That strange standoff continued until Sefiut, who’d set the whole thing ablaze and fled, finally returned. The small doll pushed itself swiftly through the gap in the open door and studied the scene in front of it, observing everything down to the last detail.
One human stood there in a daze, while two others were tightly embracing in the middle of the office. Judging from the fiery red face and the arms of his descendant that showed no intention of letting go, the situation wasn’t hard to grasp.
—Judging by the look of it, seems like the misunderstanding’s cleared up nicely? Whew. Guess I don’t have to watch you flailing around anymore. Thought I’d die of frustration.
He grumbled briefly. Instinctively, he could sense that their relationship had improved.
“…Congratulations.”
Ketir finally opened his mouth.
Though his expression was a mix—one spoonful of relief, ten spoonfuls of dread over the fact that he’d now have to witness this saccharine display from up close.
Just look at them, still clinging to each other even with a subordinate and an ancestor watching. Ketir had a bad feeling—no, a strong premonition—that he’d be seeing this scene again and again.
Of course, Sefiut wasn’t nearly as pessimistic.
He had no real interest in meddling with or observing someone else’s love life, but it wasn’t like those two were strangers. One was his descendant, the other was that descendant’s savior.
Even a ghost who’d lived for ages couldn’t help but be partial to their own flesh and blood.
That boy, once his most troublesome child, had found someone worthy and was now heading toward happiness. It was impossible not to feel a deep sense of relief and satisfaction.
Still, that was that—and this was this. He had his own business to attend to.
Sefiut turned to the pair, who were just now beginning to peel away from each other, and addressed Ries directly—specifically, his still-flushed face.
—Hey, brat. You did explain everything properly, right?
“Uh…”
It was a vague question, but Ries understood what he meant. His eyes, still warm with residual heat, darted around nervously.
Sefiut clicked his tongue. That evasive look was enough to tell him the brat had clearly been too distracted to remember.
“…No.”
—Tsk, figured as much.
Well, better late than never.
Since he’d just come back from asking the person in question for their opinion, Sefiut no longer hesitated to bring up Hillein’s existence.
But first… His gaze flicked toward the still-awkwardly-standing Ketir and lingered there.
This guy didn’t know the full story either.
—You want to know too?
“…Me? You’re asking me?”
Flinch. Suddenly becoming the target, Ketir gave a great shudder. Rarely did he stammer, but now he swallowed hard and looked around.
“……”
At the same time, a strong intuition hit him.
This is going to be a hassle.
The more you know, the more you’re responsible for.
Even that doll in front of him was like that. Because he knew the soul of the previous Duke was inside it, he’d been the one stuck doing his laundry—no, his bathing.
He was already buried in work, and now he had more piled on top. He had a bad feeling this time would be no different. He absolutely did not want to get any busier.
His eyes wavered, turning faintly desperate. Clinging to the slimmest thread of hope, he asked:
“Do I… have a choice?”
—Of course. If you don’t want to hear it, you can leave.
“Then, excuse me.”
Thankfully, the thread, though thin, was strong. As soon as he got the answer he was hoping for, Ketir turned on his heel without hesitation.
Ries’s stunned eyes followed his quickly retreating back. The man who’d been transparently expressing all his emotions just moments ago closed the door and vanished without a trace.
—Knew it.
Sefiut shook his head, not in the least surprised. That was exactly why he’d offered the choice.
Click. The round doll’s head turned, the tiny black beads of its eyes now staring directly at the one whose gaze still seemed dazed, as if in a dream.
Sefiut asked bluntly:
—You. Do you want to meet your mother?
The problem was, it was too blunt.
Ries, still trying to cool off, flailed at the sudden question.
“Wait, wait! Why would you put it like that? That’s way too direct!”
—Did I say anything wrong? Better to be straightforward than beat around the bush.
“I mean, it’s not wrong, but still…!”
Ries groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. There was a limit to being blunt. He’d spoken to Justyn about this topic many times before—he knew better.
The only family Justyn had ever known were a greedy uncle and a father who abused him under the guise of love. How could he possibly nod along to such a sudden question?
