Ellie rolled her eyes, feeling a sense of déjà vu at the sight, like a cicada clinging to a tree.
‘Wait, why is this kid acting like this all of a sudden?’
Though he had grown more comfortable and was increasingly defeating Rutus in their occasional competitions, he still maintained a certain level of caution.
Rutus, aware of this, had likely been patiently waiting for the child to fully open his heart.
So it was surprising to see him suddenly becoming so stubborn.
-Adi, let’s come down first…
“I want to go too…!”
“……”
The child mumbled with his face buried in Rutus’ leg. Cookie crumbs from his small hands were staining his clothing.
Rutus, who had been staring at the scene, finally spoke.
“I believe you said you would let go if I told you the story.”
“I… I only asked because you said you wouldn’t take me! I never said I wouldn’t go if you told me!”
“That’s the same thing.”
“No, it’s different…!”
It was like a sudden melodrama. Ellie was so dumbfounded that she lost her words.
That aside—
‘…How does this kid know the butler’s son’s hair color?’
Ellie had no recollection of such a thing, which meant it must have been something that happened after her death.
Furthermore, since Rutus had been away at war and hadn’t received proper updates on the estate, this must have been before the war even began.
Which meant that, at the time, the child had been less than a year old.
No matter how intelligent he was, could he really remember something from that period?
Ellie herself had hazy memories of even her own childhood, let alone infancy.
‘Judging by how much he wants to follow along, there must be something to it.’
Ellie rubbed her lips as she pondered.
Meanwhile, the child had started subtly wiping the cookie crumbs from his mouth onto Rutus’ trousers.
Rutus, frowning slightly, firmly shut his mouth before finally speaking to the child.
“You haven’t even explored the mansion much yet. It’s too early to go out. It’s dangerous, so no.”
“It’s not dangerous… really…”
“……”
“If I can’t go, then just bring him here…”
Had he already forgotten that Rutus had just said calling him to the mansion could be dangerous because he might have harbored a grudge?
The child lifted his face slightly from where he had buried it in Rutus’ leg and looked up at him.
His eyebrows drooped, his lips pouted—it was an expression full of sorrow.
“No—”
“But if Daddy protects me, it won’t be dangerous…”
“……”
“I’ll just stay still by your side. I’m really, really good at that…”
Given everything that had happened so far, it wasn’t exactly a convincing statement.
If anything, Ellie thought, it would be a miracle if he didn’t start flailing his arms and legs the moment he saw him (butler’s son).
Rutus, seemingly sharing the same concerns, sighed before lifting the child, who was still clinging to his leg.
“…Then let’s make a deal. If you don’t keep your promise, you won’t get any snacks for a week. Agreed?”
“A-A week?”
“Yes.”
“……”
The child’s mouth shut as tightly as a clam.
“A-A week is too long.”
“Then you just have to keep your promise.”
“…Can’t we make it half that…?”
The child cautiously protested, but it was a futile attempt.
Taking the failed negotiation as settled, Rutus reached out to put the child back down on the ground.
Only then did the child grab onto his collar and speak.
“I-I’ll do it! I’ll do it! I’ll stay still!”
“……”
“Huff.”
So… in other words, while gripping his collar for dear life.
Marie, who had cautiously lifted her head to grasp the situation, gasped at the scene before her.
Rutus, catching the glance, frowned in displeasure before calling for the butler.
“Your Grace, the carriage is ready—”
“The outing is canceled. Instead, send someone to bring him over tomorrow morning.”
“…Yes?”
“Must I repeat myself? You—”
“…Daddy?”
“……”
“……”
Rutus, who had been about to sharply rebuke the butler, fell silent at the child’s call.
Having witnessed how Rutus had spoken to the knight commander and the butler earlier, Ellie knew full well that he had been about to deliver a scathing remark.
‘…He really needs to fix that. What is the kid going to learn from him?’
It seemed war had truly left its mark on him.
Rutus let out a small sigh and dismissed the butler.
“…Is he not coming now?”
“It’s late. If I send someone to fetch him, by the time our conversation is over, the sun will have set.”
“Then he can eat dinner and go after that.”
“……”
At the child’s words, spoken as if it were the most obvious thing, Rutis stared at him as if at a loss for words before adjusting his hold on him.
It was a remark that completely failed to consider the fact that the person in question neither had the rank to casually dine with them nor any reason to do so.
Whether the child knew or not that the meeting had been postponed to the next day specifically to avoid interfering with his mealtime remained unclear.
The child wrapped his arms around Rutus’ arm and asked in a questioning tone.
“But Daddy.”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you eat with me?”
