Episode 34
A Story About Her Mother.
I can hear stories about her?
When Sophia looked at me with quite a curious glint in her eyes, Peyton finished arranging the curtains and walked over to her side.
“It was quite a long relationship, so I know a lot.”
“…”
“Ransell really hated carrots and loved apples. Oh, and she liked cherries too.”
I have no memory of my mother. Except for a few fleeting moments I saw like a flash before I woke up. I don’t even really remember her face.
But now, I remember her voice.
The sound of the piano she used to play with those graceful fingers—I heard it when I was deep in the abyss.
“…Was she good at playing the piano?”
“She was amazing. Whenever Ransell played, I’d always go stand next to her.”
“What pieces was she good at?”
“Paul Hermann’s Dance and…”
Sophia listened to Peyton’s story as if spellbound. Along with stories of her mother, she also heard bits and pieces about Peyton.
That he had lived for hundreds of years, as expected of a wizard. That he had truly loved Ransell.
“Ransell had no choice but to be close to wizards.”
It turns out Ransell lived in Bennyro, in the west—in the land of the wizards.
“They spent nearly all their time together.”
It was the first time she’d heard that her mother had lived with most of the wizards.
Perhaps because of all the stories being shared, this time Peyton turned the question back on her.
“Aren’t you curious about your father?”
Father. Surely she had one too. Someone who loved her mother—or was loved by her mother.
But it wasn’t a word she particularly wanted to hear. Even her mother had avoided mentioning him.
“I’ve never seen his face since I was a child. No way he’s a good person.”
“Uh…”
“So I’m not curious.”
“…That’s a wise choice.”
Why should she care about someone who wasn’t even by her mother’s side?
As Sophia openly showed her discomfort, Peyton tactfully changed the subject.
“Right, let’s drop the honorifics. I like it when people speak comfortably with me.”
“Sure, Grandpa.”
“…Grandpa?”
Peyton tilted his head in confusion at the unexpected title.
“You said you’ve lived for hundreds of years without aging.”
“W-Well, yes…”
“Then you’re a grandpa.”
Hundreds of years? That’s the ultimate grandpa.
When she replied like that, Peyton stared at her in shock with wide eyes.
“Really…? You’re really going to call me that…?”
“Yup.”
“Fey is sad! Fey’s going to cry! Crying now!”
As he whined with a fake crying voice and acted all cutesy, Sophia returned only a disdainful look instead of changing the title.
After breakfast, Sophia visited Serita with Peyton.
Originally, she would have gone with Lucion or Lorreigh, but the two seemed too busy coming in and out of the main estate to make time.
So she had planned to go alone, but Peyton clung to her coat.
“I’m your physician! I need to stay by your side for a few more days to make sure you’re really okay!”
“…”
“Take me! Fey wants to come too!”
She wasn’t sure if she’d gotten a physician or just an annoying child throwing tantrums.
With no choice, dragging the extra baggage along, she opened Serita’s door—only for Serita to rush over and embrace her tightly.
“Miss! I’m so glad you’re safe….”
“I heard you did a lot. Thank you.”
“It was nothing.”
“You can’t say that with eyes like those. You clearly didn’t sleep well.”
As she lightly patted Serita’s back, whose eyes were red and complexion worse than the former patient herself, Serita hugged her even tighter.
“Thank you. Really.”
Sophia would never know. While she was being embraced, Serita was glaring fiercely at Peyton over her shoulder.
‘He must be up to something, being around the young lady like this. If he dares use her again…’
Peyton, who understood the message perfectly, trembled behind a smiling face. After exchanging farewells, Sophia began preparing to leave—they were to have tea with the twins soon, and she was in a rush.
“Make sure you get some sleep, alright?”
“Yes. And you must rest well too. If anything happens, please come to me right away!”
“I will.”
After leaving with Serita seeing her off, Sophia turned toward the terrace of Rosent Castle, where Joshua and Benjamin had called her.
That moment, Serita’s voice echoed in her ears again.
