ITPV 11

~Chapter 11~

It had only been a year for me, but five years had passed in this world. Yet, everything looked just the same. It felt strange that nothing had changed.

As if time had stopped, this place looked exactly like I remembered. I paused without thinking and stared at the garden.

If the servant hadn’t looked at me as if asking, “Why aren’t you following?” I might’ve stood there lost in memories.

“The Marquis used to change the garden every year for Serel… why does it look the same?”

Marquis Valandier was famous for being a devoted husband. After his wife died giving birth to their daughter, he cherished Serel more than his own life. His love for her grew even more after she returned from being sold into slavery. One of his habits was changing the garden each year.

“…Did something happen?”

Just the fact that the real Livia Arfin had returned must have been a huge shock for the Marquis. I couldn’t help but worry.

“You may wait here.”

I nodded at the servant’s words and quietly sat on the sofa.

Since I’d crouched for so long, my legs ached.

I was glad I kept up with rehab. If I hadn’t, even walking like this would’ve been difficult.

While patting my sore legs, I looked around the familiar reception room.

I used to come here often because of Serel, so it didn’t feel unfamiliar.

The paintings on the wall, the ornaments on the side table, the grand chandelier everyone admired—

Even the jewel-encrusted sword above the fireplace was still there. The only thing different was the sofa I was sitting on.

It really felt like time hadn’t passed here.

“If that’s the case…”

I cautiously approached the fireplace.

Below the sword was a small scratch, made by something sharp. It was still there.

I gently touched the mark with my fingertips.

“He left this here too.”

The unchanged mansion, Aldin’s reaction when I said I was the Marquis’s “only true friend”—everything had gone according to plan, but it still felt a little strange.

Click—

The door to the reception room opened.

I instinctively turned my head toward the sound.

…

…

Neatly tied light brown hair, kind eyes, and the familiar mustache like a trademark.

Just like the mansion, he hadn’t changed at all.

He entered with a bit of nervousness, but when he saw me, he froze.

Our eyes met.

I knew I should greet him, but for some reason, no words came out.

He, too, looked shocked and then slowly furrowed his brow.

I knew that look — it was how he looked when he was sure about something but didn’t have proof.

I slowly raised my hand and waved at him.

I had planned to smile brightly and say hello, but my lips kept trembling.

“Hi, Babel.”

“…!”

He couldn’t recognize me by appearance, but only I, aside from his late wife, had ever called him that special nickname.

I wanted to speak naturally, but my voice shook and sounded awful.

Still, maybe he understood. He gasped, then ran to me without hesitation — like someone who had just found irrefutable proof.

“Is it really you?”

“Yeah.”

“Really? Are you… the one I know…?”

“Yes, Babel. I’m the Livia you remember.”

I clenched my hands to stop them from shaking and forced my voice to stay firm.

He grabbed my shoulders with trembling hands, then flinched and let go.

“What happened… you’ve gotten so thin…”

Tears welled up in his kind eyes.

I expected him to cry — he was always soft-hearted — but seeing his tears still startled me.

“I thought I’d never see you again…”

Watching him sob made my own eyes sting.

I clenched my jaw to hold back my tears and helped the staggering Marquis to sit.

“I thought so too… but I’m back, aren’t I?”

Even at my awkward words, he sat on the sofa and cried for a long time — tears and snot everywhere.

He wept like a child, which didn’t suit his age, but I knew he’d always been like this, so I just waited quietly.

Patting his back, handing him tissues — it all felt familiar.

“Sniff… ahem!”

Finally, after blowing his nose, he calmed down. He looked embarrassed, avoiding my gaze with his swollen eyes.

Understanding how he felt, I just smiled and acted like nothing happened.

“I must have shown you a sorry sight.”

“It’s okay. I almost cried too.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I was close.”

“But you didn’t cry in the end.”

“Should I cry now then?”

“No, that’s fine.”

With his pouting lips and sniffling, I wondered if this man was really in his 40s.

Thanks to his youthful looks, it didn’t seem too odd.

“I really didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“Me neither… I didn’t think I’d ever be able to.”

“But… I always hoped maybe one day.”

The Marquis looked at me with a cracked voice and said while glancing around the unchanged reception room:

“I left everything the same so it wouldn’t feel unfamiliar if you ever returned.”

It was strange that a rich family hadn’t changed anything in five years.

Knowing it was because of me made my heart ache.

“Why go that far? What if I never came back?”

“Well… Serel wanted it too.”

“Serel…”

“Yes. She missed you terribly. Said we should at least keep the memories.”

I remembered the little girl who had followed ‘Livia Arfin,’ the one who had once sold her into slavery, like a real sister.

Maybe from the trauma, or as a defense mechanism, the girl had forgotten all about her kidnapping.

Three years was a long, heavy time for a child. So I told her every day: this was her home, and no one would ever hurt her again.

She didn’t remember that the Marquis was her real father, so we had to rebuild everything from scratch.

Together, the Marquis and I helped her adjust to a new life, and Serel gave me all her love in return.

“I heard she’s grown a lot. I’m glad she’s healthy.”

“She grows day by day. But you…”

He looked at me with pity.

Knowing I looked rough, I fiddled with my hair.

This time, I came here in my body — not as a possession.

My appearance, so different from the goddess-like Livia, made me feel embarrassed.

“The way I look… it’s not great, right? This is the real me.”

Even though I knew he wouldn’t be disappointed, I couldn’t meet his eyes. Compared to Livia, I felt small.

But surprisingly, the Marquis asked something I didn’t expect.

“…Did it hurt a lot?”

That question carried many meanings.

I understood his heart easily, but the words “I’m fine” got stuck in my throat.

When I didn’t answer, he gave a bitter smile — as if he already knew without needing to hear it.

His smile quickly faded. It wasn’t fake — it was the face of someone trying not to cry again.

“Of course it hurt… I shouldn’t have asked such a thing.”

My mouth felt dry and heavy.

One year was hell for me, but for him, who suddenly lost a close friend, five years couldn’t have been easy either.

He looked at me with mixed emotions, then suddenly gasped and spoke.

“We shouldn’t be just standing here. You look like you haven’t rested properly. Let’s leave this talk for tomorrow. You should get some good rest today.”

Days of travel without food or rest flashed through my mind.

I must’ve looked like a mess, so I nodded quietly.

As I was about to follow him, I carefully brought up something I had held in all this time.

“…Babel.”

“Yes, my lady?”

“…How is he?”

There was only silence.

“…Is he… doing well?”