“……”
“I’ve already eaten alone for three-teuls now…”
“……?”
In the end, that night, Rutus had to eat his meal with the child sitting on his lap.
Along with correcting her mistaken count of days.
TL/N: CUTE.
* * *
The Next Morning.
-Adi, Adi! Not yet, you need to change your clothes first before going!
“But what if Daddy talks without me while I’m changing…?”
-…Did you check the time? It’s 7 AM.
As soon as the child woke up and tried to head straight to Rutus’ bedroom, Ellie stopped them.
No matter how urgent it was, there was no way the conversation would be over this early.
‘…Wouldn’t it?’
To be honest, Ellie wasn’t entirely sure. While she tried to reassure herself, she couldn’t completely shake off her doubts.
Still, she wasn’t thoughtless enough to voice those concerns to the child.
If she did, it was obvious he’d bolt out in his pajamas immediately.
-Let’s eat first, change clothes, and then go. Even if he arrives early, it won’t be before noon.
“Then I’ll go ahead firs—ah.”
Had she managed to calm the restless child and make him sit back down? The child instinctively responded to Ellie’s words but then quickly turned his head away with a sulky expression.
It seemed he had belatedly realized he was still acting sulky.
‘At this point, I think it’s safe to say he’s already forgiven me…’
Noticing that it was merely a childish tantrum born from feeling hurt, Ellie smiled wryly.
-Anyway, let’s go see Daddy in a little while. We won’t be late.
“…….”
-…Adi, are you still mad at Mommy?
“…….”
The child pouted for a moment before observing Ellie’s face.
After hesitating, he nervously pinched the tip of his own finger before finally speaking.
“…Mommy always says she’ll tell me before she leaves, but then she sneaks out when I’m asleep.”
-…….
“I always want to be with you… but you leave without even saying anything, so I get scared you might suddenly disappear forever…”
What if Daddy leaves me behind too?
As the child lowered his head, fidgeting with his hands, Ellie fell silent.
Those weren’t the words of an ordinary five-year-old.
So that’s why he had been sulking all this time—because he knew she had been sneaking out at night.
Ellie hesitated for a moment before responding.
-…You knew? Why didn’t you say anything?
“…If I said something, you might find me annoying and stop liking me. I know it’s selfish to want to be with you all day.”
The child’s reaction was a textbook case of separation anxiety.
Ellie had noticed it for a while, but…
‘This isn’t something I can fix with magic. If I wanted to help, I’d have to study, read books, or get advice…’
Unfortunately, apart from the child, there was no one she could interact with—neither people nor objects.
She had been cautious about bringing up the subject too soon, unsure how the child would take it.
‘So he already knew.’
Ellie lowered her gaze, lost in thought.
The only reason she could stay close to the child now was because she was a ghost.
If she weren’t, she wouldn’t have been much different from Rutus—perhaps not as overwhelmingly busy, but the mansion’s duties alone were significant.
She wasn’t sure whether to consider this a blessing or a tragedy.
Facing the child at eye level, Ellie finally spoke.
-…I’m sorry, Adi. I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d worry more if you knew. I didn’t expect you already did. From now on, I’ll let you know before I go.
“…….”
-And if you’re okay with it, should we try practicing being apart little by little?
“B-Being apart…?”
-Mhm. Not completely, of course. But you’ve spent every moment of the day with me so far. As you grow older, it’ll get harder to live like this.
No matter how important parents were, there was a limit to how much a child could depend on them.
Right now, it was fine, but as time passed, his symptoms would likely worsen.
It was better to start preparing gradually rather than struggle later.
After a long moment of hesitation, the child stretched out his arms toward Ellie.
“…Please hug me.”
-…Alright. How about we tell them you’ll eat breakfast alone today and spend the morning with just Mommy?
The child nodded.
Even though he didn’t seem entirely enthusiastic about the suggestion, it was clear he was agreeing.
Ellie reached out and embraced him.
‘He’s grown a bit in the past few months…’
Watching him grow day by day made her feel…
A pang of emotion.
After finishing breakfast and getting ready, the child sat on a couch in one corner of Rutus’ study, swinging his legs.
How much time had passed like that?
Knock, knock.
“Your Grace, he has just arrived.”
“Let him in.”
At last, the door opened.
* * *
TL/N: AS A TOKEN FOR MY GRATITUDE FOR Y’ALL PATIENCE AND SUPPORT W ME, ANY CHAP OF THIS NOVEL THAT I’M GONNA UPLOAD NEXT TILL CH.50 IS GONNA BE UNLOCKED! THANK YOU GUYS FOR SUPPORTING “TGMOTD” >.<
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