Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance

The old wooden stairs creaked loudly. A man entered the room.

 

Soft pink hair. Dark eyes, set at a friendly angle. The man had a very kind face.

 

This gave Eileen even more goosebumps.

 “Felix, my poor little brother, how scared he must be!” 

The man sat down on the floor and spread his arms. Without hesitation, Felix stood up and hugged the man. He patted him lovingly as the man burst into tears of fear.

 

Everyone celebrated the touching moment, but Eileen’s eyes were clear. Felix’s tearful face was set with exhaustion.

 

His voice was shaking and he was consciously crying, but his eyes were terribly dull. The child pretended to cry, for only then would the play be over.

 “I am the second son of Count Forss. Edwin Roheim Forss. You must be Lucian of the Duchy of Gaudium. Thank you for saving my brother. I was watching the festivities and noticed he was missing.” 

Edwin thanked him. He was still stroking Felix in his arms, and the slight reminder of his ears was not so disgusting to Eileen.

 

The man seemed truly intoxicated by his brother’s affection for him. She wanted to rip Felix from his arms right then and there, but only she knew that Felix was being horribly abused right then and there.

 

‘Disgusting.’

 

The words that came out of Felix’s mouth were the only evidence, but that meant she had nothing to go on except the testimony of a child. Even if she had spoken, it would have been ignored and could have escalated into a family matter with an angry Count of Forss.

 

For the first time in a long time, Eileen felt unhappy.

 

After a few words of thanks, Edwin picked up the child and left the room. Eileen’s face contorted as she locked eyes with the child in her arms. The child stared at Eileen’s face, then shook the fist that held the seeds.

 

Wordlessly, Felix waved goodbye with his mouth.

 

“Goodbye.”

 

Eileen couldn’t bring herself to return the greeting.

 “Kuuuu…?” 

A dark, uncontrollable emotion crept over her, and Star began to see it. The ground shook as t

he emotionally sensitive young elemental burst into tears. “Eileen!” “Let’s call it a day!” 

Lucian and Cordelia, sensing that Eileen was in bad shape, grabbed her. Eileen nodded weakly.

 

It had bothered her that she hadn’t been able to see the festival before, and it bothered her that it would happen again. But she didn’t feel safe enough to stay outside any longer.

 

The misfortunes of those left out were very real, with a darkness of unknowable depth.

 

The ride back was silent. Cordelia, who had been watching Eileen closely, spoke first.

 “It’s about this Count of Forss, isn’t it?” “Huh…?” “You’ve been in a bad mood since he came in. Did he do something to the boy in there?” “Ha.” 

Eileen chuckled and felt goosebumps for a moment. Cordelia’s eyes were very precise.

 “He’s cute, Eileen, and there’s only one reason you’d look like that, to see the poor kid back with his family.” “If we get him back, will he be all right?” 

Lucian asked and Eileen shook her head.

 “It’s not that simple.” “Let’s discuss whether it is or isn’t.” “Right. Maybe we can come up with something better if we think about it together.” 

Eileen’s eyes widened in surprise. She’d been thinking about it on her own. She was grateful for the children’s support. But it didn’t change the fact that she was tired.

 

It seemed that no matter how much she avoided it, she would inevitably become entangled with the original characters. The two in front of her already had.

 “Chew, chew, chew.” 

Star cried at the sight of her. Unlike Cordelia’s Lynn, who only appeared when needed, Star was glued to her most of the time. The two inexperienced emotions clashed and synchronized.

 

As Eileen soothed Star, she thought of Felix.

 

She wanted to go back to the greenhouse, to smell the warm earth at Theresia’s feet, to tidy the flower beds.

 

Then everything would be okay.

 

When they returned to the mansion, the atmosphere was disorganized. Oslo gree

ted the children as they stepped out of the carriage with a confused look on his face.

 “What happened?” 

Lucian nervously looked around the unfamiliar mansion. Oslo spoke in a calm tone so as not to alarm the children.

 “My lady has fallen.” “Lady Theresia?!” 

The children’s faces turned white.

 “Why are you telling us this now? If you had told us before, we would have come back as soon as possible!” 

