Ciel: <>
Voice of the World: <<>>
******
When Genevieve's eyes fluttered open, the first thing she registered was the soft rustle of curtains and the unfamiliar ceiling above her. For a few seconds, her mind struggled to catch up, and everything felt hazy, like waking from a deep, dreamless sleep. Then, like a crashing wave, the memories from before she lost consciousness surged back: the chaos, the fear... and her daughter.
"Mariabell!" she gasped, lurching upright in bed.
Her gaze swept the room, searching for her daughter, until it landed on the small, empty cradle beside her. Her breath caught in her throat, and panic flared sharp and hot in her chest. A hundred terrifying thoughts raced through her mind, each more dreadful than the last.
But then, she heard a familiar voice.
"Lady Genevieve! Thank goodness you're awake."
She turned toward the sound, and a wave of overwhelming relief washed over her.
There, by the window, stood Anna, her ever-loyal maid, cradling little Mariabell in her arms. The child had been gazing quietly out at the world beyond the glass, especially at the setting sun in the sky, but the moment she heard her mother's voice, she stirred with a soft wiggle, her tiny hands reaching instinctively toward her.
"Anna," Genevieve breathed, her voice soft with unmistakable relief, as her loyal maid stepped forward and gently placed the baby into her waiting arms. Mariabell let out a quiet coo, immediately nestling into her mother's embrace and burying her face against her chest.
"My Bella," Genevieve whispered, clutching her daughter close, feeling the small warmth of her body against her chest. She closed her eyes and held her tightly against her heart.
After holding her daughter close for what felt like forever, Genevieve finally looked up at her maid. "Anna... what's going on?" she asked quietly. "Where are we? And..." Her voice faltered, trembling on the edge of something painful, "...everything I remember before I blacked out... that wasn't just some nightmare, was it?"
She didn't want to believe it. That her own father-in-law, the man she had looked up to and trusted like her own father, had tried to have her killed. And for what? So he could seize control of Mariabell's life? Mold her into some weapon, some pawn in whatever twisted vision he'd crafted in that cold, calculating mind of his. All for the sake of restoring the family's lost prestige... or chasing after some other hollow, grand ambition that had long since warped his sense of right and wrong.
Seeing the faint flicker of hope in her lady's eyes, Anna's expression faltered. Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Forgive me, my lady... but I'm afraid that's not the case..." slowly, she reached up and tugged down the top of her gown, revealing a jagged, reddish-purple scar that ran from her lower abdomen, traced up between her breasts, and disappeared over her shoulder blade. She continued in a heavy and sorrowful voice, "...everything you remember... it did happen."
"As for where we are," Anna continued, adjusting her gown back into place, "I truly don't know. When I woke up, we were already here. You were unconscious, and Young Lady Mariabell was growing restless. So I tended to her first, and decided to stay close, for her safety and yours."
"I see..." Genevieve murmured, her voice trailing off as she lapsed into silence, and her mind raced as she tried to make sense of their situation and figure out what to do next.
Just then, a knock echoed through the room. Anna stiffened instinctively, her spine going rigid as her eyes darted toward the door, while Genevieve's arms tightened protectively around Mariabell, who stirred softly in response. Both women exchanged a tense look before casting wary glances toward the door.
Moments later, it opened, and stepped in Shuna, a gentle-looking girl with fair skin, long wavy pink hair, and two white horns rising from her forehead.
"Oh, good, you're both awake," she said with a warm smile, before walking over and carefully setting down a small bundle on the edge of the bed. "I brought a change of clothes for you, and for this adorable little one," she added with a glance at Mariabell. "You'll be meeting Lord Rimuru soon, so I thought you might like something fresh to wear."
Genevieve and Anna stared at the pink-haired girl in silence, exchanging a glance before Genevieve finally found her voice.
"Thank you," she said softly, her arms still wrapped protectively around Mariabell. "That's very kind of you... and thank you for the clothes. But... may I ask, who is this 'Lord Rimuru' you speak of?"
