NOVEL NEXT Chapter 212: Charis' Viewpoint: Father's Confidantes
The meal was delicious, it is not complex but hearty enough to grant me all of the nourishment I needed.
But I didn't expect that having someone to assist you consume your food like this would make the experience much more comforting.
I stirred slightly as Narcissus's hand grazed my hair, the warmth of her touch grounding me in a reality that felt so vast, so intricate. Despite the flood of inherited memories from Eve, I felt as though I was piecing together a puzzle whose edges I couldn't quite see.
"Feeling better now?" her voice cut through my thoughts, both calm and amused.
Experience more content on empire
"Yes, Father," I replied, the word still feeling strange yet comforting on my tongue.
Her faint smile widened, and a flicker of pride danced in her radiant crimson eyes.
"Good." She leaned back against the lavish chair beside the bed, crossing one leg over the other with an elegance that seemed second nature to her. "You've been asleep for five days worth of Carcosa's time since you're born, you know
"Five days?" I blinked, the revelation stirring unease in my chest. "I thought that you just said that I had just been born today??"
"Time in this mansion works differently, you're still essentially a first-day born toddler in my eyes," my father said with such smugness.
Now that she mentioned it, I wonder what happens after the event of my own creation.
"What... happened during that time?"
"Nothing alarming," she assured me, her voice light with reassurance. "I've been keeping things in order while making preparations for our eventual return to Carcosa. We've got ten days left here."
My brows furrowed. "Preparations? Is there something about this mansion that makes it... difficult to return later?"
Her lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Sharp as ever, this is why you make me proud by just existing here," she said as she excitedly patted my head. " This mansion exists outside the flow of time itself, detached from any temporal or spatial continuity. We could spend years here and return to Carcosa moments after the Time of Nihil ended. But…" Her voice softened, her gaze briefly distant. "That doesn't mean it's the safest place to linger indefinitely."
I tilted my head, trying to understand. "If it's disconnected from Carcosa, wouldn't that make it the perfect haven? Why not stay here, away from the chaos?"
Her eyes met mine, the playful glint replaced with something more serious. "Eve managed to breach this place when she was at her most unstable. If she could do that, then it's plausible the void-cloaked figure could as well. This mansion isn't a fortress—it's a respite. And I won't risk anyone's safety here.
"Even its owner possesses the same train of thought as mine. Hence why, it is crucial that we make an eventual return to Carcosa, since it is quite a safe deterrent to any malicious outsiders with how prison-like the world feels.
"Better be worried about those dangerous individuals inside Carcosa than those who can travel through the void and hops between dimensions. The pond is often safer than the wild vast sea, after all~"
I thought being imprisoned was a bad thing. I guess my father possesses quite the eccentric way of thinking.
But her reasoning struck a chord. I knew from Eve's memories just how dangerous this void-cloaked figure was, its malice cutting through every layer of resistance with terrifying precision.
My heart clenched at the thought of it targeting her—my father, my anchor, the reason for my very existence.
"I'll protect you," I blurted, my voice firm despite the trembling in my chest. "And everyone else. That's why I'm here!"
She chuckled softly, her hand reaching out to ruffle my hair again. "You're adorable, Charis, but don't focus on that just yet. You've only just woken up.
"For now, let me protect you," she comfortably grinned. "You can protect me later, no need to rush now."
"B-but!"
Her touch was comforting, but her words carried an amused dismissal that made my cheeks flush.
Still, I nodded, vowing silently to prove myself.
After I had calmed, Narcissus clapped her hands, summoning the mansion's puppet servants. They moved with eerie precision yet an unexpected grace, their mechanical yet humanline-like appearance adorned with embellishments that made them resemble regal courtiers.
"It's time to get you properly dressed," Narcissus declared with a mischievous grin. "We can't have my daughter walking around in plain robes, can we?"
The servants presented a selection of garments, but Narcissus's eyes immediately lit up at one in particular—a gothic lolita dress in a crimson and black palette that mirrored her own attire.
The dress was a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Layers of crimson silk were overlaid with delicate black lace, creating intricate patterns of roses and thorns. The bodice was fitted, adorned with tiny jet-black beads that sparkled faintly in the light. Puffy sleeves ended in lace cuffs, while a ribbon-tied corset accentuated the waist. The skirt flared out dramatically, cascading in rippling layers that whispered with every movement.
The finishing touch was a delicate choker with a single crimson gem resting against the throat.
What made me more happy was the fact that it possessed the same theme and color as my father. It felt as if the two of us were related seemingly wearing a matching outfit.
As the servants dressed me, Narcissus supervised with a critical eye, adjusting here and there until she seemed satisfied. When they stepped back, she gasped, clutching her chest as if struck.
"Too cute," she declared, staggering backward dramatically. "How is it possible for someone to be this adorable?"
I blinked in confusion. "Father, are you all right?"
"Absolutely not," she replied, her expression exaggeratedly stricken. "I didn't realize having a daughter would be this hazardous to my health. This is dangerous…"
Her antics were absurd as expected, but they made my chest warm with a feeling I couldn't quite name. Still, a part of me couldn't help but worry. "If my appearance keeps affecting you like this," I said hesitantly, "How will we manage in the future? I was created to support and protect you, but if I'm causing you distress…"
Her laughter rang out, bright and full of mirth. "Oh, Charis, you've got it all backward. Your presence is a blessing, not a burden." She knelt in front of me, her hands resting lightly on my shoulders. "If I'm ever truly distressed, it won't be because of you being you. You'll always bring me joy."
"That sounds contradictory to what I have just witnessed."
"I'm just saying that your adorableness is a weapon of mass destruction."
"That is even more worrying and distressing!"
