Chapter 13
On the paper placed on the chair, soon, black letters filled it.
As the crooked letters filled the paper, Elysia’s face widened with astonishment.
“You’re really smart.”
Of course, Elysia already knew that Eden was smart.
Even though she knew it, it was still amazing.
If one were to compare where Elysia originally lived to consonants and vowels, Eden would memorize them straight away after being taught.
Simple words were easy enough for him to write down from memory.
Yesterday, Eden had been completely ignorant, but within just one hour, he had made significant progress.
“Wow.”
Elysia kept uttering words of admiration.
Each time she did, a blush spread across Eden’s cheeks.
Seeing Eden unable to control his expression, Elysia praised him even more openly.
“How can you learn to read in just one day?”
“….”
With his lips curled upwards, Eden bit his lip.
Quickly, Elysia read Eden’s expression.
“Even though I look like this, I’ve been a parent for 9 years.”
She had been taking care of Ariel since he was a newborn, so this year marked almost nine years.
Proud internally of an experience she couldn’t tell anyone about, Elysia continued to praise Eden.
“Thousand jinny?”
Feeling a rush of warmth to her forehead, Eden fanned his face with his hand.
“Bag.”
Elysia smiled fondly at Eden’s cute behavior and continued with the words.
Eden bowed his head deeply and diligently transcribed the word.
Once again, he transcribed it correctly.
His hands were small, and his writing was crooked, but one couldn’t say he didn’t write well even with falsehoods.
“Our Ariel took over a week.”
Elysia was also the one who taught Ariel to read. Ariel often disliked learning to read, occasionally lied about being sick to skip lessons, and sometimes even ran away while Elysia went to the bathroom.
Whenever that happened, Elysia searched all over the mansion to find Ariel.
But recalling not so distant past events, Elysia’s face relaxed.
“Well done.”
Elysia’s face, which seemed cold enough to seem indifferent when serious, had a warm expression as she taught Eden how to read.
“Thank you…”
With both hands on the chair, Eden moved his neck to respond to Elysia’s praise.
If he didn’t know he had lost his memory, it might seem like a lacking response.
However, knowing his situation, Elysia tapped the paper with a gentle face, her expression turning bitter.
“Shall we try writing your name for the last time?”
“My name?”
“Yeah. Your name.”
Elysia straightened up and sat, wrapping her arms around both legs as she spoke.
“……”
Eden carefully wrote down the words spoken by Elysia.
Because she only remembered the name “Eden,” the writing on the paper was very brief.
“You did well.”
Upon seeing the name written down effortlessly, Elysia praised Eden once again. Eden’s purple eyes turned towards Elysia.
Meeting Elysia’s innocent gaze, Elysia released her arms from around her legs.
Then she looked out the window where the sun was still shining brightly.
It had been about an hour since they had arrived at the annex, so there was still a long time until nightfall.
Elysia glanced at the broken clock out of habit.
“Eden.”
Elysia knew it wasn’t something to say to the excited-looking Eden.
Still, spending two nights in a row with Eden until nightfall was too much.
“?’’
Eden’s deer-like pupils held onto Elysia’s ankles.
Since she hadn’t spoken yet, Eden wouldn’t know, but it seemed as if Eden’s eyes were asking if Elysia would leave her alone.
Elysia thought of herself as a somewhat determined person. But apparently, that wasn’t entirely true.
Elysia hesitated a few times with her lips before tearing open a banana and offering it to Eden.
“Do you want another one?”
As Elysia struggled to find the right words, Rachel, who had asked her where she had been last night, flashed through her mind.
-Where did you go all day yesterday?
-What?
When they had agreed to stay together until Eden fell asleep, Elysia had somewhat anticipated the situation.
She just had the confidence that she could handle Rachel’s inquiries without incident.
The only thing she hadn’t expected was the unwelcome visitor who came to see her.
-Did someone come looking for me by any chance?
There was no way.
Unless something special happened within the Partin Marquis , there would be no one bold enough to come looking for Elysia.
Except for one person, excluding the Partin Marquis.
So Elysia didn’t hesitate to visit the annex where Eden was.
-Master Hanyang is looking for you.
Her voice was noticeably deeper than usual.
Rachel wouldn’t like anyone Elysia didn’t like in this mansion.
-Oh… Master Hanyang?
Elysia smiled, her face twisted.
Noticing Elysia’s unhealthy complexion, Rachel also frowned in concern.
“Other than Hanyang, did anyone come looking for me?”