Shuna blinked, tilting her head slightly in confusion. "Huh? You don't know who Lord Rimuru is?" she asked, clearly surprised. "That's strange... He's the one who brought you both to Tempest."
At her words, something clicked in Genevieve's memory as she suddenly recalled the voice she'd heard and the faint image of a figure just before she lost consciousness.
"Anyway," Shuna continued, "there's a washroom and a bath just through that door in the back. Once you've freshened up and are ready, just let the maid outside know. She'll escort you to meet Lord Rimuru."
With a warm smile, Shuna turned and left the room, leaving the two women and the child behind.
Staring blankly at the door, Genevieve tried to make sense of what she had just heard before turning towards her trusted friend and maid, and asked, "Anna... what do you think? Can we trust these people?"
"Lady Genevieve, I wish I could reassure you," Anna said, shaking her head. "But right now, I'm just as lost as you are. That said, I do recognize the name Tempest. It's a newly established nation of monsters in the Jura Forest. I recall hearing Lord Granbell and a few other family members mention it once or twice, though never in a flattering way, of course."
"A nation of monsters?" Genevieve's eyes widened. "Are we really safe in a place like this?"
Anna let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "I hate to say it, my lady, but... does it even matter anymore?" she said, her voice laced with quiet bitterness. "Lord Granbell, the head of your house, sent assassins after you. And yet it was someone from this so-called nation of monsters who saved both your and Young Lady Mariabell's life," she paused, her expression softening just slightly as she glanced at the baby. "So even if this Lord Rimuru does have a hidden agenda, I think our best course of action is to stay humble, show our gratitude, and listen to what he has to say. We owe him at least that much."
Genevieve sighed, her shoulders slumping as the weight of reality pressed down on her. "You're right, Anna," she murmured. "Knowing Father-in-law's reach and influence... this might actually be the safest place for me and Bella, for now at least."
"Exactly, my lady. Which is why we shouldn't keep our savior waiting," Anna said with a small nod. "Let's get cleaned up and find out what kind of person this Lord Rimuru really is."
******
Meanwhile, back at Rimuru's residence, the atmosphere was calm and cozy, as he was relaxing in the living room with Shizu, Framea, Testarossa, Ultima, and Veldora. Rimuru and Testarossa were seated on the couch, engaged in a game of chess, while Shizu, Framea, and Ultima played cards nearby. Veldora, true to his new, self-proclaimed calling, lounged in a chair, completely absorbed in a manga.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Shuna had taken it upon herself to prepare a meal for Rimuru that day, and assisting her, much to the ongoing surprise of those who knew her well, was none other than Shion.
These days, seeing Shion in the kitchen wasn't unheard of. But for those like Shuna and Benimaru, who remembered the old days all too clearly, the sight never failed to raise eyebrows. Back when they still lived in the Ogre Village, Shion's cooking had been nothing short of catastrophic. Her culinary creations had caused everything from mass food poisoning to full-scale panic. There had even been whispered meetings held in secret, all working together to come up with strategies to keep Shion as far away from the cooking fires as possible.
And yet, here she was now, calmly slicing vegetables, following instructions, and even humming to herself as she worked. By some divine miracle, Rimuru had managed to reform the once-disastrous chef. The same Shion who had once whipped up dishes that could be classified as biological weapons was now a capable kitchen assistant.
Honestly, if Rimuru hadn't already earned the undying loyalty of the entire Kijin Village, this alone would've done it. To them, transforming Shion's cooking was no less than a godlike feat.
"By the way, Testa," Rimuru said casually as he slid a chess piece forward, "what's the update on the royal couple from Blumund? Did they head back to their kingdom?"
"Yes, they left shortly after your meeting with them ended," Testarossa replied with a soft chuckle, covering her mouth with her hand. "Though honestly, that's to be expected after the bomb you dropped on them, my Lord," she added, making her move on the board.
"Oh, come on, I was just being honest," Rimuru shrugged as he slid another piece into position. "Still, have Souei assign two of his subordinates to tail them from the shadows at all times. Like I said before, keeping that couple on the throne is far more beneficial for us, and for our future plans."
