K423 had Siegfried's blood flowing through her veins, but she was a creation of Otto.
A clone of the real Kiana Kaslana, combined with the core of the Herrscher of the Void. Thus, Otto had created the miracle that was K423.
In terms of lineage, K423 was technically Theresa's aunt.
And since Theresa was of the same generation as Siegfried, by the transitive property, K423 could even be considered Siegfried's elder.
Otto watched the stunned girl with a gentle smile. Kiana's brain had completely short-circuited. She had originally wanted to ask this blond villain about the Kaslanas, hoping to find a clue about her stinky old dad.
But how did he just blurt out her stinky old dad's name!?
And how did he know she was Siegfried's daughter?
Kiana dismissed Otto's earlier, more outrageous statement as a joke. She shot up from her seat excitedly.
"You know my dad?"
After so many years, she had finally caught ahold of her stinky old dad's tail.
But Otto simply tapped the table lightly with his finger.
"Sit down."
He said nothing more, only watched Kiana with a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes.
Kiana had no choice but to sit back down, but her eyes burned with fervor. Siegfried was her only family. She was tired of being alone.
Even though she had lived by herself for all these years, even though she had grown accustomed to the loneliness...
...she truly wanted to return to that little cabin from her childhood, to the days she spent with her father.
There, just the two of them, living happily.
---o---
"Eat," Otto said, gesturing to the desserts in front of Kiana. He picked up his own fork and took a bite of the tiramisu before him.
A sweetness tinged with a hint of liqueur spread across his palate. He nodded. It was indeed delicious; the high price was justified.
To get this time alone with Kiana, Otto had simply bought the entire high-end dessert shop.
But Kiana just held her fork, her mind elsewhere.
"My cute little kitten, you don't know how to use a fork? Didn't Siegfried teach you? It's something they usually teach in kindergarten."
Hearing Otto's words, Kiana shook her head.
"I've never been to school."
Living with Siegfried since she was little, she never had the chance. And after he left, the opportunity was even more remote.
"But I know how to use a fork."
Kiana took her fork and stabbed it into a piece of cake.
"It's alright..."
Otto was about to say that she would one day go to a good academy, where she would meet an excellent teacher, an outstanding class president, and wonderful friends.
But how could he possibly let Kiana go to St. Freya Academy?
No matter. He could just move the excellent teacher, the outstanding class president, and the wonderful friends to Schicksal instead.
"I never went to school either," Otto said truthfully.
He cut off a small piece of tiramisu and held it up to Kiana's mouth.
"Try it. It's very good."
Seeing the dessert-laden fork before her lips, Kiana hesitated for a moment, but ultimately opened her mouth.
In truth, she was a little grossed out.
It was the fork Otto had just used.
But Kiana was worried that if she refused, he wouldn't tell her Siegfried's whereabouts.
"It's delicious."
Kiana's eyes closed slightly, a blissful smile gracing her face. Good food truly brought people joy.
This was the best dessert she had ever eaten.
Kiana had always lived frugally. Even on her journey to find her stinky old dad, she had to work part-time jobs along the way to make money. She never had spare cash for things like this that did little to fill one's stomach.
"Then eat up. We can talk about what you want to talk about while you eat."
After feeding the Paramecium, seeing that small smile, Otto felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Smiles suited Kiana far better.
She wasn't meant to frown, and certainly not to be silent. Growing up didn't have to mean becoming quiet.
Otto withdrew his fork and twirled it between his fingers. Kiana picked up her own fork and began to eat the sweets before her.
She was genuinely afraid Otto might try to feed her again.
"That's more like it," Otto said, picking up his tea and taking a sip.
His posture was completely relaxed. Being with Kiana required no disguise, and it felt as if he had been hit by a neurotoxin, making him feel incredibly at ease.
Perhaps it was because pufferfish are poisonous.
"Actually, I'm very familiar with the Kaslana family."
"Mm," Kiana replied, busy eating her cake, wondering why it tasted so different from the ones she'd bought at convenience stores. Why was it so good?
"My fiancée is a Kaslana."
"Mm," Kiana replied, still eating. She was surprised to learn she was somehow related to this man. But he had earlier claimed that big-chested lady was his mistress. If she ever met his other Kaslana relatives, should she snitch on him?
"You are also a Kaslana."
"Mm," Kiana replied, still eating. She was proud of her surname. It was a name she had earned only after finally gaining her stinky old dad's recognition.
"I just didn't expect to see my fiancée here today. I'm very pleased, you know."
"Mm," Kiana replied, still eating, though she was a little curious who Otto's fiancée was.
"My cute little kitten, it's wonderful that you have such fine child-bearing hips. You'll surely be able to fulfill my wish for five children."
"Mm. Hmm!?"
Kiana finally registered that something was wrong.
The fiancée he was talking about... was... me?
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