She was a truly strange woman. Why did she keep brushing against his childhood memories like that?
It probably meant nothing, just a passing kindness. And yet...
An omelet filled generously with vegetables.
It was something Grace used to make often for someone who’d been a picky eater since childhood.
Scrape, scrape.
Just like always, he carefully picked out the bell peppers she chopped finely and hid so he wouldn’t notice.
“...Hey.”
So now she’s just casually dropping formality.
Watching Ceres frown every time he picked something out, Kainel moved his hand a little faster on purpose.
...How bothersome.
Then why did he come here again today? Was it because of the stew?
Ceres’s expression had crumpled into a scowl. Kainel found the remaining bell peppers and deliberately pushed them aside as if to make a point.
***
“Where on earth did she go?!”
Night had long fallen. It was an hour when most people were asleep.
Antonian lingered restlessly outside the mansion, unable to stay in one place. He stretched his neck and anxiously scanned his surroundings.
“Huh?”
Then, spotting a familiar figure in the distance, Antonian quickly ran toward it.
“Ceres!”
“Antonian?”
“Why are you only coming back now?!”
“What is it? Did something happen? Why are you out here instead of sleeping?”
“You’re the one who should be explaining where you’ve been!”
“Me? Just out for a walk.”
“Again?”
At Ceres’s indifferent answer, Antonian’s brows drew tight.
“What walk are you doing every day?”
“Not every day.”
“That’s not what matters right now!”
Lately, it wasn’t just at dawn. Night after night, Ceres had been going somewhere and only returning after quite some time.
“If you’re going to walk, just stay in the garden!”
“Our garden sucks.”
“That’s not the point! I’m asking where you keep going at this hour!”
“Just here and there.”
“Where exactly is that—Ceres, your nose!”
“...Oh sh*t.”
The problem was that her nosebleeds had been happening more often. And each time, it was after one of those walks.
“Seriously, what have you been doing lately?!”
“It’s nothing. I just overdid it a bit.”
“What kind of walk makes you push yourself that much?!”
“Hey, keep it down. You’ll wake everyone.”
What’s wrong with him today?
Ceres looked at Antonian with a puzzled expression, finding it strange how unusually worked up he was.
He wasn’t exactly the sweetest kid to begin with, but he wasn’t someone who got angry without reason either.
Did he eat something weird tonight or what?
“...Here. Wipe the blood.”
When Ceres pressed the handkerchief he handed her against her nose, Antonian’s expression grew more grave than before.
“Ceres.”
“Yeah?”
Why are you suddenly so serious? You’re making me nervous.
“Let’s go see a healer.”
“What?”
“You’ve been bleeding far too often. Something’s not right.”
“I told you, it’s nothing. I know my own body better than anyone.”
“Stop being so stubborn!”
“Why are you raising your voice like that, you punk?”
“Ah, seriously!”
Ceres blinked at the sight of Antonian fuming. What in the world had gotten into him? Did she do something wrong?
“Tomorrow. You’re coming with me to get checked.”
“No, really, I’m fine. I’ll cut back on going out for walks too...”
“Don’t lie!”
...I’m telling the truth, though.
Earlier today, she had confirmed that man, Dave’s father, was already nearing his end.
More than one or two people had seen him screaming and running out of the house morning and night. Some even said they saw him crying and begging for forgiveness. Apparently, he looked half out of his mind.
Whatever the case, it looks like things will be wrapping up soon.
If that happened, there would be no longer any need to turn back time.
However, it seemed Antonian saw the situation very differently.
“Is it because of money?”
“Out of nowhere?”
“I’m asking if you’re refusing because you’re worried about the treatment cost!”
Seeing the corners of Antonian’s eyes turn red, Ceres scratched her cheek.
Well, it was true their family was dirt poor. Still, she wasn’t foolish enough to ignore being sick over something like that.
“Fine.”
The money felt like a complete waste, but... well, it couldn’t be helped.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Only then did the stiffness in Antonian’s face ease a bit.