"Understood, my Lord," Testarossa said, her tone turning serious. "Should I have Souei deal with the traitors in their kingdom as well?"
"No, that won't be necessary," Rimuru said, shaking his head. "Now that I've warned them, they can handle it themselves. Besides, their nation still has someone like Fuze on their side. He might be overly cautious and prone to overreacting, but he's fiercely loyal to Blumund and its royal family. He'd never let traitors threaten them, or the nation."
"By the way, Rimuru," Shizu said as she laid down her card, eyes flicking up to meet his, "those people you brought to Tempest today... what's their story? And that child, does it have anything to do with what we discussed this morning?"
"No, it's not connected to that," Rimuru replied, shaking his head. "As for why they're here..." He went on to explain the situation about how Genevieve Rosso had been marked for assassination by the head of her own family, Granbell Rosso, and how her daughter, little Mariabell, was the reason behind it all.
"That's awful..." Shizu murmured, her expression darkening with sympathy for Genevieve and a growing anger toward Granbell. "How could someone do something like that to their own family?"
"Yeah, that man is truly despicable," Rimuru agreed, exchanging a glance with Testarossa. After all, she was the only one currently privy to the full truth of the situation.
In truth, it hadn't been Granbell who orchestrated Genevieve's assassination. The entire incident had been carefully staged by Rimuru himself, only to step in as their savior at the crucial moment.
It all stemmed from events in Rimuru's previous timeline, when Mariabell and Yuuki had ambushed him during an expedition into Amrita, the ancient underground ruins beneath Clayman's Castle, where he'd been exploring alongside Milim. Mariabell had tried to control him using her Unique Skill, [Greed], and when that failed, she had a backup plan prepared to eliminate him using a magical control reactor.
But even with everything that had happened, Rimuru couldn't shake the bitter taste left in his mouth when Yuuki killed Mariabell, a ten-year-old child. No matter how devious or cunning she had been, she was still just a child in his eyes. What soured his mood even further was the fact that Granbell Rosso had been led to believe he was the one who had killed her. And it was all thanks to that bastard Yuuki, who whispered lies and twisted truths, poisoning Granbell's mind and deepening his already festering hatred toward the ruler of the Monster Nation. That manipulation was what ultimately pushed Granbell over the edge, leading to the battle in the Holy Empire of Lubelius.
Later, when Rimuru gained unrestricted access to the Voice of the World, he uncovered the true history of Mariabell, and the revelation left him stunned. She had once been Maria, Granbell's wife in her first life. After her death, she reincarnated into a version of Earth, where she rose to power and became the Morach of all Europe. Then, in yet another twist of fate, she was reborn back into this world as Mariabell, her own husband's granddaughter, carrying with her the ambition to conquer the world once more.
More importantly, the revelation made Rimuru realize just how powerful Mariabell's soul truly was to endure not just one, but two natural reincarnations while retaining her memories across lifetimes. That level of spiritual strength was nothing short of extraordinary. Had fate taken a different path, she could have easily been chosen as a candidate for a True Hero.
That's why, when Rimuru traveled to this timeline, he made up his mind to bring Mariabell into his camp, sparing her from an early death and helping her reach her full potential without the influence of her past two lives... while also making her a valuable asset to Tempest, of course.
Now, before anyone rushes to blame Rimuru for destroying an innocent life or corrupting a kind woman like Genevieve into turning against her own family, it's worth remembering that Genevieve's fate in his original timeline hadn't been a happy one either. When Mariabell was just four years old, she used her Unique Skill, [Greed], to manipulate her own mother into plotting against Granbell. Unsurprisingly, Granbell uncovered the scheme, and in response, had Genevieve executed.
And all of it happened simply because Mariabell's pride had been wounded. Being treated like a child, despite having lived two lifetimes, felt deeply insulting to her. Silly as it might sound in hindsight, that small slight felt like a deep insult to someone who once ruled an entire continent. For Mariabell, it wasn't just insulting, it was a blow to her pride she couldn't ignore. And that single wound to her pride was all it took to push her into making such a reckless and horrible decision.
