As he quietly stared at her, Ries found his lips moving before he realized it.
“Then let’s go see him. I’ll help you.”
Wounds that seemed long healed could still ache unexpectedly. The deeper the wound, the more likely it was to throb. Justyn would be no exception.
That was why Ries had suggested they change the attic together—a place that was practically a scar representing Justyn’s past. And that was why, right now, he had suggested to Hillein that they go see Justyn.
He wanted Justyn to know—that he had once had family who truly cherished him.
The feeling was unlike him. A lingering regret crept in.
If I’d met Justyn just a little earlier… If I could’ve told him all this sooner, maybe he wouldn’t have felt so alone.
That was when he realized the issue.
Ah.
The thought came suddenly. Ries sighed inwardly and pressed his lips together.
His gaze fell on the woman before him. Her translucent, blue-tinged form was clear evidence she was no longer among the living. Since Hillein was a ghost, she couldn’t help but be affected by Justyn’s curse.
That’s… not good.
If he took her with him, they wouldn’t even get to speak. Worse, it might only leave Justyn with painful memories. Watching his own mother, frightened and crushed by the weight of his curse—that was something Ries couldn’t bring himself to do.
He opened his mouth again to take back what he’d said—but before he could, she beat him to it.
—No.
“…….”
The unexpectedly firm refusal caught him off guard. He lowered his gaze slightly, looking at Hillein, and barely managed to speak.
“…Is it because of Justyn’s curse?”
—Of course not. It’s a little cold, but I’m fine. I can endure it. I’m his mother. But…
“…….”
—Even so, I can’t. I… don’t deserve to.
Don’t deserve to? That response was unexpected too. But her slumped shoulders and the emotions in her transparent voice made her true feelings easy to read.
Guilt and sorrow, longing that clung like damp fog, and a faint, painful self-loathing. Among them, guilt was the most overwhelming.
It wasn’t hard to understand.
Her joy at the thought of seeing Justyn again would have lasted only a moment. Watching her son suffer under a curse, be abused by his own blood, and ridiculed by everyone—what had gone through Hillein’s mind?
She must’ve hated it. Tried to resist in whatever way she could. And eventually realized—there were limits to what a spirit like her could do, and that it wasn’t enough to save him.
Now, the figure before him was the ashes left after burning herself against that brutal truth—someone who had fought and then surrendered, knowing nothing could change.
—And… you know, don’t you? Even if I went, he wouldn’t be able to see me.
—That’s something this brat can fix. He’s been sticking around you persistently—you’ve noticed, haven’t you?
Sefiut cut her off before she could make that another excuse.
—He’s from the Myo tribe, and he can use powers humans can’t touch. The reason I’m… ahem, like this now—with a physical form—is thanks to him.
—…….
It was a firsthand account, vivid and irrefutable. Hillein couldn’t respond right away, her lips parting silently. Ries saw the hesitation in her.
So he reached out his hand again.
“I’ll help you. I’m sure Justyn wants to see you too.”
—I…
Her voice trembled like a candle flickering in the wind. Her hand, clenched around the edge of her dress, quivered slightly—but she didn’t take his hand.
—It’s okay. You’re with Justyn now… and more than anything, I don’t want to use you to fulfill my own selfish desires. I’m not that shameless.
“…I see.”
This time, Ries was the one who stepped back first. The gentle tone held a quiet but unyielding resolve. And it made sense.
Her decision had been formed over a long time. It wasn’t going to be overturned by a single conversation with someone she’d just met.
She just needs more time.
Ries gathered his resolve, eyes firm.
She’d admitted the curse wasn’t the issue—so he would make sure Justyn and Hillein met. He wanted his master to know that he had been loved by his family—and still was.
No matter what it took, he would persuade her.
“Would it be alright if I came back tomorrow to talk again?”
—Huh? With me?
If he was going to do this, he’d need regular contact with the woman in front of him.
Clasping both hands tightly, Ries looked up at Hillein with the brightest, most earnest eyes he could manage. It was the same expression he often used to get what he wanted when he was in cat form.
“Aren’t you curious about how Justyn’s been doing in the capital? How we met? What his new hobbies are? What he’s been enjoying lately? Don’t you want to know which color brush he likes best when I groom his fur?”
