Chapter 138
“Still… it was good that I kept it hidden.”
Edwin looked subtly at the building across from him, at the window inside.
The image of Iris, who had appeared with the twins, had clearly lingered in his mind—the way she had raised the corners of her lips before disappearing.
From the way she had become unusually weak toward the Chester kids after this incident, even Oscar Vern probably hadn’t noticed.
No, from Edwin’s perspective, Iris had always been far too timid.
“Then why only toward me…?”
His thoughts drifted back to the slightly chaotic incident at the night market.
The cheek so tempting he almost wanted to bite it, the red lips he nearly swallowed, the intoxicating scent…
The way she had been flustered as if she, too, had been caught in that atmosphere—and yet, she had immediately switched back to talking business, eyes shining bright.
“How…”
How could he cross that line she had delicately drawn without overstepping?
“Does he go soft on anyone who seems weak and pitiable? Like children?”
Should he approach in a way that would provoke her more?
“…No.”
He wasn’t physically someone who objectively appeared weak.
Then, should he shower her with all the treasures she so loved? Crown her head with gold, adorn every possible place with jewels… even ask if she wanted the clothes-hanger that was himself…
“…I’ve lost my mind.”
Edwin forcefully pulled himself out of the strange, helplessly captivating thoughts.
Oddly, he felt restless.
Even though not much time had passed since he realized his feelings, his patience had already worn thin.
And as he scraped away what little patience remained, a new, intense desire suddenly surged within him.
“You’re running off to find the Star of India? Ed, why?”
“…As long as I’m alive, some of the elders will never recognize my brother.”
“So you want to earn the title of the great heir who brought back the family heirloom for the brother with lacking blood? You don’t need that, little brother.”
“Brother! The symbolic value of the heirloom is not something to take lightly…!”
“Those old fools? I can handle them all. I don’t need something like a pebble to prove myself.”
…If that’s what brother says…
Then the Star of India and everything else…
It was at that moment Edwin’s thoughts caught on Edward’s recent invitation.
Noah and Cordelia timidly approached.
The three of them had shared a kind of bond over the past few days, sharing not-so-secret secrets.
“Uh, thank you, butler… I mean, hyung? Brother?”
“Noah! Butler—no, I mean, elder brother… Anyway! That’s a secret only the three of us are supposed to know in the mansion! Don’t show it off like that!”
Edwin, who had been watching the chattering twins, then leaned in closely, as if to whisper a secret.
“…Wait.”
“Huh?”
“What? I want to hear it too!”
Hesitant at first, the twins slowly nodded, then pouted and called out again.
“But at least save the temporary butler first!”
A few passing maids nearby perked up their ears at the commotion.
“Oh my. You’ve come just in time for nap time?”
Hearing the timid creak of the door, I immediately went to the entrance.
“Yeah… but I’m not sleepy.”
“…Me neither.”
Noah and Cordelia entered, looking unusually listless.
“You must be tired from coming so early… why aren’t you sleepy?”
I led the children inside soothingly and stretched my neck toward the hallway before closing the door.
‘Not coming together?’
I looked around for Edwin but didn’t see him.
‘Did he go to his office?’
I considered checking but quickly decided against it.
“Sigh.”
“Phew.”
The two children sat on the sofa, sighing deeply.
“Uh… why are you so tired?”
“It’s nothing. Just… sleepy. Sigh—”
“…Me too. Huuuh—”
“But just now, you said you weren’t sleepy?”
I squatted before the sofa. Usually, they would protest that they never said such a thing, but now they only tapped the sofa in frustration.
‘Everything went well, so why do these kids look so listless?’
I maintained eye contact, though I already knew the answer.
I gently held one hand of each twin.
“Your uncle and aunt were bad people. I could have hidden this from them, but I didn’t.”
“…Why?”
“So you’d recognize that bad people exist and not miss out on the good people who come to you.”
“Like us?”
I was momentarily lost for words.
‘Hmm. People like us are kind of scammers.’
Feeling a pang in my heart, I hesitated to answer, then suddenly realized something.
‘Are you seriously thinking about this?’
Of course! This was the perfect opportunity to earn the twins’ complete trust!
…but I was starting to be a little influenced by Edwin.
My goal was the Star of India.
‘Up to now… it’s been fine. I earned some extra income, and I needed to score points with the twins anyway.’
Although I had helped more sincerely than expected, getting too attached now would…
Then Cordelia muttered in a voice about to burst into tears:
“Then… do we have to live without a family forever?”
She clutched her skirt and hung her head low.
At that moment, memories of my own past—the part I had tried to forget—flashed above her round little head.
“Can’t you just count what I’ve eaten?”
The scraggly, malnourished, homeless version of myself.
Strangely, these kids had nothing in common with that past version of me—yet…
“Master! I’ve decided to completely abandon my father. From now on, I’ll do only dishonorable things!”
But why…
“Huff… huff… M-Master… m-my father keeps… popping… into my head…”
“Ari! Are you okay, dear?”
“Ugh… Go! Go away! He’s not even my real father! Get out of my head!”
Why does it keep happening…
“Iris!”
“Huff… Master, Master. I… I’ll be a bad kid, live badly… Even if he comes back, I won’t want him….”
Memories I thought were gone were resurfacing on their own.
It was truly strange.
Looking into the twins’ unsteady eyes, it felt as though I was part of that unease.
A sudden surge of emotion gripped my throat. My expression crumbled uncontrollably.
At that moment, Cordelia, overwhelmed with emotion, continued:
“Even the cousins who came to this meeting are all bad people. So for us, now, now…”
Oh no, I can’t. If I get attached now—
“There won’t even be a new family for us.”
If I get attached—
“We just bring trouble wherever we go, that’s why we meet only bad adults.”
…So what if I get attached?
Might as well attach properly, make your wealth my wealth—then the plan works perfectly, right?
Cordelia lowered her head even further, gloomily.
“Right? So it’s just Noah and me forever…”
“Forever? No! You’ll grow up and make one!”
And blood isn’t what makes a family.
I grabbed Cordelia’s shoulder and added:
“And! When you need it, I can do it for you! Just like at the casino!”
“Iris… you?”
Cordelia looked up at me in surprise, her gloomy expression shifting in an instant.
Noah, who had been sulking beside her, widened his eyes as well.
‘Those two… why are they so surprised?’
Seeing their expressions change so drastically, I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of pride.
I banged my chest confidently to lift the mood.
“What’s family anyway? Besides, I’m amazing at acting too, you know?”
