CHAPTER 11……………………………….
“Yes. I’ve come from the Delve Count’s household.”
“How astonishing. For Getre to bring someone into this house who isn’t of our bloodline.
Then again, if someone leaves, someone must enter.”
Veil said this with a bitter smile.
The expression seemed to make Dubois uneasy—he adjusted his monocle and averted his gaze.
He knew Veil was referring to the missing second son, Ron.
In the Kereis family, Ron was a forbidden name.
Only the grandfather, Veil, was the exception.
He would often say that hiding grief didn’t ease it, and so he spoke of such things as though they were nothing.
“Shall I bring you more tea?”
Dubois started to call for the maid standing a few steps back but paused when Veil spoke.
“No, I’ll be going now.”
“Then… will you be attending this year’s annual ball, sir?”
It was the Kereis family’s yearly event.
But Veil had long since refused to attend.
Dubois assumed it was because the old man couldn’t stand the murderous tension that lingered between his sons.
“I expect I’ll be busy that day.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dubois’s gaze drifted to the large portrait behind Veil.
At its center sat a young Veil, with four sons standing on either side of him.
Scarlet eyes. Blue hair. Handsome faces that resembled each other so perfectly they almost hurt to look at.
Yet none of them were smiling.
Especially the eldest—who had failed to become head of the family.
The current Duke of Kereis was the third son, Getre.
Survival of the fittest.
Their house followed a strange rule of succession: the title didn’t go to the eldest, but to the most capable.
As a result, there was no brotherly affection among them—only ruthless competition.
“I’ll be leaving now.”
“Will you not see Lady Marianne before you go?”
“She won’t last long in this household anyway, will she?”
At that, Dubois’s face flickered with uncertainty.
Veil caught it immediately and fixed his gaze on him.
“…What kind of girl is she?”
“She’s the one who saved young Master Crim this time. Because of that, even the Duke has begun to take notice of her.”
Though old, Veil’s eyes were still sharp.
He soon withdrew his gaze and tapped his cane lightly against the floor as he began to walk.
“If that child manages to endure here until summer, send her—with my grandsons—to my estate.”
I had just woken up briefly when the family doctor came to see me.
When I asked why, since I wasn’t sick, the butler replied on his behalf—
“I’m only following the Duke’s orders.”
I was the only one who found it absurd.
What on earth is going on?
But there was something far more urgent on my mind.
Crim…!
The four-year-old’s new bedroom was larger than before and filled with charming trinkets.
Furniture fit for a child, tiny clothes in soft colors—
even the air smelled sweet and clean.
I gazed at the peacefully sleeping Crim.
You fell asleep again right after breakfast, huh?
Since the cruel nanny’s dismissal, that position had been left vacant.
For now, the head maid—who had served the Kereis family for years—was looking after him.
“Young lady, please have some tea.”
When I had first arrived here, she hadn’t gossiped about me like the others did.
She simply kept her distance and observed.
But once rumors spread that I was bullying Crim, she began glaring at me every time we crossed paths.
After I exposed the nanny’s abuse, though, everything changed.
Her guilt doubled to match her earlier prejudice.
“This is the tea the Duke enjoys. I thought you might like it too.”
“Thank you.”
It wasn’t just her—the other servants also smiled awkwardly or bowed whenever they saw me.
Tsk. See? I told you I wasn’t that kind of person.
It felt oddly satisfying. Yet I couldn’t help feeling frustrated too.
These were loyal, competent people—so why hadn’t any of them noticed Crim’s suffering sooner?
Why keep such distance?
Thinking it over, it seemed to stem from the Duke himself.
He treated even his own children with a sort of cold formality,
so the servants probably felt compelled to maintain their distance as well.
I took a sip of tea; warmth spread gently through my body.
“When Master Crim sleeps like this, he really looks like a little angel.”
“He does.”
I looked at the head maid, standing a few steps away.
“How about coming a little closer?”
“Pardon?”
“Crim’s still at an age when he needs warmth and affection.”
“Ah… yes, my lady.”
She took a quiet breath, then approached the bed and gently brushed aside Crim’s tousled hair as though handling a baby bird.
Then she looked up at me and said softly—
“My lady.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry. I misjudged you before.”
“It’s fine. It happens.”
Still bowing her head, she murmured,
“Seeing Master Crim up close… he looks even lovelier.”
“Really? Then I’ll…”
I rose and stepped closer too.
His steady little breaths tickled my ears.
Such a sweet sound. His rosy cheeks and small lips moved with each exhale.
So adorable.
I almost reached out to touch his cheek—then froze.
“…Ma…”
The faintest word slipped from Crim’s lips.
I leaned down, listening carefully.
Nothing but soft breaths.
Had I imagined it?
“…Mom…”
His lips parted and closed again.
The head maid and I were speechless.
Our eyes grew hot as we struggled to hold back tears.
Only four years old—he should have been growing up safe in his mother’s arms.
When I noticed the red scar still faintly visible on his arm, my chest ached.
Without thinking, I clasped his tiny hand and gently patted his back.
After a few soft pats, his long lashes fluttered open.
“Crim, did you sleep well?”
I spoke as gently as I could so he wouldn’t be startled.
He rubbed his eyes and yawned.
Just watching his small, innocent movements was oddly delightful.
Then—
“Mom.”
“Huh? Mom?”
Was… was he talking to me?
I’d never married in my past life, and I was only thirteen now.
Was this kid trying to ruin my marriage prospects or what?
Flustered, I waved my hands.
“No, no! I’m not ‘Mom.’ I’m your sister. Say it with me—sister.”
Crim blinked at me, his red eyes full of curiosity.
After a few blinks, he broke into the sweetest smile.
“Hehe. Sister.”
That angelic grin completely disarmed me.
So this is what childcare feels like?
Just hearing him say “sister” made my heart flutter. I couldn’t help but laugh.
Before I returned to my room, I ran into the butler.
He told me the Duke wanted to see me.
When I arrived at his office, my nerves tightened.
I’d expected this.
The Duke must have been shocked by what happened with Crim.
He probably had questions for me.
I exhaled slowly to steady myself.
All I had to do was tell the truth.
“I heard you wanted to see me.”
“There’s something I wish to discuss. Sit.”
“Yes, sir.”
The faint bitterness of tea drifted through the air.
As I tried to read his unreadable face, I wondered if I should begin by telling him about Crim’s nightly tears.
“Cr—”
“Didn’t you once say you wanted to find the magician yourself?”
The sudden question made my eyes widen.
Magician?
That word hadn’t even been on my mind.
A magician, out of nowhere?
Sure, we’d talked about that before, but I’d thought this meeting would be about Crim.
As I blinked in confusion, the Duke spoke again—
“If you believe you can find him on your own, then do so.”