As for Genevieve's husband, Julian Rosso... well, there wasn't much to say. He had always been something of a spineless fool, a man forever stuck in his father's shadow. Despite being the eldest son of the prestigious Rosso family, Julian had never accomplished anything of real significance, not before Mariabell was born, and certainly not after.
Once Mariabell came into the picture, things only deteriorated further. She outright refused to acknowledge him as her father, and when Granbell recognized the depth of her talent and ambition, any lingering hope Julian had of earning respect within the family vanished. From that point on, both Julian and the rest of the Rosso household were relegated to the background, living quietly under Mariabell's shadow, unable to outshine her, in the eyes of Granbell, and in the end, all they could do was bow their heads and follow along, irrelevant until the day she died.
That's why Rimuru was certain that even if he had tried to bring Julian into his camp, the man would've just wagged his tail and run back to his father at the first opportunity, something Rimuru had no tolerance for. So, it was an easy decision to leave Julian where he was, rather than put Genevieve through another traumatic experience of losing her husband in the future.
Then, over the past year, Rimuru had quietly tasked Ciel with a critical mission: to monitor the reincarnation of Maria's soul, the event that would mark the birth of Mariabell. The moment Ciel detected her arrival, Rimuru set his plan into motion, wasting no time.
First, he issued orders to a select group of demons descended from Testarossa's lineage, instructing them to covertly abduct ten particularly vile and irredeemable soldiers from the Kingdom of Falmuth and then used memory alteration to bind their loyalty to him.
From there, he handpicked five of the most capable among them and had some demons push them through an intense training regime, honing their combat skills to the absolute limit of human ability. When their conditioning was complete, he altered their memories once more, but this time, it wasn't loyalty to him they remembered. Instead, they were made to believe they served the Rosso family directly. A fabricated mission was implanted into their minds: assassinate Genevieve and kidnap Mariabell on Granbell's orders.
Which brings us to the present. The staged assault went exactly as planned, and Rimuru, timing his intervention down to the second, 'rescued' Genevieve from the brink of death and now has both her and Mariabell safely under his protection.
Rimuru's train of thought was interrupted by the soft knock of a hobgoblin maid entering the room, who bowed politely to Rimuru. "Master, the guest you requested has arrived."
"Good. Send them in," Rimuru said, casually moving another piece on the chessboard. "And that's mate," he said, smirking at Testarossa.
"Indeed. Congratulations, Master," Testarossa replied, accepting her defeat with a graceful smile.
Just then, Genevieve entered the room with Anna by her side, and little Mariabell snuggled securely in her arms. The moment they stepped in, both women instinctively stiffened as all eyes turned toward them, though most quickly returned to what they'd been doing, aside from two pairs that lingered.
Rimuru observed them quietly, his expression calm as he studied their faces, already calculating his next steps. Beside him, Shizu's attention remained fixed on the baby nestled in Genevieve's arms, babbling softly with thumb in her mouth and utterly lost in her own little world. A warm smile spread across Shizu's face at the sight, and instinctively, she placed a gentle hand over her stomach as a faint blush rose to her cheeks, and for a brief moment, her thoughts drifted to the future, to the child she would one day hold the same way.
"L-Lord Rimuru?" Genevieve asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper as her eyes settled on the blue-haired man seated calmly on the couch, and she knew instinctively that this was the one who had saved her life.
"That's me," Rimuru replied with a casual smile, dispelling both the chessboard and playing cards with a graceful wave of his hand when Shuna entered the room and announced that dinner was ready.
"Perfect timing," Rimuru said, rising to his feet. "Let's talk after we've eaten. Come, join us for dinner first." Then, turning his attention to the child in Genevieve's arms, he gave a soft wave and conjured a delicate, cushioned cradle beside one of the empty chairs at the table. "...And for the little one, she can rest here comfortably."