—Y-You mean… you’d tell me all that?
“Of course! And since I’m Myo tribe, I can even help treat Justyn’s curse. If you’d like, I can check in on his condition every day and tell you how he’s doing.”
Hillein’s expression turned dazed, like someone caught in a dream.
Like someone who had suddenly received something they’d spent a lifetime longing for. She stared blankly, blinking for a while… then, gradually, her face brightened in a way that couldn’t be contained.
—I… can I really hear all that? Truly?
Her lips trembled. If she didn’t hold back, her smile looked ready to burst. She belatedly covered her mouth with both hands—but Ries had already seen it all.
She had refused the offer to go with him, but this—this she clearly didn’t want to turn down. As he’d expected. Ries nodded without hesitation.
“Of course.”
—Then I want to hear it. I really want to hear it!
“Great. Justyn will be back soon, so now’s not the best time… Let’s meet here again tomorrow, around this time.”
Nod, nod, nod—Hillein’s head bounced up and down with eager energy.
Her voice practically sparkled with excitement. It was like watching a wilted flower bloom anew.
Good.
With the promise secured, there was only one task left—meet with Hillein regularly and persuade her to talk to Justyn. And perhaps… ask her what he’d been curious about.
Like whether she had met Edler.
They’re both ghosts—surely they must have seen each other.
And if she had—why hadn’t she stopped him?
Back then, Hillein had helped Justyn intervene, but it had seemed like a last-minute interruption more than anything.
Why?
That question had lingered in Ries’s mind ever since he realized she held affection for Justyn.
Judging by Edler’s behavior, the man had been utterly obsessed with her. If Hillein had stepped in, maybe he wouldn’t have gone through with that insane plan—possessing Averitt’s body to steal what mattered most to Justyn.
But now wasn’t the time. Ries had a gut feeling that if he lingered any longer, Justyn might come looking for him.
There will be more chances.
So for now, that question would have to wait.
After watching Hillein for a moment, Ries shifted forms. In an instant, his body shrank and his vision lowered. He was licking his front paw out of habit when—
Something approached from above.
—Ah.
He looked up sharply and saw a hand frozen midair. From the awkward angle, it was clear she’d meant to pet his head.
Narrowing his eyes, Ries pressed his forehead gently against her palm. Thanks to the energy he’d drawn earlier, her hand didn’t pass through.
—Waaah… So soft…
Her touch was cool—much colder than a human’s.
Her strokes were awkward and unpracticed, clearly the touch of someone who had never petted an animal before. His ears kept twitching back, his eyes strained upward, and his expression reflexively pulled into a frown.
But he endured it. He even rubbed his cheek against her palm, offering a little affection in return. It was embarrassing, given that he’d just been talking to her as a human moments ago, but…
She’s Justyn’s mother.
The first blood relative he’d ever met who felt like family.
And Ries didn’t doubt the sincerity of her love and regret. That alone made it worth doing. And the more he experienced her touch, the more he noticed similarities.
—Looks like this brat’s about to stretch out and nap until the boy shows up.
Sefiut’s half-joking remark brought Ries back to his senses. He darted away from Hillein’s hands and waved a paw at her.
The gesture, so much like a human wave, melted Hillein’s expression completely. That she didn’t mind his transformation back into a cat form seemed to suggest the feeling was mutual.
—I’ll be waiting here tomorrow.
Even as her eyes brimmed with longing, Hillein didn’t try to stop him. Ries had a vague sense she was avoiding the chance of crossing paths with Justyn.
Then came her faint parting words.
—…Thank you, Ries.
A word of gratitude. By the time he looked back, the woman in the dress was already gone.
Still looking in that direction, Sefiut asked quietly:
—You really plan to make those two meet?
“Meow.”
Ries nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
He glanced at Sefiut, half-wondering if the little fish plush might object. But the other simply looked thoughtful, not disapproving. His fins gave a soft flutter as he spoke.
—If not for you, those two would’ve stayed on parallel paths their whole lives, never meeting. Ries… it’s truly a relief that you’re here.
It was clear support—and a deep, heartfelt relief.
The calm sincerity in Sefiut’s voice made Ries flush slightly with awkwardness. He flicked his ears self-consciously to hide it.
