―I hated my husband. I despised him. I could never forgive him for claiming he loved me while abusing my son.
―Even after his death, that didn’t change.
The day Ries asked about the past, Hillein had answered in a low, somber voice.
The same face he’d seen when they first met properly—that fragile, aching expression that used to flicker across her face whenever she looked at the attic room across the hall—it lingered there again.
―I didn’t realize Edler had died until I saw the funeral being held at the manor. And then… I knew. That he, like me, was bound to this world.
―But I didn’t go to see him. I didn’t want to. I knew him too well. If he’d seen me, Edler would’ve been overjoyed. He’d forget all about the hell he’d put our son through and whisper sweet nothings in that same syrupy voice.
―And if I’d seen that… I know I would’ve—
Hillein couldn’t finish the sentence.
Ries quietly replayed her fading words, which had blurred and ultimately vanished without trace. But it wasn’t hard to guess what would have come next.
Maybe—just maybe—Edler would’ve met his end with his soul torn apart by the one he loved most.
But that hadn’t happened.
Ries silently looked up at her. Something indecipherable flickered in those translucent blue eyes before disappearing again.
Then, Hillein began to speak once more.
―After that, a lot changed. Averitt… that bastard claimed the position of acting head of the ducal house, and Justyn fled to the capital like he was running for his life. I was bound to this estate—I couldn’t follow him.
―It was around then that my mind started to change. I thought about trying to talk to Edler. I’d heard from other ghosts that he’d been following Averitt around.
―Averitt. Disgusting Averitt. That man’s a revolting, greedy opportunist. And… he tormented Justyn too. I’ve never once forgotten the things he did.
Crinkle. Her fingers clutched the fabric of her dress tightly, twisting it without mercy. Even in her calm tone, she couldn’t mask the hatred lacing her words.
―Knowing Edler was hanging around someone like that—I just couldn’t shake the dread. Even though I knew full well how limited our interference in the world of the living is… I couldn’t help it.
―But when I finally saw Edler again… he didn’t see me.
He’d already been consumed—utterly devoured—by that festering malice.
–I couldn’t even approach him, let alone touch him.
Her expression changed as she said it. The trace of revulsion remained, but now it was aimed elsewhere—at someone entirely different.
―After that… things happened as you know them. Justyn came back, and Edler, who couldn’t let go of his hatred for his own child, tried to use Averitt to hurt him.
Her eyes drooped, lips pressed tightly together, trembling. Her entire expression seemed to crumble.
She hated herself.
―I couldn’t change anything. Not a damn thing…
―You and Justyn were lucky to come out of it unharmed, but that doesn’t change the fact that my child had to face another parent’s senseless hatred.
―If I’d gone to see Edler sooner, would things have turned out differently? If I’d steeled myself and torn his soul to shreds, would that have helped…?
Back then, Ries hadn’t been able to give Hillein an answer.
And she hadn’t expected one either. She’d quickly composed herself and apologized for dumping that kind of story on him.
But now, thinking back on it…
The emotion that had filled Hillein’s eyes as she spoke of the past—it wasn’t sadness or regret. It might’ve been obsessive, unyielding hatred twisted with lingering love.
People often say you can’t control when love starts or ends. And even to the bitter end, Hillein had never let go of the shattered remnants of her affection.
At the same time, as long as that lingering attachment to Edler’s soul remained, she would never forgive him. What could be more contradictory—more painfully conflicted—than that?
The regret and hesitation in her trembling voice must’ve stemmed from that same place.
Ries closed his eyes, trying to erase the thoughts rising within him—
―Really? Are you serious?
―Yes, I am serious! Are you finally starting to understand what I’ve been dealing with?
―Oh dear… you’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?
“?”
Voices—light and casual, utterly at odds with the earlier recollection—fluttered in his ears.
It seemed Hillein and Sefiut had veered off in a different conversational direction while he’d been reminiscing.
They whispered and muttered like co-conspirators, then—snap—both turned their heads toward him in perfect sync.
His plush fur bristled on instinct.
Whether they hadn’t noticed or were just pretending not to, Hillein closed the distance naturally, reaching out to rub her finger between his brows as she whispered,
―I’m really glad you’re here, Ries.
“…Mnk?”
―The ancestor told me everything, you know. You talk about Justyn all the time, but you never really talk about yourself.
Had he…? Ries blinked in a daze. He’d assumed Sefiut was just whining again, but that faint sense of unease quickly melted away as Hillein went on.
―I already had a sense of it, honestly. I could feel how much you care about that child. The weight of your affection always came through in your voice when you spoke about Justyn. Your face back then—it was adorable, and sweet, and so very happy.
