MEB Chapter 56

Chapter 56
I Want to Be Helpful to You (11)

 

There was now one more place that could be considered the deepest.

I needed to go back immediately and start searching.

Just as I lifted my head, the door opened.

“Edith. I brought you milk instead of water, is that okay?”

Claude entered the room, smiling brightly, holding two steaming mugs in his hands.

Seeing him, I paused my plan to leave and plopped back down on the bed.

“Thank you.”

Now that I knew he wasn’t the one responsible for the brainwashing at Crowell Castle, I had something to ask him.

Taking the cup of milk he offered with both hands, I began to speak.

“Claude.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you believe in unconditional love?”

He had explained that his kindness was because I was his savior, but to me, that still felt like an inexplicable kindness.

At least if the reason was that he had brainwashed Crowell Castle, I might have understood.

In any case, what I’m curious about is whether the unconditional love my family showed me was absolutely impossible without brainwashing.

…Was all that love just a hypocritical farce manipulated by brainwashing?

If unconditional, reason-less love is possible, I think I can slightly negate that premise.

This question is too much for Ethan to ask, and asking Terion would certainly result in a thoughtless answer. So I’ve never asked before.

But with Claude, I might be able to get a proper opinion.

“Unconditional love…”

At my question, Claude, who seemed to be pondering deeply, slowly looked up.

“I think it exists.”

“Really?”

At my follow-up, he nodded as if it was obvious.

“Yes. Because I love you that way too.”

“…Me?”

Love beyond just kindness?

Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, my response was a beat late.

“Yes.”

But Claude, as if it didn’t matter, leaned back in the chair with a loose smile.

My gaze lingered for a moment on the blond locks that fell around his eyes.

“Edith, you’re the kind of person who can only be loved unconditionally.”

“……?”

It’s certain. There must have been some kind of history between us from my forgotten childhood before the regression.

Claude looked me over once, then added brightly,

“Since we’re family from the Crowell Orphanage, it’s only natural, right?”

“…Is that so?”

Just because we’re family-like friends, is it natural?

If he knows my habits that I don’t even remember, and can greet me happily even after over 6 years have passed…

“You’ve been a great help in many ways. Thank you for your assistance.”

“Don’t doubt yourself. Doubt will only consume you.”

“…That’s true.”

Hearing his words, my mouth suddenly felt parched.

I quickly poured the warm milk into my mouth.

Then, placing the empty cup on the table, I got up from my seat.

Claude looked at me with surprised eyes.

“Ah, are you leaving already?”

“Yes. Thanks to Claude’s counseling, I’ve gained confidence.”

To be precise, after reflecting on his words, a glimmer of hope has emerged.

The anxiety that the unconditional love and support of my family that sustained my regression might have entirely stemmed from brainwashing has diminished somewhat.

“I don’t think I was much help…”

No. Although he didn’t realize it, he was quite helpful.

Above all, I gained a clue about the “deepest place.”

The fact that such a book was open in his room was…

‘It must have been a mere coincidence.’

There was no other way to explain that element.

“I’ll see you out.”

Claude stood up from his seat with a regretful tone.

Then, gently pulling my shoulder, he leaned in and planted a soft kiss on my left cheek before pulling away.

“Take care.”

“……?”

What was that just now?

I stared at him with a dazed expression, cupping my cheek where his lips had touched.

“What…?”

“We used to greet each other like this before, didn’t we?”

But as he tilted his head in a flustered voice, our eyes met.

We greeted like this when I was 10 years old?

No, even if that was the case, I was only 10 back then…. Well, I’m still only 16 now.

I slowly nodded in understanding.

“So you’ve forgotten everything…”

It seemed like Claude was more shocked by my reaction than anything else. He suddenly looked up from his muttering.

“Then, by any chance. Have you forgotten that as well?”

“…What are you referring to?”

“The promise we made…”

“……?”

A promise?

I racked my brain, but while I could barely recall his name, a ‘promise’ did not come to mind at all.

As my silence stretched on, Claude nodded, seeming to understand.

“It’s okay. I still remember it.”

“What kind of promise was it?”