“Then tomorrow, we’re going to House Ellesia.”
“...Where?”
“The Ellesia Count’s house. I heard they’re famous for healing.”
“No, wait. Do we really have to go all the way there?”
“Is it because we don’t have money?”
“......”
Seeing Antonian’s eyes start to redden again, Ceres was unable to say anything more.
.
.
.
Chapter 10: This is the Ellesia Count’s house?
“Are you going to walk?”
“Yeah.”
“We have a carriage.”
“I know. The one that hasn’t been maintained in ages and could fall apart any day now.”
“...It just looks that way. It’s sturdier than you think.”
Ceres lightly patted Antonian’s head as he pouted.
“I’m still not riding it.”
“Why?”
“Walking is more comfortable.”
On the day they were supposed to visit Ellesia Count’s house, Ceres had tried to put it off for several days by making excuses one after another.
In the end, though, she had no choice but to surrender under Antonian’s relentless and piercing glare.
He’s more stubborn than I thought. I wonder who he takes after.
“You’re really going to walk?”
“Yeah.”
Refusing Antonian’s suggestion once again, Ceres stepped forward first.
“It’ll take over an hour if we walk.”
“I know.”
Watching her insist on walking such a distance, Antonian sighed.
Now that he thought about it, ever since Ceres lost her memories, he never once saw her ride in a carriage. Even when she occasionally took Julia to the academy, she always went on foot.
“You can take the carriage.”
“I’m good.”
Is she embarrassed because the carriage is so old?
No, that can’t be it.
She was the type to keep wearing clothes that were practically falling apart, brushing it off with a “what’s wrong with this?” no matter how many times he told her to buy something new.
“Why won’t she ride the carriage...”
Watching Ceres already far ahead, Antonian shook his head as if she were impossible. It didn’t seem like she would answer if he asked.
After hurrying to catch up, he chose to ask something else instead.
“Do you know the way?”
“Of course.”
There was clear confidence in her reply.
How could there not be? She used to be the head of the Ellesia family. She could find her way there with her eyes closed...
“That’s not the way. You need to go right.”
Since when was there a building like this?
“Not that one. Take the middle road.”
...And when did a road like this show up? Who decided to just build things wherever they pleased?!
“Ceres.”
“Hm?”
“Just follow me.”
“...Fine.”
In the end, Ceres trailed after Antonian, her expression slightly deflated.
As he kept grumbling about what possessed her to insist on walking, she had nothing to say in response.
300 years really is a long time.
Still, is it supposed to change this much? This is just unfair to someone from the past.
“There it is.”
“...Ah.”
The Ellesia Count’s house.
When the estate gradually came into view, Ceres slowed her steps without realizing it.
It hasn’t changed.
So much had shifted over time, yet the mansion remained almost exactly the same. Seeing how little it had changed since her time left her with a strange feeling.
The place where she had spent her entire life. The place where she had staked everything she had.
And...
The place where I died.
It was only an hour’s distance from the Drow estate, but she couldn’t bring herself to take another step. It was a place she knew better than anyone, and yet no longer a place she could call home.
“Ceres?”
“Yeah.”
After standing there for a moment, Ceres began walking again at Antonian’s call.
***
“Haa...”
“Mom, my legs hurt.”
“Just a little longer.”
“How long do we have to wait?”
“I’ve been standing here since six this morning.”
“I have to get treated today no matter what.”
“It’s already been three days for me. If I can’t get in today...”
An endless line stretched out before the Ellesia Count’s residence. Some had brought along elderly parents, while others stood holding fussy children in their arms.
Those who had already sought treatment from nearby clinics without much success had all gathered here, clinging to their last hope.
But for some of them, that hope was already running out.
“E-Excuse me!”
“What is it?”
A woman hurried toward the attendant guarding the front gate of the estate, a small boy who looked about three years old cradled in her arms.
The child hung limp as if unconscious. Hot, labored breaths were spilling from his lips. To anyone watching, it was obvious he was in serious condition.
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