Chapter 38
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Chapter 38
"Hmm, I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."
Lucian scratched the back of his head with a bewildered expression.
Thanks to his handsome face, Edwin was quite popular at the Orphanage.
He already received plenty of affection from his friends—so why did he crave even more love?
"You wouldn't understand. You have a family."
How could he comprehend my loneliness, born into a world devoid of unconditional love?
"I wish I could be like you...."
I wish I had a warm home, a loving family.
Tears welled up in Edwin's large eyes.
"Hey, are you crying?"
Lucian's eyes widened as he watched tears stream down Edwin's cheeks.
Perhaps because we'd played together and grown close, seeing Edwin cry stirred something uncomfortable in my chest.
"No, no—you don't know anything. Having a family isn't all that great, actually."
Flustered, Lucian began offering clumsy comfort. Compared to his former indifference to others' tears, this was considerable progress.
"They say they love you, but all they do is scold you. When you cry, they won't even hold you until you apologize first."
"Sniffle—so they do love you, then."
"Well, I suppose...."
"Sob."
His tactless admission caused Edwin's tears, which had nearly subsided, to burst forth anew. I tried consoling him with every inadequate word I could muster, but nothing worked.
'How did things come to this?'
Lucian wondered, watching Edwin shed tears like chicken droppings.
I'd found him hiding, dragged him back, and he'd refused to return....
'He's crying because I rejected him.'
Because I told him not to live in my house.
If that was the case, there was only one way to stop Edwin's tears.
"Fine! Live here!"
Even if it meant losing my aunt's attention, she'd said she loved me most in this world, after all.
"I'll allow it—come live in my house!"
"Really?"
Edwin sniffled as he asked.
"Yeah. So stop crying now."
Lucian rubbed Edwin's tear-stained face vigorously with his sleeve. If he couldn't stop the tears, he'd simply wipe them away.
"Truly? I can really live here?"
The method seemed effective—the tears that had been falling from Edwin's eyes vanished without a trace.
"Yeah. But I need to ask Father first. He's the owner of this house."
"So if your father permits it, I can live here?"
"Yes."
As Lucian nodded, Edwin's tear-stained face brightened instantly.
For a moment, relief escaped Lucian's lips—but as he imagined the future that awaited, his expression darkened.
'To get Father's permission, I'd have to meet him first.'
I had hidden myself away in this corner to avoid Father. Yet now I had to seek him out with my own two feet.
Ugh.
"Lucian? What's wrong?"
"...It's nothing."
Still, a man had his pride—I couldn't take back my words once spoken.
Besides, Edwin was my younger brother, born half a year after me. My pride as an older brother wouldn't allow me to contradict myself in front of him.
"Let's ask your father when he returns. I'll wait patiently until then."
"There's no need. He's already here."
I brushed off my clothes and straightened my appearance, then extended my hand toward Edwin. It was the first time I had offered my hand to anyone other than my aunt.
"Let's go now. I need to tell him."
"Okay!"
Edwin sprang to his feet and grasped my hand.
With his hand in mine, my fear seemed to ease somewhat.
* * *
"Making such a fuss over something so trivial."
After hearing the full account from the butler, the Duke of Bellomen's expression remained unmoved.
"When you find him, send him back on his own."
With those words, the Duke turned without hesitation toward the staircase leading to the second floor.
'Should I be relieved?'
I was grateful the Duke's mood hadn't soured, but seeing him so indifferent even upon hearing that a child had gone missing left me feeling disheartened.
"Yes. Please don't worry too much."
I called out to the Duke's retreating back, concealing my true feelings. Once he returned to his study, I planned to search for Edwin again.
It was then that I heard soft footsteps from the end of the corridor.
"Edwin!"
Lucian and Edwin were walking toward me, their hands clasped together.
I rushed toward the two children, forgetting even that the Duke hadn't yet entered his study.
"Where on earth did you go? I was so worried!"
"I'm so sorry...."
Edwin bowed his head deeply in apology. Beyond the trouble of searching for him, seeing the child watch my expression made my heart ache.
"It's alright. But from now on, you can't go outside alone. Understand?"
"Yes...."
I gently stroked Edwin's head before turning my gaze to Lucian.
"Did Lucian find him?"
"Yes."
"Well done. Our Lucian is quite good at finding things."
Lucian was a child who loved praise.
Normally, he would break into a beaming smile at such words. But now, there was no hint of a smile on his face.
If anything, he looked serious.
'Lucian and seriousness.'
What a contradiction in terms.
Lost in such thoughts, Lucian released Edwin's hand and approached the Duke.
"Father."
At that hesitant call, the Duke, who had been climbing the stairs, turned around.
"Yes...?"
Lucian's lips had gone dry as he carefully began to speak.
It was always like this when talking with Father. My lips would dry, my palms would sweat profusely.
"If you have something to say, speak plainly. Don't beat around the bush."
It was a rather cold remark to make to a six-year-old.
'This is exactly why I wanted to hide it.'
Lucian's spirit wilted at the Duke's frigid demeanor.
But I had to keep my promise. If Edwin started crying again, it would be troublesome.
"I have a friend who wants to live in our house. I promised him that if Father would allow it, he could live with us... Is that all right?"
"What?"
The Duke's eyebrows twitched at Lucian's words.
He knew Lucian lacked maturity.
But even so, to suggest bringing a child who was living perfectly well at the Orphanage into their home...
"All you need to do is give your permission, Father..."
This was not a problem that could be solved as simply as Lucian suggested.
To grant his request, the child would need to be formally adopted.
Adoption was a far more complicated procedure than one might think. And the Duke had no intention of enduring such tedium for a child of unknown origins.
"It's impossible."
"Why? Why not?"
"Living together is not as simple as you think."
"But I promised Edwin... that we would live together..."
"That's precisely—"
He was about to chastise the boy for making a promise he couldn't keep.
"Um, sir."
A small voice emerged from over Lucian's shoulder.
Soon a child shuffled forward and stood beside Lucian.
A child with hair as black as ebony and eyes of burning crimson.
"I don't eat much food. I sleep very little. I'm very good at organizing things. And also..."
The child continued speaking. Yet none of his words reached the Duke's ears.
His eyes held only the child's face.
Eyes of flame-like crimson that evoked the memory of a certain woman.
The Duke descended the stairs in long strides and stood before Edwin.
Seen up close, the child's face bore a striking resemblance to the woman in his memory.
"You."
"Yes?"
At the Duke's call, Edwin, who had been rambling on, stiffened.
The Duke moistened his parched lips for some reason, then opened his mouth to address the child.
"You said you were an orphan."
"Yes."
"Then you wouldn't know your parents' faces or names."
"I don't know my father, but I do know about my mother. We lived together until I was five."
"...Is that so?"
My chest hammered as though I'd sprinted at full speed. I wanted to urge the child to speak of his mother at once, yet the words refused to come.
"People said I looked exactly like my mother. She told me my hair color was just like my father's, though."
A faint smile bloomed across the child's face as he recalled those cherished days. The resemblance to the woman in my memories was so striking that I could scarcely breathe.
"And my mother's name was...."
The child's eyes rolled as he searched his memory. I held my breath, waiting for his lips to part.
And finally.
"Iris."
"...."
"People called my mother Iris."
"Ah...."
A small gasp escaped my lips upon hearing the answer I had longed for.
The small child before me, who bore the eyes of the woman I had loved, was my son.
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