Diego lifted Cecilia and seated her on the chair where he had been sitting just a while ago. He took off Cecilia’s shoes and removed the dust from them. Diego also didn’t forget to warn her to tidy up the place.

“Dust off your hands and your clothes. That’s right, there.”

Cecilia diligently brushed her hands and shook off the soil. There was still some brown dust remaining, but she managed to make it presentable enough to rest on his shoulders.

Diego carried Cecilia on his shoulders and began to move around the garden. He thought it was a relief that the servants weren’t around.

“Tiego, am I heavy?”

“You and your brother always worry about the most ridiculous things. It wouldn’t matter even if I had to carry your teacher, who is much bigger than you.”

“Tiego, are you strong?”

“Yes.”

“Then, can you feet a bear?”

“Feet?”

“Can you defeat a bear!”

“……”

Is this what it’s like dealing with kids? Diego, who was finding it difficult to maintain his sanity, decided to just go along with it.

“Yeah, I can even catch a lion.”

“Heeeh. Amazing.”

Cecilia applauded above Diego’s head. Sand seemed to fall from her sleeves, but Diego convinced himself that he didn’t hear anything. Then he embellished the story of his victory in a duel with the royal knights to Cecilia.

Cecilia’s enthusiastic admiration was quite enjoyable to Diego. Diego moved his mouth in sync with his thoughts.

Then, after a while, Diego suddenly snapped back to reality. They had come to the spot where Cedric was. The story had progressed so much that Diego had defeated a demon king and returned, and Cecilia was excitedly recounting it, while Cedric had been observing them intently.

Diego lowered Cecilia to the ground and urged her.

“…This story is a secret. Don’t tell anyone, Cecilia.”

“Okay!”

Satisfied with achieving her goal, Cecilia ran off with a contented expression. Cedric was still standing in place, staring intently at Diego. Feeling unexpectedly embarrassed, Diego spoke up.

“If you have something to say, go ahead.”

“Can I ride again?”

Cedric mustered up the courage to ask. Fortunately, it seemed that the recent stories had been created to entertain Cecilia. Diego, who had lost his weakness, firmly refused.

“No, you can’t.”

The look of shock appeared on Cedric’s face. Once again, he seemed to feel a sense of distance and hesitated to take a step back. When a request he made with such courage is met with refusal, it naturally leads to a sense of dejection. Watching Cedric silently, Diego added an explanation.

“If I give you a ride, Cecilia will keep coming back claiming it’s her turn. Let’s stop it here, for the sake of fairness.”

Then he ruffled Cedric’s hair. It was to brush off the dust. Cedric seemed to have interpreted it as an expression of affection. He pursed his lips and made an awkward expression.

At that moment, someone approached from afar. A maid approached Diego and politely bowed, greeting him.

“My Lord, Marquis Botry has come to visit.”

“Suddenly?”

Diego narrowed his eyes at his uncle’s sudden visit. Although Marquis Botry and Diego were politically aligned, they were not particularly close.

Dolores had a better relationship with her older brother, Marquis Botry than Franzel. It was obvious how Marquis Botry, who had taken care of his younger sister, would have reacted to her death.

Marquis Botry found it difficult to accept the fact that Diego, whom he cherished as his only son, was born from the enemy who killed his sister. Diego resembled his father more objectively than his mother.

In any case, due to such reasons, Diego did not often meet his uncle. What could be the reason for his sudden visit to Berta?

Diego pondered the recent events for a moment. He wanted to anticipate the reason why Marquis Botry had come. Although there were many things that happened, the lawsuit involving Anna was a likely possibility to have prompted Marquis Botry. Having organized his thoughts, Diego spoke to the servant.

“I should go now. Where is he?”

“No, there is no need. I came to you myself.”

A deep voice came from behind. Diego slowly turned his head to look in the direction the sound came from. Marquis Botry faintly smiled and spoke.

“It’s been a while, Diego.”

* * *

“The first time since your father’s funeral.”

After moving to the study, Marquis Botry was the first to initiate conversation. Diego silently listened.

“Have you been well?”

“I’ve been well. There haven’t been many good days like these lately.”