Genevieve wanted to decline the invitation out of habit, but before the words could leave her lips, a familiar burning sensation flared in her stomach, making her falter. It had only been four or five weeks since she'd given birth, so she was still in the middle of her recovery, and everything that had happened earlier that day had left her not just exhausted... but absolutely starving.
Swallowing her pride and the lingering sense of shame, she gave a small, hesitant nod. "Thank you for your generosity," she said softly, then gently laid her baby into the conjured cradle. The child was already drifting off, eyelids fluttering as sleep tugged her under, as Genevieve took the seat beside the cradle.
Anna followed suit without pretense or forced formality. She simply mirrored her lady's actions and settled into the chair on the other side of the cradle.
And so, the two women began eating quietly, occasionally stealing glances at their mysterious savior, observing him in silence.
******
After dinner, Veldora, Framea, and the two Primordial girls took their leave, heading off to tend to their own affairs. The house gradually grew quieter, leaving behind only Rimuru, Shizu, Genevieve, Anna, and little Mariabell, who slept soundly in her cradle
Unable to bear the heavy silence that had settled over the room, Genevieve finally found her voice. "First and foremost, allow me to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for saving my life, my daughter's, and Anna's." She rose from her seat just enough to offer a deep, respectful bow. "I don't know what would have happened to us if you hadn't appeared when you did."
"That said, I do have a question, if you don't mind," she went on, not giving anyone a chance to interrupt. "Lord Rimuru, what exactly were you doing in that forest where we were attacked? I truly am grateful you were there to save us, but your arrival... it was very convenient. Right place, right time, just as we were attacked in the middle of a remote forest. Don't you think that raises a few questions?"
Immediately, Anna, who was sitting beside her, placed a hand over hers and gave it a firm squeeze. When Genevieve turned to look at her, she saw the fear in Anna's eyes, an unspoken plea to stop talking. And she understood why. After all, how could questioning the very person who had saved their lives, and who also happened to be the ruler of the land they were in, ever be considered a wise or sensible move? Especially not when the question itself could be interpreted as a subtle accusation… as if she were suggesting that the danger he'd rescued them from might not have been a coincidence at all.
But Genevieve didn't back down. She ignored both Anna's silent plea and the fear gnawing at her own heart, meeting Rimuru's gaze with steady, determined eyes. After all, she had been raised in a noble house, where one of the first lessons drilled into her was that no one ever offers a favor without expecting something in return.
To her, Rimuru's sudden intervention... appearing out of nowhere, with no prior contact or connection, felt convenient... far too convenient to dismiss. No matter how she turned it over in her mind, it reeked of suspicion. In her world, a favor of that scale didn't come freely. A life-saving act like that… it was a debt. And debts demanded payment.
That was why she chose to be direct. To meet the issue head-on, rather than pretend it didn't exist. She needed to know where Rimuru stood and what he truly wanted, so that when the time came, she'd be prepared. If possible, she hoped to negotiate the terms. Find a way to balance the scales herself. But if it came down to it... if it truly came down to someone paying the price, then she would shoulder that burden herself rather than let Anna or her daughter bear the burden of repaying that favor.
But Rimuru's silence dragged on, and the longer it stretched, the more it unsettled her. The confidence that had fueled her question began to waver. Her fingers fidgeted in her lap, thumbs nervously twiddling as she struggled to maintain her composure.
Unable to hold Rimuru's scrutinizing gaze any longer, Genevieve's eyes shifted to the woman seated beside him... Shizu, whom she'd learned was his wife. To her surprise, Shizu didn't seem the least bit alarmed by the tension in the room. She showed no visible reaction to the pointed question, didn't glance up, didn't even pause in turning a page. She simply continued reading the book in her hands, casually listening to their conversation as ideal chatter in he background.
But before Genevieve could linger any longer on Shizu's indifference, Rimuru suddenly burst out laughing. The sound was loud, unexpected that it made both Genevieve and Anna jolt in their seats. A shiver shot down Genevieve's spine, her skin prickling with goosebumps from the sudden shift in atmosphere.
