It was quite dark, not only because it was nighttime but also due to the secluded location, but thanks to the candle she brought, it wasn’t difficult to look around.
“This is mine and Sherry’s kingdom.”
Eugenia took a deep breath and looked around the narrow closet.
‘It’s quite cramped for an adult. Though Selmia and Joshua, being small, would fit comfortably.’
The closet only had enough space for three children to lie down side by side.
On the sofa bed lay a thin blanket and a few bread crumbs scattered around.
Just as she had guessed, it seemed they had been staying here the whole time they were missing from the mansion.
‘When no one was around, they must’ve gone back to their own rooms like earlier.’
It looked like they had been bringing each other important and cherished belongings for some time. There were dolls and wooden toy horses scattered about.
Just then, another distant bell rang.
‘Ah, right. What am I doing? I don’t have time for this.’
Eugenia quickly pulled herself together, lifted Joshua up, and sat him down on the sofa bed inside the closet.
“What are you doing?!”
Joshua’s annoyed voice left no room for response. Eugenia gently placed the only candle inside the closet so he wouldn’t be scared and spoke:
“Young Master, please stay in here with the door closed for a moment, alright?”
Joshua tilted his head.
“Just me? Why? You’re not coming in?”
“It’s too tight for me to fit.”
“But the teacher came in.”
“I’m taller than Miss Aileen.”
“Oh… that’s true.”
Apparently convinced, Joshua nodded and obediently sat inside the closet, looking up at Eugenia.
“But where are you going, leaving me here?”
“I…”
“You’re not going to run away and leave me behind, are you? You even showed me our secret place!”
Oh dear…
Why does this kid ask so many questions and have so many doubts?
Eugenia sighed and gently reassured him.
“No, I’ll be back.”
“Really?”
Even though he still looked suspicious, she quickly continued.
“Of course. Lady Selmia is still alone in her room. I thought it would be best to carry her here. So please wait here for a bit.”
Her plan was to let Joshua and Aileen reunite in tears while she quietly took Selmia and snuck out of the mansion.
‘It’s a perfect plan. Very natural!’
Hiding her true intentions, Eugenia smiled at Joshua.
“Then I want to go with you!”
‘Oh no, absolutely not.’
With a firm look, Eugenia stopped him.
“Young Master? You’re still small and have short legs, right? I’ll be quick by myself.”
“Who… who are you calling small! I’m not a kid!”
Joshua shouted in protest.
Eugenia snorted quietly and continued.
“Do you really think you’re not a kid?”
“Of course!”
Joshua puffed out his chest. Eugenia, smiling triumphantly, pressed on.
“Then, Young Master, you can stay here alone until I come back, right? You’re not scared at all, right?”
“Of… of course!”
“Then close the closet door and wait quietly, please.”
Joshua nodded seriously, lips tightly pressed.
But a moment later, he spoke again in a slightly timid voice.
“You’ll come back soon, right?”
“Of course.”
Just then, the clock tower began to chime for the tenth time.
After giving Joshua one last smile, Eugenia quickly returned to the twins’ room.
“Young Miss…?”
The girl was still curled up asleep. Eugenia approached her and softly spoke.
“Miss, I know it’s uncomfortable, but please come with me. Miss Aileen will be here soon to take you and the Young Master.”
Carefully, Eugenia lifted Selmia onto her back. The girl’s warmth clung to Eugenia’s nape.
“Mm…”
Selmia rubbed her eyes with her fist and clung tightly to Eugenia’s neck.
Just as Eugenia stepped out of the room with Selmia on her back—
“…Gasp!”
Startled, Eugenia gasped.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Young Master!”
“Ah… haha.”
“Young Master! Why are you here? You promised to wait at the secret place!”
Joshua scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“I just thought… there wasn’t really a reason to stay there.”
He sounded a bit timid, perhaps not expecting her to be this upset.
“And I’m Sherry’s brother. Father told me to protect her. I have to keep that promise.”
Ah… geez.
“Haa…”
Eugenia let out a deep sigh, and she could feel Joshua watching her nervously.
