“Bianca.”
The two tiny feet hiding under the table cringed at my presence.
It was just like the time I first met that child, so I got choked up for no reason.
“Bianca, why... Why are you here alone....”
“...”
“The thunder kept coming... Aren’t you scared alone?”
“...”
I couldn't hear the cheerful voice that always came back.
The sound of heavy rain outside was the only thing that occasionally filled the silence inside the Orangery.
“Bianca...”
“...”
“His Highness the Grand Duke and the entire mansion family are looking for Bianca. Let's go back together, huh?"
When I got down on my knees to face her, the child flinched again like a wounded baby.
“I don’t like it, don’t look at it!”
“Bianca...”
"Don't come...”
I eventually got up again.
The child was still crouched under the table and did not show me her face.
How long did I wait?
Finally, the child's voice was faintly heard.
“No matter how many times you muster up the courage to go back, in the end, it’s useless..."
“..."
“No matter where I go, no matter how spacious and luxurious the mansion is, there is no such thing as a happy family waiting for me there... Because it won’t be there forever...”
The child cried breathlessly for a long time and finally opened her mouth again.
“Maybe... Maybe it was because of me that my parents died. Because it happened right after I was born. And in the end, it was because of me that my brother and Your Highness the Grand Duchess broke up, huh..."
Her small hand, which was holding her curled leg, was trembling.
“For an unlucky child like me, there is nothing like a happy family... It will never happen.”
The child eventually began to cry.
The sadness, as thick as it was pure, clawed at my heart.
I couldn't bear it any longer and knelt down on my knees, and her blue eyes which kept dropping thick water droplets turned to me.
It wavered for a moment like a strong wave but soon poured out painful resentment.
"Rather... Why would you keep hating me like before? Why did you call me pretty? Why, why do I deserve to be loved, why am I precious... Oh, it's so ridiculous..."
“Bianca...!”
“In the end, you were going to leave us like this, and you were going to get rid of things like our family so casually...! Why did you make me look forward to it, hmm...”
Her small face eventually turned red, unable to overcome her sadness.
I couldn't bear it any longer and hurriedly hugged the child who kept wiping her eyes with her arms while crying.
“Bianca, wait a minute. Just listen to me for a moment.”
“I don’t want to have any expectations anymore, let go of this!”
"At first... It was like that at first. I was really trying to leave. I want to live too, so....”
I hugged the child's trembling shoulders even more tightly, soaked in rain and tears.
“So I decided to divorce. At that time, I thought nothing could be turned back. I have committed too many sins... Since I am Rebecca, no relationship can be restored. I was just busy running away and finding the easy way out. However...”
As I continued speaking, I slowly let go of Bianca from my arms and brushed away the child's disheveled hair.
“Belatedly, I came to truly love Cedric and Bianca.”
“...”
“The two people who gave me another chance and believed in me even though I made so many mistakes.”
The child's eyes, looking up at me, slowly opened wide.
“Now I love you both so much that I can endure any pain. So it may already be too late... From now on, I will try to correct the wrong decision I made back then. To return to the two of you as soon as possible.”
“...”
“The only family I have... There are only two people, Cedric and Bianca.”
In the child's blue eyes, the dark clouds slowly cleared, and soon a light began to shine like the sky on a rainy afternoon.
"I... Is this really true, Your Highness?”
Her little chin trembled.
The look on her face as she asked that was so pitiful, as if she was about to hang at any moment.
I smiled faintly at that child.
“It’s true, Bianca. So will you trust me one more time?”
I promised myself as I wiped away the teardrops that fell down her red cheeks.
“No matter how long it takes, I will definitely come back to my family.”
The child began to cry again, which had barely subsided and continued to nod.
“Yes, I believe it. I will believe it. Do you believe it, Your Highness? So please...”
It was just like the time I first met that child, so I got choked up for no reason.
“Bianca, why... Why are you here alone....”
“...”
“The thunder kept coming... Aren’t you scared alone?”
“...”
I couldn't hear the cheerful voice that always came back.
The sound of heavy rain outside was the only thing that occasionally filled the silence inside the Orangery.
“Bianca...”
“...”
“His Highness the Grand Duke and the entire mansion family are looking for Bianca. Let's go back together, huh?"
When I got down on my knees to face her, the child flinched again like a wounded baby.
“I don’t like it, don’t look at it!”
“Bianca...”
"Don't come...”
I eventually got up again.
The child was still crouched under the table and did not show me her face.
How long did I wait?
Finally, the child's voice was faintly heard.
