[I]onia's memory surged back, and she remembered now.
This particular chapter in her life marked a rare instance when Draven had shown her the slightest trace of sympathy. It was from this point onwards that her infatuation and deep affection for him had begun to intensify.
Observing the older Ionia, whose face remained an emotionless mask, save for a stern scowl between her brows and lips pressed into a tight line, Sol remarked, "You've endured a rather difficult childhood, my child."
There was no mockery in his words, but rather genuine sadness that the episode had evoked in him.
The god wished he could console the younger Ionia, somehow understanding the older Ionia's reluctance to regress. But interfering directly in human affairs was strictly forbidden.
"There's one thing that intrigues me," the older Ionia contemplated, carefully examining her surroundings. "How did the maid know precisely when to act?"
"W-what is it, my child?" Sol's expression transitioned into a perplexed one.
Ignoring his question, Ionia's gaze traversed every nook and cranny of the room before she spoke with raised intensity, "That's what I suspected."
Her outstretched hand pointed to a teddy bear plush on the bookshelf, its crystal-like blue gem eyes catching the light. It seemed to be constructed from materials similar to a NanoComm device. Sol furrowed his brows, still struggling to grasp the significance of Ionia's indication.
With remarkable precision, Ionia continued to indicate various objects in the room, each adorned with these enigmatic gems. A pair of earrings on her dressing table, the mirror frame, the clock on her desk, a quill pen, and numerous other items were all embellished with these enigmatic gems.
"That deceitful woman has embedded NanoComm Crystals in several objects in my room," Ionia declared bluntly, a hint of betrayal in her voice.
Sol's brows shot up as if a sudden realization had dawned upon him. "You mean to tell me they've been covertly recording a 12-year-old girl?"
Ionia nodded firmly, her jaw clenched. "Yes, and it's quite possible that this is how she managed to stage her coup."
Sol's expression contorted with anger. "Absolutely despicable."
"I wonder where Marianne is." The youthful Ionia's voice echoed again, catching both the god and the older Ionia's attention. Lost in her thoughts, the little girl started collecting her used utensil and the tray.
Sol, studying her with a frown, inquired, "Where is she taking that tray? Are they making her do the maid's job in addition to all the abuses?"
His concerns made it sound as if he were discussing someone other than Ionia herself. Dismissing his outburst, she suggested, "If she's the key to altering the future, shouldn't we follow her?"
Ionia had a hunch that their presence in this timeline went unnoticed, almost as if they were invisible. Sol agreed with a nod, and they resumed tailing the younger girl.
Once again, the young girl made her way toward the kitchen, presumably to return her used dishes for cleaning. However, an argument between two individuals grabbed their attention.
A man's voice oozed with disturbing enthusiasm as he remarked, "Hah, it's good stuff again."
Marianne, a voice recognized by the older Ionia, sternly retorted, "Shut your mouth. Now that you've verified the goods, hand me the coins."
The man, dressed in a cook's attire, reluctantly conceded, still displaying a creepy eagerness. He reached out, placing a hand on Marianne's shoulder and offered her a lecherous grin. "But you know you've got to bring me better recordings next time, right?"
Marianne briefly appeared flustered and trapped in an uncomfortable situation.
With a dismissive "Tsk," Marianne swatted Alex's hand away, her tone filled with disdain. "You're a repulsive pervert, Alex."
Alex brushed it off with a nonchalant response, saying, "Yeah, yeah. But don't expect me to help if you won't cooperate."
Marianne appeared briefly lost in thought before reluctantly agreeing, "Fine… I'll bring you something worthwhile. But I better get good money in return—"
The maid's conversation was suddenly cut short by the arrival of the youthful Ionia, who called out in search of her maid, "Marianne?"
Seeing Alex and Marianne together, the raven-haired girl cast a puzzled and curious glance at the two, not quite comprehending the nature of their interaction.
Alex, the cook in his mid-twenties, was of shorter stature and had messy red hair. He possessed a somewhat youthful appearance, albeit not particularly attractive.
Marianne appeared flustered at Ionia unexpected interruption. "Oh, young miss?"
Ionia gestured to the tray she carried and placed it near the basin. "I came to deliver this. Marianne, could you assist me in changing into cleaner clothes?"
There was a hint of loneliness and sadness in her expression, probably at the remembrance of her father's disgust.
"Y-yes?" Marianne stammered, clearly caught off guard. "I'll be there in a minute. Can you wait for me?"
The younger Ionia nodded and began to make her way toward the kitchen entrance. However, just at that moment, Alex, wearing a sly smirk, called out, "Young miss."
The youthful Ionia paused, tilting her head inquisitively.
"I-I've baked some chocolate. Would you like some?"
The little girl's face brightened at the offer, and as she extended her hand to receive the chocolate, Alex deliberately allowed his rough thumb to brush against the soft skin of her small hand.
Unaware of any ulterior motives, the younger Ionia responded with a kind and innocent smile, saying, "Thank you."
Beside her, Sol let out an exasperated groan as he watched the scene unfold with a sense of calm. "That boy," he muttered, "despicable."
For the older Ionia, Alex's behavior was nothing new. She was well aware of his questionable reputation with the maids, and she even recalled an incident in the future that would result in his dismissal.
As they observed the young Ionia's departing figure, Marianne reprimanded Alex in a hushed tone, "Can't you be a bit less conspicuous? You greedy pig!"
"What's the fuss about?" Alex retorted, a hint of flirtatious mischief in his voice. "It's not like anything would happen to us if she were to, well, lose her innocence, right? She's a despised girl, after all."
"Tsk. Let's not be too obvious," Marianne sternly scolded, her eyes gleaming with malicious intent. "Prevention is better than cure. I'm off for now, but I'll send you some more videos after her bath."
"Oh, now we're talking," exclaimed Alex, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
Sol, the god, seethed with quiet frustration, his demeanor outwardly calm, but his golden eyes revealing a storm of irritation. To an onlooker, he appeared anything but a god, devoid of his usual gentleness.
"I see," the older Ionia contemplated emptily to herself, a subtle understanding hidden in her expression. "Let's go; the younger me has already left."
"W-what?" Sol looked momentarily surprised by her apparent lack of reaction to the revelation. "But what about those two? They've been...disgusting."
Ionia met Sol's gaze with blue eyes that exuded a certain allure, void of emotions but radiating a sense of calm. She responded in a relaxed tone, "What would you have me do? It's just a memory, after all. Let's not waste time and go."
She was speaking as if she were unphased by the unfolding situation, not out of indifference, but because she already knew there was nothing that could be done; it was a distant memory of the past.
Appearing to come to the same realization, Sol pressed his lips into a thin line and began to follow Ionia.
But before leaving the kitchen, he paused, his eyes casting a stern glare at the two conspirators, serving as a silent warning while etching their image into his memory.