“Mya, myak? Whyooong?”
―But now I understand even better. Justyn might’ve been the one who rescued you off the streets, but you’ve given him more than enough in return. And the fact that you’re still by his side… it means you care about him as much as I do. No—maybe even more.
His ears twitched wildly, his tail fluttered uncontrollably through the air. Ries froze up completely, unable to mewl another word.
His brain lagged like a broken machine.
This is… too much…
Undiluted sincerity. Pure affection. A look of overwhelming joy.
Her voice, like ambient music, was so sweet it made his head throb.
All four paws tightened instinctively, his toes curling into themselves.
A whirlwind of emotions stirred. Embarrassment. Awkwardness. And something that swelled in his chest.
Like mother, like son—this woman knew just how to say things that made your heart squirm.
He’d thought he’d grown used to this sort of thing, but clearly not.
His rolling eyes cautiously peeked up at Hillein.
Her serene smile imprinted itself onto his vision. Even as his front paws curled up in flustered defense, he couldn’t help but think— She really did feel like a mother right now.
Her gentle presence, warm tone, the tender way she moved her hands—it was all wrapped in that same maternal warmth.
He couldn’t deny a single part of that feeling.
Justyn needs to meet her.
Mesmerized, Ries took her in with eyes and ears alike and reaffirmed his conviction.
His master deserved all of this. At the very least, he deserved to know.
Then, another soft voice brushed against his ear—
―It means the world to me that someone’s there to stay by his side. And that it’s you, Ries. I always worried whether my son would ever find someone to share his life with. But if it’s you, I can rest easy.
“?”
His tail shot straight up. Creak, creak. Ries turned toward Hillein with agonizing slowness.
Unless he was completely mishearing things… that statement sounded very strange.
―So what if you’re the same gender? I’ve always felt that, then and now. As long as the person makes my child happy, that’s all that matters.
―Exactly. Times have changed. That kind of outdated mindset needs to go. What’s most important is whether he is happy. And this little guy? He checks out.
―More than just “checks out”—he’s a treasure. You couldn’t find another like Ries anywhere. Honestly, I never thought I’d live to see a day like this…
“Mnk? MNNK? M-myaaAAAK?”
It wasn’t his imagination!!
His head was about to explode from the sheer flood of chaotic thoughts.
His pale silver eyes darted around in panic, watching the two ghosts who were now practically drumming and blowing horns in celebration.
This was like, like…
Two parents excited about marrying off their son…?
And judging by the conversation—his brain stalled— he was the prospective groom.
The moment he realized that, his whole body locked up.
Mouth hanging open in a perfect triangle. Eyes wide. Front paws awkwardly flailing in midair.
He balanced shakily on his hind legs, glancing wildly between the two of them.
Then came the heat. His face flushed so hard, even his fur couldn’t hide it.
“Aaaeeeng… Meeowww! Myang!”
He let out a flustered yowl, then cried out in protest at the top of his lungs.
Roughly translated: I’m not in that kind of relationship with Justyn!!
But all he got in return were round-eyed stares of disbelief—and a soft, skeptical tsk.
Hillein tilted her head.
―But the ancestor told me. Said you’re always stuck to Justyn like you plan to be with him forever.
“…Mmmnnng. Nya, nyaaak!”
Well… that part was true.
Until not long ago, he’d been Justyn’s companion cat. Of course they stuck together. He was only doing his duty.
―And Justyn’s always calling you cute, isn’t he? I’ve watched him long enough to know—he’s not the type to say that sort of thing to someone he doesn’t feel something for.
“……”
He couldn’t respond to that one. There had been times when Justyn said those kinds of things.
―Hmm… I also heard you two promised only to touch each other’s bodies.
“…K-khek!”
He didn’t just go speechless—he choked.
W-we never said that—
Well. Maybe something like that… Wait. They’d heard that??
Still coughing, Ries stared at Sefiut with horrified eyes.
Unfortunately, Hillein wasn’t finished.
―You’re even planning a shared bedroom together, right?
―Oh, and I heard you trust him so much that you gave up your freedom of movement entirely to him. I thought that was the most romantic confession ever.
―Oh right! And you’re still sleeping in the same bed, aren’t you?
By that point, Ries didn’t even have the energy to object.
Yes. Put all together like this… it sounded incredibly consistent.
“Aooowww…”
Unable to bear it, he pressed his paw tightly over his face.
If it weren’t for his fur, his flushed skin would’ve been blazingly obvious.
the pace is fast at first but gets slower as the chapters go on