From the next day, Chersion regained his previous vitality.
The child, after finishing a hearty breakfast, ran around various parts of the annex with eyes full of curiosity.
Moreover, he was so sociable that by the afternoon, he was already mingling with the palace people, calling them by name.
Truly, though he’s my son, there’s nowhere he can’t adapt.
“Magic is truly remarkable.”
Behind me, as I looked down at the garden of the annex spread out below the large window, I heard Lord Joseph’s gentle laughter.
“Even so, it’s merely a symptomatic treatment. We need to periodically reinforce the memory-overlaying magic. When major events occur, we have to cast new spells. Above all, if young lord Chelsea shows even the slightest resistance to magic, its effectiveness decreases. It’s also dangerous.”
Yes, it’s a precarious method indeed.
I had already received an explanation from Lord Joseph earlier.
Originally, memory manipulation magic comes with quite significant side effects.
Especially for people with special memory abilities like Lord Joseph or Chersion, it’s even more so.
That’s why it’s absolutely necessary to seek consent beforehand and cast the spell while the subject is conscious.
“For now, that’s the best we can do. Since there’s no way to treat phobias or panic attacks, we must at least manage it for the time being.”
“In that sense, this method is indeed the best option for now.”
Yes, that much was reassuring enough.
I waved back to Chersion, who noticed my gaze and waved at me.
Last evening, when Lord Joseph came out of the room after having a long conversation with Chersion, it was well past dinner time.
I, who had been pacing anxiously, immediately grabbed Lord Joseph and asked what had happened.
I wanted to rush to my youngest right away, but before that, I needed to understand exactly what the child’s condition was.
Lord Joseph led me to a place where there were no listening ears.
Then he informed me that he had manipulated Chersion’s memories.
I decided to postpone my surprise at the fact that such a thing was possible.
I had already accepted that Lord Joseph was beyond my common sense, so there was no need to be newly surprised anymore.
“It’s truly difficult. All I want is for my children to live ordinarily and healthily like other children, but I wonder if it’s already too late for that, as everyone is already so scarred… Ah!”
Unconsciously, a sigh-like sound escaped me.
Suddenly coming to my senses, I turned to Lord Joseph with an embarrassed smile.
“I’m sorry, Lord Joseph. I inadvertently complained.”
“There’s no need to apologize. It’s not difficult for me to listen.”
“No, even listening can be quite mentally draining. Anyway, I was careless. I didn’t intend to have a counseling session, but what kind of rudeness is this…”
Although it wasn’t much of a conversation, the shame of having my inner thoughts exposed made my face flush.
It was even more so because Lord Joseph laughed.
“Well, how about this.”
Lord Joseph, meeting my eyes, replied in an nonchalant voice.
“We’re going to be married anyway, so your three children’s matters will be my matters too, won’t they?”
“Pardon?”
“Am I wrong?”
“…”
It seems I lost my ability to respond because the subject changed so suddenly.
After stupidly asking for clarification, I realized a moment later that his words were logical.
Theoretically, that is.
A new mother’s new husband. It was obvious that the children would feel a considerable psychological distance.
Even if Lord Joseph had built a friendship with the children over time, still.
… Or not? Since he’s my fiancé whom the children directly accepted, maybe it’ll be fine?
“Well, I think it would be best to discuss that with the children later.”
“I understand what you mean. I also have no intention of forcing the three of them to treat me as a father.”
The corners of his eyes curved kindly.
“But please know this. My affection for the young lord, the young lady, and young Chelsea is sincere.”
“That’s good to hear.”
At this point, there’s a fact that I need to remind myself of once again.
The fact that the reason Lord Joseph wants to marry me is solely due to his survival issue.
In other words, there may be a bond between Lord Joseph and me, but there is no love.
‘It’s not needed either.’
Of course, I prefer it that way. How can one trust and build a relationship on emotions that can change or fade at any time?
Compared to that, a relationship with aligned purposes is reassuring in many ways.
Because there are clear reasons why we can’t betray each other.
