Chapter 9: I’ll Take Responsibility (2):
The Next Morning.
“Young Lady?”
Trisha tapped the table lightly in front of Elluciana, who sat blankly staring off into space.
“Huh? Y-yeah?”
“What’s got you so spaced out?”
Elluciana blinked slowly with vacant eyes and then let out a deep sigh.
“Astein.”
“Oh! Right! Young Lady, what did you say to him yesterday?”
“Hm?”
Elluciana looked puzzled by Trisha’s sudden question, her tone bright with curiosity.
Trisha sat across from her, eyes twinkling.
“Ellie said she cried tears of joy seeing him clean his plate for once. She said she felt like she could finally breathe again.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes! We were all so worried he was going to starve to death and we’d have to move a corpse—ah! N-not literally, I just mean… anyway, everyone was relieved he finally ate properly.”
Elluciana slowly nodded. So, he did have a bit of sense after all.
‘I was a little worried… but I’m glad.’
A faint smile bloomed on Elluciana’s face.
“You look happy.”
“Huh?”
‘What is she talking about now?’
Elluciana looked at Trisha in confusion, and Trisha returned a sympathetic gaze, as if feeling sorry for her.
“Don’t get too attached, Young Lady. He’ll be gone soon. If you get too emotionally invested… you’ll only end up hurt.”
“Who said I was emotionally invested? I’ve barely known the kid.”
Elluciana pouted, deflating. But then, suddenly, she snapped her head up.
“Gone soon? Who is?”
“Oh—! You didn’t know?”
“Didn’t know what?”
Elluciana sat upright, narrowing her eyes at the strange tone in Trisha’s voice.
“The Viscount called for the boy. It sounds like he’s decided what to do with him.”
“Father did? When?”
“Just a little while ago.”
“What?! Why are you only telling me now?!”
Elluciana jumped to her feet and ran straight for the door.
“Young Lady! Where are you going?”
“To Father!”
She flung the door open and lifted her dress as she dashed out.
Trisha stared blankly at her rapidly disappearing form before yelling after her in alarm.
“Young Lady! Don’t run like that—you’ll hurt yourself! Please! Be careful! Young Lady!”
But Elluciana was already skipping down steps two at a time, vanishing into the second-floor corridor.
Trisha let out a defeated sigh and muttered to herself.
“You’ve been acting so strange since you recovered from that illness.”
The Young Lady, once so prim and proper, had changed completely—her speech, her behavior, her taste in food and dresses—nothing was the same.
It was as if the very soul inside her had changed.
Still… Trisha didn’t dislike this new version. In fact, she found her even more adorable and lovable.
“Just stay healthy, Young Lady.”
As she straightened the now-askew chair, a soft smile appeared on Trisha’s lips.
“Huff… idiot.”
Even as she ran, Elluciana repeatedly smacked herself on the head.
What had she said to Astein yesterday?
“I’ll take responsibility for you.”
She had declared that so confidently… but completely forgot to get her father’s approval!
“Stupid! Dumbass!”
She glared at the office door at the end of the hall, panting hard.
Why is this stupid house so huge?! No matter how much I run, I can’t reach the end!
Still, she couldn’t slow down. She had to get her father’s promise that Astein wouldn’t be sent away before he met with him.
She couldn’t let the thin thread of trust she’d barely gained fall apart now.
“Have a seat.”
Astein looked at Simon for a moment at the courteous tone.
The middle-aged nobleman, a handsome and gentle-looking man with soft eyes, seemed to match the rumors—kind and mild-mannered.
Astein sat down on the indicated sofa, relaxing slightly.
“Steward. Please bring some tea.”
“Yes, Viscount.”
Once the steward had left, Simon began casually making conversation.
“I heard your injuries are healing well. Is your body feeling alright?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve started eating again, too? Does the food suit your taste?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve heard you and my daughter have grown close. She doesn’t bother you, does she?”
“No.”
Astein’s calm answers made Simon pause briefly.
Just then, the steward returned with the tea.
Once it was set in front of them and the steward stepped back, Simon took a sip and spoke again.
