Chapter 76
Benjamin, sensing something must have happened from Johan’s words, asked,
“Why? What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing serious.”
It really wasn’t much. Nothing had happened yet, and it didn’t seem like anything dangerous was about to happen either.
“So, Johan, you don’t need to keep worrying.”
“…Yes.”
Not wanting Johan to blame himself, Sophia quickly comforted him, then told them about the boy she had met—who looked exactly like Anne but wasn’t Anne. She also mentioned that, just as that boy had suggested, she intended to go to his house.
“Doesn’t sound like it’ll end well. Do you really have to go?”
Benjamin’s face was filled with concern.
“Maybe not for that boy, but I am a little worried about Anne.”
“Ah…”
“If those kids really did hold a grudge and went to Anne’s house, it could be dangerous.”
Though she had only met him briefly, that boy had seemed kind. His purity and gentleness were something he couldn’t hide.
She couldn’t bear the thought of such a boy being in danger. As Sophia debated within herself and spoke, someone tugged gently at her sleeve.
“…Dangerous? What do you mean?”
“Ah, Anne?”
Standing beside her was Anne, with the same innocent eyes she had seen earlier in the day, the same necklace hanging from his neck.
“Who’s coming to my house?”
“Wait a second… Why are you here…?”
“I—no, um, I just happened to pass by and saw a crowd of people, so I wondered what was going on… and came.”
“…Ah.”
“Please tell me. What do you mean my house is in danger?”
Anne looked genuinely anxious, as if all he had really caught was that one word—danger.
“A kid who looks exactly like you was being bullied, and Sophia stepped in to help. The bullies might go to your house to retaliate, so he asked her to look out for you.”
Since Sophia was too flustered to explain, Joshua gave a simple summary, gently pulling Anne’s hand away from Sophia’s sleeve.
“I see…”
“Is he your brother?”
Joshua asked if he was Anne’s twin. At that, Anne glanced nervously around, as if worried someone might overhear, and whispered,
“I… don’t have any siblings.”
Joshua almost scoffed immediately, ready to call the statement ridiculous—but he held back. After all, he hadn’t seen the look-alike himself, and more importantly, Sophia seemed concerned about Anne’s feelings.
“But… kids like that do come to my house fairly often.”
“…”
“They yell… throw things… make it scary for me to even step outside. Maybe they mistake me for that other boy.”
It was impossible to believe there was no sibling. They had looked too alike. Unless they shared blood, it was nearly impossible.
But watching Anne nervously glance around, hyper-aware even though no one else was nearby, made them feel like they had to accept his words—for now.
As those thoughts faded, Anne fidgeted with his fingers and looked up at Sophia.
His eyes resembled those of a pitiful, abandoned pet on a rainy day.
“I know it’s shameless of me but… could you help me? Maybe just… stay at my house with me…?”
“Alright, alright. I’ll send someone with you, so don’t ask Sophia for too much.”
Joshua quickly cut in, sliding his hand between Sophia and Anne, breaking the flow of conversation.
“Anyway, all we need to do is deal with whoever comes to the house, right?”
“…Yes.”
“That answer doesn’t sound convincing.”
“…I’m scared.”
“What?”
At Joshua’s cold voice, Anne answered in a small, trembling tone.
“Being alone at home… it scares me.”
“Where are your parents?”
“They either don’t come home… or come very late.”
Ah. Words and a voice like that naturally evoked sympathy. Sure enough, Peyton was already tugging softly at Sophia’s sleeve, his eyes filled with pity and compassion.
“What if I stayed at his house with him, then?”
Joshua gave him a look of pure exasperation.
“What are you even saying, doctor? If Sophia’s not there, what could you possibly do?”
“But still…”
“It’ll be fine if I’m there.”
“Sophia?”
Joshua blinked in surprise when she spoke, but Sophia had no intention of retracting her words.
In her dream, she had let go of Peyton’s hand. She had failed to fulfill Leon’s wish. She had watched Peyton cry.
As long as that dream lingered in her mind, she couldn’t help but indulge Peyton’s wishes.
While Joshua was left speechless, Benjamin smiled brightly and wrapped things up.
“So, excluding Joshua, are we all agreed to go to this boy’s house?”
“What the—hey! Benji!”
“Great, it’s settled then. Should we head over right now? We’re pretty much done with today’s schedule anyway.”
“Don’t ignore me, Benjamin!”
“Alright, Anne. Please lead the way.”
“Hey!!”
Inside the flower shop, behind its ornate decorations, lay a modest home—perfectly suited for a small family.
“It’s a little… messy, isn’t it?”
“It’s fine.”
Having spent more than two weeks living and eating in a much smaller space within her dream, Sophia actually felt more at home here than in any grand mansion.