‘Right. It’s not really his fault.’
No matter how mature he pretends to be, Joshua was still only nine. Being alone in the dark must’ve been scary.
And there was no use crying over spilled milk.
‘Rather than dwell on what’s already happened, it’s better to fix things.’
Without blaming Joshua, Eugenia quickly said:
“For now, come back down with me.”
“Okay.”
After adjusting Selmia on her back, Eugenia added, as if doubting him:
“Make sure you don’t wander off again, okay?”
“I got it. It’s the same floor anyway, where could I even go?”
Joshua muttered grumpily in a low voice.
Eugenia picked up her pace. Joshua followed, grumbling quietly.
“Why are you so hung up on that place anyway, Eugenia?”
“I don’t have time to explain now. I’ll tell you later.”
Tap-tap-tap—Eugenia practically sprinted down the hall.
“Eugenia! Wait up! You’re too fast!”
“You can keep up, Young Master! Fighting!”
She offered a half-hearted cheer, then muttered to herself:
‘Seriously, if only you’d just waited like I told you!’
Swallowing the words she couldn’t say out loud, she quickened her pace.
By the time they arrived at the closet, the last chime had already long faded.
‘Why isn’t she here?’
Eugenia looked around in the darkness, panting.
At this hour, Aileen should be here…
But neither in the twins’ room nor in front of the closet… there was no sign of her.
‘Did she go looking elsewhere because she didn’t see anyone?’
Her mind spun with thoughts.
Should she also wander around the mansion to look for Aileen?
‘No, that would be foolish.’
The Keraït marquisate was vast, and the odds of missing each other were high.
‘Since this place holds memories for all three of them, wouldn’t Aileen come back one more time out of sentiment before leaving?’
Then it’s best to wait here and catch that moment.
‘Normally, I’d leave the kids here and go find Aileen myself…’
Eugenia glanced at Joshua.
If he followed her like earlier, it would all be pointless.
“Sigh…”
To minimize the chance of them all missing each other, Eugenia decided to stay here too.
In the meantime, Selmia’s limp body kept sliding down from her back.
‘Let’s lay her down first.’
Eugenia asked for help.
“Young Master, can you help me? I think we should lay Miss Selmia down.”
“Oh, sure!”
Joshua quickly ran in and climbed into the closet.
He cleared off the scattered things on the sofa and neatly laid out a small pillow.
“All set. Lay Sherry down here.”
Eugenia gently laid Selmia on the sofa bed.
The girl was sleeping so soundly that she only stirred slightly without opening her eyes.
After pulling the blanket up to her chest, Eugenia straightened her back and stepped out of the closet.
As she moved away, Joshua’s eyes grew wide.
He quickly climbed down and grabbed a handful of her skirt.
Feeling the tug, Eugenia looked down and finally noticed the anxious look in Joshua’s eyes.
“Young Master, what’s wrong?”
“……I’m scared.”
“Sorry?”
“I was afraid you’d run away.”
His whispered voice was thick with anxiety.
His mouth looked dry as he opened and closed it a few times before mumbling in a tiny voice:
“Sorry… I broke my promise to wait in the closet…”
“Young Master.”
“I honestly thought you were using Selmia as an excuse to run away.”
In that moment, Eugenia felt like she had been struck in the head with a hammer.
“So you followed me to watch me?”
Unable to respond aloud, Joshua slowly nodded with his eyes lowered.
‘Poor thing.’
No matter how many times she told herself to be cold, Eugenia couldn’t get angry. She was just too soft on children.
In the end, she swallowed her harsh words and said quietly:
“Let’s wait together for now.”
“For what…?”
At that question, Eugenia was at a loss for words.
‘Can I tell him Aileen will come?’
But what if she doesn’t?
Even in the dark, Joshua’s dejected face stood out vividly in her mind.
Eugenia bit her lip.
‘There’s no such thing as certainty.’
Even in a world where the future is written like a novel, things don’t always go as expected.
After all, in the original novel… she hadn’t possessed this body.