Oslo didn’t know what to say to Lucian’s tantrum, so he just hung his head. But they knew. Theresia would not have allowed him to call them right away, out of respect for the children who were enjoying the festivities.

 “Lucian, stop it, you know it’s nobody’s fault. Let’s go straight to Lady Theresia. Is that okay?” “Yes, sir. She’s in the greenhouse. Come on, this way.” 

Eileen took the children’s hands and followed Oslo’s led to the greenhouse.

 

The mansion seemed unusually quiet. Perhaps, just perhaps, the day had come. As they entered the bright and beautiful greenhouse, the children’s hearts leapt with excitement.

 “Mother!” 

Theresia was on the bed in the center of the conservatory, barely sitting up with a large pillow tucked under her back, and her pale complexion was obvious at first glance. She raised her white-knuckled hands with difficulty.

 “Did you have fun?”

she asked.

 

The children didn’t answer. It was all they could do to clutch her bedspread and s

quirm.

 “Where’s the healer? Where’s the doctor? Where’s everyone?” 

Cordelia asked, and the duke stroked the child’s head wordlessly, his face weary. Theresia spoke up for him when he couldn’t speak.

 “I don’t need a doctor anymore.” 

Cordelia’s mouth dropped open, the quick-thinking child realizing the meaning of the words without needing anyone to interpret them.

 “How much longer?” 

Eileen’s normally stoic shoulders shook uncontrollably. Theresia gestured affectionately to the three children and pulled them into a hug.

 “We have plenty of time to prepare.” 

The Duke raised a hand to shade his eyes. Eileen looked up at the greenhouse ceiling.

 “Star, help me. Can’t you give her more strength?” 

The ground rumbled in response to Eileen’s plea, and the plants that had already grown to maturity stretched and struggled, but Theresia did not look the least bit comfortable.

 

Even the spirit’s life force could no longer hold her. She knew it, but her breath caught in her throat.

 “Eileen. It’s okay. It’s alright, come here. Shall we have dinner together for the first time in a long time?” 

The child nodded helplessly. The thing that could not be put off had come.

 

From that day on, the Duke and the children spent most of their time in the greenhouse with Theresia.

 

They read to her and laughed at her increasing weakness, telling her funny stories. Eileen, who had always washed Theresa’s hair, now took up the comb herself, and the Duke stayed by her side wordlessly as she fell asleep.

 “It’s alright to miss me,”

the Duchess said,

“you may even want to see me, but don’t dwell on your grief too long. What I want to see is you, Gladius, and I want to see you happy.” 

Everyone nodded. They don’t know how they’ll live without her, but they don’t want her to worry about leaving.

 

A month later.

 

The Duke of Gaudium’s spring sun slowly left their side.

  

* * *

  

As Eileen bade farewell to Theresia in her robes, she wished fervently.

 

Just as she was reborn in another world and learned happiness. She wishes Theresia could be reborn in another world and live happily ever after without pain.

 

Having decorated her grave with flowers she grew herself, Eileen stayed there for a while with the others.

 “It’s time to go, Eileen.” 

Lucian helped her up, and Cordelia picked up the shawl that had fallen to the floor. Their eyes were red an

d puffy, but the children were not discouraged; they had the look of people looking forward to the future.

 

Futures that Theresia could have gotten if she had lived that day.

 

The Duke did not rage like the original, nor did he wither like a man who had lost all will to live; he simply stroked Theresia’s tombstone again and again and again.

 

To give him some time alone, the children headed for the carriage. Oslo nodded and said something to the coachman, and the carriage moved slowly.

 

On the carriage ride back to the mansion, the children didn’t say much. There was something comforting and reassuring about just being together.

 “It’s a good thing Mr. Orgen was able to come, too.” “Yes.” 

A few days before the festival. Orgen had left the duchy for a short time due to circumstances and returned just before Theresia’s coffin was brought in. He didn’t cry, but his slumped shoulders spoke of the loss he felt.

 

Everyone was hurting, but no one was backing down.

Visit my Ko-fi for discounted advance chapters!!