for what I had to say.

 

How could things go well like that?

 

I could almost hear his laughter.

 

『That’s why I warned you from the beginning not to get close to that Arwen. I knew this would happen when you insisted on defending her as a so-called friend.』

 

『……』

 

Belzer, who had been snickering, clicked his beak as if gritted his teeth.

 

I knew what he meant, but there was no point in blaming anyone else now.

 

Besides, Belzer had already broken the laws of the Celestial Realm because of me—more than once.

 

The First Law of the Gods: A god must never interfere in human affairs.

 

This was the fundamental rule that had existed since the beginning of the Celestial Realm.

 

If one was not born a human like me, they were forbidden from influencing human matters.

 

Even minor infractions were considered violations of that law, and Belzer might have to take responsibility for that.

 

‘I was too focused on myself.’

 

Feeling embarrassed, my previously sharp voice gradually softened, as if watching his reaction.

 

『If the Supreme God finds out about this, he won’t let you off.』

 

『Do you think now is the time to worry about others?』

 

Belzer let out a dry chuckle, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

 

『I’ll handle my own affairs. I am already a god of the Celestial Realm. No matter how supreme he may be, he can’t do as he pleases with me.』

 

『…..』

 

The soft sheen flowing on his dark blue wings was so elegant that it was dazzling.

 

I realized once again that he was a god from a celestial realm.

 

Unlike me, who couldn’t manifest in this world without taking human form, he could shift his appearance freely.

 

『Why? What are you looking at?』

 

『…..Nothing.』

 

‘I wonder… would I have had wings like yours if things had been different?’

 

Of course, I was waiting for the day I would go to the Celestial Realm.

 

Now, that dream felt so distant.

 

I had to accept the current reality, with my hands and feet unable to move as I pleased.

 

This was the opportunity I had chosen with my own hands, the gamble I had thrown myself into.

 

『Anyway, thank you. You could have easily ignored me if you wanted to.』

 

『Funny, I’m hearing that from you now.』

 

Belzer really did seem entertained. His silver-lined blue eyes, which had once made all the women in the Middle Realm swoon, curved lazily.

 

『You were so cold when you turned away, Siren』

 

『Hey, you know! That’s why!』

 

I narrowed my eyes, not as gracefully as Belzer, but enough. Clearing my throat awkwardly, I tried to sound more composed.

 

『…I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but if you did all this because you still have feelings for me…,』

 

『Should I get you a mirror?』

 

『Ah.』

 

Yeah, I guess not.

 

I dropped my struggling hand and completely agreed with that part.

 

My teeth were all messy, my hair was sticking out like a grass doll, and most of all, I hadn’t even taken off my diaper.

 

The possibility that Belzer still had lingering feelings for me vanished entirely.

 

‘Then why did he do that?’

 

Given my current situation—backed into a corner—I would have to hang on to my mother, not my ex-boyfriend. But now that I had a moment to think, I was genuinely curious.

 

Other gods may have been different, but Belzer wasn’t overflowing with affection or romantic enough to act out of nostalgia.

 

Belzer Maximilian.

 

The most promising disciple and designated successor of Harna, the Goddess of Destruction and War, and one of the seven Supreme Gods.

 

In short, he was known across the Celestial Realm as the coldest, most ruthless being.

 

‘Not that I ever understood him anyway.’

 

Even when we were together, I had no idea what went on in his mind. I wasn’t about to figure it out now, nor did I have the energy to try.

 

Still, I owed him. And one day, I would pay him back.

 

Thinking about giving back someday, I felt a little bit of energy.

 

Of course, including my thousand-year-old grudge!

 

『I’m going to try to do it on my own, once.』

 

With that decision, I stretched out my tiny hands with all my strength.

 

Whether this place was a haunted house or a palace, I had already entered the palace, so now it was all up to me.

 

Just looking at these hands that are like maple leaves makes my mouth water!

 

『Anyway, you should go. If you get punished because of me….』

 

『Don’t get me wrong. I’ve never broken any rules.』

 

『Belzer?』

 

『The law says gods cannot interfere in human affairs, meaning we can’t influence the human world. But moving a helpless, nine-month-old baby who could die at any moment—how is that a big deal? Don’t you think?』

 

『…..』

 

『Unless, of course, you actually become someone of significance.』

 

The air flow stopped for a moment at his voice, which was so arrogant.

