The body of Earl Boston was laid to rest on the hill behind the villa. It was right next to Diane’s grave.

For two days, I cried so much that my eyes were red and swollen.

“It would be best to hold the funeral after the estate is stabilized.”

“It’s better to delay informing the estate about the Earl’s death as much as possible. We should announce it before the succession ceremony. Ah, I’ve placed the portrait in a frame.”

Aaron, coming out of the playroom, brought the framed portrait painted by Earl Boston.

“…It looks somewhat empty with only the face and body painted. If only he had held on a little longer.”

Looking at the unfinished portrait without a background left a bitter taste.

I choked up, remembering the moment when Earl Boston’s breath ceased, his brush dropping midway.

“Shall we find a painter with a similar style to the Earl’s to complete it?”

Aaron asked me cautiously as I stared at the white space.

Though it would be complete if filled by another artist’s hand, Earl Boston’s trace would be gone.

Even if it remained empty, I wanted to keep it with his touch.

It was a portrait filled with affection. The expression of the eyes was particularly delicate.

The sea-colored eyes with a hint of purple were how he looked at me. His emotions of joy when he first saw me and the warm gaze he had given me all along were melted in.

“…Even if it’s similar, it won’t be Uncle. I also don’t want someone else’s trace added to his last gift. I’ll keep it as it is.”

“I understand, Young Earl. No…”

Aaron, who nodded as if understanding my intention, paused for a moment.

“I should call you Earl now. From now on, Lady Larien will be the one leading the Boston earldom.”

The day Aaron’s way of addressing me changed for the first time.

I felt a sense of responsibility to work hard so as not to tarnish Diane’s name.

‘Now I’m truly the Earl of Boston.’

At the moment, I felt overwhelmed by the uncertainty of whether I could do well.

“Aaron will have to stay in Rukah and manage the trading company, but can I really do well on my own? I’m afraid I might ruin the Boston that Uncle nurtured.”

“I taught you to the best of my ability. And you’ve mastered it all, Lady Larien.”

“…I miss those times. The days when I took lessons from Aaron under Uncle’s protection.”

“When you’re afraid, take pride in the fact that I, who graduated from Romer Academy with honors, acknowledged you.”

Aaron’s voice, which was initially playful as he recited his credentials, turned serious.

“And think of the Earl’s judgment in entrusting Boston to you, Lady Larien.”

“…Uncle’s judgment?”

“Yes. The Earl was kind, but he wasn’t someone who would let just anyone succeed Boston because of blood ties.”

Aaron whispered softly in my ear.

“It’s a secret, but he always sighed worrying about Boston’s future when he saw Lady Diane studying. Lady Diane didn’t want to be the successor and only took exams halfheartedly.”

“…”

“He was pleased that he didn’t have the same worries when receiving reports about you, Lady Larien.”

He took out a letter from inside his jacket and handed it to me.

“This is the will left by the Earl. He wrote it instructing not to contact you, Lady Larien.”

“…Aaron. Thank you. For not following Uncle’s instructions and telling me.”

“You can thank me later, please read the letter first.”

I opened the letter.

The clumsy handwriting, filled with trembling, covered the page densely.

“His hand must have been numb while writing such a long letter…”

“From the day he arrived in Rukah, he was either writing this or just organizing his paints. Even when I offered to help, he stubbornly refused.”

Hoping that the time reading his letter would be prolonged even a little, not wanting to miss a single word, I slowly took it in with my eyes.

By the time you read this letter, I will have returned to God’s embrace.

I think you must be very surprised. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to return in good health.

And for letting you hear about it this way… I didn’t want you to worry about me knowing I was sick.

I won’t ask you to understand this choice. You can resent me for not telling you in advance.

Still, I hope you won’t remember me too much. Don’t let sorrow bind you.

This father wants you to keep moving forward.

My daughter. I have two requests. Please protect what I have been protecting.

I’m leaving at ease, believing that you will do well enough.

And don’t hold a funeral. I want to rest peacefully where Diane is.

My daughter. My beloved child. I wanted to be a father to you, and I wanted to call you this many times, but I hesitated, fearing it might hurt you.

It was never that I didn’t love you.

Always remember that this father loved you very much.

With longing, to my daughter. ]

Transparent tears fell onto the last sentence.

“…Aaron. I think it’s best not to hold a funeral.”

“What did the Earl write to make you cry like this?”

