The Archduchess' delivery went well. The help of a physician was hardly even needed. Soon a healthy baby girl was born.
In honor of his daughter's birth, Henry Ashford threw a feast — which lasted almost a week. Aristocrats from all over the empire ca to the estate to congratulate the young parents.
It seed as if the Ashford family was on a new bright streak. Emily nad her daughter by the traditional na of the clan Ileas — Leriana, which ans connection to nature. The girl herself ca out a copy of her mother.
At first all went well. Emilie took care of the child, perhaps her only comfort in her present life. The Archduke also behaved with dignity. It seed that he loved his daughter no less than his wife.
From the outside, the happy married couple — who for the first ti knew the joys of motherhood and fatherhood. Whereas in reality Emily had no idea what awaited her.
The woman recovered very quickly after giving birth and could walk on her own in a couple of days. After all the festivities were over, one morning she went to her spouse's office.
Emily wanted to ask Henry for permission to et her father. After all, Lloyd Ileas was a grandfather for the first ti in his life — but he had never seen his granddaughter before. The woman wanted to arrange for them to et.
But as she approached the right door, she involuntarily froze at the threshold. By chance, Emily heard a fragnt of a conversation between the Archduke and his secretary.
— …Your Grace, are you really going to do this?
— I have checked everything. The girl has certainly inherited her powers.
Andrew Noyles sighed in relief.
— So your plan will soon co to fruition.
— You're in too much of a hurry,» said Henry, «We must wait until she grows up first. What good is a newborn?
— You're right, Your Grace… But still. If the young lady sacrifices her powers, she will beco an ordinary person. Is that really all right?
— Not at all. It will have no effect on my future plans.
Henry Ashford grinned as he poured himself another glass of wine. In fact, on ordinary days the man was not very fond of alcohol and was even afraid of it. After all, the previous Archduke had suffered from addiction — and genes were not to be crushed with a finger.
Henry feared that he, too, had a tendency to beco addicted to hard liquor. So he only allowed himself to do so on special occasions. And this happened to be one of them.
The long-awaited immortality was just around the corner. Very soon his own daughter would give him what he had longed for. Henry would finally cease to be an ordinary weak man.
After all, Leriana was his only daughter. Henry was going to treat her well even after she fulfilled her primary duty.
Besides, even though she would beco an ordinary person — it would not affect the main character's future and abilities in any way. After all, Lerian still had the blood of the Ileas clan. So the reincarnation of a goddess in the form of Brisney Blanche is destined to happen.
A daughter would make him immortal, and a granddaughter would help take over the world. The entire mighty Ileas clan found themselves at Henry's feet. The man himself could not have been more pleased.
The archduke shared almost all of his plans with his secretary — who had to do all the dirty work from the shadows. No one expected an outsider to overhear their conversation at this mont.
Emily found herself horrified at her spouse's true intentions.
«I will not allow my daughter to be used in your dirty gas…!»
That sa evening, after waiting for her husband to leave on a work trip — the woman decided to take a desperate step. To rob her daughter of her powers with her own hands. It would be better than letting her beco a puppet for her father's monstrous purposes.
It was a forbidden trick of the Ileas clan-which Emily would never have used in any other situation, either. But now there was no way out. At the cost of her own abilities, the woman was about to seal her daughter's powers.
The newborn baby slept in the cradle, and at that mont Emily concentrated all her powers. A barely visible green light began to emanate from her fingers. Leriana's natural gift was leaving her body and transferring to the pendant around Emily's neck.
A star-shaped seal ford on the girl's ankle.
In the end, the woman was ready for anything. Even if her husband wanted to get rid of her after what had happened, at least she would be buried with the pendant. That way no one else would have Leriana's powers.
Emily had almost finished the ritual when, at that mont, Henry suddenly burst into the room. He had returned from work a little earlier and was taken aback by the scene.
— What are you doing?!
The man grabbed her by the arms forcibly and made her stop. Her eyes beca mad with anger.
Having expended all her strength on the seal, Emily could barely stay on her feet. But anwhile there was still a slight smile on her lips.
— Unfortunately, your ideas are not going to happen.
— What are you talking about? — He shouted. «Tell what you did!
— My daughter is an ordinary human now. You cannot use her.
Henry Ashford shook, unable to believe his ears. That thing…! How dare she?!
When the man couldn't take it, he punched her in the face and Emily fell on the bed. Then he grabbed her by the neck and strangled her.
— I'm going to have to put everything back the way it was!
The woman gasped for air but found the strength to answer:
— Never… I will never do it…
Fury blinded the man's eyes. When he ca to, it was too late. Beneath him lay only the dead body of his wife. He slowly removed his trembling hands from her.
It was too soon… It was too soon to kill her. Henry hadn't even figured out how to break the cursed seal yet!
The Archduke, catching his breath, rushed to the child. So the girl is useless now…? Hearing the recent commotion in the room, she awoke and began to cry.
For a long ti Henry didn't calm her down and just froze like a stone. He couldn't figure out what to do. No. It couldn't end this way.
Ashford had worked so hard for it. There was no way that damned woman was going to ruin everything…! Finally the shock receded and he ca to his senses.
Slowly he took his daughter in his arms and began rocking her.
— Don't worry, Lea…» he murmured, «I'll surely find a way to put things back the way they were.
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