The next morning, Teresia woke up at a reasonable hour.
Helmut was still asleep, lying in the exact same position as the night before. He hadn’t even tossed or turned.
Not wanting to wake him, Teresia tiptoed toward the small table like a cat.
As she poured water from the kettle to drink, Helmut suddenly sat up.
“H-Helmut. You’re awake?”
“It’s morning…”
The boy rubbed his eyes and climbed down from the bed.
Feeling guilty as if she had been the one to wake him, Teresia hesitated but decided it couldn’t be helped since it was Helmut who had asked to sleep together.
“Do you want some water? Shall we have breakfast right away?”
“Sounds good.”
Pleased by his clear answer, she smiled as she poured water into a fresh cup and handed it to him. Then she pulled a cord to call for the maid.
When Anna came into the room, Teresia asked her to bring breakfast to the room instead of using the dining hall.
It seemed inappropriate to use the family dining room to eat with Helmut. No matter how much she’d decided to take care of him like family, that was her choice. To her father and brother, Helmut was still a complete stranger.
Likewise, Teresia thought she wouldn’t appreciate it if her father or brother suddenly brought a random child to share common spaces.
Fortunately, Helmut didn’t seem to wander about much, which was a relief.
If he had, the maids assigned to watch over him would likely have stopped him anyway.
Though she couldn’t deny she was still a bit suspicious, considering he’d run off yesterday.
After eating breakfast with Helmut, Teresia immediately started teaching him spelling and arithmetic.
After giving him some practice exercises, she decided it was late enough in the morning to call Berthold.
Her early departure the day before had left her feeling a little guilty.
But oddly, even though the weather was clear, the call didn’t seem to go through properly.
Thinking the reception might be better elsewhere, she decided to try the study and began heading out.
Just as she reached for the door, Helmut, who had been sitting at the desk gripping a pencil to study, suddenly tossed it down and ran toward her.
When he grabbed her skirt like he had a few days ago when he’d brought her flowers, she turned to him in surprise.
The boy’s face was filled with unease.
Does he think I’m leaving him behind again…?
Teresia felt that might be the case.
After all, he’d run away from the maids and ended up crying in a corner just the day before.
“What’s wrong, Helmut?”
“Take… take me with you.”
“I’m just stepping out to make a call, you know.”
“Even so…”
Would he throw a fit if she tried to leave him behind, even to go to the Rosenthal estate?
But Teresia found it hard to refuse him outright.
“Just this once, okay? You have to learn how to stay alone eventually, understand?”
“Yes…”
After hearing his answer, Teresia reached out her hand, and Helmut grabbed it.
Hand in hand, they walked to the study, where the telephone was located.
Helmut, curious about the new space, looked around just as he had when he first got into her carriage.
After confirming the study was empty, Teresia picked up the receiver on the desk.
She dialed the number, and when the operator answered, she asked to be connected to the Rosenthal estate.
Berthold answered right away.
“It’s me, Berthold. I felt bad about leaving in such a hurry yesterday, so I’m calling early.”
—It’s fine. When will you have time?
“I’m free anytime, really…”
—How about after lunch today?
“That works for me. Should I come to the estate around 2?”
—Alright, see you then.
They ended the call without saying much. Since they’d be meeting soon, there was no need for a lengthy conversation.
After hanging up the receiver, Teresia turned around.
Helmut stood there, staring up at a high shelf far above his eye level.
“All done. Let’s head back.”
“Are you going out later…?”
“Yes, why?”
“Could I… come too…?”
“No, that’s a bit difficult, don’t you think?”
It isn’t polite to visit someone’s home uninvited.
She could tolerate Helmut trailing her around at the Oppenhausen estate to some extent, but it was too much to take him with her every time she went out.
However, Helmut was on the verge of tears.
Ah, this isn’t good.
Feeling her resolve weaken, Teresia picked up the receiver again and connected to Berthold.
—“Why are you calling again?”
“Can I bring a child to your place today?”
—“A child?”
“Yes, it’s related to the topic we discussed yesterday.”
—“Bring him. I don’t mind.”
“Great, thanks. See you later!”
This time, Teresia truly hung up the phone and felt relieved.
If he had said no, she would have had to soothe the crying child, but she didn’t know how to console a child, so it would have been troublesome.
“You can come with me. But other gatherings or events are definitely out. Got it? You have to promise me.”
Teresia held out her pinky to Helmut.
The child extended his pinky as well, and after linking their fingers, Teresia sealed it with a thumb press.
“Now that we’ve promised, let’s be a good kid who keeps promises, okay?”
When she spoke in a fairly stern tone, the child timidly nodded.
***
Teresia took Helmut and boarded the car on time.
It was the same car and seat arrangement as when she had brought Helmut along the first time.
The only difference was Anna’s absence.
Just like before, Helmut seemed fascinated by the sights outside the car window.
Like any other child, his eyes sparkled with curiosity as he gazed at the passing scenery.
In truth, Teresia wasn’t much different.
The cityscape, which she couldn’t even remember the last time she had seen, was intriguing to behold again.
They soon arrived at her cousin’s home, located not far away.
After passing through the estate gate and reaching the front entrance, the driver stepped out of the car to open the door.
Berthold came out to greet them at the entrance.
“Nice to see you again, even though we just met yesterday.”
At Berthold’s greeting, Teresia responded with a bright smile and a light hug.
As they parted, Berthold’s gaze finally landed on the child who was pretending to ignore him.
Noticing this, Teresia placed her hand on Helmut’s shoulder and gently pulled him closer.
“Say hello, Helmut. This is my cousin, Berthold, who is the same age as me.”
“…Ah, hello.”
Perhaps intimidated by meeting someone new, the child tried to hide behind Teresia.
But Teresia didn’t allow that and firmly kept Helmut by her side.
“Hello. So, you’re the child Teresia mentioned?”
Berthold bent his knees slightly to make eye contact with Helmut, just as Teresia often did.
His friendly approach seemed to ease Helmut’s nervousness a bit.
“He’s the child I’ve decided to cherish as if he were my own son.”
At those words, Helmut frowned and shook his head, clearly displeased.
Teresia didn’t notice his reaction at all, but Berthold chuckled at the child’s expression.
“If Teresia thinks of you as her son, then I suppose I’m something like your fifth cousin. But since we’re practically siblings, just think of me as your uncle.”
“Okay…”
After ruffling the boy’s hair, Berthold led the guests inside the house.
They headed to the Rosenthal estate’s parlor, which was distinctive for its glass wall on one side, offering an open view.
Beyond the clear space lay a beautifully landscaped backyard and a small pond, a sight Teresia hadn’t seen in a long time.
As soon as the guests entered, refreshments were served.
Knowing a young child would be visiting, Berthold had prepared orange juice in advance.
Smiling at her cousin’s thoughtfulness, Teresia called Helmut, who was wandering curiously between the parlor and the backyard, to drink the orange juice.
Although he only took a few sips before chasing a butterfly that had flown indoors, disappearing somewhere.
***
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