I wrapped his large hand once with a white handkerchief trimmed with lace.
Although I heard his calm voice saying it was fine, he waited patiently until I finished tying it. The way he quietly held out his hand reminded me of an obedient puppy, which I found somewhat endearing.
I tied the handkerchief tightly three times to make sure it wouldn’t come undone, leaving the ends sticking out like rabbit ears.
“Let me take a look.”
Then, I turned his hand over to examine his palm. It hadn’t been long since I tied it, yet the handkerchief was already stained with blood. I couldn’t help but grimace.
That must hurt.
Deep down, I was shocked when Edmund had so casually cut his palm. In moments like these, I could see the traces of his life among rough men in harsh environments.
Just as I was regretting my suggestion, our eyes met.
When I looked away first, Edmund withdrew his hand.
“Thank you.”
“Make sure to get proper treatment. Even small wounds can fester and become serious.”
“I understand.”
Edmund nodded obediently, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t actually see a physician.
Frowning, I spoke in a firm tone.
“I’ll check. Since I caused this wound, I also bear responsibility.”
“Understood.”
Was he a voice-recording machine? He only sounded obedient.
Before I knew it, Edmund and I had naturally left the pavilion.
Retracing our steps, we followed the path lined with wooden fences, circled past the small greenhouse attached to the mansion, and headed toward the entrance.
As we walked, my eyes kept drifting toward his bandaged hand.
I should let Rail know about this.
With that thought, we continued walking.
When we entered the mansion, it was eerily empty—there wasn’t a single servant in sight.
What’s going on?
The deserted hall, devoid of even a single ant, was as cold as the dead of winter.
Had everyone left for a group vacation? The unusually quiet mansion felt unfamiliar.
“Follow me.”
Edmund gave me a meaningful look before walking ahead. As if entranced, I followed him, idly thinking that if his voice weren’t so mesmerizing, I might have hesitated.
Then, I suddenly realized he was leading me to the banquet hall and stopped in my tracks.
“What’s wrong?”
Edmund turned back, puzzled by my sudden halt.
“Is there an important guest? I haven’t heard anything about it…”
“…You’ll understand once you go inside.”
With that, Edmund turned back and continued walking. I was supposed to follow, yet my legs felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton. Memories of that dazzling scene from before surfaced in my mind.
Although the fear and sorrow that had surfaced with Edmund’s vow had long since faded…
I still don’t want to go back to that place.
But I had no good excuse to refuse, so I trailed after him reluctantly.
I had once seen two people in the banquet hall, and they formed such a perfect family that it left me feeling desolate.
But I couldn’t say that aloud.
Thinking about it again, it was a foolish desire.
Since I had promised not to leave the mansion, I had no right to intrude on the space of a true family.
Bracing myself, I arrived at the banquet hall. Expecting Edmund to enter first, I was surprised when he stopped at the door.
“Why aren’t you going in?”
“You go first. I’ll follow behind.”
Edmund flashed a faint, fleeting smile, as if he were pleased about something.
I felt an odd sense of unease at his insistence on letting me enter first.
It was like he had prepared a surprise and was sending the guest of honor in ahead…
I curled one side of my lips into a stiff smile.
No way.
Surely, all the things that had put me in such distress weren’t leading up to some obvious surprise. Was our walk just a way to keep me occupied?
If that were true, then I had been upset for no reason.
“Would you like to go in first, little brother?”
“…”
His golden eyes, normally unwavering, flickered ever so slightly with surprise.
Even though his expression remained neutral, I was certain.
A quiet chuckle escaped me, a mix of exasperation and relief.
Now I finally understood why the maid had lied about Lilien.
She was helping plan a surprise.
And I also understood why Lilien had given the maid an awkward smile.
She had unintentionally lied to me.
My face flushed with embarrassment.
They could’ve just told me…
But then, it wouldn’t have been a surprise.
I felt a strange self-loathing, as if I had acted out an entire melodrama alone.
Sighing deeply, I cast a sidelong glance at Edmund, who had quietly waited for me. It irked me that he hadn’t given me any hints. But honestly, I would’ve felt that way no matter who was beside me.
“Let’s go in together, little brother.”
I tugged lightly on his shirt sleeve with my fingertips.
Though I barely applied any force, he followed effortlessly, as if weightless.
“Wait, Count—”
Ignoring his flustered voice, I opened the door without hesitation.