“No. No one did.”
Worry filled Rachel’s solemn gaze.
Elysia didn’t feel puzzled about Hanyang coming to find her. Instead, she seemed lost in thought, absentmindedly touching the collar of her dress as if she had something on her mind.
On the other hand, Rachel wanted to ask Elysia where she had been wandering lately. Judging by the quietness of the soldiers, it didn’t seem like they had been leaving the mansion. Besides, Elysia had never ventured outside the mansion since she was born. It was frustrating, but Elysia didn’t seem to have much complaint about it. That meant she was definitely wandering somewhere within the mansion.
“Will you come again tomorrow?”
“Huh? Oh, yes. I’ll come. Probably.”
Remembering Hanyang’s visibly angry face, Rachel replied, holding back her anger.
“You’re later than I thought.”
Elysia had expected Hanyang to come looking for her eventually. Accordingly, she often dismissed the maids according to her mood. It was rather Hanyang’s patience that surprised her, lasting longer than she had anticipated.
“There’s no one looking for Miss. I’m here, aren’t I?”
Rachel couldn’t hide her disappointment upon hearing Elysia’s muttered words.
Realizing her slip of tongue, Elysia found herself speechless.
Recalling the events of the previous day, Elysia resolved to firm up her resolve.
“Eden. I have to go now.”
“…?”
‘This a deer, a deer,’ boldly written across her face.
Eden’s cheeks were stuffed with a banana, unable to finish swallowing.
Thus, it was even harder to speak up.
“I have to leave early today because I stayed here too long yesterday.”
Elysia said again, driving the point like a nail.
Eden’s eyes widened.
“Is it not okay to stay here long?”
“…,”
Elysia couldn’t bring herself to answer.
“I guess not….”
Eden murmured with a sulky face.
Even in her sulky state, Eden didn’t insist that Elysia stay. Despite wanting to whine, Eden vaguely understood that it wouldn’t do any good.
With a restless heart, Eden bit her lip.
“I may not be able to stay as long as yesterday, but unless something special happens, I’ll come every day’’
Elysia, who had been gazing at Eden hesitantly, responded expressionlessly.
As Elysia observed Eden’s ever-changing expression, she briefly pondered whether to tell him the truth about the situation he was in.
Eventually, she knew she had to tell him. Originally, it was Ariadne, not Elysia, who was supposed to tell Eden the truth. However, for the sake of maintaining a good relationship between the two, Elysia believed it was better for Ariadne to inform Eden of the truth.
Of course, there were other reasons as well.
Elysia wasn’t sure.
She wasn’t sure if Eden would not resent her even if she told him now.
“Every day?”
As Elysia spoke, a spark returned to Eden’s somber eyes.
When his bead-like eyes twinkled and shone, Elysia relaxed her stiff expression and replied, “Yes. Every day.”
As she had mentioned earlier, unless something special happened.
After Elysia left, Eden sat there for a while, feeling numb.
“Oh.”
Eden’s hand caught onto a piece of Elysia’s clothing.
It seemed Elysia had forgotten to pick up the garment she had laid on the floor.
Eden stared at the closed window, remembering Elysia’s suggestion to open it if he felt stifled.
He lifted Elysia’s clothing.
The thin outerwear seemed sufficient to ward off the cool breeze.
Eden awkwardly tried to fold Elysia’s clothes. But despite his efforts, he couldn’t achieve the desired result.
Disappointed, Eden unfolded the clothes.
He stared at the garment spread out before him.
Eventually, he hesitantly slid his arms into Elysia’s garment.
There was some extra space around the sleeves.
It didn’t bother Eden much.
With a determined expression, he brought the sleeve up to his nose.
The scent of Elysia emanated from the clothes.
A spark returned to Eden’s face.
After a while of pressing his nose against the sleeve, Eden lifted his buried face.
He felt drowsiness creeping in.
“Should I sleep…”
There was nothing else to do if he stayed awake.
Besides, he didn’t feel any motivation.
When Elysia was around, it was different.
But as soon as Elysia left, Eden felt like a soaked sponge, collapsing to the ground.
His small body couldn’t withstand the drowsiness, and he fell onto the bed.
Instead of a blanket, Elysia’s clothes enveloped Eden’s body.
The day felt too leisurely.
“Sleeping means tomorrow will come.”
Eden murmured the obvious truth, then closed his white eyelids.
After blinking a few times, Eden eventually closed his eyes and sank into the swamp of dreams.