 

To punish him, I had to become someone who could actually impact the human world.

 

Classic Belzer. A taunt that couldn’t have hit harder.

 

『That’s the plan. I was going to do that anyway.』

 

『Oh, really?』

 

His eyes narrowed with amusement at my determined response.

 

As expected of someone from the God of Destruction, even his smile sent chills down my spine. But I didn’t care.

 

My life had already been full of destruction and war—what was there left to fear?

 

Thinking of all the things I needed to do, the fate I needed to change, I gripped the crib railing as if I were about to rip it off.

 

Even in the body of a baby less than a year old, there had to be something I could do.

 

『hey… Are you sleeping?』

 

My ex’s dumbfounded voice was the last thing I heard before I really did fall asleep.

 

Even I found it ridiculous and chuckled as my eyes shut.

 

But actually, this was part of my plan.

 

Step one: fully adapt to this baby’s body.

 

Eat well, sleep well, and then tomorrow will be a better day, and then one day, things will go according to my grand plan.

 

“Hoaam.”

 

This wretched body.

 

Before my enormous yawn even ended, my eyelids drooped shut.

 

I tried rubbing my eyes to stay awake, but the more I did, the deeper I sank into sleep.

 

Soft snores rose and fell from my tiny chest, and at some point, a blanket was gently pulled over me.

 

◇ ◆ ◇

 

『Why? Don’t you know your reality yet? Well, of course, Siren, you always thought you were the most important person in the world.』

 

As I lifted my head, holding onto the empty necklace of power, Arwen’s mocking laughter poured into my ears.

 

『No need to feel bad about it. Just think of it as payment for the 900 years I wasted being your half-innocent friend.』

 

‘That woman—!’

 

My hands trembled with rage.

 

I had to break her neck. Rip that wretched mouth apart.

 

‘That’s right. This is a dream!’

 

The alcohol-like bitterness in my gut burned like fire.

 

I shook my head, trying to somehow shake off the unbelievable reality, but as soon as I opened my eyes, I realized something.

 

“Tsk tsk.”

 

“……”

 

That reality over there and this reality, they are all the same mess.

 

“You’re sleeping comfortably without even knowing that you’ve been abandoned. I suppose lowly blood can’t be helped.”

 

I tried my best to adapt to the baby’s body.

 

Unfortunately, what woke me up was the sound of someone clicking their tongue.

 

In my previous life, I had been used to waking up to the warm smiles of my poor but loving parents or the gentle pat of an older sibling soothing me. This was a very different way to start the day.

 

“This baby doesn’t even cry. Honestly, there’s not a single cute thing about her.”

 

“……”

 

Yeah, I figured it was you.

 

No matter how awful this place was, it wasn’t common to click your tongue the moment you saw a baby’s face

 

I finally closed my eyes again when I saw the middle-aged woman I saw last night with her arms crossed.

 

“You all, come here.”

 

“Yes, Parma.”

 

As the woman turned her head, the maids who had been waiting outside rushed in.

 

“I don’t know when, but until Duke Targa returns, this child will have to stay here. So, one of you needs to take care of her.”

 

“……”

 

“Who wants to do it?”

 

Parma, whose name I really hadn’t wanted to know, swept an annoyed gaze over the maids. When no one volunteered, she arbitrarily picked someone.

 

“Cassy, how about you? There’s nothing much to do. Just come by once in a while, feed her milk, and change her diaper.”

 

“I–I don’t think I can do it, Parma!”

 

“Then what about Elaine?”

 

“That would be difficult for me too! I’m already overwhelmed with my current tasks….”

 

“…….”

 

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve been treated like this.

 

Watching the maids scramble to avoid responsibility was a new feeling.

 

In my past life, people had practically fought over the chance to hold me even once, so this was a real change.

 

‘Am I that ugly?’

 

Babies are all cute regardless of their appearance, but the maids are all so scared when they make eye contact with me that I couldn’t think of any other explanation.

 

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