“I—I’ll make some tea, so, um… feel free to look around!”
“Thank you.”
Anne rushed into the kitchen, leaving Sophia to examine the surroundings. Benjamin and Joshua, uninterested, sat by the window, staring outside.
On a small decorative table stood a vase. Beside it, a clumsy little sculpture—clearly handmade by a child.
Sophia’s gaze lingered. And there, half-hidden behind the sculpture, was a necklace.
“…This is…”
It was identical to the one Anne was wearing now.
Since replacement necklaces weren’t given out, it wasn’t possible Anne had two. This had to belong to his twin—the boy Sophia had seen earlier.
“Miss.”
As Sophia studied the necklace, Lorei came to her side, pointing toward the window.
She saw Benjamin and Joshua bristling, clearly on edge.
“What’s wrong?”
“Some shady guys are peeking inside.”
Joshua’s low voice carried irritation. Sure enough, outside, some people were glaring into the house with hostile eyes.
“…Johan.”
“Yes.”
“Go check outside.”
They needed to know why those people were watching the house with such malice.
Johan slipped quietly out the back door. Joshua, meanwhile, yanked the curtains shut with a sharp scowl.
Soon after, Johan returned.
“They’re followers of the Kratina faith. They saw you, miss, and claimed you looked like the evil god. They’re stirring things up, calling you a heretic.”
“I see…”
“It seems there’s an agitator among them, but… ah.”
“Johan?”
“No, nothing. This… isn’t something I should trouble you with, miss.”
He cut himself off mid-report, stepping back with an awkward air.
Sophia sensed he meant no harm, so she let it slide, watching as he quickly moved over to Benjamin and Joshua.
Pretending not to listen, Sophia strained her ears.
How could she not be curious?
“There’s an agitator. Shall I find them and dispose of them?”
“Quietly. Just find out who it is.”
Ah. Sophia realized what Johan had wanted to ask.
Of course—he couldn’t tell her that. After all, she was only twelve right now.
“Why is everyone crowded around the window?”
Anne reappeared with a teacup, looking puzzled.
“It seems… I’ve been a bad influence on you.”
“Ah… there must be people outside then.”
Even without a full explanation, Anne seemed to understand, smiling awkwardly.
Benjamin studied him for a moment, then asked,
“Did you expect this to happen?”
“…Yes.”
Anne closed his eyes tightly, then spoke again with a stronger voice.
“…No matter what, I wanted to become a heretic.”
“…”
“I’m truly sorry for dragging you into this.”
Anne dropped to his knees, bowing his head. Sophia wouldn’t suffer from this. People would just gossip, calling this house a heretic’s home. She would soon leave the island anyway.
The one at risk was Anne himself.
“Why?”
Sophia calmly asked why someone who had once treasured his Kratina necklace would suddenly choose to become a heretic.
“Earlier, before I met you all… I met Monet. My twin brother.”
“Didn’t you say you had no siblings?”
“…I’m sorry. That was a lie.”
So they really were siblings.
“Monet begged me. He said, if I truly wanted to apologize, I should become a heretic like you all.”
“So you dragged us into this on purpose?”
“Yes. I’m so, so sorry.”
Anne kept bowing his head again and again.
“Monet never believed in Kratina, not even as a child. He rejected it. Because of that, our whole family was once branded as heretics.”
“…”
“That time, my parents claimed it was only Monet, and cast him out. I… I had been captured by the cultists then, and to save me… they abandoned him.”
His voice trembled with the effort of holding back tears. Even Joshua, usually quick with a sharp remark, kept silent and listened.
“From that day, Monet was no longer family. We weren’t even allowed to speak his name.”
At seven years old, Monet had been taken by cultists into the temple, where he remained for a long time.
Endless sermons, prayers, lectures—locked away in a cage meant to force belief in Kratina.
“It was terrifying. Truly terrifying.”
Anne remembered the abuse he had endured when branded a heretic himself. That was why he hadn’t been brave enough to save Monet.
All he could do back then was cry and whisper apologies, over and over.
“And then… recently, I lost my necklace. That small mistake made everyone suspicious, and my parents are now at the temple.”
They had gone there to beg forgiveness, to swear they were blameless.
Now Sophia understood why Anne had bowed so deeply in gratitude when she had retrieved his necklace.
“…I hate the cult. I don’t want to treasure this necklace anymore.”
With trembling hands, Anne unclasped the necklace from his neck.
His decision to become a heretic was, in its own way, an act of courage.
“Even if I’m captured, punished, or worse… as long as I can be with Monet, that’s so much better.”
Tears clung to his lashes, but his smile was genuine—radiantly so.
The ones most shaken by that smile were none other than Benjamin and Joshua.
