The Ghost Lady Of The Duke's Family (20 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 11

Aeli, who had unconsciously nodded her head, widened her eyes in shock.

She had overheard the servants’ conversations and knew something was coming, but still… this was…

‘Isn’t this far too sudden?’

Yesterday, someone had said, “At most, three days,” so technically only about two days remained. Thus, it wouldn’t be particularly strange if he returned now.

She knew that much.

‘Even if I did say I wanted to see him yesterday, still—’

She needed time to prepare herself mentally!

Aeli, who had been imagining kicking Lutis in the backside at every turn, still hadn’t gathered the courage to face him in person and now tugged hard at her own hair.

Her long tresses reached down to her chest, making them perfectly easy to grab.

—Who actually comes just because you ask them to? Seriously, this quickly…?

She was muttering softly to herself, completely forgetting that Adrian was right beside her.

At the curious gaze and the following voice, Aeli barely managed to anchor her drifting thoughts and turned her head.

“…Appa?”

“Hmm… yeah…”

“He’s… here…?”

No sooner had Mari slowly nodded than Adrian’s mouth began to open gradually. Just like Aeli before him, his face was filled with startled disbelief, as if doubting whether he’d truly heard correctly.

Thud.

The warm, soft bread clutched in his small hand rolled onto the floor.

His pupils trembled slightly, and the boy, who moments ago had been smacking his lips from hunger, now opened his mouth as though he’d completely forgotten about being hungry.

“Does that mean… I—I can really see Appa?”

“…”

“Will he come… to see me…?”

Caught off guard by the softly whispered question, Mari was lost for words. To be precise, Aeli was too.

Whether Lutis would come to see him or not…

…Well.

She herself had been absent for four years, and without knowing the full story, she couldn’t be certain. But still…

“…”

Had Mari not been staring without blinking, Aeli might have missed it entirely—the fleeting expression of despair that crossed Mari’s face.

Ah, he won’t come.

Overwhelmed by grief and sorrow, Mari, unable to articulate her feelings, remarkably composed her expression in an instant.

Fortunately, Adrian, busy fiddling with his hands while staring down at the floor, hadn’t noticed any of it. He only hastily added something, unnerved by the silence stretching longer than expected.

“A-ah… no! It’s not like I really, really wanted to see Appa or anything!”

“…”

“I was just… curious, ‘cause I’ve never properly seen him before, is all! I’m totally fine, really!”

“…”

“They said war is super dangerous, right? Appa isn’t hurt anywhere? All ten fingers and toes intact?”

“…No. I haven’t heard anything about him being injured.”

“Okay, then that’s good.”

Now let’s eat. With a bland expression, the boy picked up his spoon.

But Aeli didn’t take his words at face value.

Mari probably felt the same way.

After all, both of them had clearly seen the unhidden hope still lingering in the boy’s eyes.

[This is the timeline separator]

Four days had passed.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, Lutis hadn’t come to see Adrian as expected—making Mari’s earlier worry seem almost foolish.

The manor, which just days ago had been bustling with preparations for the master’s return, had fallen astonishingly quiet.

Especially the annex where Adrian stayed—it was almost unnervingly so.

“If you water Flower-nim~ the fairies will come say hello~”

—…

“Ah, so refreshing! Makes me wanna dance, swaying happily~”

Aeli watched the boy seated beside her as he watered a potted plant. Humming a tune whose lyrics made little sense, he rested his chin on his arms, which lay across the desk.

His mood seemed unusually good, judging by how he swung his dangling legs back and forth beneath the chair.

Lazy sunlight poured through the large open window. The sky answered with brilliant clarity, and even the cheerful chirping of birds outside sounded just right.

By all appearances, it was a peaceful and tranquil moment.

But still…

—Hmm…

Aeli, gazing at the boy with deep affection, let out a quiet sigh and spoke.

—Adi.

“Yes, Lia? What is it?”

—Aren’t you going out today either?

“Um… I wanna stay in my room.”

—…But it’s already been four nights. You haven’t taken your usual walks or read any of your favorite books.

“But right now, flowers are better…”

What if they wilt while I’m gone? After saying that, the boy fixed his eyes back on the flowerpot. Aeli let out a deep sigh.

Something was definitely wrong.

‘At first, I thought he just really liked flowers.’

But surely, this was going too far.

She could understand if it lasted a day or two while he was in a good mood—but by the fourth day, she couldn’t help but worry.

A four-year-old who hadn’t stepped outside his room once in four days, entirely absorbed in tending to flowers.

Setting aside his unnatural focus, the fact that he spent every waking moment—except for meals and sleep—completely fixated on that single flowerpot was deeply troubling.

