“Larien…?”

Jade’s dazed eyes, as he rose from the floor, slowly came into focus.

“Kyaaak!”

Sharlin Winst stumbled backwards, dropped her dagger, and fled. I found the sight of her retreating back quite amusing.

To think she tried to stab someone to death, but ran away scared at the sight of blood.

“Larien, what on earth is−.”

Jade quickly embraced me in his arms. It seemed to be quite a deep cut, as the red blood from my waist had thoroughly soaked my dress.

‘It hurts…’

Fortunately, since I had pushed him away, Jade didn’t appear to have any significant injuries.

In that moment of shock, my only thought was that I had to save him.

“Jade… Sharlin, Winst was alive. She didn’t die from the plague in prison.”

At that time, a plague had coincidentally broken out in the prison on the day Grand Duke Usith visited.

I should have looked into it more closely instead of dismissing it…

‘So there was a reason for putting clementine, which stiffens nerves and slows reactions, in the wine.’

It was undoubtedly clear to anyone that Grand Duke Usith had broken Sharlin out of prison and ordered her to kill Jade.

“…Damn it. Larien, stop talking. Is that important right now? When you’re in so much pain.”

“Are you… angry?”

“If you couldn’t dodge with me, you should have just stayed still. Why did you have to step in and get hurt like this? I’m taking you to a doctor right now, so don’t lose consciousness until then. Are you listening to me?”

I know he’s speaking harshly out of distress and blaming me unnecessarily.

And that he keeps talking to me because he’s afraid I’ll lose consciousness.

“Jade…”

“…Larien?”

“I’m… so sleepy…”

Because of that, even though I tried to hold onto consciousness, my awareness gradually blurred and my eyelids closed.

“Larien! No! Please. Please open your eyes.”

Jade’s desperate pleading voice was my last memory of that day.

I was standing barefoot on a sandy beach.

‘Where is this? When did I come here? Where was I originally?’

As I opened my eyes to the salty sea breeze, a vast beach stretched out before me.

“Mom! It’s so cool here! Come in quickly!”

“…Blanche?”

Blanche, with her light brown hair tied in two braids, was swimming and playing in the water.

“Blanche, play in the shallow area where it’s safe! Don’t go in any deeper!”

Worried about Blanche, I stepped forward and saw a young boy crouching nearby.

‘Two years old? Maybe three?’

The boy had silver hair and red eyes, looking just like Jade’s childhood self.

“Hey. What’s your name? Where are your parents?”

There didn’t seem to be anyone around who looked like the boy’s parents. In fact, only the three of us – me, Blanche, and the boy – existed on that beach.

‘But they must be nearby. What parents would let such a young child play alone?’

The boy lowered his head at my question and mumbled in a small voice.

I couldn’t hear well, so I bent my knees and sat down next to him.

“No name. No parents.”

Only then could I hear what the boy was saying. No name and no parents?

I was flustered and tried to comfort the child.

“W-what do you mean? How can you be born without a mom and dad? I’m sure… they’re just taking a long time choosing a good name for you, right?”

As I said this, I kept looking around to see if anyone was passing by.

“I let go of mommy’s hand. Grandpa told me to hold on tight and not let go, but I let go…”

“Um, shall we look for your mom and grandpa together?”

He was crying so pitifully, and I couldn’t just leave this boy alone anyway.

The only option was to find his mom and grandpa and reunite them.

“Blanche! Stop playing and come here!”

Blanche came out of the sea, walking towards us dripping with water.

“Aww, Shu Shu wants to play more. It feels so nice and cool.”

I smiled as I wiped the water from Blanche’s face.

“Let’s help our friend here find his mom and grandpa, then we can play again. Okay?”

“Mom and grandpa…?”

Blanche tilted her head, looking at the boy as if she didn’t understand.

‘Why is Blanche acting like that?’

She soon approached the boy, took his hand, and exclaimed.

“Mom! This is Shu Shu’s little brother! Why are you pretending not to know? You’re the mom!”

“…Huh? What did you say?”

I wondered if Blanche was misunderstanding something.

‘Blanche’s brother? That would mean he’s my child?’

Of course, this boy did resemble Jade a lot, but I thought it was just a coincidence.

