Chapter 14

The child stared at Lucius with wide eyes.

Then his face slowly crumpled, and he burst into tears.

As Lucius loosened his grip, the child ran into Maya’s arms.

“Bill, are you okay?”

Maya gently patted his back, her voice full of concern.

“…Bill?”

“Yes. His name is Bill. He has a contagious skin disease, so we’ve been taking care of him separately…”

Only then did Lucius notice Bill’s wrist, exposed from his sleeve, covered in reddish rashes.

Maya looked confused, as if she didn’t understand why Lucius had come to this room.

“You should keep your distance too, Your Grace, just in case.”

That explained why Maya had tried to stop him earlier.

Lucius left the room without another word, leaving behind the crying Bill and Maya trying to comfort him.

Standing with his back against the door, he paused in thought.

His expression didn’t change, but his golden eyes gleamed with quiet calculation.

He seemed like he might stand there forever—

But then—

“Your Grace?”

Reina had come upstairs and found him.

“Are you looking for the children’s rooms?”

Of course, Reina knew exactly why he was there.

She had intentionally led him to suspect Maya.

‘So he would see Bill, disguised to resemble Calix.’

The item she had requested from the Master—

Was dye.

A special substance made by priests using divine power.

It could restore color to faded hair and bring life back to dull eyes.

It was originally meant to comfort patients who had been bedridden for a long time.

Reina had obtained black hair dye and red eye dye through the Master—

And used them on Bill.

She had even used cosmetics to create reddish blotches on his skin.

‘Once he checks the other rooms too…’

Even if rumors later spread about a sick child with black hair and red eyes—

They would assume it was Bill, not Calix.

“Would you like me to guide you after all?”

“No. There’s no point in continuing the search.”

Lucius walked toward her.

“What is that key in your hand?”

He nodded toward it.

Reina lifted it slightly.

“I mentioned earlier that I had something to check. This is the key to my office storage. It might be helpful to you.”

Lucius gestured for her to continue.

“I have a network connecting orphanages across the Empire. The records are in that storage.”

“….”

“If the child you’re looking for really went to an orphanage, I plan to contact them.”

“It will take time to receive replies.”

Reina nodded.

That was the point.

She needed time.

“But it will save you the trouble of searching every orphanage. Leave that to me, and you can continue your search elsewhere.”

Lucius listened silently, then spoke.

“Reina.”

At the low sound of her name, her body stiffened.

“What is your reason?”

“…Pardon?”

“Why are you trying so hard to help me?”

Reina swallowed.

His sharp gaze was still difficult to endure.

“As I said, I feel sorry for someone who has lost a child. If I can help, then I—”

Lucius’s lips curved slightly.

She trailed off.

‘What is that reaction?’

A warning instinctively flashed through her mind.

This wasn’t the time to push forward.

It was the time to step back.

“I’ve overstepped. I’m sorry.”

Reina lowered her gaze and apologized.

Lucius tilted his head slightly.

After watching her silently for a moment, he spoke again.

“I should be the one apologizing, if I offended you.”

Reina’s eyes widened.

‘Did Lucius just apologize to me?’

She could hardly believe it.

“I was simply suspicious. I had no intention of disregarding your goodwill.”

Reina glanced up at him.

As expected—

Even though he spoke politely, his expression remained completely cold.

“Let us continue this discussion tomorrow. I apologize for troubling you today.”

Lucius walked past her.

Reina stood there, watching his retreating figure, unable even to see him off.

‘Continue tomorrow?’

What does that even mean?

✦ ✦ ✦

Calix waited for Reina in the secret room.

He had no idea how much time had passed.

The space was dark and too quiet.

He listened to the pounding of his own heart as he glanced repeatedly at the door.

“Calix.”

When Reina finally opened it, he broke into a bright smile.

She hadn’t let him down.

‘My brother didn’t find me… I can stay with Reina now.’

But unlike Calix, Reina’s expression was dark.

She usually looked calm and expressionless, but sometimes she showed him a gentle face.

Calix had memorized those moments.

That’s why—

He could tell something was wrong.

“What is it, Reina? Did something happen?”

After stepping out of the hidden space, he asked her.

She shook her head.

“Then… it’s all over now, right? We don’t have to worry anymore?”

She was about to nod—

But stopped.

“Not yet.”

Reina knelt down to meet his eyes.

He tried to hide his disappointment.

She smiled gently.

“You did well, staying alone today.”

“It’s nothing.”

Calix straightened slightly, trying to sound brave.

Noticing this, Reina changed the question.

“Weren’t you bored?”

He couldn’t answer right away.

“Calix.”

She took both his hands.

“Do you want to play with me today?”

His eyes widened.

“Really? Is that okay?”

She hadn’t expected him to be so happy.

“Of course. But we can only play here in my room.”

“That’s fine. I like that better.”

He even clenched his fists in excitement.

Reina laughed softly.

They ate together and worked on a puzzle Maya had brought.

Calix wasn’t very talkative, and Reina didn’t force conversation.

Just watching him concentrate on the puzzle was enough.

For the first time since meeting him—

It felt peaceful.

‘I wish it could always be like this.’

When would they be able to live without fear?

After a moment, Reina pointed to where his puzzle piece should go.

“Calix, you said your illness can be cured if everything is restored, right?”

Still focused on the puzzle, he nodded.

“Would your brother know what that means?”

His hand froze.

He looked up at her.

“Bomber said that the head of the Ingersoll family learns the truth about the curse.”

Why it exists, and what it’s for.

“Then he would know how to break it too?”

Calix hesitated.

“I’m not sure… but Bomber said even if someone knows, they might not be able to break it.”

“Why?”

“Only a ‘special person’ can do it.”

He looked at her carefully.

“Has Bomber ever moved in front of you?”

“No. Not yet.”

Calix looked a little disappointed.

“He said when the special person appears, he’ll return to his true form.”

“True form? What does that mean?”

Calix shook his head.

“He said he’s too weak now, so he can only appear as a statue.”

Reina fell into thought.

‘So the statue isn’t his real form.’

It was just a medium.

‘What exactly is Bomber?’

A mysterious being that could inhabit a wooden statue and move…

It had to be connected to the Ingersoll family’s curse.

Seeing her silent, Calix quickly added:

“You are the special person, Reina. He’ll show himself soon.”

He believed it completely.

Reina smiled and nodded.

But inside—

She was growing impatient.

She couldn’t just wait for Bomber forever.

‘The head of the Ingersoll family knows the truth about the curse…’

That meant Lucius knew.

Reina looked at the puzzle piece in her hand.

‘Then I need to find out what he knows.’

Because—

That was the only way to save Calix.