‘If I’d known it would turn out like this, I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.’

She regretted ever suggesting bringing a potted plant into his room.

Determined to coax him outside today no matter what, Aeli gently coaxed him in a soft voice.

—How about we take just one quick round around the manor? And maybe stop by Mari’s for a candy on the way back?

“But we’re only allowed one a day. She said if I eat too much honey, my stomach will melt.”

—…Huh?

“If I eat too many candies, my tongue hurts. Mari said it might even melt away before it reaches my stomach…”

Aeli, who’d been feeling oddly responsible about the whole thing, could only gape at this utterly unexpected reply.

While she blinked in confusion, a memory suddenly flashed through her mind.

[Ah, Miss, do you remember that time?] [What time?] [Back when we were little—you, Young Master, and me—we snuck out and ate Runeba candies in the middle of the night and got caught.] […Yeah, that’s right.] [Remember how our mom said we were doomed because we’d eaten so much our stomachs would melt, and all three of us cried our eyes out?] [Yeah… we did.]

Back then, they’d genuinely believed it and sobbed in terror.

They’d even hugged each other tightly, exchanged tearful farewells for all the kindness they’d shared, and solemnly vowed to die together—gathering in one room to write remarkably earnest wills.

‘If I recall correctly, mine said to transfer ownership of the “treasure” hidden in the box under my bed to Mother.’

Granted, their “treasure” was just pretty buttons and chocolates they’d been saving.

Later, the nanny arrived with a small bottle and a spoon, claiming it was an antidote—but she’d only give it to them if they promised never to sneak snacks again. In the end, after extracting that promise, she made each of them take a spoonful of the liquid.

Only later did they learn it was actually their father’s invention—“Tooth-Strengthening Potion, Guaranteed Not to Cause Cavities.”

[I suddenly remembered that yesterday and asked her why she lied.] [And?] [Turns out she’d done it on purpose—seeing how we gorged ourselves on sweets like baby bears dipping paws in honey, she was worried it’d ruin our health.] […] [She said the Count and Madam agreed with her too.] […Could you go tell the head chef I’ll only eat desserts for the next week?]

Aeli thought to herself.

‘Mari… you really put that memory to good use.’

Watching the boy, who believed Mari’s words completely, Aeli couldn’t help but nod.

Why did he have to take after her in this, of all things?

Staring straight at him, Aeli finally spoke.

—Having just one shouldn’t hurt, as long as you brush your teeth really well afterward. It’s just… you shouldn’t eat too many, or it won’t be good for you.

“Refrain?”

—Ah… I mean, avoid it. Or… um. Even if you want more, you have to hold back.

“Gasp.”

So… I can have one more without getting hurt? the boy asked. Aeli quickly nodded.

—Of course.

Though bribing him with sweets wasn’t the best long-term strategy… leaving him cooped up in his room wasn’t an option either, so for now, this was the best she could do.

The boy, rolling his eyes thoughtfully, quietly stood up from his seat. Then, with a rather solemn expression, he spoke.

“…Let’s go eat it, then.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Aeli swiftly took his small hand and led him out of the room.

She moved quickly, fearing he might change his mind.

That part went well enough.

—…

“…?”

—…Maybe we should leave that behind before we go?

Aeli spoke gently, watching the boy trying to shuffle off with the flowerpot tucked under his arm.

His small mouth opened as if to protest—but after seeing Aeli’s firm expression, it twitched several times and fell silent.

“But this one!”

—Hm?

“Th-this one…!”

—…

“…”

In the end, his tiny mouth shut tightly like a clam, unable to find the right words.

Aeli gave a small nod as she watched him trudge back to place the pot carefully on the desk before returning.

He looked a bit downcast—but honestly, at her age, she had no desire to engage in a willpower contest with a four-year-old!

…Still, after all that coaxing, she couldn’t possibly let him keep staring at that flowerpot even outside his room.

It had cost her a small piece of her conscience—but the victory felt surprisingly satisfying.

‘At this rate, maybe I’d even consider letting Lutis off with just kneeling and fasting until Adrian forgives him.’

Not that she actually planned to—but still.

‘Only two days left until his birthday… Let’s just hold on until then.’

Who knew? Maybe throwing him a birthday party would finally ease his obsession with the flowerpot.

She’d discovered this by secretly following Mari the other night after noticing her suspiciously busy behavior.

There was party-grade magic gear neatly stored in one corner of the room, and even cake design notes that looked like they were still being planned.

Their meaning was clear.

‘But… how did she even get her hands on magic gear?’

…Had prices really changed that much over the past four years?