"I like it."
"That is likeable??"
The sound of approaching footsteps drew my attention, and moments later, the door opened to reveal three figures.
The first was a woman of stunning beauty with long crimson hair that shimmered like molten fire. Her piercing red eyes seemed to see through everything, and her attire—a sleek, modern ensemble with golden embellishments—exuded both elegance and authority.
Beside her stood a pale, expressionless woman with jade-green hair and a pair of upward-facing exhaust pipes that acted like her horns. She has a wolf-like woman head resting in her arms, having her orange hair tied into braids. The wolf's eyes were warm and lively, a stark contrast to the pipe-horned woman's stoic demeanor.
I rose from my seat, smoothing my skirt nervously before offering a polite bow. "Greetings, my name is Charis. It's a pleasure to meet all of you."
The crimson-haired woman smiled, her fox-like ears twitching slightly. "What a well-mannered child. I'm Kuzunoha, the owner of this mansion. It seems that I will have much more entertainment than I expected for the future going onward~"
I glanced at Narcissus, who smirked. "
"Just don't overwhelm her too much," Narcissus calmly replied. "Kuzunoha was the one who provided the dress you're wearing right now. Be sure to thank her properly."
I turned back to Kuzunoha and dipped my head. "Thank you very much. It's beautiful."
Kuzunoha chuckled, her smile enigmatic. "You're quite welcome. I must say, you're even more charming than I imagined~!"
There was something about Kuzunoha that felt... layered. Her words carried a mix of truth and falsehood, not in the sense of deceit but as if reality itself twisted around her intent.
It was unsettling yet intriguing, and I resolved to keep my guard up around her.
The jade-haired woman stepped forward next, the fox in her arms regarding me with curious eyes. "I'm Verina," she said, simple and effective, her tone calm and measured. "And this is Lupina."
"It's nice to meet you!" the demi-wolf head said cheerfully, her voice bright and full of warmth.
I smiled, feeling an unexpected wave of relief at Lupina's genuine energy. "It's nice to meet you both," I replied.
"You're adorable," Verina uttered. "Just like your father."
"Thank you," I said, wondering about the suddenness.
"If you need a friend to talk with, feel free to come to me," Verina said. "I might not be the best person to be put in the same room as children, but you seem mature enough."
"Feel free to talk to both of us!" Lupina followed.
The three of them, plus my father, shared their words as they casually converse and teased one another. This alone should showcase their bond with one another, especially with how many of their exchanges are accompanied by an essence of genuine care and affection.
I guess it was obvious that Narcissus as a person was well-liked to a great extent by her peers, since she was the only one who was able to save Eve at the end of her lifespan.
I also joined the conversation, getting myself familiarized with their antics, and notable teasing on my father.
Their words meant no harm, and there were no wounds on my father's heart, so I have no problem with it.
As we spoke, I couldn't help but analyze them, comparing my inherited impressions with what I was seeing now.
Kuzunoha felt like a puzzle wrapped in riddles, again, her every word a paradox that defied straightforward interpretation. Her gaze lingered on me longer than necessary, as if she were assessing something far beyond the surface.
Verina, despite her stoicism, carried an undercurrent of emotion that was difficult to decipher. Her words were precise, her tone controlled, but I sensed a hidden agenda—a connection to Narcissus that seemed to go deeper than mere loyalty. To a great extent, obsession, but was tamed and maintained with great effort.
Lupina, by contrast, was refreshingly simple. Her sincerity was like a breath of fresh air, and her cheerful demeanor put me at ease almost instantly.
I felt no problem with having them near my father, but this doesn't mean that I can trust them completely.
After all, according to Eve's memory, Narcissus has become a certain constant of fate. There will be a time of great ordeal in her life, and one of them includes betrayal.
Amongst everyone in this room, the only person that was immune to higher-beings' tampering and manipulation was me, father, and Kuzunoha. Both Verina and Lupina possessed a lower level of existence similar to those of common mortals, which would make them vulnerable to the schemes of god-like entities.
Then again, there was no solid confirmation that Kuzunoha could be fully trusted either. I inherited Eve's ability to detect words in their ultimate truth, yet I couldn't lay a single piece of truth from any one of Kuzunoha's words.
She might be kind and supportive to us at the moment, but she might as well be one of those traitors in the future.
I must try my best to protect my father, at all costs!
After some pleasant exchanges, Narcissus clapped her hands again. "Well, now that we're all acquainted, it's time for Charis to meet the rest of the household. Verina, Lupina, would you do the honors of introducing her to everyone?"
"Of course," Verina said with a nod, her tone respectful yet firm. "I'll make sure that she has the best time getting acquainted with everyone."
"It'll be fun!" Lupina added. I could imagine her wagging her tail if she had one, or if she had a body to support that energetic demeanor of hers. "Everyone already knows about you, it is time for you to know about them~!"
As they led me out of the room, I glanced back at Narcissus. "Where will you be, Father?"
She waved a hand dismissively. "Kuzunoha and I have some things to discuss. Don't worry—I'll catch up with you later.
"If Lupina bites you, just place her amongst the otherworldly artifact you saw. She can't do a thing."
"Hey!" Lupina adorably protested. "Who wants to bite an adorable kid like her? I'll decapitate myself if that ever happens!"
"But you're already decapitated," Verina followed.
"How do you even dismember yourself with no bodyparts attached?" Kuzunoha added.
"Exactly!" Lupina held her chin high, showcasing a proud smug.
Yep, these people aren't normal.
Though I felt a pang of nervousness at leaving my father's side, I nodded and followed Verina and Lupina into the sprawling mansion, eager to meet the others who were part of this strange and wondrous new chapter of my life.