“No matter how many times you muster up the courage to go back, in the end, it’s useless..."
“..."
“No matter where I go, no matter how spacious and luxurious the mansion is, there is no such thing as a happy family waiting for me there... Because it won’t be there forever...”
The child cried breathlessly for a long time and finally opened her mouth again.
“Maybe... Maybe it was because of me that my parents died. Because it happened right after I was born. And in the end, it was because of me that my brother and Your Highness the Grand Duchess broke up, huh..."
Her small hand, which was holding her curled leg, was trembling.
“For an unlucky child like me, there is nothing like a happy family... It will never happen.”
The child eventually began to cry.
The sadness, as thick as it was pure, clawed at my heart.
I couldn't bear it any longer and knelt down on my knees, and her blue eyes which kept dropping thick water droplets turned to me.
It wavered for a moment like a strong wave but soon poured out painful resentment.
"Rather... Why would you keep hating me like before? Why did you call me pretty? Why, why do I deserve to be loved, why am I precious... Oh, it's so ridiculous..."
“Bianca...!”
“In the end, you were going to leave us like this, and you were going to get rid of things like our family so casually...! Why did you make me look forward to it, hmm...”
Her small face eventually turned red, unable to overcome her sadness.
I couldn't bear it any longer and hurriedly hugged the child who kept wiping her eyes with her arms while crying.
“Bianca, wait a minute. Just listen to me for a moment.”
“I don’t want to have any expectations anymore, let go of this!”
"At first... It was like that at first. I was really trying to leave. I want to live too, so....”
I hugged the child's trembling shoulders even more tightly, soaked in rain and tears.
“So I decided to divorce. At that time, I thought nothing could be turned back. I have committed too many sins... Since I am Rebecca, no relationship can be restored. I was just busy running away and finding the easy way out. However...”
As I continued speaking, I slowly let go of Bianca from my arms and brushed away the child's disheveled hair.
“Belatedly, I came to truly love Cedric and Bianca.”
“...”
“The two people who gave me another chance and believed in me even though I made so many mistakes.”
The child's eyes, looking up at me, slowly opened wide.
“Now I love you both so much that I can endure any pain. So it may already be too late... From now on, I will try to correct the wrong decision I made back then. To return to the two of you as soon as possible.”
“...”
“The only family I have... There are only two people, Cedric and Bianca.”
In the child's blue eyes, the dark clouds slowly cleared, and soon a light began to shine like the sky on a rainy afternoon.
"I... Is this really true, Your Highness?”
Her little chin trembled.
The look on her face as she asked that was so pitiful, as if she was about to hang at any moment.
I smiled faintly at that child.
“It’s true, Bianca. So will you trust me one more time?”
I promised myself as I wiped away the teardrops that fell down her red cheeks.
“No matter how long it takes, I will definitely come back to my family.”
The child began to cry again, which had barely subsided and continued to nod.
“Yes, I believe it. I will believe it. Do you believe it, Your Highness? So please...”
Bianca hugged my waist tightly with her trembling hands and snuggled into me.
“To our side, huh... You must come back...?”
***
Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief when Bianca, who had disappeared, appeared with me.
Cedric went straight to the Mansion of Light with Bianca in his arms, and I followed him.
As the Grand Duke's family entered the lobby, drenched in rain, the employees became busy.
Between them, ‘warm water, towels, a fire in the fireplace...’ Words like this were exchanged.
Nevertheless, Cedric personally called the butler and ordered him to do something, then turned his head towards me.
“Go to my bedroom and warm up. I’ll just take Bianca and go straight away.”
“No, I went straight to the dark mansion...”
“Listen to me.”
He winked at the butler and went straight up the stairs.
Bianca was sleeping soundly in his arms.
“Your Highness, I will take you to the Grand Duke’s bedroom.”
“...Is it so."
As soon as I entered the bedroom, a fire was lit in the fireplace.
As I sat on the chair in front of him and draped a shawl over my shoulders, my frozen body from the rain and cold seemed to be thawing little by little.
Crack, crack.
Fatigue began to spread throughout my body as I heard the sound of burning firewood and the orange light flickering before my eyes.
It was a time when my eyes were slowly closing because I had been tired all day.
"...Rebecca.”
A soft bass sound came from my ear.
When I turned my head, Cedric had already returned and was looking down at me from close by.
“Oh, what about Bianca?”
“I put her right on the bed. I wanted her to wash up and sleep, but she was so tired that she couldn’t wake up.”
“...Yes."
I lowered my head a little despondently, feeling a faint sense of guilt.