Pop! Pop!
“Congratulations on reclaiming your inheritance, Lady Etricia!”
“Congratulations!”
As expected, the room erupted in celebration, accompanied by a burst of fireworks.
Long, colorful streamers fluttered down like cobwebs over Edmund’s head.
Meanwhile, only a few flower petals drifted down near me, creating a scene where the roles of the celebrant and the guest seemed reversed. A moment of silence followed.
Scanning the banquet hall, I saw stunned maids and a frozen Rail and Lilien, still holding the firecrackers they had just set off.
In the center of the table sat a three-tiered cake and a vase filled with red camellias. The high ceiling was decorated with colorful garlands.
The air was thick with the overwhelming scent of flowers, as if they had emptied the greenhouse into the hall.
I happened to catch sight of Rail, who had fired the firecracker at Edmund.
He was too stunned to even groan, merely opening and closing his mouth wordlessly. Edmund’s icy gaze pinned him in place.
“How long do you plan to just stand there?”
Rail, pale as a sheet, hurriedly brushed the streamers off Edmund’s head.
Edmund sighed deeply, shaking his head before his gaze met mine. As if filling in for the frozen Lilien, he leaned in and whispered softly.
“Your sister has been preparing this for days. She wanted to celebrate and bless you for reclaiming all your rights.”
“…So you knew all along?”
His eyes, as if saying of course, fluttered closed briefly before reopening.
“The estate affairs have indeed been busy lately.”
He quickly added, as if to assure me he wasn’t lying.
Just then, Lilien, realizing I wasn’t shocked, covered her face with both hands.
“I wanted to surprise you, Lady Etricia…”
Her disappointment was clear.
She took a deep breath through her nose, as if feeling both upset and empty that the party she had prepared for days had fallen apart. Then she let it out in a sigh, as if her shoulders had dropped all at once. It felt like her soul had left her body.
‘I was already surprised enough.’
In a different way.
I let out a soft, breathy laugh through my lips and stood in front of Lilien.
She looked up when my shadow covered her feet.
“Lilien, thank you. I heard this was all to celebrate me getting my title and inheritance back?”
“Yes, but the surprise didn’t work… And I also heard that things like divorce aren’t something to be celebrated in a big way, so I was a bit nervous…”
Lilien tilted her head and squinted slightly, as if trying to figure out how I felt.
But there was no need to worry—my face was full of smiles.
“I’ve never received something like this before. You’re the only one who’s ever given me a gift like this.”
Only then did Lilien’s lips relax into a soft, sweet smile.
Her round, chestnut-colored eyes curved, just like a puppy being praised by its owner, and I could almost imagine a tail wagging behind her.
Because of that, I burst out laughing.
Lilien looked confused for a moment, but soon her smile gently faded.
With a heavy heart, like someone about to confess a sin, I held both of Lilien’s hands.
“I’m sorry, Lilien. I heard you found out everything about how we first met? It must’ve hurt to know the truth. That’s why, back then…”
I couldn’t finish my words and instead let out a long sigh to show my regret.
Even though I tried to avoid responsibility by saying it all happened because I was absorbed into the original story, deep down I had always felt guilty.
Maybe… maybe I was waiting for a chance to apologize.
Lilien seemed to sense my feelings, and her eyes softened.
“Miss Etricia, you don’t need to apologize. I already understand.”
Her eyes began to glisten.
As she gave me a sad smile, the area below her pupils sparkled like the surface of a gem.
“Family fights and makes up. That’s what family does. It means we’re finally a real family now.”
Family?
The unfamiliar word made me blink wide.
I looked up and glanced around the banquet hall again.
The familiar staff all had different expressions, but every look directed at me was warm.
At that moment, something hot and sticky seemed to rise inside me.
When I looked down, that heat swelled up, distorting my eyes as I smiled.
‘Ah… I see now. I was already part of this family.’
The realization made me want to cry.
Even a little slip in my emotions might make the tears fall, so I forced myself to swallow the feelings and lifted my head.
Then I smiled brightly, even with red eyes.
And I think I heard someone nearby gasp quietly.
“Aren’t we hungry? Should we start the party?”
I suggested it in a shaky voice to lighten the mood.
Lilien, looking surprised and touched, stared at me blankly for a moment before snapping back to her senses.
“Y-yes! Let’s do it!”
The staff immediately began moving in perfect coordination.
