Chapter 68
It was phrased as a question, but Jack was already certain of the answer.
I, who had been pressing my lips tightly shut, slowly nodded.
“Yeah.”
Even in that brief moment, countless thoughts ran through my mind. Should I say no? Should I act surprised, even now?
But no matter what excuse I gave, Jack would never believe it. That’s why I answered honestly.
Because that was the only way not to lose his trust.
“I knew.”
“…I always felt like you could see through everything, Director, but I never thought you truly knew.”
Jack’s shoulders trembled. His complexion had already grown pale.
“Jack! Are you okay?”
Worried, I grabbed Jack’s shoulders to check his condition. But—
Smack.
Jack shoved me away. I froze at the sight I had never seen before. His violet eyes were shaking uncontrollably.
“Then… are you going to abandon me now?”
At the pitiful tone in his voice, my shoulders flinched and I looked at him. Jack covered his face with both hands. He looked unbearably tormented.
“…Abandon you? What are you talking about? I never would.”
At my words, Jack’s shoulders shook once.
I bent down to meet his eyes.
When I gently pulled his hands away, Jack slowly raised his head. His violet eyes were brimming with tears.
“Why would you think I’d abandon you?”
“…Because having me around is dangerous.”
“There’s no way I’d abandon you for that. Do you know how precious you are to me?”
I pulled the arm I held closer and hugged him. I could feel Jack’s body stiffen.
“The reason I wasn’t shocked even after learning your true identity… is because no matter what you look like, you’re still Jack. That doesn’t change.”
“…But because of me, you and the children might be in danger.”
“I won’t let that happen. I told you—I’ll protect you.”
“…”
At my reply, Jack pressed his lips together. Then he buried his face against me and muttered:
“The truth is… I was scared. Scared you might abandon me…”
“You worried for nothing.”
“I guess so.”
Jack looked up at me. The wavering in his eyes had finally stilled.
After hesitating a moment, he carefully parted his lips, letting out a soft, pleasant voice:
“…I’m glad you’re our guardian.”
The moment I heard that, an indescribable feeling welled up inside me.
“The reason I was away at dawn was because of this.”
Once emotions settled, I handed Jack a pendant.
Jack accepted it with a bewildered look.
“What’s this?”
“It’s an artifact enchanted with transformation magic. And… it’s a keepsake of the late Empress.”
Jack’s eyes widened at my words.
He looked at me once, then back at the pendant. His violet eyes trembled uneasily.
In a voice full of disbelief, he asked again:
“This is… what did you say it was?”
“It’s your mother’s keepsake.”
“How do you have this, Director?”
Jack’s gaze fixed on me. I answered quietly:
“Last night, I met one of the late Empress’s confidants. They entrusted me with it, asking me to pass it on to you.”
“This is really…”
I looked at Jack with pity. His confusion was only natural—he could never have imagined something like this.
“If you wear the pendant, you’ll return to your true form. And… inside it are the Empress’s memories. But the magic won’t activate unless you will it, so if you don’t want to see, you don’t have to. It’s up to you, Jack.”
“…”
Jack gave no reply, so I simply left the room and closed the door.
‘He’ll be fine.’
In the original story, Jack never found any trace of his parents before he died.
‘I did the right thing… right?’
But the fact it was never foretold left me uneasy.
‘No regrets.’
If I was going to regret it, I shouldn’t have acted at all. Having made my choice, regret was meaningless.
I gazed at Jack’s door for a moment, then went downstairs.
After Ciela left, Jack stood there for a long time, staring at the pendant.
After a while, click—he opened it.
A sudden gust of wind swept through.
Startled, Jack lifted his head. And then—
—“My baby.”
In an instant, the scenery around him changed. When he came to, he was standing in a garden.
Startled at first, Jack turned his head toward a woman’s voice.
There she stood.
A woman with dazzling silver hair and violet eyes.
‘That woman…’
Jack recognized her at once.
‘This is magic.’
The moment he saw her, he understood—it was all an illusion created by magic.
Of course. That woman no longer existed in this world.
And yet, it felt so real. The breeze on his skin, the scent of flowers, the faint coolness in the air—everything was vividly clear.
—“By now, my baby must have grown so much.”
“…!”
His eyes met hers. Though he knew it was an illusion, Jack couldn’t move.
She truly seemed to be standing before him. Looking at his dazed face, she smiled faintly.
—“If you’re seeing this letter, it must mean your father and I lost our lives.”
“…”
—“What a pity. That I couldn’t see you grow with my own eyes.”
Step, step.
She crossed the bed of flowers and approached. Jack stood still, watching.
When she was close, she caressed his cheek. His eyes followed her touch.
—“I’m sorry to leave you alone, my baby. But remember—we loved you more than anyone, and we’re always by your side. Our poor, beloved….”
Ede.
Her pale hand tickled his cheek. Looking at it, Jack slowly raised his gaze to her face.
“You are…”
But as soon as he spoke, the scene began to collapse. The magic was ending.
Jack rushed toward the woman as she faded. Even if it was only a vision, there was something he wanted to say.
“I…!”
But the collapse was too fast. By the time he reached out, he was already back in his room. The woman was gone.
Jack looked at the pendant left in his hands, then hung it around his neck. From head to toe, his body slowly shifted back into his true form as Jack.
He gazed at the miniature portrait inside, then closed the lid without hesitation.
Pulling the door open, he went downstairs.
At the same moment, Chloan came out of the dining room, and their eyes met.
“Ah, Chlo—”
“Hy-hyung!”
Before Jack could finish, Chloan ran and threw himself into Jack’s arms, bursting into tears.
“Hyung… I thought you were going to die… Are you okay now? Are you all better?”
“…Yeah, sorry for making you worry.”
“Jack oppa?”
“Oppa!”
The other children, hearing Chloan’s voice, rushed to him as well. They surrounded Jack, checking if he was really recovered and if nothing still hurt.
“Jack.”
Hearing that voice, Jack lifted his head. Ciela was staring at him in surprise.
Looking back at her, Jack smiled and replied:
“Yes, Director.”
There was no trace left of the shaken boy from before. Now, Jack was calmer than ever.
‘Because I know nothing’s changed.’
He was still Jack. He always would be Jack.
So.
‘She doesn’t need to worry anymore.’
Holding that unspoken thought close, Jack wrapped the children in his arms.
A month passed after Jack’s recovery.
“It’s already the New Year.”
Time had flown, and the year had changed. But nothing else really had.
Recovered, Jack continued his lessons with Leonard while keeping his altered appearance thanks to Vincente’s magic. Hoyun and the children also lived peacefully without issue.
‘If anything has changed, it’s me.’