I thought I wouldn’t cry anymore, but I was wrong.

“Father said… he wanted to be a father… that he loved me very much…”

The plea to always remember that he had always loved me comforted the young me who had been abandoned by my parents.

I had to start preparing to return to Langrang Sha.

I had come in a hurry, and the situation in the estate wasn’t good, so I couldn’t stay in Rukah any longer.

Just before leaving, I went to see Earl Boston one last time.

As I climbed the hill, I saw two shadows, one big and one small, side by side.

‘I wondered where they went, but they were here.’

Blanche was standing in front of Earl Boston’s grave with Jade.

Until now, I hadn’t met Blanche because tears would suddenly come out.

She would also get sad seeing me cry, and I didn’t want to confuse her as she was still young and didn’t understand death.

So Blanche spent a lot of time with Jade, and they seemed to have become quite close.

‘Even though Jade hugged Blanche, it’s the first time I’ve seen them holding hands.’

Seeing them holding hands.

A cool sea breeze blew, scattering our hair.

It was similar to Earl Boston’s touch when he used to pat my head.

“Marchioness. Why does Mommy’s heart hurt? Where did Grandpa go?”

“Your grandpa is here. Larien can’t see Earl Boston anymore.”

“Why can’t we see Grandpa?”

“Because he’s dead.”

I flinched at Jade’s blunt explanation.

‘What are you trying to do by saying it so openly?’

I thought Blanche would be scared and burst into tears.

“If he’s dead, can we never see him again…?”

“It’s not just your grandpa, it’s the same for everyone. That’s why I often regret not being able to say thank you while they’re alive.”

“Shu Shu doesn’t regret it!”

However, Blanche broke that expectation and shouted vigorously.

“Because I always told Grandpa thank you! And that I loved him!”

“…I regretted it. You’re better than me.”

Jade exclaimed, placing his hand on Blanche’s head.

“So, I’m going to do it for Marchioness and Mommy too. We shouldn’t regret it later, right?”

“Do as you please.”

He said with a slight smile.

“Shu Shu has a question. Is Grandpa not in pain anymore? Not coughing either?”

“He wouldn’t be in pain. He’s dead.”

“Phew, that’s a relief. Shu Shu dislikes Grandpa being in pain more than not being able to see him.”

Blanche sighed in relief, stroking her chest.

‘…Blanche is right, it’s a relief. He won’t be in pain anymore.’

I found comfort in not being able to see Earl Boston.

“Mommy!”

Blanche, who discovered me as she turned around, let go of Jade’s hand and ran over.

“Blanche, were you waiting for Mommy?”

“Yes! Shu Shu missed Mommy so much! Mommy smells good.”

Blanche, who hugged me, rubbed her face against me and inhaled deeply.

“Without Mommy, Shu Shu was bored.”

“Even though you were with Jade?”

“The Marquis didn’t play with Shu Shu much. Today, Shu Shu won a bet and barely managed to drag him to see Grandpa.”

Jade, who had been listening to the conversation, walked over and laughed incredulously.

“I did play with you. I gave you piggyback rides and even ate macarons you didn’t want to eat. Don’t fabricate.”

“Shu Shu doesn’t know what fabricate means.”

“You know but pretend not to.”

It was fun watching the two argue as words were exchanged.

“Larien. Your eyes are still red. Did you cry again?”

Jade stroked my eyes.

“…I still wish everything was a dream. But I’ll be okay.”

“Don’t cry. It hurts your eyes.”

“I’m not crying.”

I decided to say thank you when I could, while we were together.

“Thank you, Jade. For being with Blanche. For coming with me and being here. Without you, it would have been hard to endure, right?”

That way, there would be no regrets later.

“All of a sudden…”

Jade rubbed his nape and averted his eyes.

“Shu Shu too! Shu Shu will stay with you like this too!”

“Oh my, really? Mommy feels so reassured that our baby will stay with her. Thank you for staying with me.”

Jade muttered softly.

“…Even though I don’t have it, I’ll stay with you in the future too. Don’t be with other guys. Stay with me.”

He said he would stay with me in the future too.

Somehow, I felt much happier than when I was alone with Blanche.

It felt like a lost piece was being put back together.

‘Father. You said you’d watch over me. I won’t cry anymore.’

Because I wasn’t alone, I gained confidence that I would do well.

“Why are you smiling, Larien?”

“…Because I’m happy.”