DSMBL Chapter 18

Chapter 18

“Ugh, this is so hard!” 

 “You’re doing great! Once you’ve memorized these five words today, you’ll be able to read even more tomorrow.”

Theo clutched his head as he scribbled letters.

Honestly, if I were told to study letters right now, I’d probably find it tough too. Thankfully, because of my reincarnation, I can read, write, and speak this language effortlessly.

The common language of the Eastern Continent was surprisingly similar to Korean. You have memorized words and used particles and predicates to complete sentences.

Maybe someone like King Sejong had existed in this world, too.

“Soap… ba-bubbles…”

Theo pressed down hard as he wrote each letter. Watching him furrow his little brows in concentration made me laugh out loud.

Just like his brother—he was absolutely adorable.

“Well done! Look at that—you’re doing amazing. If you keep memorizing five words every day, you’ll learn 1,500 words in a year!”

“…Then I’ll be able to read books and write letters too?”

“Of course!”

“…Even the letter Mother left me before she passed… can I read that myself someday?”

“Of course you can.”

I ruffled Theo’s fluffy hair, making him giggle with delight.

“What are you doing this afternoon? Around three o’clock?” 

 “I was thinking of heading out for a bit.”

“What?”

Theo’s face immediately fell in disappointment. The wary little kitten who used to keep his distance had vanished. Now, he was more like an eager puppy begging for attention.

With a pout, he tapped his feet against the table, muttering, 

“I can’t even go outside yet…”

“You will soon. Once you get a little healthier.”

“When’s that going to be?”

The truth was, just because Theo was awake now didn’t mean we could let our guard down. The remnants of the magical energy still lingered in his body like poison. My divine power was slowly healing him, but it was still weak and insufficient.

How much longer would it take?

“A month? Maybe two?”

“…That’s so far away.”

Theo let out a long sigh, his disappointment written all over his face.

Looking at him made me want to take him outside, but I knew that wouldn’t be the right thing to do, at least not for him.

“I’ll bring you back a gift. Is there anything you want?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t even know what’s out there.”

Theo hung his head dejectedly, his feet tapping the floor in frustration. The sight tugged painfully at my heart. For some reason, Theo reminded me of my younger self.

Our reasons were different, but I had lived a confined life too.

“Then I’ll pick out something I think you’ll like. Just review what you’ve studied today, and I’ll be back in no time. Maybe one or two hours? I’ll bring back something delicious too, okay?”

Theo pouted but eventually nodded.

This little guy…

I couldn’t let myself get too attached. After all, when the original story unfolded, the heroine, Lorencia, would arrive, and I’d have to step aside.

I didn’t want to disrupt the story or interfere with the guaranteed happiness of the main characters.

But Theo was just too precious—it was going to be hard.

Today’s outing had a specific purpose.

“You’re heading to the herbalist again?”

“Yep.”

Luna looked at me with a surprised expression. No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t get Cassius’s sharp, hollow cheeks out of my mind. How could I not worry when the pillar of our household was wasting away?

The nutritional supplements I bought last time seemed to be helping Theo. His digestion had improved, and he said the food tasted better. At lunch today, Luna even mentioned that Theo’s appetite had grown.

If it worked for Theo, it wouldn’t hurt to invest for Cassius.

Honestly, Cassius was the one doing all the hard work to support our household while also putting up with me. The least I could do as a decent human being was buy him some supplements.

“…What are you planning to buy?”

“Cassius seems so worn out lately. I don’t think he’s eating properly either, so I’m hoping to find something that might help.”

“…Another supplement?”

I answered earnestly, “Have you seen how exhausted he looks these days? If his body gives out, nothing will go right.”

Of course, his physician would probably take care of it, but I still couldn’t help worrying.Taking care of Cassius and Theo was one of the few things I could do right now.

After all, I still hadn’t earned their trust. Officially, I was more of a prisoner under watch than a proper duchess.

“The last supplement was for Theo, not Cassius. So it’s different. Does Cassius not take supplements often?”

“I’m not sure, but I think he’d take something if you gave it to him.”

“Really?”

Even if he didn’t, I wanted to at least try.

Ah, there’s the herbalist shop. Time to grab those supplements, plus a toy for Theo and some snacks.

Maybe someday Theo could come here with me. He’d probably love it.

He’s probably never been to a place like this before, right?

Ah. By the time he’s able to come to places like this, I might not be here anymore.

The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.

While memorizing his words, Theo kept glancing up at the window again and again. He pouted his lips in frustration.

“She said she’d be back soon.”

Although it had been less than an hour since Charlotte left, that didn’t matter to Theo. What mattered more was that the only person in this mansion who played with him and paid him any attention wasn’t there.

Theo rested his chin on the desk and let out a deep sigh.

After Charlotte left, he had eaten some snacks, blown soap bubbles, and diligently memorized the words she had assigned. But nothing was fun. Everything had felt enjoyable when he did it with Charlotte.

Charlotte was good at everything and knew so much. Whenever she talked, he would find himself completely engrossed without realizing it. That had even been the case during lunch earlier.

He didn’t want to eat, but before he knew it, his plate was clean—beans included, which he absolutely hated.

Another sigh escaped from Theo’s lips.

“When is she coming back?”

He swung his daggering legs back and forth. Charlotte had promised to bring him an origami (the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures) book today. Theo, who had never tried folding paper before, couldn’t help but feel excited about it.

While Theo was battling with his boredom, Cassius returned home earlier than expected.

“Brother!”

Theo’s face lit up as he ran down the stairs to the first floor. Seeing Theo coming down alone, Cassius frowned.

“Where is your nanny?”

 “She’s busy! So, I was studying by myself.”

Cassius’s brow twitched slightly at those words, but he refrained from saying anything in front of Theo. Instead, he muttered under his breath, “…Studying?”

Orignally, an eight-year-old child in a noble family would already be receiving an education suited to their status. But Theo wasn’t an ordinary child. Cassius had assumed Theo barely knew any letters and that studying wasn’t something he enjoyed.

Given how little time Theo was awake each day, it was hard to imagine Theo willingly sitting at a desk.

But today, Theo seemed different—he looked excited.

“Yes! This morning, Sister-in-law helped me study. I memorized five words already, and if I memorize five more today, she promised to teach me origami!”

“…Charlotte?” Cassius murmured, caught off guard.

He had no idea Charlotte could do something like that. For Cassius, Charlotte had always been a woman who indulged in luxury and wallowed in self-pity.

In the past six months, they had barely spoken. Yet, recently, they had exchanged more words than they had during their entire marriage.

That was how broken their relationship had been.

But at some point, Charlotte had changed completely.

“Didn’t she even sell all her dresses?”

She had given up her obsession with makeup and no longer wore the heavy cosmetics she once favored. Now, she preferred light, natural makeup and simple, comfortable dresses over the extravagant ones she used to wear.

It wasn’t just her inner self that had changed—her outer appearance had transformed as well.

“Brother, you should do it with us too! We can fold boats with paper! And she said we can make birds and trees too!”

Cassius stared blankly at the excited Theo. It wasn’t only Charlotte who had changed—she had also changed Theo.

This was no longer the Theo who had always seemed dejected or snapped irritably at everyone.

It had been so long since Cassius had seen Theo sparkle like this.