Leticia's words were like a stone cast into a calm lake, stirring ripples in the hearts of the Sisters.
New family?
A glimmer of curiosity flashed in Fogremia's purple eyes.
In Angronia's amber pupils, the Battle Intent that had just subsided showed signs of reigniting.
Sanguinia tilted her head, a look of expectant, childlike innocence appearing on her face.
However, in this atmosphere filled with anticipation, a discordant note appeared.
"Umm..."
A faint, weary groan came from behind Leticia.
Terrania, who had been clutching the hem of her divine robe tightly, suddenly went limp, her little face turning deathly pale.
The eyes that were once as brilliant as pure gold also lost their luster, becoming somewhat dim.
The meeting with Guilliman, that seemingly calm dialogue on a spiritual level, had drained her mentally far more than anyone imagined.
With her pure soul, she had borne the pain and loneliness of a Primarch—a burden spanning ten thousand years and heavy enough to crush the stars.
For her, still just a child, the burden was too heavy.
"Terrania!"
Leticia's heart tightened abruptly.
The goddess-like mind that had been contemplating galactic strategic layouts just a second ago was completely emptied in an instant.
She instantly cast aside all considerations regarding the next target and all plans for the development of her forces.
She bent down, her movements as gentle as if she were touching the most precious, fragile glass.
She gathered Terrania's small, soft body steadily into her arms.
She let her golden, somewhat limp little head rest securely on her shoulder.
In that moment, Leticia's gaze shifted from a strategist orchestrating the board back to that of a sister filled with tenderness and care.
"That blue guy!"
Seeing Terrania's weak state, Angronia's amber pupils instantly ignited with raging fury.
Her low growl was filled with undisguised killing intent.
"What did he do to her?!"
A violent, scorching Battle Intent leaked uncontrollably from her, causing the surrounding air to distort and heat up.
The massive chainaxe at her waist emitted a hungry, bloodthirsty hum.
"I should have twisted his head off before he left!"
"Sister, be quiet."
Just a second before Angronia was about to lose control, a soft and compassionate voice poured into the powder keg like a clear spring.
It was Sanguinia.
She extended her massive, snow-white wings and placed them gently and tenderly on Angronia's shoulders.
The warm aura of "Hope" radiating from the wings instantly smoothed out Angronia's erupting rage.
"She is just tired."
Sanguinia's sky-blue eyes held a hint of compassion and heartache.
"With her purest gentleness, she bore the ten thousand years of pain of a Primarch, purifying the deepest darkness in his soul."
"For her, this was a... holy war, harder than any battle."
"What she needs is not the fire of revenge, but quiet rest."
Sanguinia's words caused Angronia's violent Battle Intent to slowly subside.
She glanced at the little face with a weary, sleepy expression in Leticia's arms, and nodded silently and heavily.
She did not speak again, but those amber pupils had already carved the name "Robert Guilliman" onto her kill list.
Just then, a sound of elegant footsteps, like a breeze brushing against wind chimes, approached.
Fogremia, carrying a silver tray crafted from rare lunar metal and shimmering with a soft light, came quietly to Leticia's side.
On the tray sat a teacup fired from bone china, painted with a perfect rose pattern.
In the cup was freshly brewed herbal tea, emitting a strange, soothing aroma, with steam rising and curling into wisps of pale purple mist.
Beside it were a few pastries cut into perfect diamonds and sprinkled with golden frosting.
"For our weary little Majesty."
Fogremia's voice was like the most beautiful aria, filled with devotion to a work of art.
She elegantly placed the refreshments on the table beside Leticia, every movement impeccable, as if rehearsed thousands of times.
"And for her greatest guardian."
Her purple eyes gazed at Leticia with a trace of imperceptible, complex emotion mixed with admiration and heartache.
Leticia, holding Terrania, walked to the largest and most comfortable sofa in the bridge lounge area and slowly sat down.
She adjusted her posture so that Terrania's little head could rest securely on her soft lap.
Angronia walked silently to the doorway leading to the lounge, crossed her arms, and leaned against the wall.
She closed her eyes, but her immense, combat-filled spiritual power, like a silent red statue, became the most impenetrable barrier, vigilant against any possible disturbance to this tranquility.
Sanguinia walked behind the sofa.
Her massive, snow-white wings slowly and gently unfurled.
Like a blanket woven from the softest clouds and the warmest sunlight, they gently and carefully covered Leticia and Terrania.
Sealing out all the noise and cold of the outside world.
A perfect, absolutely safe "home," jointly constructed by the four Primarch Sisters, quietly took shape at this moment.
Resting on Leticia's lap, Terrania seemed to feel this unprecedented warmth and peace coming from all directions.
Her tightly furrowed little brow slowly smoothed out.
Her little nose rubbed gently against Leticia's leg, as if searching for the most comfortable and warmest spot.
Her little mouth opened slightly, and she murmured in a voice as faint as a mosquito, like dream talk, indistinctly.
"Sister..."
"...in your arms..."
"Is... home..."
Having said this, she sank completely into a sweet slumber, a satisfied, happy smile still on the corners of her mouth.
Hearing these dream words, Leticia's heart was instantly filled with a huge sense of happiness and satisfaction that could not be described in words.
She looked down at Terrania's peaceful sleeping face.
Watching her long, golden eyelashes tremble slightly in her sleep.
Leticia's gaze was so gentle it seemed capable of melting the cold of the entire universe.
She lowered her head and pressed an incredibly cherished, gentle kiss onto Terrania's smooth forehead.
Protection.
Yes.
This is everything she fought for.
This is the entire meaning of her existence.
To protect this tranquility.
To protect this warmth.
To protect this... home.
Never mind one Guilliman, never mind the Four Chaos Gods.
Even that so-called "source of the void," even the malice of the entire universe, she would crush it completely without hesitation!
Leticia's determination to protect became, at this moment, more resolute and pure than ever before.
In this warm and peaceful atmosphere.
A calm, efficient, and emotionless female voice sounded quietly through Leticia's private bone-conduction communication channel.
It was Valeria.
"Goddess."
"Following your instructions, I have successfully accessed the top-secret database in the deepest part of the Imperial Inquisition via the highest-level encrypted protocol established between you and the Regent."
"The data stream... has begun downloading."
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