"Wah! A kid!"

Lili's excited exclaim was the first thing that greeted Adrien as soon as he stepped inside Sorin's manor. The child hid behind Sorin, clutching the hem of his cloak.

Sorin smiled as he took a step back, presenting Adrien to Lili. "He'll be staying with us from now on."

Lili's green eyes sparkled with interest and joy, eager to welcome the child. "How wonderful!"

Adrien peeked out from behind the saint, anxiously eyeing the new place. He felt an unfamiliar warmth that he had never experienced before.

Lili noticed his shyness and hesitation as she kneeled closer to Adrien. "Hello! I'm Lili," she introduced. "What's your name?"

"I-I'm Adrien..." he stammered, his voice soft and filled with hesitation.

Sorin placed a gentle hand on the child's shoulder, encouraging him to talk to Lili. "Lili is one of my trusted aides. I hope you'll get to know each other better." Adrien nodded his head but still remained guarded.

Lili pouted. "Aw, he's shy, isn't he?" Still, she let out a soft laugh. "I hope you can feel comfortable here."

"Lili, can you draw him a bath?" Sorin asked, trying to distract Lili from playing around with Adrien. The child looked tired and confused, and Sorin didn't want to trouble him any further.

"Of course, your Holiness!"

Adrien's eyes widened as Lili prepared to lead him around the manor. He knew that Lili could handle things well; she was always warm and inviting. Sorin then added, "Oh also, you don't need to hide anything from Adrien."

Lili blinked in surprise. "A-ah, yes."

----------------------------------------

Lili led Adrien toward the halls of the manor, chatting happily about her duties. "I'll tour you around the mansion tomorrow," she smiled.

Adrien's eyes wandered around the walls of the manor, which were adorned with beautiful tapestries and images of religious deities painted intricately. He couldn't help but feel slightly overwhelmed by how different it was from his father's mansion. He was used to the overly grand halls of their house, but the Saint's manor was filled with so much life.

"His Holiness had always been kind to us. He spent a huge amount of money to buy this manor so that we'll have a safe place to stay."

Lili opened the door to the bathroom, leading the child inside with a reassuring smile. Adrien was not used to this kind of treatment; the kindness from Lili almost felt like he could wake up at any moment.

A quick memory of his past flashed back in his mind — the icy-cold water splashed on his skin as if he were cattle. The dim, gloomy chamber of the manor's abandoned building sent an unpleasant shiver down his spine.

Lili adjusted the faucet's water temperature, holding her hand to ensure it was warm enough. Then, with a quick movement of her fingers, flowers bloomed on top of the water, their petals fluttering open. Adrien's eyes widened as he involuntarily let out a shocked gasp.

"Ah!" Lili mumbled, "Did that shock you?"

Adrien nodded his head but didn't say anything further.

Lili chuckled softly. "His Holiness trusts you, and I don't like keeping secrets. We'll be together from now on, after all, it's better we don't hide anything from each other."

The scent of the flowers wafted in the air as the tub slowly filled with water. Adrien stood in a daze, watching the petals continue to float atop the water.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Okay! You can remove your clothes now," Lili exclaimed cheerily.

"Huh?" Adrien jumped, wrapping his arms around himself in a protective manner, a flush running up his cheeks. "I'm not used to... to someone helping me bathe," he stammered out.

Lili's smile remained the same. "It might feel strange, but Sorin wanted to take care of you, just like he did for all of us."

The child hesitated momentarily, still embarrassed, but slowly removed his clothes, helping himself into the tub. As he stepped inside the warm bath, Adrien let himself be enveloped by the water, finding solace in its warmth.

Lili's gaze stopped for a moment at how fragile and thin Adrien's body was. She could see the bones peeking out from the child's skin, and his back was filled with thick and long scars — probably the main reason why he was so flustered.

Adrien relaxed into the water as Lili poured warm water over his hair. "Does it feel okay?" she asked, and Adrien slowly nodded his head.

