The events after Episode 110 passed by in a hectic blur. Early the next morning, in time for the first train, Rowina arrived at the station with Demian, who was heavy with sleep. Jenok, who had insisted on seeing her off despite her assurances that it was fine, bowed his head deeply to her one last time.
“I hope you fare well. Should anything happen, please do not hesitate to send a letter to the contact I gave you.”
“Thank you for everything.”
Without ever promising to keep in touch, Rowina silently took Demian’s hand and turned around. Thus, she entered the bustling platform and was just climbing aboard the arriving train.
“Wait!”
Someone was running toward the train, which was about to depart again while belching out acrid smoke. When she realized that person was running toward them, Rowina’s heart raced. Sensing something odd, Demian called out to her with a big yawn.
“Mom……?”
“Lady Rowina!”
At the same time, the strength left the hand that had been holding Demian tightly. Demian tilted his head in puzzlement, and from afar, Jenok was shouting something loudly.
“……! Please!”
He seemed to be trying to say something at the top of his lungs, but most of it was drowned out by the train’s roar and the noise of the crowd. Soon, a conductor came to close the door. As the train departed, the platform and Jenok’s figure rapidly shrank beyond the window.
* * *
Loren had received the mother and child, who arrived suddenly without any notice, without a word. Cedric, who had stood there dazedly for a few seconds thinking it was a dream, even pulled Demian into a tight hug.
After returning to the countryside estate, peaceful days came once more. Rowina was soon busy writing her next work during the day. Demian was also quite occupied during the days, either collecting insects and observing animals with Cedric or taking lessons from a home tutor.
It was around the time a week had passed that the peace, which had been spent busily within a gentle atmosphere, was broken.
“Mom. When will we see Dad again?”
At the question that flew at her like an ambush, Rowina stopped turning the page of the picture book. Unable to read Rowina’s expression under the dim lamplight, Demian asked again.
“Don’t you miss Dad, Mom?”
“Demian…….”
“When is Dad coming to get us?”
They were words she had strung together like excuses the entire way back to Loren’s estate for Demian, who knew nothing of the circumstances. That Dad was very busy and lacked the energy to care for them, so they were staying down here for a while. That once his busy work was done, he would come to get them. The clumsily uttered excuse had returned like a poisoned arrow. Rowina pressed her lips together, set down the picture book, and stroked Demian’s head.
“Well. I don’t know. I think we still have to wait.”
“How long?”
“Demian.”
Rowina cut off the question that was about to continue and subtly changed the subject.
“Do you hate it here? You were doing well.”
“I don’t hate it. Brother Cedric is so nice, and Lady Loren is kind, and the teacher is really fun too…….”
Demian denied Rowina’s question, shaking his head immediately. Rowina let out a small sigh of relief and lightly pinched Demian’s cheek. Hesitating over how to broach the subject, she cautiously parted her lips.
“Then…… what about living here permanently?”
“What?”
“I mean staying here for the foreseeable future.”
Just as Demian said, the people here were favorable and kind to them, but they couldn’t stay here forever. It was not the way of things for strangers who didn’t share a single drop of blood to remain here indefinitely.
They would soon have to obtain a separate house and become independent; for now, they were merely in the phase of temporarily relying on others’ kindness until then. Demian, who had been silent for a moment as if thinking deeply, spat out a question like a bomb.
“Mom. Are you going to marry Brother Cedric, by any chance?”
“……What?”
“Lady Loren said so last time. That couples marry because they truly love each other, but later their feelings cool and they sometimes divorce.”
“…….”
“Is that what happened with you and Dad?”
His tone was calm, but the end of his words trembled. His moist eyes were full of anxiety and confusion.
“I like Brother Cedric, but he’s still not our Dad. Our Dad has to be Dad…….”
“Demian.”
Unable to bear it, Rowina cut off Demian’s words and whispered as if soothing him.
“To Mom, you are the most important and precious. I would never marry someone without asking your permission.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
In the previous case, it had been a marriage held out of necessity because Loren’s life had been in danger. A brief, informal wedding that hadn’t even lasted thirty minutes. Even that had been invalidated due to an accident, so her relationship with Cedric had become an ambiguous state. That was why she couldn’t stay here much longer.
“A promise…… right?”
“I promise.”
Only after hooking their pinkies and promising repeatedly did Demian fall asleep. Once she confirmed her son had completely gone to the land of dreams, Rowina slowly came out of the bedroom.
Yawning widely as she headed to her study, she heard signs of people at the mansion’s entrance. The door opened, and the butler’s welcoming voice followed.
