The events unfolded swiftly.
Within no time, dozens of knights subdued the remaining circus staff. Ferocious monsters were swiftly dealt with according to the mission, while the caged animals were released back into the wild on humanitarian grounds.
Early the next morning…
“The Duke has arrived at the castle gates. Everyone, stand tall and be on alert.”
The sharp sound of footsteps echoed through the entrance of the manor. Maid-in-chief Mai stood at the forefront of the lined-up maids and servants, ready to greet the Duke, alongside Butler Brad. Also present was Delta, the manor’s dedicated physician.
“[Keep the physician on standby.]”
The day before, a sudden urgent message arrived, though the reason remained unclear.
“Could he have been injured during the hunt? Such a thing has never happened before…”
Brad fidgeted anxiously, but Mai was deep in thought. Instinctively, she knew that Calypse hadn’t been injured. Her master was not that fragile. Her curiosity was more piqued by the absence of the young child since the previous day.
Knox had left with Aisha in a carriage, looking furious. Watching him leave, Mai recalled their earlier conversation.
‘Sir Knox seems to have a blatant dislike for Lady Aisha.’
‘Well, there’s no reason for him to like her, is there?’
No reason to like her—Mai felt the same. A street urchin who came to the manor claiming to know the whereabouts of the true daughter, enjoying fine food, wearing luxurious clothes, and living a life of indulgence. And when her lie was exposed, she ran away.
Calypse wasn’t the only one searching desperately for the lost children. Mai, who had cared for them since their birth, also yearned for them.
But what had Aisha done?
Not only did she lie, but she shamelessly got adopted and took the place of the Lady of the house.
‘Knox took Aisha away because she must have done something wrong.’
Her clasped hands tightened into fists. Calypse’s urgent return and the summoning of the physician seemed related to this.
What on earth had happened? What had Aisha done?
“Open the gates.”
At the gatekeeper’s command, the massive gates slowly swung open. And through the opening, three men appeared.
‘…Three men?’
Between Knox and Calypse stood a boy, about eight years old, cloaked in a robe. As the assembled servants hurriedly bowed, Calypse nodded and declared:
“I have found Lucas Kreutz, the rightful heir.”
“……!”
Mai almost screamed in shock at the announcement. Beside her, Brad gasped, holding back a short cry.
“Did you say Master Lucas?”
“Oh my, the last time we saw him was when he was just a baby.”
“The Young Master… The Young Master has really returned….”
The servants, who had been silent like shadows, couldn’t suppress their murmurs.
“Master… Master Lucas!”
Mai couldn’t hold back any longer. She approached the young boy and knelt before him. He was so thin. His black hair, reminiscent of the Duke, was greasy and disheveled, and his robe was covered in dust.
“…Master Lucas, it’s me, Mai. Do you remem—”
“Where’s the physician?”
But before she could finish, the boy’s shout shattered her tender moment. Delta hurried over beside her.
“Here, here I am.”
“Save this girl! Hurry! She’s not breathing!”
Mai’s gaze shifted slightly downward. The boy was holding a small child in his arms.
‘…Aisha?’
Her pupils dilated as she took in the face of the child, who appeared to be sleeping. But Lucas, struggling to carry Aisha, hurried past her, disappearing from sight. Calypse followed quickly behind.
“Delta, take Aisha straight to the medical room and assess her condition immediately. Her breathing is shallow, so I need you to confirm her state.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Without another word, the two men, accompanied by the physician, swiftly disappeared down the corridor.
“……?”
Mai’s face was etched with confusion. She had never expected her reunion with the Young Master after five years to happen like this.
‘And to think that he’s asking us to save Aisha….’
Why did that child keep bringing trouble to the household?
‘Sigh.’
At least the Young Master had returned. Now, they needed to assess the situation and prepare accordingly.
“Sir Knox, may I ask what’s going on?”
Mai, smoothing out her wrinkled apron, approached Knox. However—
“Lady Aisha found Master Lucas.”
“…Pardon?”
Who found whom?
