The child remembered her mother’s death with a painful clarity.
“I couldn’t believe that Mom had died. All the servants were crying, but my brother and father didn’t cry at all. They didn’t seem sad. So I just… held back my tears.”
Lily pulled the blanket up to her nose, and her trembling voice came muffled from under it.
“And to be honest, I thought if I just acted like everything was normal, Mom would come back. Everything was still the same, except for her not being there. Lulu was the same, Aileen was the same, my brother, my dad…”
I gave a small nod.
Lily had endured the pain of loss by denying her mother’s death.
But her way of coping was more mature than I had expected.
“Oh, and all the maids and servants cried so much, right? But Mom always comforted everyone when they cried. So if I cried too, she’d have to comfort me as well. I thought that would be too much for her. So instead, I smiled every day—my biggest smile, the one she liked the most.”
I listened, holding my breath.
“It was hard, but… Mom used to say my smile was so bright, she could find her way back to me no matter where she was. So I smiled, hoping if she got lost, she’d see it and come back.”
As Lily spoke, she smiled faintly. It was so beautiful, it made my heart ache.
Just as I thought—accepting her mother’s death had been unbearably hard for her.
Like how I once stared for hours at an empty house, not knowing what to do.
“But then, one day, I started yelling at the maids and the servants.”
Lily sighed deeply.
It sounded like a regretful sigh—like she hadn’t meant to act that way.
“That’s when it started. Maids in weird masks appeared around me… Mabel said I had a dangerous illness and locked me in my room. She said the evil god who killed Mom was coming for me next. After that, I couldn’t see my brother or dad anymore.”
“…”
Apparently, Mabel, the head maid, saw Lily’s change in behavior and thought it was due to some illness.
It’s not uncommon for people to avoid those who act differently all of a sudden.
‘Still, Lily’s case is… strange.’
I was suspicious but kept listening.
“So they did exorcisms, gave me medicine and all that, but nothing helped. But after I met you, Adelia, I really started to feel better…”
Lily’s lips moved a little, speaking in a low voice from under the blanket.
“I used to think all doctors were liars. But now, when I see you, I’m not so sure anymore…”
She looked up at me with hesitant eyes. I smiled gently at her.
“So… um…”
“…?”
“T-thank you. That’s what I wanted to say.”
After those words, Lily immediately hid under her blanket again.
“Thank you. I’m the one who should be grateful.”
Patients always know best how their own treatment is going. It’s their body and mind, after all.
Even for this ten-year-old girl, that was no exception.
Lily knew she wasn’t fully healed yet, and she tried to protect me by sharing her wounds.
‘Thank you for your courage.’
I gently stroked her hair, the only part not covered by the blanket.
***
The night passed quietly into dawn.
Lily stayed up all night, finally letting out all the emotions she had bottled up.
She was only ten, so her words were messy and sometimes hard to follow.
But I patiently listened, nodded along, got angry with her, laughed with her.
Eventually, Lily fell asleep with a peaceful face, saying she was glad to have met me.
And yet, my heart felt heavier than ever.
‘This is worse than I thought.’
Listening to her, I pieced together several things.
‘First of all, that head maid Mabel is very suspicious.’
According to Lily, it was Mabel and her brother, Chade, who locked her in this room.
And those creepy crow masks that harmed her emotionally was Mabel’s idea too.
She also hurt Lala, and drove a wedge between Lily and the other maids.
‘I definitely need to investigate this.’
And the most disturbing part…
“My dad and brother never visited me, not even once. They must hate me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because they think I’m the one who killed Mom.”
“But you didn’t do anything. You were just playing ball—”
“That’s what Mabel said. That people need someone to blame. My brother and dad spent more time with Mom than I did, so they’re more heartbroken. She said I have to help them. But… I don’t know. Am I helping them the right way?”
If I had a phone, I would’ve called child services immediately.
Whatever the reason, it was clear now that Mabel had been emotionally manipulating Lily.
I frowned hard.
“Lady Lily, blaming someone doesn’t heal anything. Only the person feeling the pain can truly overcome it.”
I gently reassured her as I thought to myself.
‘I need to figure out exactly what’s going on.’
Mabel’s actions weren’t just misguided—they seemed calculated and malicious.
As I kept thinking over Lily’s words, I softly patted her little back as she slept.
For a long time.
The next morning.
“Did you sleep well, Adelia?”
I had to squint hard the moment I woke up—not because of the sunlight, but because Lily’s smile was brighter than it.
“Yes, and you, Lady Lily?”
I quickly sat up, answering her question while tidying up the bedding like a good maid.
Lily let out a slightly awkward sigh as she watched me move.
Did I do something wrong?
Then—
“Um… can we speak informally?”
“Sorry?”
“Let’s talk casually. We’re both noble girls anyway.”
After saying that, she bounced onto the bed and hugged me tight.
She looked so happy, like an excited kitten with its ears and tail twitching in joy.
I smiled and glanced at the clock. A washbowl had already been placed on the table.
“Oh? Did you bring this over?”
“Gosh! I said talk casually!”
“O-oh… so you brought it, Lily?”
“Yep! I did a good job, right?”
She grinned and pointed at the bowl.
Like a little kitten begging for praise. I couldn’t help but smile.
I sat in front of the most luxurious washbowl in the world.
After hearing Lily’s story last night, I’d hardly slept and felt sore all over.
But there was no time to relax.
The young duke would be arriving soon.
“Oh? You’ve already changed your clothes, Lady Lily?”
“Yeah. My brother’s coming today. I have to pretend I’m not sick so he won’t scold you.”
Even though I told her no one would scold me, she clearly was still worried.
‘She’s such a thoughtful child.’
And the huge gift she gave me last night—her story—I decided to use in today’s treatment.
“You’re right. Then I’d better get ready too.”
Just then—
There was a knock at the door.
“…!”
“Just a moment!”
Lily and I looked at each other in surprise, then scrambled to get ready.
We quickly changed, rushed over, and opened the door.
Two tall men were standing there.
Of course, both of them were wearing flashy masks.
‘Seriously? I literally underlined “no masks” on the letter!’
“Good morning, young duke. Thank you for coming early, as requested.”
I scratched my cheek and continued.
“Um… about the masks…”
“Oh, we thought you only meant crow masks were forbidden?”
“…”
Are they kidding me?
I said no creepy crow masks, and here they were—wearing peacock masks and they were so luxurious that they could blind someone.
I clenched my fists without realizing it.