Shizu, by contrast, didn't even flinch. With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, she reached over and gave Rimuru a light swat on the arm. "Really? Try to keep it down. There's a baby sleeping right there," she said, nodding toward the cradle.
"Sorry," Rimuru replied with an apologetic smile in her direction, then turned to Genevieve and Anna. "Sorry to you two as well. It's just that what you said struck me as really funny," he added, his hand dismissively.
"Anyway, getting back to what you said," Rimuru continued, the amusement fading from his voice as his expression turned serious once more. "You were right, my showing up when I did wasn't a coincidence at all. In fact, my people have been keeping tabs on your family for almost a year now," he confessed, and Genevieve and Anna's faces instantly tensed with alarm.
"You don't need to be so alarmed, you know," Rimuru chuckled while shaking his head. "It's not as shady as it sounds. I wasn't targeting you or anything like that. It's just standard protocol. You're the ruling family of the Siltrosso Kingdom, so of course, I'd want to keep an eye on you. That's what I do with every major nation." Then, with a crooked smile, he added, " And if it makes you feel any better, I've got spies planted all over the world. Pretty much every important person out there has someone nearby reporting back to me."
'No, that doesn't make us feel better at all!' Genevieve and Anna thought in unison.
"And as for saving you... well, part of it was just on a whim," Rimuru said with a shrug, earning blank stares from the two women seated across from him. "What? I'm being honest," he continued. "When my operatives tipped me off about Granbell's plan, I figured... yeah, it was all a bit too cruel. I mean, letting you die like that? And leaving that poor little girl to be raised by that old bastard? It just didn't sit right with me."
Genevieve stared at him, trying to make sense of what she'd just heard. "So... you saved us because you pitied us?" she asked slowly, her voice tight with disbelief.
"As I said, that was only part of it. The other reason… has to do with your daughter," Rimuru said, and in the next moment, the air seemed to grow heavier as Genevieve felt her heart lurch and a chill run through her body. "I want Mariabell to join Tempest and become one of my subordinates in the future."
"My little Bella… as your subordinate…" Genevieve whispered softly, then looked up at Rimuru. "…But why? She's just a normal human. Why would someone as powerful as you want her as a subordinate?" she asked, a hint of desperation in her voice, subtly trying to sway him, hoping he might reconsider taking an interest in her daughter.
"Your little Mariabell is anything but ordinary," Rimuru said calmly. "And I hate to say it, but... your father-in-law wasn't completely wrong. That child really is the reincarnation of his late wife, Maria."
The moment Genevieve heard those words, her heart sank, and it felt as if the ground had been ripped out from under her. Her mind went blank, her gaze distant and unfocused. But slowly, the weight of Rimuru's words began to sink in. She turned to look at her daughter, peacefully sleeping in her cradle, thumb tucked in her mouth, and every instinct in her heart rejected the idea that she could be anyone other than her daughter. Her Mariabell.
Fury flared in Genevieve's chest, burning away the numbness that had gripped her moments before. She snapped her head toward Rimuru, eyes blazing, and fixed him with a sharp, accusing glare. "How do I know you're not lying to me?!" she demanded, her voice cracking slightly under the weight of emotion. The fear that had gripped her earlier was now burning away, replaced by a rising tide of anger. "How do I know this isn't just some elaborate trick to steal my daughter from me?!"
"If I wanted to steal your daughter from you, I wouldn't have gone through the trouble of saving you in the first place," Rimuru said coolly, leaning back into the couch with an easy, relaxed air. "But I get it," he added with a small shrug. "You're her mother. You're scared, of course you are. A stranger shows up out of nowhere and claims your child is someone else entirely. It's only natural you'd be on edge."
"That's why I'm not going to ask you to just take my word for it. Instead…" he continued, and with a flick of his wrist, conjured a crystal orb in his hand. Its smooth surface pulsed with a soft, swirling light, and faint images shifted within, like mist trying to take shape. "…tell me, Genevieve," he said, holding it out toward her. "Would you like to see a glimpse of the discarded breach of the future?"
To be continued...