“Yes, it’s true. And….”
Knox didn’t seem in good spirits.
“Lady Aisha fought off the kidnappers trying to save Master Lucas, and she collapsed afterward.”
“…Who fought for whom…?”
Mai’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Nodding as if understanding her shock, Knox added, “Yes—well, it’s a difficult situation. I’m terribly sorry for having misunderstood Lady Aisha. I don’t know what to say.”
“…I’m equally at a loss.”
Mai quietly agreed, her mind in a daze. Memories of her brusque treatment toward Aisha flooded back. What had happened? For a mere five-year-old to have fought off kidnappers… why would she take such a reckless action?
‘Though you were adopted out of pity, they likely won’t trust you. After all, you were the one who lied first.’
…Could it be? Because of what I said?
It seemed excessive, but if Aisha had acted recklessly to prove herself, it might have made sense. Perhaps she interpreted it as a challenge to earn recognition. She was just a child who could barely reach into the cabinet to fetch a tea bag, and who fit snugly into anyone’s arms, even more so than little Master Lucas.
“……”
Mai closed her eyes, guilt weighing heavily on her. She had realized too late that Aisha was far too young to be hated.
* * *
Meanwhile…
“I truly apologize. I don’t know what else to say….”
“…….”
“…To be honest, Master Lucas was already in that condition when he brought Lady Aisha to me.”
Delta fumbled for words as he tried to explain to Calypse and Lucas, who both stared blankly ahead.
‘She has passed away.’
Since hearing those words, neither of them had blinked or moved.
“…Aisha, please! Open your eyes!”
“…….”
“The cat you asked me to save is alive! Please, wake up!”
Lucas sobbed desperately, calling out to Aisha. But the girl remained silent and still.
The room, frozen like an icy tundra, made it difficult for Delta to even breathe. He could only bow his head, trying to gauge the Duke’s state.
The Duke didn’t cry, didn’t rage, didn’t even sigh. As if the clocks of the world were ticking at their own pace, only his clock seemed to have stopped.
* * *
That night, when everyone was asleep, Aisha lay alone on her bed. By Calypse’s insistence, the room had been frozen, turning it into a cold chamber.
“Wait until I can accept her death,” he had said.
Someone approached the child who lay with her eyes gently closed.
“She’s dead.”
Born into solitude, no one had ever entered her world. Thus, the boy’s world was pure, clear, and untouched. But when someone stepped into that world, it caused ripples, like a stone thrown into a still lake.
The first person to ever create such ripples was now lying lifeless before him.
“She’s dead.”
The boy, with eyes that didn’t seem human, muttered the words again. His pale hair, soft like feathers, framed his face as an unreadable expression crossed it.
Death is just death.
During his time in the cage, the boy had always thought that way. Whether it was the terrified animal meeting its end or the rampaging monster being killed by humans. He had grown indifferent to death, having witnessed it so often.
But—
“I wanted to ask why you saved me.”
Staring blankly out the window, the boy closed his eyes.
For the first time since he was born, he had seen a human look at him like that. Humans either regarded him with fear or greed, but this girl…
“…Why did you have that expression?”
She seemed shocked, as if lost in thought. Yet she had still begged for his life.
Did she even know what I am?
Because of her, I survived. But now…
“You died.”
It left a bitter feeling. There were so many questions he couldn’t ask her now.
‘Fool.’
Feeling strangely annoyed, the boy sat down cross-legged beside her. His curiosity was too strong to ignore.
Even if she was already dead, he wanted to bring her back just to ask.
If it meant satisfying his curiosity, he was willing to give up a little of what was his.
“…So.”
Having made up his mind, he stood up and stomped the ground.
“Live a little longer.”
With a hum, a powerful vibration and energy surged from beneath him. The transparent world around him began to shake, cracks forming in reality. From those cracks, a dark purple veil, the same color as his eyes, enveloped the world.
“See you later.”
A faint smile curved his lips as he disappeared.
When the long night finally passed, a new morning dawned in Aisha’s world.
