"I could tell, more or less."
Yao Wan unconsciously let out a long breath. Since she had misspoken, she would stand at attention and take the punishment. She accepted it.
"...Even if one's birth was an accident from the very beginning, even if one was not brought into being in accordance with anyone's wishes, that does not mean one is undeserving of blessings."
Seeing Yao Wan's reaction, Medusa naturally did not wish to pursue the matter further. She merely lowered her head and gently stroked her daughter's hair and cheek, her tone as calm as ever.
"But you—what has been bothering you lately? You normally would never say something like that, would you?"
Her daughter still slept peacefully in her arms. Only then did Medusa raise her head again and look at Yao Wan, unable to help asking.
"—Is what I'm thinking really that easy to see?"
Yao Wan murmured to herself.
"It's simply that you've been a little too different from your usual self. If it were the usual you, then at the very least, you wouldn't say something so sarcastic in front of Xiao Xiao."
Medusa explained the basis for her guess, leaving Yao Wan at a loss for words.
"I see..."
Yao Wan did not find it especially troubling. She merely rubbed her temples absentmindedly, deep in thought.
She had thought it was merely a careless remark, but now it seemed it was not that simple. Her fixation on this matter had indeed exceeded even what she consciously realized.
"—Or has it really come to this point?"
Seeing Yao Wan's somewhat conflicted expression, Medusa could not help bending down. Holding Xiao Xiao, she silently leaned close to her.
"?!"
Yao Wan, who had been slightly distracted, suddenly saw a blur before her eyes and hurriedly recoiled, half