Marquis Botry responded with a somewhat relieved tone, and his face appeared much calmer. It seemed like something that had always weighed on his chest had been released, and his demeanor was notably more serene. Marquis Botry let out a wry smile as he expressed his regrets.

“I never thought I would stand in front of that damned grave.”

It was clear who he was referring to with the term ‘damned.’ Even though the other party referred to his father in a disparaging manner, Diego didn’t display any anger. Instead, he simply nodded silently.

Marquis Botry tapped the handle of his teacup and continued.

“I see the wine has dwindled with the disappearance of the old man from the mansion. Seeing you offer me a cup of tea.”

“It’s a nephew’s gesture of care for your health.”

“Even if I ask for just one drink, you’ll probably refuse, won’t you?”

“I apologize.”

“No need. Well, I suppose a head of the house should have some principles.”

Marquis Botry replied with a faint sigh. It was a pity, but he wasn’t going to come into someone’s house and force them to serve him alcohol like a drunkard. Marquis Botry added with a slight smile on his lips.

“I’m relieved you’re doing so well on your own.”

“……”

“Dolores would be proud of you.”

“Well, I’m not sure if Mother will really think that way.”

Diego couldn’t completely agree with Marquis Botry’s words. Marquis Botry’s eyes widened slightly at his unexpected reaction. Diego clasped his hands together and spoke.

“I don’t think Mother thought that way, as she didn’t have the same mindset as me. Reflecting on past memories can lead to such thoughts. Mother was strong and virtuous, so I don’t think she wanted to see this kind of ending.”

“…She died because she was like that. The better a person is, the more they’re at a disadvantage when it comes to survival.”

Marquis Botry’s voice sank. His reminiscing gaze became hazy. The Marquis, with his nose slightly raised, stared at Diego in silence. Eventually, he spoke.

“Today, I saw you socializing with the courtesan’s children.”

After hesitating for a moment, Diego responded.

“Yes, they are my siblings.”

Seemingly displeased with the answer, the Marquis narrowed his eyes. His manner of speaking became more direct.

“When do you plan to deal with those children?”

“… I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I’ve heard rumors that you’ve been having family gatherings lately. If you’re concerned about the public eye, it might be best to stop it at this point.”

“Do you think I’m acting?”

“Well, aren’t you?”

Marquis Botry asked, as if it were obvious. Diego expected most people who knew Berta’s story to have a similar reaction to Marquis Botry. No one would think that Diego considered Cedric and Cecilia his true siblings. It was contradictory to seek recognition from others in an uncertain matter that Diego himself was not yet convinced of.

How long could they endure a relationship with no reason to support each other? The children who called me their brother, holding my hand, what basis did they have to hold such affection for someone like me?

“I won’t kill those kids.”

Diego said, looking straight at Marquis Botry. Marquis Botry’s expression showed confusion at Diego’s sudden change of heart. It seemed as though he couldn’t understand Diego’s change of mind.

“Why… did you find a use for those kids?”

Marquis Botry’s expression of ‘use’ caught Diego’s attention. Marquis Botry was a man familiar with the way of treating people like objects. It was unavoidable for one who held authority over the lives of many to get used to using others as a means. Diego had been exactly like that before he met Estella. He categorized people according to their usefulness and prioritized personal gains and losses over emotions.

Diego smiled wryly and lowered his gaze. After a moment of fiddling with my fingertips, he replied.

“No, it’s just that I don’t resemble my father enough to punish innocent children.”

Marquis Botry stayed silent for a while. Then, as if conceding, he nodded his head.

“…I see. It must be uncomfortable to lay a hand on the kids. Since you seem determined, I won’t say much. But if the situation doesn’t turn in your favor, I trust that you will handle it yourself.”

His voice was filled with concern. Diego was well aware that this was advice born out of worry. He remembered someone who had cried so bitterly before his mother’s death.

Dolores had a personality that forged close and narrow relationships with people, so there weren’t many mourners at her funeral. Only her acquaintances remained after the former Duke of Berta briefly appeared and left. Franzel occasionally wiped away shallow tears with a handkerchief, and Marquis Botry remained, absentmindedly gazing at her tombstone.