“Young master, you’ve returned early. Did you have a good trip to the conference?”
At the butler’s words, Rowina stopped walking without realizing it and looked down below. Cedric, who had just taken off his coat and handed it to the butler, replied kindly.
“I had planned to stay the night, but as expected, a strange place was uncomfortable, you see.”
“Welcome back. Shall I prepare your bath first? Or would you prefer a meal first?”
“I’ve eaten, and I’d like a bath.”
“Very well. What is that in your hand?”
“It’s fine.”
Noticing what Cedric was carrying, the butler smiled faintly and stepped away to give instructions. Cedric, who had been rubbing his stiff neck, raised his head. When his eyes met Rowina’s looking down from above, he seemed startled and was briefly speechless. In the end, it was Rowina who spoke first.
“You’re back.”
“……Yes. Where’s Demian?”
“He’s sleeping. It’s late, after all.”
“Ah.”
At Rowina’s answer, Cedric belatedly checked the wall clock in the hall and let out a disappointed sigh.
“I rushed here to come as early as possible, but it’s already this late.”
“What’s that in your hand?”
Rowina’s interest was drawn to the large gift box he was holding.
“It’s Demian’s toy. He said he wanted it.”
“Something that big?”
“It’s a train station assembly toy. Looks like I’ll be at it all day tomorrow.”
Cedric let out a hearty laugh, then suddenly closed his mouth. An awkward silence descended again, and uncomfortable air flowed between them.
In his eyes looking up at her without a word, complex emotions that could not be read were visible. Since coming down here with Demian, Cedric had never once expressed his feelings. True to his previous word that he would wait, he had been silently keeping vigil by her side. But whenever the two of them were left alone, Rowina would deliberately avoid Cedric. For now, she didn’t have the leeway to answer his heart, nor did she want to be swayed by a man any further.
“Then I’ll be on my way…….”
Rowina cleared her throat and was about to turn around when a solemn question caught her.
“Is there anywhere you’re uncomfortable?”
“……What?”
“Anywhere that’s not good, or anything inconvenient.”
“Nothing. Everyone has been so good to me.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Cedric smiled faintly, hesitated for a moment, then bid farewell.
“Good night.”
“……You too, Cedric.”
Rowina nodded and redirected her steps, which had been heading to the study, back toward the bedroom. Cedric, who had been watching her retreating figure intently, pulled out a crumpled envelope he had hidden in his inner jacket pocket.
Saying he had gone to a conference was actually a lie. Where he had gone was none other than the capital that Rowina had left.
Holding a letter stamped with the Duke of Devonshire’s seal where no one could know, he knocked on the mansion door, and unlike before, it opened readily. Jenok, who had come out to greet him in advance, welcomed him with a bright face.—Thank you for coming.—……Don’t mention it.—Please follow me.
Unlike when he had come before, Jenok guided him straight to the main building. Following behind him into the building, a gloomy air unlike before struck him at once. All the ceramics and picture frames in the hallway were covered with white cloth, and the vast mansion, which normally would have had maids and servants bustling about, was so silent and still that not even a mouse could be seen.
More than anything, what made the mansion’s atmosphere even more somber were the heavily drawn curtains. Though it was bright day outside, not a single ray of light came in, so the surroundings were pitch dark. The only light to rely on was the lamp that Jenok carried.
Jenok, who had been walking along a very long corridor, stopped in front of a large door.—This is it. His Grace is here.
The bewilderment at the unfamiliar space lasted only a moment before Cedric straightened his tensed back at the sense of intimidation emanating from the closed door. Before knocking, Jenok warned in a low voice.—Once you enter, you must not make loud noises or touch objects carelessly. Right now, he is very…… on edge.
The last words somehow sounded ominous. After Cedric swallowed dryly and nodded, Jenok knocked with a relieved face.—Your Grace. Mr. Godwell has arrived.
He spoke in a loud voice, but no answer came. Only after Jenok knocked once more did a brief voice come from beyond the door.—Let him in.
Once permission was granted, the heavy door slowly opened with a groan. Jenok, whom he had expected to follow in, closed the door behind him the moment he set foot into the darkness-filled room. Startled, as he grabbed the door handle, a calm, low voice that seemed to echo from deep inside a cave caught Cedric.—Why are you hesitating?
—……. —Since you’ve come in, come here and sit.
It was honorific in form, yet the tone was naturally casual, as if addressing an inferior. As Jenok had said, there was a sharp feeling, but unlike the first day they had met, there was none of the slashing murderous intent. Clenching and unclenching his sweat-dampened fist, Cedric took a step toward where the voice was coming from.