Reality, which had fled far into the distance after his accidental confession went over well, now came crawling back into his mind. Somehow, he had the sinking feeling that he’d be the one stuck explaining everything.
He sneaked a glance at Justyn. As expected, suspicion filled the man’s eyes, as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly.
Ries carefully began.
“Um… Justyn. Don’t get the wrong idea, and just hear me out. Do you remember when we met your fa—uh, I mean, Edler Laufe?”
“Yeah.”
The word “father” felt too generous for that man, so he corrected himself after a beat. Justyn nodded, his expression hardening.
“Hillein—your mother—she’s also still in the ducal manor, just like that bastard. The one people thought I was meeting in secret? That was her. Do you know how wrongly accused I felt? Of all the rumors to go around… wait, no, that’s not the point.”
The conversation nearly veered off track. Shaking his head to refocus, Ries stole a glance at Justyn sitting across from him.
“…I see.”
“Yeah. So, uh… would you be willing to meet her?”
“……”
“She’s really kind. She said she stayed in the manor all this time just because she wanted to see you grow up. I know you don’t have the best memories of family… but she’s different. Wouldn’t it be worth talking to her, even just once?”
Justyn didn’t answer.
Gently, Ries reached out and took his hand. The bare skin, still warm, wrapped softly in his palm. He rubbed a callus with his thumb.
Watching closely, he asked softly:
“Is it… too much? If you need more time, that’s okay.”
Flinch. The skin beneath his touch trembled slightly. A glimmer returned to Justyn’s once-muted eyes.
“…No.”
His grip tightened. Justyn held onto his hand firmly.
Then he turned to the ghost of his ancestor floating just ahead.
It was impossible to read that stitched-on face—just dark button eyes and a thread-like mouth. Unless something dramatic happened, discerning his expression was nearly impossible.
Even so, Justyn knew—he meant well. Just like Ries, who was holding his hand so tightly now.
“I’ll meet her.”
—Good decision. Knew I made the right call leaving it to you.
“…Wait, you pushed this on me?”
—Of course. You really think he’d listen better to me than to you?
“……”
After a brief, resigned sigh, the two exchanged light jabs. Listening to the voices of people who cared for him, Justyn mulled over a single word.
Mother.
The woman who carried him and died doing so. Lovely, delicate. The first family he ever lost. That was the story he’d always been told—and believed.
Had she still been alive, surely she would’ve resented him too. He’d never doubted that. But the people in front of him seemed to think differently.
“She said she stayed in the manor all this time just because she wanted to see you grow up.”
The voice in his ears was cautious, but utterly sincere. Not a hint of disbelief.
That his mother might have stayed in this world just to see him… that even though she died because of him, she didn’t hold a shred of hatred in her heart…
It was too ideal. With such a hopeful mindset, his life—always bleak and razor-edged—felt like it might finally soften.
But everything had changed since meeting Ries. And the people saying all this were none other than his ancestor and Ries himself. The “truth” he’d held onto so tightly began to crack.
“I’ve been meeting with Hillein these past few days. She’s really beautiful and, well, a bit mischievous sometimes—but also so warm.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. I think you’d like her. You and Hillein look so much alike, Justyn. Especially when you smile. She smiles exactly like you do—eyes all crinkled like this. If the two of you stood side by side, anyone would know you’re family.”
Before he knew it, Ries had stopped bickering with Sefiut and was now fully immersed in story mode.
Who knew how he’d held it all in—he was clearly excited, voice bubbling with joy. No wonder he’d looked so upset about being falsely accused.
But at the same time… it all felt foreign.
A voice that had confessed love. A face that nodded even after hearing everything. A family member who didn’t resent him…
It was all so unreal. Had he not been able to feel the warmth in his hand, he might’ve thought this was all a dream.
He didn’t want to lose this gentle, affectionate warmth. So he tightened his grip just a little more.
“Justyn, are you listening?”
“Yeah. I’m listening.”
He nodded toward the one who tapped his hand.
He took in that light, airy voice, tucked the sound of that laughter deep into his heart, and burned the joyful face in front of him into his memory, again and again.
Like a lie, all his unease melted away. For the first time, he had an inexplicable feeling…
That everything was going to be okay.