‘Above all, it’s an advantage that I don’t need to be confused when Lord Joseph smiles that heart-fluttering smile like just now.’
Still, his words from earlier were thrilling enough to make me happy.
That Lord Joseph considers my children’s matters as his own.
It means he thinks of my children as his own children.
But when I thought that far, I suddenly became curious about something.
I realized that I had never heard about Lord Joseph’s family.
If he had returned to the Empire after inheriting Chronomancy, he should have met his family long ago.
No matter how much I think about it, I’ve never heard of it.
I’ve never seen him spend time with his family, to the point where I can’t even guess about his family history.
‘Then perhaps he’s an orphan?’
Although I had doubts, it was awkward to casually ask about his family relationships.
It could be a sensitive issue for some people.
There was another reason, especially for Lord Joseph.
I thought that perhaps he had lost memories related to his family due to the use of Chronomancy.
They say that memory fractures start with the most precious things.
Considering that most people value memories of family, lovers, or children the most, it’s not a wrong deduction.
Given that Lord Joseph was 17 years old at the time, he wasn’t old enough to have children.
“Hmm…”
I carefully chose my words.
“Come to think of it, where is Lord Joseph’s hometown?”
“…Pardon? That’s a sudden question.”
As expected, he tilted his head as if he had heard an abrupt question.
“Well, somehow I came to know that you’re from the Empire. But I can’t help but be curious about how you spent your childhood, and how you came to board a ship. Have you met your family since returning to the Empire?”
“Ah…”
“If you don’t remember, we can talk about something else.”
Recalling Lord Joseph who had collapsed while trying to recall fractured memories, I prepared to change the subject at any time.
Fortunately, it seems that at least the memories of his family were intact, as Lord Joseph lightly answered, “That’s not the case.”
“Rather, it’s the opposite.”
But his attitude seemed far from light.
Realizing that Lord Joseph’s expression, with his lips drawn in, had hardened unlike usual, I unconsciously followed him as he moved.
Soon, he sat on the sofa and spoke after making a crooked smile.
“It was such an unfavorable family that the content might not be pleasant for you to hear, my lady.”
“…Was the family situation not good?”
“It would be better if it were just not good. In fact, if I reveal my background, I think you might find me very unpleasant.”
“It’s not like we can choose the moment we’re born, so why would I find Lord Joseph’s background unpleasant?”
“…Even if I say I’m from the slums?”
Ah.
In an instant, many things were explained. I couldn’t help but close my mouth.
People often think of slums as just poor neighborhoods where impoverished people live together.
Especially the nobility thinks so. In reality, it’s a much more terrible place.
In fact, slums are not poor neighborhoods. It would be more accurate to call them hotbeds of crime.
The people living there are indeed poor, but because of that, they commit crimes without hesitation.
Because there’s no lower bottom to fall to anyway.
Murder and robbery, kidnapping or rape are minor offenses, and it’s common to sell drugs and traffic organs while engaging in prostitution.
How do I, who grew up as a gentle baron’s daughter, know this?
‘Because I was once dragged away by a criminal from the slums.’
I’ve been traveling around numerous regions of the continent with my grandfather and Teacher Rogier since I was young.
And that incident probably happened when I was about thirteen.
Once, while loitering at the entrance of a slum for a “market survey” with the ambitious goal of creating a domain without any poor people, I was kidnapped by a woman emitting a strong perfume scent.
The woman, wearing clothes that were quite revealing, didn’t seem to have any intention of demanding a ransom from my grandfather.
She said it would be more expensive and cleaner to sell me to a brothel for prostitution.
Only after hearing that did I realize how wrong I had been thinking about slums.
How did I escape from such a place, you ask?
I was lucky.
At that time, I received help from a little boy living in the slums.
While the woman was out late at night, the boy who had secretly entered the house untied me.
Wearing the rags the boy had given me, I was barely able to escape from the slum where not a single ray of light entered.
‘Come to think of it, I wonder how that boy is living now.’
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.