Adopt 174

Episode 174

Leo rubbed his cheek, mumbling as if the inside of his mouth felt strangely itchy.

“Do you remember the morning after Sir Knight and Lady Belinda left for the Warded Forest, when I said I thought I’d encountered a demonic beast?”

Cesar didn’t reply, but Leo went on speaking.

“At the time, I thought it was a demonic beast—but now, I’m not so sure. Because, just now, he touched my cheek behind the curtain, just like you did. So, if that person is really my father…”

Leo paused for a moment, then tipped his head back to look up at his father’s portrait above him.

At first, it had seemed so unfamiliar, but after hearing Cesar’s story, it now felt as familiar and dear as a childhood friend who had always been there.

The smile that once seemed so stern now appeared to be beaming softly just at him. With his dimples deeply indented, Leo smiled brilliantly as he finished his thought.

“He showed me that he still loves me. For me, that’s more than enough.”

No sooner had Leo finished speaking than a heavy silence settled over the Black Swan’s chamber.

Leo, glancing at Cesar without thinking, jerked his shoulder in surprise.

Cesar had his head bowed, a twisted expression on his face, one Leo had never seen before.

Leo couldn’t quite grasp the meaning behind that expression, but one thing he clearly understood.

It wasn’t just his parents who had suffered misfortune, but the knight before him as well.

After a long silence, Cesar finally spoke.

“Leo, I suppose it’s time I told you about your parents’ final moments.”

Cesar steeled himself as the magical lamplight spilled across his young nephew’s face.

Belinda had entrusted to Cesar the task of conveying what happened six years ago to Leo.

That meant she left it to him to tell even of Theodore’s death and his sins.

“This may be a truth far too heavy for you to bear. Even if you come to resent me for telling you, I’ll understand.”

In fact, until only a moment ago, Cesar had not intended to tell Leo the truth.

He had planned to tell it as the world believed it: that his brother was a foolish tyrant, a parricide who had shed the blood of his own family.

‘Brother, in the end, you truly were never wrong.’

At last, Cesar understood the meaning of that noble love his brother had spoken of.

There was no denying that Theodore had been utterly consumed by the demonic curse.

His very form had twisted, and the soul within him was boiling with murderous rage and hate—a madness that could only be stopped by taking his life.

“I believe what is written in this book: only ‘true love’ can free us from the chains of this curse.”

Yet just as the book said, for a single moment, Theodore overcame the curse and showed Leo his final affection.

To pass a lie to Leo would be to trample that truth, and Cesar realized it all too well.

He also realized that Theodore’s gesture—the touch that brushed Cesar’s cheek after his heart was pierced—had been no accident.

So Cesar saw what a deception it would be to try to shield the boy.

It was he himself who had been unable to accept his brother’s tragic end.

Holding the hand of a child far too small to bear such truth, Cesar spoke with calm conviction.

“Even if you grow to resent me, remember this always: no matter what happens, I will never leave your side.”

His duty was not to hide the truth and become a target of resentment, but to face Theodore’s end together with the child.

Even if this was how Theodore’s end came, the child and his love would not disappear or fade.

“Leo.”

“Yes, Sir Knight.”

“Your father, and my brother, was a truly remarkable man.”

Cesar, as if reciting an old story from long ago, spoke of what had happened on the night of treason.

His tale carried on as the sun set and the night grew deep.

Late into the night, long after darkness had swallowed Cesar and Leo, the doors to the Black Swan’s chamber finally opened again.

Carrying the sleeping Leo in his arms, Cesar was about to leave the room still laden with memories of the past, when he stopped, having found something unexpected.

Belinda, exactly as she had been when they’d entered the room, was waiting for them without even having changed her clothes.

Cesar hurried toward her.

“My Lady, you’re still awake—”

At that moment, Belinda raised her index finger to her lips, then pointed at Leo.

It was a sign not to raise their voices and wake the boy.

She moved silently closer to Cesar and beckoned him with her fingertip, as if urging him to lean in.

Like a well-trained large hound, Cesar bent low, supporting Leo’s head with one hand, and leaned his torso toward Belinda. In that instant, Belinda wrapped her arms around Cesar’s neck and drew him into an embrace.

Cesar’s body stiffened in surprise.

