"Thank you for your candor."

  Tia remained mute, her silence speaking volumes.

  "Over these sixty years, how on earth did you manage to sustain Tia's life?" Kenley was indeed consumed by curiosity regarding the answer to this query.

  "By devouring the undead..."

  "Devouring the undead?"

  "Precisely. I am, by nature, a Soul Eater, possessing an incorporeal form that allows me to pass through walls with ease. The interior of the royal palace was teeming with rootless wraiths. I shared the energy derived from consuming these undead entities with Tia, thereby enabling her to survive."

  "I see. That certainly clarifies matters," Kenley remarked as he embraced Tia and settled back onto the bed.

  Relishing Kenley's tenderness, she seemed utterly loath to part from him, as if she couldn't get enough of his presence.

  However, after a brief interlude, she said, "Well, it's time for me to retreat. This body rightfully belongs to Tia, and I cannot usurp it for an extended duration."

  "Hold on a moment. Are you still able to leave Tia's body at present?" Kenley suddenly inquired.

  "Master, I am no longer able to do so."

  "Why ever not?"

  "After enduring sixty long years of confinement, my essence has become irrevocably intertwined with Tia's soul. Although I can manifest myself and assume control of Tia's body of my own accord, I am reluctant to do so, except in circumstances where Tia is in peril or I have a pressing need. But make no mistake, Tia's body is hers alone, and I cannot be so selfish as to maintain control over it for an extended period. I hold her in the highest regard," she said, pressing herself closely against Kenley's chest, her breath as sweet as the fragrance of an orchid.

  In that fleeting instant, Kenley gained an inkling of the source of this 'Tia's' overwhelming sense of attachment. Indeed, given her inability to appear for extended periods, the time she spent in his company was all the more precious, hence her deep yearning for it.

  "Very well, Master. Shower Tia with your love. She truly craves it. It's time for me to take my leave," the 'Tia' said, inhaling deeply, as if attempting to etch Kenley's scent into her memory. With that, she closed her eyes.

  When her eyes fluttered open once more, Kenley could discern a palpable shift in Tia's demeanor. The familiar Tia had returned.

  "Master, she made an appearance again just now, didn't she?" Tia was astute.

  Subsequently, Kenley recounted every detail of what had transpired. Upon hearing this, Tia lapsed into a protracted silence, her mind racing as she strived to recall the identity of the other soul dwelling within her.

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  "Well, any leads?" Kenley probed.

  "I'm not entirely certain. Initially, I entertained the possibility that it might be my mother, but after hearing your description, Master, I'm inclined to believe otherwise," Tia said earnestly.

  Upon hearing this, Kenley heaved a sigh of relief. Had the other Tia turned out to be Tia's mother, Kenley would have been at a loss as to how to handle such an awkward situation. Who in their right mind would wish for such a grotesque scenario where the souls of a mother and daughter were confined within the same body? Even if Tia were amenable to it, his moral compass would likely object.

  "Then could it be one of your servants, or perhaps another member of the royal household?" Kenley pressed on.

  "It's a possibility, though I'm not convinced. Her memory is in tatters, and much of the information is incomplete. Based solely on your account, Master, it's challenging for me to determine her true identity," Tia said, shaking her head.

  "Then, could you at least give me an idea of the possible candidates?"

  "I believe there are two viable possibilities. When I was being escorted, there was the vice-captain of the knights, my personal maid who had been by my side throughout, and a dozen or so royal guards. So, the first possibility is my personal maid. As for the second, it's my elder sister. She was slain by a dark knight, so there's a strong likelihood that she was transformed into an undead being," Tia speculated.

  "Are there any other potential candidates?"

  "Let me think. Perhaps there's a third possibility: my great-aunt," Tia said, her words measured as she put forth another option.

  "Great-aunt?" Kenley enunciated the word with some difficulty. A great-aunt, of course, was a sister of one's mother.

  "My great-aunt watched me grow from a tender age. She never married and was a highly accomplished magician. As I recall, I'm ignorant of my great-aunt's ultimate fate. I have no information regarding whether she perished or managed to flee the royal city. When the army of the undead invaded the palace, many of the communication channels were severed," Tia said, furrowing her brow as she delved into her memories.

  "Then, from a personality analysis perspective, who do you suspect it might be?"

  "I suspect that it's more likely to be either my elder sister or my great-aunt. However, I can't be certain. Their personalities are quite similar," Tia said.

  "Perhaps I've hit upon a way to ascertain her identity. Although Soul Eaters have fragmented memories and are driven primarily by their obsessions, there's still a chance that they might react to their true names. Kindly provide me with the names of these three individuals, and I'll conduct a test to see which name elicits a response," Kenley said, his eyes lighting up as an idea occurred to him.

  Upon hearing this, Tia's face brightened. "You're right, Master. My elder sister's name is Winnie, my great-aunt's name is Ysla, and my personal maid's name is PaoPao."

  "Very well. I'll give it a try right away."

  "Bear with me," Kenley said, reaching for the garlic juice.

  "Wait, Master! Please don't use the garlic juice!"

  Kenley was taken aback.

  "I'm already here, and the garlic juice is unbearable!" the 'Tia' exclaimed, shaking her fist in protest.

  "Fair point. How about we establish a code word or signal of sorts? I'll call for you when I need you to emerge. What do you think?" Kenley suggested.

  "Agreed!" To tell the truth, the other 'Tia' was endearingly charming.

  "I'll call you by name. What about PaoPao?" Kenley asked.

  The 'Tia' shook her head. "Master, I don't think that's my name."

  "Could you be Winnie?" At the mention of the second name, the 'Tia' showed the first signs of emotional turmoil.

  "It hurts..." the 'Tia' said, clutching her chest.

  "Could you really be Winnie, Tia's elder sister?"

  The 'Tia' clutched her chest for a moment before shaking her head. "Master, please try the other name."

  "Ysla..." Kenley intoned the name.

  The 'Tia's reaction was more pronounced this time. Her breathing grew rapid.

  "Hmm..." Kenley broke out in a cold sweat. Could she really be Tia's great-aunt?

  There was a reaction to both names, but the response to Ysla seemed more intense. Could it be that the second reaction was heightened because I called out two significant names in quick succession?"