“... As you said, no matter how painful the truth may be, I should have told Bianca a long time ago.”
“...”
“I said I didn’t want that child to be hurt, so I hurt her even more, like a fool.”
Cedric gently grabbed my shoulder.
“Bianca will understand your feelings someday. Because she’s a good kid.”
“..That's right."
I folded my hands over Cedric's and looked up at him.
“I will make her understand myself at any time. I promised Bianca.”
“... ”
“No matter how long it takes, I will definitely return to my family.”
Orange light flickered above Cedric's blue eyes.
I turned my head towards the fireplace again and lifted the shawl over my shoulder to the tip of my neck.
Although I was sitting on a soft chair in front of the fireplace and drinking hot tea, the chill that had seeped deep into my body showed no sign of going away.
As I trembled slightly, Cedric gently lifted my chin with his fingers.
“I guess it’s still cold.”
His thumb subtly pressed down on my lower lip.
“Your lips are pale.”
I turned my head and got out of his grasp.
“...It's because my clothes are wet. You're wet too, so you should take a quick shower and rest. I’ll just go back now.”
When I got up from the chair, Cedric immediately grabbed my wrist.
“There will be warm water in the bathtub, so go in. You can just ask the employees to bring the clothes. I don’t like catching a cold.”
“It’s just a short walk to the Dark Mansion, it’s okay.”
"Hurry."
It was a time when my eyes were slowly closing because I had been tired all day.
"...Rebecca.”
A soft bass sound came from my ear.
When I turned my head, Cedric had already returned and was looking down at me from close by.
“Oh, what about Bianca?”
“I put her right on the bed. I wanted her to wash up and sleep, but she was so tired that she couldn’t wake up.”
“...Yes."
I lowered my head a little despondently, feeling a faint sense of guilt.
“... As you said, no matter how painful the truth may be, I should have told Bianca a long time ago.”
“...”
“I said I didn’t want that child to be hurt, so I hurt her even more, like a fool.”
Cedric gently grabbed my shoulder.
“Bianca will understand your feelings someday. Because she’s a good kid.”
“..That's right."
I folded my hands over Cedric's and looked up at him.
“I will make her understand myself at any time. I promised Bianca.”
“... ”
“No matter how long it takes, I will definitely return to my family.”
Orange light flickered above Cedric's blue eyes.
I turned my head towards the fireplace again and lifted the shawl over my shoulder to the tip of my neck.
Although I was sitting on a soft chair in front of the fireplace and drinking hot tea, the chill that had seeped deep into my body showed no sign of going away.
As I trembled slightly, Cedric gently lifted my chin with his fingers.
“I guess it’s still cold.”
His thumb subtly pressed down on my lower lip.
“Your lips are pale.”
I turned my head and got out of his grasp.
“...It's because my clothes are wet. You're wet too, so you should take a quick shower and rest. I’ll just go back now.”
When I got up from the chair, Cedric immediately grabbed my wrist.
“There will be warm water in the bathtub, so go in. You can just ask the employees to bring the clothes. I don’t like catching a cold.”
“It’s just a short walk to the Dark Mansion, it’s okay.”
"Hurry."
“It’s really okay...!”
I was momentarily speechless due to Cedric suddenly lifting me up.
“Cedric, what are you doing! Take me down right now... !”
I immediately shouted and struggled as best as I could, but Cedric didn't suffer any damage.
He looked down at me in great confusion and furrowed his brows.
“I don’t want you to catch a cold.”
“So, let’s go back to the Dark Mansion now...”
"Ha..."
Cedric's eyes suddenly opened sharply at the continued resistance.
“You’re not listening at all.”
Cedric's steps headed straight toward the bathroom.
I tried to hit his rock-like chest and struggle in his arms with all my might, but it was no use.
Despite my strong resistance, he easily reached his destination.
Finally, the door opened, and the eyes of countless employees waiting for Cedric inside the huge interior turned to me in his arms.
“Cedric, please... !”
I blushed and shouted out of embarrassment, but he acted as if he couldn't hear me.
“Did you set the water temperature correctly?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“The Grand Duchess is also going to wash here, so prepare her clothes from the Dark Mansion.”
"Ah... Then shall we prepare the maids to help Her Highness take a bath?”
I, who had been listening in silence, urgently shook my head.
“It’s okay, I don’t need maids.”
I was going to leave here without washing up anyway, so there was no need to mobilize manpower.
"Yes? But it’s going to take a lot of work to take off the dress, right?”
“It looks like the Grand Duchess has the confidence to do it herself.”
