40.
“Olive.”
Olive, who had been standing quietly to one side, took a step forward.
“Lady. The Vines Ducal Family holds the largest estate and wealth in The Empire. A great deal of inheritance has long been bequeathed to the late Countess, and that wealth will now be passed down to the four of you.”
Dia looked at Olive with a surprised expression.
It was something she had never once heard from her mother.
Come to think of it, while her mother never indulged in extravagance, she always seemed to have plenty.
Dia looked at the Duke with an even more bewildered expression.
“If you do not want our family’s wealth, then why do you wish to become our guardian?”
Gerald turned his head back toward the window without a word.
Olive watched him with a sigh and spoke in his stead.
He truly is an insincere man.
“The mastermind behind everything that has happened has not yet been revealed. He intends to act as your guardian because he does not know what other dangers might befall you, his niece and nephews.”
“Ah….”
Dia’s face turned pale, and she lost the ability to speak. She hadn’t even considered that. It wasn’t just a matter of dealing with Kylon.
Her thin fingers trembled slightly, and she clasped both hands together tightly.
“Then, until when?”
“Until all the danger disappears.”
The Duke’s firm words fell from his lips after a long silence. That cold tone felt even more trustworthy than Kylon, who was always full of honeyed words.
“I understand what you mean. Then, if you stay only until we find Perido….”
Just then, a crow with a full belly flew high and landed somewhere with a flutter.
“Is there something like a spire here?”
The Duke suddenly cut her off urgently.
Although his eyes were closed, she felt an intense gaze upon her, so Dia answered hurriedly.
“There is no spire.”
“Olive. Come here.”
Olive approached the window, stretched his neck out, and looked outside.
“I do not see a spire.”
“A high place like a spire where a bird can rest. Anything will do.”
“If it is such a place, there is an old temple bell tower hidden in the small forest behind the estate….”
“Go there at once.”
“Yes. Lady, please lead the way.”
Olive quickly opened the door and looked at Dia.
“Yes.”
She did not know why he suddenly wanted to go to a crumbling bell tower in the middle of an important conversation, but she hurried to lead the way, swayed by the Duke’s resolve.
Gerald followed them, lamenting inwardly.
Why hadn’t he thought of it sooner?
* * *
Kiddo, have you been well? You’re not going to huff and puff because I called you a kid again, are you? You’ll always be a kid to me!
Unlike the Western Region, it’s always warm here. It’s a peaceful place where not a single monster appears. If only one monster would pop up on the road so I could show off my swordsmanship.
I came here believing in my husband, and a year has already passed. A few days ago, I was taking a walk alone and found a space similar to where you stay. Seeing that place made me think of you even more.
So, guess what I did?
I went there alone without any servants and cleaned and decorated it all by myself.
And I started filling that space with the toys you used to like. They’re probably things you don’t need now.
That’s how I ended up with a space where I can miss you. I miss you, kiddo.
My youngest was born a few days ago. It’s a boy. His black hair resembles yours. No, to be precise, it resembles mine.
Our Dia, Garnet, Rubiana, Perido.
Every time the children are born, I make a vow to myself. That I will protect them for my whole life.
You will protect the Western Region, and I will protect our children. Because I am a Vines, too.
Our children asked me why you never come to visit.
You said it was because the Vines must protect the Western Region and are busy.
That is the truth, but it is not the whole truth, is it? I know. I know you don’t come so that you can protect me.
A sister who is close to the Western Duke, who has many enemies—oh my! That is the perfect chip to use for blackmail or leverage.
The Vines protect. You have a hard time protecting even this sister who is far away. Kiddo, I miss you.
My goodness! A new guest visited the space where I used to play alone after coming here. Our youngest baby secretly followed behind me.
Our youngest baby likes this place so much. He says it’s so wonderful! I even got scolded by my youngest for playing here all by myself, asking why I was here alone.
My youngest has grown up so much, even knowing how to scold his mother, right?
I hope our youngest grows up like you. I worry because he’s so soft-hearted. He’s only brave with his mother.
By the way, the young ladies talk about you so much that I can hear all your news when I go out into society.
When are you getting married? Ah, I must be getting old. To think I’d be nagging you like this.
Kiddo, when you do get married, you must introduce me to her.
At that time, I’m going to cast aside all worries about political enemies and make sure to meet you. Promise?
Our youngest keeps stealing looks at the letters I write to you. Even though he doesn’t even know how to read yet.
Why do kids like secrets so much?
He’s all excited by himself, saying that he and Mommy have a secret room that only they know about.
I think I might have to pass this place down to our youngest baby now.
* * *
Sparkling sunlight trickled through a crack in the wooden closet.
A dirty finger, caked with grime, touched the shimmering specks of light as if petting them. It was warm.
His black curly hair lifted slightly, then sank back down powerlessly.
Perido, hiding inside the closet, curled his body into a ball and breathed in shallow, ragged breaths.
Soon, it would become pitch black again, to the point where he couldn’t see anything.
He remembered the snack he had eaten because he was hungry as soon as he hid here. He should have saved it. He should have hidden more snacks.
He hadn’t been able to eat anything for a long time. His stomach no longer even made a rumbling sound.
Whenever he was hungry or thirsty, he drank the rainwater he had collected on a day it had poured. But even that rainwater was running low.
He missed his sisters. He missed his father, too.
At the thought of his family, tears welled up in his black eyes. Even though he was thirsty, the tears did not dry up.
Perido covered his mouth with his small hand to keep from making a sound and wept silently.
Mommy…….
He missed Mommy the most.
* * *
They had hidden in a dark cave to escape the scary men who were chasing them. This cave, hidden by bushes, was a place he had discovered while playing a forest exploration game with his mother.
Huddled tightly in his mother’s arms in the pitch-black cave, his trembling body finally calmed down.
Is Daddy okay?
His mother’s shoulder had been stained red a long time ago, but she seemed okay.
His mother, who had gently moved him away from her embrace, pressed her face close to his. Even in the darkness, her beautiful, black marble-like eyes, which shone, looked directly at him.
“It smells like it will rain soon. When it rains, go to the secret room and collect rainwater in all the cups and bowls. Do you understand?”
“Yes…….”
When he answered without energy, his mother repeated what she had said several times before.
“What did Mommy tell you earlier?”
“After Mommy leaves this cave, I have to count to five hundred. And then I have to go to the secret room by myself.”
“Our baby is so smart. You can go by yourself, right? You’ve found your way there from this cave before, haven’t you?”
“Yes, I can go, but… Mommy, go with me. Just go together.”
“Mommy will follow soon. But I can’t right now. Because I have to protect our baby from the bad men. Mommy has to go somewhere else until you safely arrive at the secret room.”