“Oh, I just remembered—I need a word with you. Peyton Sel Meria.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes, you. Please step into the room for a moment.”
At the unexpected call, Peyton widened his eyes and gave a clueless, cheerful smile, not at all fazed by the sharpness in Serita’s tone.
“Is it alright, Miss?”
“It’s fine.”
“Thank you. Please wait just outside the door.”
After getting Sophia’s permission, Serita took Peyton by the arm and dragged him into her room.
Whatever they were about to talk about, Sophia didn’t eavesdrop. She simply stepped back to give them some space and waited for Peyton to come out.
“Why didn’t you respond to my letter?”
“Letter? Ah… that.”
The one requesting consultation on Sophia’s condition, with the withered flower crown included. Naturally, Peyton had never replied.
“There were… various reasons. Ones a human wouldn’t understand.”
“I can’t entrust my lady to someone who knew what was happening and still said nothing.”
“So what now? You planning to go to Bled and say I should be fired or something?”
“Yes.”
At that bold answer, Peyton burst into laughter. He knew better than anyone that her words were nothing but an impossible fantasy.
“If something happens to Sophia again, can you protect her properly?”
“What…?”
“Bled wants someone who can definitely keep Sophia alive. That’s why, even with the risks, he kept me in this castle.”
“…”
“And the flower crown thing—it’s fine. It really was nothing. Just a cranky wizard playing a prank while looking for the cat he used to raise.”
A prank? How could he call something that nearly gave everyone a heart attack a mere prank?
Serita opened her mouth to argue, but Peyton’s next quiet words made her stop.
“She got caught in a trap meant for Lorreigh. Just unlucky.”
Now that she thought about it, she had heard that Lorreigh also experienced dizziness that day, and therefore hadn’t been able to stay by Sophia’s side.
Instead of arguing, Serita asked another question.
“Who is that wizard, anyway? Why target Lady Merkle?”
“I can’t tell you. That’s why I’m saying to forget it. It won’t cause any trouble later. Sophia’s condition won’t suddenly worsen because of it.”
There’s no need to tell Sophia or even for you to know, he was saying.
Serita couldn’t hide her frustration at his absolute tone.
Is he saying the ending justifies everything? How could he?
She didn’t understand why this happened, nor what that wizard wanted or might do next—how could he tell her to forget?
Unable to comprehend Peyton’s attitude, Serita frowned and asked,
“What are you even thinking?”
“How could someone who hasn’t even lived 50 years understand the thoughts of someone who’s lived for an eternity and seen all there is to see?”
“Just because you shut us up, just because you let this end vaguely—it doesn’t mean it’s really over.”
“Serita Billon. You’re truly exceptional among humans. But still, you’re just a human. One who won’t even live to see a hundred before being wiped from existence.”
Peyton spoke each word coldly and deliberately.
“Don’t stick your nose into wizard business.”
“…”
“If anyone dies, it’ll be you—or Sophia.”
“T-That…”
“If that day comes, I won’t be able to save anyone. So please, be cautious—as a human.”
His voice was colder and more terrifying than the biting winds of the dead of winter.
“Tell everyone who knows about the flower crown: Stay out of this. There’s no need for concern. You’re smart, Serita—you can find a way to frame it nicely, right?”
But as if he’d never uttered such a thing, Peyton suddenly smiled warmly, like spring sunlight, and added,
“Sophia’s probably tired. I’m off now!”
Smiling brightly, he opened the door and left. Serita couldn’t say a single word as she watched him go.
Feeling heavy and dizzy, she sat in a chair and leaned back.
Her body felt relaxed, but her heart didn’t.
“…Damn, damn it! Damn wizard!”
His words had been chilling, like a final warning. Yet the part where he said he wouldn’t be able to save anyone—was filled with despair and sorrow, like he’d already experienced that helplessness.
He was saying his decision was the best. That he, who knew wizards better than anyone, had made the best call.
Frustrated as she was, Serita thought it might be best to believe him quietly.
Because she knew better than anyone just how terrifying wizards could be.