Cedric answered on my behalf with a sour expression.
The corners of his lips curled up ironically as he stared at me for a moment.
“Or I can take it off for you.”
“Cedric... !”
The employees standing in a row blushed and blinked their eyes.
Even though he embarrassed everyone, including me, Cedric's attitude was still relaxed.
“Everyone, go out.”
As soon as Cedric's order was given, everyone left at once.
When the two of us were finally left, I glanced at him harshly.
“Put me down, right now.”
Cedric shrugged his shoulders and set me down.
“If you had sent me away while I was fighting, I would have already gone back and washed up.”
“And you probably caught a cold on the way there.”
“How close is the dark mansion from here....”
Cedric gently guided my hand and dipped it into the bathtub.
Is it because I was constantly shivering from the cold?
When the warm water touched my skin, it felt like all the muscles in my body were instantly relaxed.
Cedric's other hand cupped my cheek.
“Isn’t it warm?”
A friendly voice, as if admonishing, rang through the steamy bathroom.
I closed my eyes deeply out of fatigue and opened them, and before I knew it, my eyes met the man who was looking at me with a listless expression.
“It’s cold outside. You can just rest here for a while and then go.”
He slowly ran his fingers through my hair as if comforting a child.
"Huh?"
His invitation gradually became sweeter.
As Cedric said, it was cold outside, and the chill still lingered inside my body.
And perhaps because I was fighting against the cold and then entered a warm bathroom, I kept feeling drowsy.
Cedric watched me silently and then held me in his arms.
He seemed to have noticed that I had become noticeably quieter.
For a moment, he kept kissing my cheek as if he was satisfied.
His hands slowly began to unbutton the rows of buttons on my dress.
He looked down at me in great confusion and furrowed his brows.
“I don’t want you to catch a cold.”
“So, let’s go back to the Dark Mansion now...”
"Ha..."
Cedric's eyes suddenly opened sharply at the continued resistance.
“You’re not listening at all.”
Cedric's steps headed straight toward the bathroom.
I tried to hit his rock-like chest and struggle in his arms with all my might, but it was no use.
Despite my strong resistance, he easily reached his destination.
Finally, the door opened, and the eyes of countless employees waiting for Cedric inside the huge interior turned to me in his arms.
“Cedric, please... !”
I blushed and shouted out of embarrassment, but he acted as if he couldn't hear me.
“Did you set the water temperature correctly?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“The Grand Duchess is also going to wash here, so prepare her clothes from the Dark Mansion.”
"Ah... Then shall we prepare the maids to help Her Highness take a bath?”
I, who had been listening in silence, urgently shook my head.
“It’s okay, I don’t need maids.”
I was going to leave here without washing up anyway, so there was no need to mobilize manpower.
"Yes? But it’s going to take a lot of work to take off the dress, right?”
“It looks like the Grand Duchess has the confidence to do it herself.”
Cedric answered on my behalf with a sour expression.
The corners of his lips curled up ironically as he stared at me for a moment.
“Or I can take it off for you.”
“Cedric... !”
The employees standing in a row blushed and blinked their eyes.
Even though he embarrassed everyone, including me, Cedric's attitude was still relaxed.
“Everyone, go out.”
As soon as Cedric's order was given, everyone left at once.
When the two of us were finally left, I glanced at him harshly.
“Put me down, right now.”
Cedric shrugged his shoulders and set me down.
“If you had sent me away while I was fighting, I would have already gone back and washed up.”
“And you probably caught a cold on the way there.”
“How close is the dark mansion from here....”
Cedric gently guided my hand and dipped it into the bathtub.
Is it because I was constantly shivering from the cold?
When the warm water touched my skin, it felt like all the muscles in my body were instantly relaxed.
Cedric's other hand cupped my cheek.
“Isn’t it warm?”
A friendly voice, as if admonishing, rang through the steamy bathroom.
I closed my eyes deeply out of fatigue and opened them, and before I knew it, my eyes met the man who was looking at me with a listless expression.
“It’s cold outside. You can just rest here for a while and then go.”
He slowly ran his fingers through my hair as if comforting a child.
"Huh?"
His invitation gradually became sweeter.
As Cedric said, it was cold outside, and the chill still lingered inside my body.
And perhaps because I was fighting against the cold and then entered a warm bathroom, I kept feeling drowsy.
Cedric watched me silently and then held me in his arms.
He seemed to have noticed that I had become noticeably quieter.
For a moment, he kept kissing my cheek as if he was satisfied.
His hands slowly began to unbutton the rows of buttons on my dress.
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