“The reason I called you here today is to decide your future.”
“……”
“I had someone investigate your background.”
In that moment, Astein’s red eyes darkened, a quiet chill emanating from him.
“Don’t take offense. I had to protect what’s important to me.”
“……”
“You mentioned your memories are hazy. I thought maybe we could uncover something that might help you.”
“And… did you find anything?”
Simon shook his head.
“No matter how hard we searched, we couldn’t find anything.”
“I see.”
“Still no memories returning?”
Astein lowered his gaze in silence.
Suddenly, the voice of his older brother from the night he escaped House Sestain echoed in his ears.
‘Useless trash.’
‘This special regenerative power should’ve been mine. Then I could’ve fulfilled our family’s long-cherished wish.’
‘This will probably be your last meal, Aster.’
‘If you want to live, squirm a bit. I’m curious just how far your luck will take you. Kekeke… Hahaha!’
But when Astein looked up again, his face was as expressionless as ever, like he knew nothing.
“Yes.”
“I thought so.”
Simon frowned deeply but then smiled lightly.
“In that case, how about this?”
“……?”
“Would you like to stay here?”
Astein stared at him, confused. The man’s kind, crystal-clear gaze radiated nothing but sincerity.
Such pure goodwill toward someone so suspicious like him… was that even possible?
Was it genuine… or fake?
“I may be overstepping, but I’d like you to stay here at least until your memory returns.”
Astein hesitated. Truth be told, he didn’t really have anywhere else to go.
He’d even gone so far as to skip meals just to buy time.
‘I could hide, sure—but I’m still not confident I can evade them forever.’
Still… he didn’t like accepting unconditional kindness either.
“Is there something you want from me?”
“What could I possibly want? Just live peacefully as you are now.”
“…Alright.”
That’s when a sudden, frantic knock came from the door.
Knock knock. Knock-knock-knock.
“Father! Father!”
“Hmm? Lucy?”
The steward opened the door, and Elluciana came rushing in, gasping for air.
“What is it, Lucy? Were you running?”
“Hahh… Father, I—”
Elluciana ran toward Simon but then froze in her tracks.
Her creaking neck slowly turned toward the sofa… and the boy sitting there.
“A-Astein? You… why are you…”
Already here?
Her face drained of color as she swallowed her words.
“You came at the perfect time, Lucy. I was just about to talk to you.”
Simon gently guided her to a seat beside him with a warm smile.
Her mind went completely blank.
I ran like crazy to get here…
But from the looks of it, everything had already been decided.
What worried her even more was Astein’s utterly unreadable expression.
What happened? What did Father say? Did he tell him to leave?
He can’t have…
Simon, watching her nervously glance between them, chuckled fondly.
“Seems like you came looking for Astein.”
“…Yes. Wait, no?”
Elluciana’s confused answer made Simon chuckle as he gently patted her head.
“No need to worry. He’ll be staying with us from today.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I hope you’ll become good friends.”
“Fr-Friends? Who?”
Him?!
Friend? No. She wanted to be a sponsor, a protector, someone who could shield him from the harsh cruelty of this world… anything but a mere friend!
Simon, oblivious to her stunned silence, kept smiling.
“It’s been on my mind. I never gave you a chance to make friends after your illness.”
“I agreed with that, though.”
Well, more like, she’d kept people at bay out of fear her possession would be discovered.
Oddly enough, Simon also seemed to prefer avoiding social interactions.
Their interests aligned, and so this strange status quo continued.
“You don’t resent me for that?”
“I’m happier spending time with you, Father.”
“Even if you’re just saying it, it makes me happy.”
Simon laughed heartily, clearly pleased.
“Still, you need friends your age. Having a companion to talk with is all the rage these days.”
“A companion?”
“I hope you and Astein get along well.”
“Eeeeh?!”
Simon smiled, satisfied, and turned to Astein.
“I’m counting on you, Astein.”
“……Yes.”
Wait. What did I just hear? Did that boy really say ‘yes’? Did he… not refuse?
Elluciana stared at Astein in shock.
But he calmly ignored her.