It was a good thing that he was already soaked, as Lili couldn't notice the tears welling up in his eyes. He had never felt cared for in his whole life.

"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" Lili inquired gently.

Adrien sniffed, trying not to let his voice shake. "I-I'm twelve."

Lili paused for a moment. "Hm, you look younger than that. I'll make sure that you'll get to eat lots from now on." Her fingers gently massaged his hair. "You don't have to be scared anymore, Adrien. We'll be here for you."

Adrien was so used to the harsh treatment at the hands of his own family, but were they really his family if they treated him like that? In the end, the people that gave him a chance were strangers — offering him unconditional acceptance without caring about his past or lineage.

"Sorin is a stubborn, stubborn man. Always thinking that he could shoulder everything alone," Lili said to him. "He doesn't know that we are all willing to share his burden."

He looked up to meet Lili's gentle eyes. "I hope you could do the same, Adrien."

---

Adrien wore the fresh set of night clothes handed to him by Lili. It was a bit loose on him, but the fabric felt comfortable against his skin.

The maid told him to temporarily stay with the Saint for one night, as they still had to prepare his room. His own private room... Adrien was used to the manor's dingy cellar, a place that he had called his room.

"Come in," Sorin's welcoming voice called from inside his chambers. Adrien slowly opened the doors to the saint's room, peeking his head first. "H-Hello..." he greeted nervously.

Sorin sat at his desk, a book held between his fingers, as the candles around the room cast a dim light. "How was your bath?" he asked.

"It was... good." Adrien replied as he took a hesitant step inside, still unsure of how he should act around the saint.

Sorin gestured to a comfortable chair beside him, and Adrien shyly sat beside the man, trying his best not to fidget.

"I hope it wasn't too overwhelming," Sorin said, seemingly noticing Adrien's unease. "She's just excited to meet new people."

Adrien couldn't help but smile.

"She's kind."

Sorin's eyes sparkled at his words. "She is," he said, closing the book and placing it on his desk with an unreadable expression.

"You must have so many questions for me," Sorin continued, his gaze toward Adrien looking almost apologetic, and a strange emotion welled up inside Adrien's chest. "I don't expect you to adapt to things quickly, you can learn at your own pace."

"Still, I don't want to deceive you."

Adrien had so many questions swirling inside his mind, and he was thankful that Sorin was understanding of him.

The saint smiled at him, one that was filled with kindness. "I hate humanity," Sorin's words were a stark contrast, dripping with nothing but venom and resentment.

A shiver ran down Adrien's spine, and his breath hitched in his throat.

"They are nothing more but disgusting filth that plagues this land. Even the gods have turned a blind eye to their own creations."

Adrien's heart pounded in his chest. "B-but aren't you the saint?"

"...I have not been the saint for a long time," Sorin smiled slyly at him. He placed a gentle hand on Adrien's back in a soothing manner. "That seal on you is a sign that you were not meant for humanity."

Adrien's mind reeled at Sorin's words. The 'seal' that the saint had mentioned was the cause of why he lived such a miserable life — the main reason why he was seen as strange and an outcast.

...That didn't mean that the saint had seen him in the same way.

Suddenly, a thick aura surrounded the room, and a figure appeared in front of them — a woman with golden hair and eyes. Her mere presence made Adrien's heart skip a beat, almost as if he were familiar with the woman.

『What a surprise!』

The woman's words were filled with delight and surprise as she spoke.

『Someone else could see me besides my chosen one.』

Adrien brought himself closer to Sorin, surprised at the sudden appearance of the woman. The saint chuckled at his reaction but still placed a hand around Adrien's shoulder.

『Don't be scared, dear child, I am Lucifer. The Monarch of all demons that roam this earth.』

Lucifer's eyes shone with sheer power as she spoke, her voice filled with pride — rightfully so. Her movements were elegant as she stepped closer to Adrien, her golden eyes observing him.

『So, it is true... you carry my brother's seal.』

"W-what?"

Sorin smiled beside Adrien. "You're just like me, Adrien."

『The Mark of Mamyun.』