ICMMF | Chapter 1

Episode 1

“I’ll pull it from here.”

Lucy untied the rope slung over the white wolf’s shoulder.

The wolf, twice the girl’s size, drooped its ears and groaned. Even he knew the cart was too heavy for young Lucy.

The wolf’s gray eyes glanced into the cart. Due to the cloth shielding the sunlight, only hair could be seen of the person inside. His worried gaze returned to Lucy.

“Woo-woo, it’s okay. It’s not far.”

Lucy, who had given the wolf the name Woo-woo, patted his large head. At her gentle touch, the wolf closed his eyes peacefully.

“You guys stay here too. Go back to the forest.”

Lucy wasn’t only with the wolf.

She waved goodbye to the two sparrows who sang to keep her entertained, the eagle who guided her path, and the rabbit who kept her warm as she slept.

The wind spirit, Sylph, who had been pushing the cart from behind, hovered around Lucy’s head, insisting it could stay by her side since humans couldn’t see it.

Pping-ppippi, pping!

Sylph chattered in a voice as if it would fly with the breaking starlight. After a moment of hesitation, Lucy decided to let Sylph stay.

“We’ll see each other again soon. Stay healthy.”

After saying farewell to each of the animals who had come with her, Lucy grabbed the handle of the cart.

Woo-woo, who had been sluggishly blocking the path, grumbled and moved aside. The wolf rubbed his snout on Lucy’s forehead, then took a spot next to the rabbit who had stepped back.

“Take care.”

Lucy waved at the animals standing at the forest’s edge to say goodbye.

Still, the animals didn’t move, only gazing at Lucy.

To shake off her lingering attachment, the girl let out a quiet sigh and pulled the cart. At just the right moment, Sylph blew from behind the cart. Feeling the lighter load, Lucy looked up and forward.

At the end of this road was her destination, which she had crossed mountains for five days to reach. The main gate wasn’t in sight yet, but the well-maintained road told her it wasn’t far.

What if they turn us away?

Her head dropped slightly, worried she might not be welcomed. No, even if they didn’t welcome her, she just hoped they wouldn’t drive her away.

At least that man wouldn’t turn them away.

Even if he hated her, he wouldn’t cast her mother out. Surely, he wouldn’t pretend not to see her sick mother.

When the main gate finally came into view, Lucy stopped the cart for a moment. She was almost there. At the grand mansion she had only seen through her mother’s memories.

Thanks to her ability to read others’ memories, Lucy had been able to make it here without getting lost.

She half-removed the cloth shielding the cart from the sunlight. Inside lay her mother, sleeping as if dead.

It had been a year and a half since her mother fell ill. Even before that, she’d been fragile, and now it had been that long since she’d risen from her bed. Lucy had tried all the best herbs, but none had worked.

With the help of the forest spirits, Lucy had learned her mother’s illness was rare. It required medicine she couldn’t obtain.

“Mom…”

If she hadn’t read her mother’s memories, Lucy wouldn’t have thought to come here either.

But if it was that man, he could save her mother.

He was rich—and once, he had been her mother’s fiancé.

Hopefully, time had softened him.

Lucy prayed softly and resumed pulling the cart. Under the hot spring sun, she wiped her forehead with her sleeve as she reached the mansion.

“W-Who goes there!”

The gate guard, struggling to stay awake in the midday heat, finally noticed the girl. At his shout, the other guards, who had been dozing in the shade, came running.

No one was scheduled to visit the Duke’s residence that day. And the girl pulling a shabby cart in worn clothes hardly looked like a guest.

“A messenger? Who are you here on behalf of today?”

A soldier, shaking off his sleep, lowered the spear pointed at the seemingly innocent girl. The others murmured, saying they had never seen her before.

Lucy removed the hood she had used to block the sun and looked up at the soldiers.

“I’ve come to see Duke Arden. I’m his daughter.”

The commotion at the gate settled only after the duke’s steward came out.

At first, he had intended to chase her away, calling it nonsense, but everyone hesitated because of the girl’s appearance. Like the soldiers, the head steward, Emmet, was at a loss for words when he saw her.

Black hair and vividly shining violet eyes.

It was the mark of the imperial empire’s only ducal family—the House of Kreshmir. Because of that, Emmet completely forgot his intent to scold the soldiers who had summoned him.

“Are you truly His Grace Duke Arden’s daughter?”

All Emmet could do was foolishly ask again.

Instead of answering, Lucy fully removed the cloth covering the cart.

“Mother… Please help my mother.”

Lucy’s voice trembled on its own.

He was the butler she had seen in her mother’s memories. With more wrinkles and more white hair, but he had certainly once treated her mother with kindness.

Now that she stood before him, Lucy finally felt her mother could be saved—and the tears came without warning.

Her tense heart crumbled upon seeing the familiar face.

Startled by the child’s tears, Emmet hurried to the cart she pointed to.

“Oh dear, my lady!”

Emmet gasped, stifling a groan, as he raised his voice at the long-lost face. If that was true, then this child truly was the lady’s—the master’s child.

“How could this be… No, are you truly her daughter? My lady, what in the world…!”

His shock at seeing the girl deepened with confusion. Nine years ago, the young lady who had been engaged to the master now lay inside the cart, pale and frail.

Where had she been all this time to end up like this—and brought back by a child, no less?

If it weren’t for her pink hair, he might not have recognized her at all.

“Please… save my mother.”

At the weeping child’s voice, Emmet snapped back to his senses. He had many questions, but the lady’s current condition meant this was urgent.

“Call the physician, now!”

He shouted to the servant who followed him and entrusted the cart to the soldiers.

Walking behind the cart, Emmet turned toward the child who stood dazed. She seemed overwhelmed by the chaotic situation, standing silently with tears in her eyes.

How had she lived all this time? How had she made it this far? Her appearance, like that of a back-alley child, swallowed all his questions.

“Come inside with me.”

When Emmet reached out his hand, the child’s eyes finally refocused. A soft sigh escaped as he saw the teary violet eyes.

“His Grace is away at the moment. I’ll send an urgent message, so he should return soon.”

Lucy froze at that. She hadn’t asked, but now she knew.

So the man wasn’t here. She had thought she would surely see him if she came here. She had been curious, too.

But now, having met the butler and brought her mother into the grand mansion, she had momentarily forgotten about him. Even though he wasn’t here, the tension returned.

“I’m sure he’ll welcome you. Please don’t worry.”

Sensing her nervousness, Emmet gently took her hand. The small hand in his palm was soft and warm.

How long had her journey been? Where had she lived until now? He had many questions, but he asked the one he was most curious about.

“May I ask your name?”

“Lucy. Lucy Silva.”

“That’s a lovely name.”

Murmuring the child’s name, who bore the lady’s surname, Emmet entered the mansion.