Marquis Botry stood guard in front of his younger sister’s grave until all the mourners had disappeared. Only after everyone had left did the sturdy legs that had firmly held the graveside crumble. It was also then that tears poured over the solid wall of restraint as the man, who had been as immovable as a rock, sobbed while picturing his sister’s face that would never return.

Recalling the same memory, Marquis Botry’s eyes shone vividly. The wrinkles that time had etched on his face only revealed his strength; they did not make him appear dull. He spoke as if he could not back down.

“But it may be wiser to trample on the bud, you know.”

“….”

“Children can turn out differently depending on what you do. If you want to believe in new possibilities, that’s fine. But I don’t think that courtesan is the kind of person who will change.”

Diego did not respond. Anna’s fate was still undecided. She would most likely be banished, and that was certainly not a certain end.

Diego also knew that Marquis Botry’s words were not wrong. As long as Anna was alive, Diego would have to endure the danger. But Diego had already become a person who does act solely based on reason. He couldn’t quite distinguish whether it was a good or bad thing.

As if sensing Diego’s hesitation, Marquis Botry spoke in a softened voice.

“Diego, I understand your heart. It’s not easy for you to accept my interference. I haven’t been much help to you because I felt I had to encourage you when you were going through tough times.”

“…The Marquis has been faithful to his nephew.”

“I’m thankful that you see it that way. I truly care about you. It’s just… I was afraid that when I met you, I wouldn’t be able to stop crying like a child. There’s nothing scarier at my age.”

Marquis Botry spoke sincerely. Diego sensed that he was searching desperately for her traces in him. Even though he knew that if he really wanted to be like his mother, he would have to ignore her advice.

Marquis Botry fixed a steady gaze on Diego as he spoke.

“Believe that I always want to be of help to you. I’ve come here today to say that.”

A brief silence passed between Diego and the marquis. Marquis Botry pushed his barely touched teacup across the table toward the other side.

“The tea was good. I should get going now.”

Marquis Botry rose from his seat. Before opening the door and leaving, he looked back at Diego and quietly added,

“It’s possible for a widow to be unable to overcome the shock and follow her husband. You’re smart; I believe you’ll understand my words.”

One can’t say this isn’t revenge. Retaliation due to resentment is certain, but only the victors will judge it as a deserved punishment.

During his conversation with Marquis Botry, Diego suddenly had a different thought. He realized that Franzel, the one he had led down a darker path by supplying drugs, was also Marquis Botry’s brother. If he were to say that his nephew had become the very means that worsened his brother’s condition, how would Marquis Botry react? Although Franzel had clashed with his older brother due to his indulgence in revelry, the years they spent together would undoubtedly be longer than those with his nephew.

Diego spoke quietly,

“Uncle, in truth, I’ve met Little Uncle separately a few times since you came here. His condition hasn’t been particularly good.”

Marquis Botry stopped in his tracks at the unexpected topic. Diego knew that not long ago, Franzel had been to the mansion at Anna’s request. Franzel pretended to be there to see his nephew, but it was pointless as long as there were guards stationed in the annex. Diego had even heard stories of Franzel betraying Anna and resorting to threats.

Now, there was no one reaching out to rescue Anna. It was a satisfying outcome, and Diego didn’t want to jeopardize his relationship with Marquis Botry.

“I know he’s living through drugs. He’s a damn bastard…”

Marquis Botry was the only adult in Diego’s vicinity that he truly respected. Once again, Marquis Botry seemed to bite his tongue, finding his brother’s flaws were embarrassing. Diego advised him in a serious tone.

“You must know, Uncle, that if you leave him alone, his condition will only worsen.”

“…..”

“There are treatment facilities for addiction. It’s good to trust Little Uncle, but it seems like he’s not in a state of sound judgment either. Autonomy and neglect might not be the same thing.”

Marquis Botry’s expression contorted painfully. Diego, too, wore a dark expression, clearly worried about his younger uncle’s state. However, Diego didn’t forget to drive the point home.

“I believe you will make a wise decision.”

* * *