As if unaware, Belinda even rose on tiptoe to hug him, then whispered softly into his ear.

“You endured it well.”

“…”

At those simple words, the first real expression flickered across Cesar’s face—a face that had remained composed in front of Leo until now.

Weighted with weariness so deep it seemed he could collapse at any moment, his head dropped heavily onto Belinda’s slender shoulder.

“Yes, it was hard.”

He did not say he was fine this time.

But neither did he fall or kneel.

---

After contacting Terry through the magic device, “Twin Migratory Birds’ Nest,” and clearing away my backlog of work,

I stretched languidly and opened the window.

Instead of the piercing, cold wind, a gentle, warm breeze now filled the room.

Without realizing it, I saw that summer had taken hold in the north.

The ground, once frozen solid, now showed patches of bare earth, as if new skin had grown over old wounds, and seeds and bulbs that had slumbered in the soil burst into bloom like magic.

It was as if all life endured that cruel season just to pour its strength into the summer—the northern summer was, indeed, beautiful.

Before returning to the capital, Leo and I had decided to enjoy this summer to the fullest.

The weather today was perfect—just right for the picnic we’d been longing for.

Though this outing had been decided on the spur of the moment, the castle staff helped us prepare with practiced ease.

Having finished our preparations, we were waiting for Sir Cherry, who was rarely ever late.

As I checked the supplies for the excursion, I heard Leo’s awestruck voice.

“Wow, Sir Knight! You’re sparkling!”

When I glanced back, I saw Sir Cherry hurrying down the stairs of the hall.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. There was more to prepare than I expected.”

I clapped a hand to my mouth, gazing at him from head to toe, festooned in splendor.

He usually wore simple outfits or his knight’s dress uniform.

I had no idea what had gotten into him, but he appeared in a stiffly starched formal suit, with a pocket watch chain dangling from his vest, a brooch set with a large gem, and various chains and ornaments on his collar—he looked ready for a royal ball.

I looked at the last traces of pain in his red eyes and then, as if the finery were too dazzling, took a step back.

‘I just threw on whatever I could find…’

Feeling a little awkward, I fiddled with the hem of my skirt and asked, my voice a bit sulky,

“Why are you so dressed up today, Sir? This isn’t like you.”

There were staff and knights watching us from the great hall.

Because of their attention, I addressed him formally, and Sir Cherry gave the hall a sweeping glance.

He, too, replied in formal tones,

“Since it is a date with the Marchioness, I made a special effort.”

At that, the entire hall seemed to suck in its breath.

Naturally, I was no exception.

I quickly ushered Sir Cherry aside to a spot safe from the onlookers and hissed sharply,

“Sir, this isn’t a date.”

At that, he stopped short, shoulders slumping dejectedly.

“…I see.”

It was strange, really.

When I first met him, his face had been so expressionless that I thought he was like a machine.

Now, just from his voice, I could tell how deeply he was disappointed.

Even though I didn’t need to, a pang of guilt made me avert my gaze awkwardly.

Perhaps fortunately, perhaps not, Sir Cherry recovered quickly and asked again.

“Then, would you mind explaining the difference between today’s outing and a date?”

This person is more tenacious than I thought.

Accepting his escort, I climbed into the carriage and explained the dictionary definition of “date” as simply as possible.

“A date is when two people who care for each other spend time together.”

“But didn’t you refer to your outing with the mage during the anti-demon ritual as a date?”

“Well… that’s just Cheshire being mischievous. He calls anything a date.”

Even so, Sir Cherry seemed unconvinced.

I knew my answer was a bit abstract for him.

As I racked my brain to explain in a way he could understand, he seemed to come to a realization on his own, nodding as he spoke.

“Then, whether today’s outing is a date depends on your judgment, my Lady. I already have feelings for you.”

“Ghk.”

Next to us, Leo, kneeling in excitement to look out the window, let out a strangled gasp on my behalf.

Facing the back of Leo’s head, who was pretending to look out the window while eavesdropping, I quietly whispered,

“Leo, could you cover your ears for a moment? I have something to discuss with Sir Knight.”

“Yes, yes!”

Leo clamped his hands firmly over his ears and, without being told, squeezed his eyes shut.