‘Wait, when was I ever pregnant?’

My head hurt trying to remember, but nothing came to mind.

“…Blanche?”

At that moment, Blanche’s figure became blurry and then disappeared completely.

“Blanche! W-what’s going on?”

The boy stood up, dusted off his hands, and looked at me straight.

“I sent sissy back to where she originally was. There’s not much time left, and I wanted to be alone with you.”

“What…?”

“Since this is a place I created, sissy will be there again when you leave here. So don’t worry too much.”

The boy’s eyes looked so sad. It seemed like he wanted to cry right away but was holding back.

It reminded me so much of Jade.

‘Blanche said it. That he’s her brother. That I’m… the mom.’

Could it be that this boy is… really my baby?

But why can’t I remember anything?

“It’s natural that you don’t remember who I am. Once I let go of mommy’s hand, I can never hold it again. You probably forgot then.”

The boy answered as if he had read my mind, responding to what I was curious about.

‘Come to think of it, he talks just like Blanche.’

…Finally, I was certain.

That he really is my child.

“Baby…”

“…Mommy. I’m so jealous of sissy. Sissy has always been with you, and will be in the future too. I want to be with you like sissy.”

I understood what the child meant.

‘This must be a dream. This child has already died…’

I felt a sad feeling that I would never see this child again if not for this moment.

“Oh no. And I didn’t even know…”

I had said things like I would help him find his mom and grandpa, and how could someone not have parents, hurting him.

I placed my hand on the child’s cheek and caressed it. No matter how much I stroked, I couldn’t touch him. Even though he was so close.

“Mommy can’t touch me.”

“…I’m sorry. For not remembering you, for not being able to touch you. For letting go of your hand.”

“I was the one who let go of mommy’s hand. You don’t have to apologize. It’s just that, this is the last time I can bring you here now, so please play with me.”

The child was so mature. To the point of saying let’s enjoy this time rather than be sad about it.

“Shall we…?”

The child nodded vigorously and entered the sea. He swam, splashed water at me, and somehow produced a ball, asking me to throw it to him.

I used all my energy to play with the child, knowing it was the last time. In the end, we both got tired and lay down on the sandy beach.

“That was so fun.”

“…I’m glad. Are you always alone here? What do you usually do to pass the time?”

“I… wait for mommy.”

If mommy, if I, can never come…

‘Does that mean he can’t go to a good place even after death and keeps waiting for me?’

My heart was torn. If only I had done better, if only I had protected the child.

Then this child wouldn’t have to wait alone or suffer.

“Mommy. Can you hear?”

“Hear what…?”

“Daddy and sissy are telling you to open your eyes. Sissy is crying. It’s time to go.”

I couldn’t easily open my mouth. I was concerned about Blanche, who was said to be crying, but this child who would be left alone when I leave was weighing on my mind.

‘I can comfort Blanche anytime, even if not now… but not this child.’

I reached out my hand towards the child.

“…Mommy can’t touch me anyway.”

“Still, I want to hug you once. Come here, quickly.”

The child hesitated, then hugged me, burying his face in my neck.

“Mommy. Can’t you stay here and not go anywhere? Live here with me forever.”

“…”

Once again, I couldn’t answer.

I couldn’t choose between leaving this child here and never seeing Blanche again.

The child separated from me and turned up the corners of his mouth.

“Actually, I knew it wasn’t possible. I know that mommy can’t stay here with me. Because sissy and daddy are waiting for mommy. I didn’t intend to keep you here forever.”

The child’s way of speaking suddenly changed.

“I tried to imitate sissy, was it the same? I thought if I acted like sissy, mommy would recognize me.”

“…”

I felt even more sorry. I didn’t realize until Blanche said he was her brother.

I just thought it was interesting that he resembled Jade.

“Mommy.”

“…Yes.”

“Goodbye. Take care.”

The child waved his hand with bitter eyes.

“…Baby.”

Blink, blink, blink.

As I opened my eyes, I saw the familiar chandelier.

The soft, fluffy texture of the blanket filled my hands.

I felt a stinging pain in my waist.

“Larien!”

“Mom!”

Jade and Blanche called out to me from either side.

As expected, that child wasn’t there.