“It’s a secret.”

Winking playfully, he whispered as he opened the door.

“I’ll tell you when we meet again.”

I was about to step out the door, but paused and turned back to him.

“…How long will you be staying at Crowell Estate?”

Leaning against the doorframe, he slowly calculated something before giving a simple answer.

“Tomorrow. I’ll just deliver a letter to the orphanage people and then leave right away.”

“I hope we can meet again.”

This was sincere. Talking to him, I felt at ease.

Somehow, with Claude, I felt I could deal with the regression without any calculations.

Perhaps it’s because he promised me unconditional love, and the source of that love is the clear condition of ‘family’.

“Be sure to let me know when we meet next time?”

“Since I’ve properly remembered it now, maybe… But I can’t be certain if I’ll grow taller from here.”

At my words, Claude bent over with a big laugh.

“Okay. I’ll make sure to be more helpful to you then.”

“There’s no need. Claude is no different from family.”

“What do you mean by ‘no different from family’?”

I paused, then lightly replied,

“Someone who makes me happy just by looking into their eyes?”

“…I see.”

Claude’s face broke into a cute, beaming smile.

Looking at his face, a faint smile involuntarily escaped my own. As he intently gazed at my smile, Claude slowly stepped aside from the doorway.

“You finally smiled.”

“Ah…”

How long has it been since I smiled like this? Did it look awkward?

As I touched the corners of my mouth, Claude bid me a light farewell.

“Well then, see you next time.”

“…Yes, Claude.”

Will I be able to see him again?

I took a moment to etch his image in my mind, then hurriedly left the inn.

Although the owner of the purple envelope I had hoped for was not there.

I obtained the information that the deepest place in the castle may be an unknown well.

It was like a gift from the Claude I had just reunited with. My gloomy mood was lifted, if only a little.

…I must hurry.

I quickened my pace.

🥀

In the empty inn, Claude slowly reached out and grasped the lingering warmth left on the spot where Edith had sat.

“…Edith.”

A faint madness seeped into Claude’s voice as he murmured her name. The fresh smile on his face seemed worn and tattered.

“I’ve finally caught up to you.”

As expected, she had clearly forgotten most of her memories from the orphanage days.

That’s why he had prepared himself even for the possibility that she wouldn’t recognize him.

“So you haven’t forgotten me either…”

You haven’t forgotten me.

Curling his lips into a thin smile, Claude slowly bowed his head and pressed his lips to the spot where the warmth remained.

“…I’ll see you again soon.”

Thinking that next time, he would press his lips not to the lingering warmth, but elsewhere.

🥀

Even though I had hurried, by the time the familiar figure of Crowell Castle’s gate came into view, the moon had already risen high in the sky.

I could see a familiar figure standing in front of the gate.

I called out to him, raising my voice.

“Ethan!”

“Edith.”

“Were you waiting here?”

Ethan nodded, then peeled himself away from where he had been leaning against the wall.

“What about the priest?”

“Ah. It seems that the servants were mistaken. It was a completely different seal.”

“…I see.”

Ethan slowly nodded his head. But it was too early to be disappointed. There was still information he had yet to share.

“But I found out about the deepest place. It may be a well.”

“Is there a well?”

“Yes. I accidentally saw a book about the castle, and it mentioned there might be one. If it’s an unknown well, it must be quite deep.”

In the middle of my explanation, the castle gate suddenly opened behind Ethan.

‘…Who came out?’

I quickly extended my magic detection.

“……?”

And as it collided with the familiar magic I recognized, I immediately withdrew my magic.

‘…It’s Mother.’

Ethan also seemed to have quickly sensed the presence of another person, as he firmly pressed his lips together and turned around.

I grabbed his hand tightly and quickly moved my feet. Ethan followed without a word, allowing himself to be led.

I just need to hurry and get inside the castle, then disperse. That’s what I thought.

But it seems I was already too late.

On the path leading out of the garden, a small but clear voice called out to stop Ethan.

“Young Lord  Behemoth. What were you and Edith doing at this late hour?”

🥀

Thank you for reading! ♡