To You, Whom I Shouldn't Love - Chapter 39

Clearly, Noah and Chloe, whom I had just seen earlier, were twins of the same age.

Although children grow at different rates, even considering that, the developmental states of the two children were markedly different.

Unlike Chloe, whose face and limbs were pleasantly plump, Noah was slightly thin.

Unlike typical children with chubby baby fat, he had no fat on his cheeks, making his cheekbones prominent.

The wrist revealed under his slightly worn sleeve was also thin. Even his hands were so devoid of fat that his finger bones were visibly prominent.

Moreover, his body was so small that he looked a year or two younger than Chloe.

Even considering the age difference, he was definitely smaller than my 10-year-old brother Aaron back home.

It meant his developmental state was not very good.

The dream I had yesterday flashed through my mind. The words that Noah Winkler had died after being hit with a vase.

Riena, just in case, rolled up the child’s sleeve to examine his arm. She also lifted his pants to observe his calves.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, there were no signs of abuse on the child’s body. At least not in visible areas.

However, judging by his clothes and developmental state, even if not abused, he seemed to have been neglected.

‘How on earth… Why?’

If Chloe had been in a similar state, it would have been understandable.

But it was incomprehensible that only Noah was in this condition.

It was when Riena was at a loss for words, maintaining silence. Noah, who had been quiet even as she examined his arms and legs, asked softly.

“Are you an angel, sister?”

“Huh?”

“Are you an angel who came to take me?”

“I am…”

As Riena was hesitating on how to define herself, the child whimpered.

“Please take me away.”

“…What?”

“I heard heaven is a good place. A place where you don’t hurt and are just happy. So…”

The child burst into tears all at once with a ‘waaah’.

“Please take me away.”

9 years old. If Riena’s memory was correct, the child was only 9 years old. Aaron Dyke back home was also about 10, similar to him.

Aaron, who grew up showered with love from his parents and sister, was an immature child.

He loved eating delicious food and playing the most, and would play hide-and-seek with his tutor to avoid studying.

Though there was a one-year age difference between the two children, in fact, there wasn’t much difference between 9 and 10 years old.

A year was too short a time for an immature child to suddenly mature.

Riena too was equally carefree and immature at both 9 and 10 years old.

That’s what being 9 years old was like.

But why was this child making such an expression, saying such things?

Begging to be taken to heaven with a face showing no attachment to life.

Was life more painful than hell for this child?

“Well, I am…”

For some reason, she felt choked up. Riena, feeling her eyes moistening, reached out her hand to the child.

“I’m Uncle Cassel’s friend.”

She defined her relationship with Cassel that way, thinking the child might not understand the word ‘fiancée’.

“Uncle Cassel?”

“Yes. Do you know Uncle Cassel?”

“Umm…”

Noah didn’t seem to know Cassel.

“Noah, you have a dad, right? Your dad had a younger brother. That’s Uncle Cassel.”

“Umm…”

“He’s another family member of yours. I came to see Noah with Uncle Cassel.”

“So you’re not an angel?”

The child’s face crumpled as if even that last bit of hope had crumbled.

Why on earth was this child so desperately looking for an angel? Riena couldn’t understand, but she decided to calm the child for now.

She hesitated for a moment before suggesting.

“Do you want to go eat some custard pudding?”

Custard pudding was Aaron Dyke’s favorite snack.

No matter how upset or angry he was, he would soon grin and laugh if offered pudding.

That was the only way Riena knew to comfort a child.

“…Pudding?”

The child blinked his wet eyes as if hearing such a thing for the first time.

He didn’t seem as delighted as Aaron would be, but at least the tears had stopped, so it was half a success.

“My brother always stopped crying immediately when offered pudding.”

The child’s lips quivered before he answered.

“I want to eat it.”

A single sentence clearly spoken with courage. Riena smiled brightly so the child wouldn’t feel intimidated.

“Then let’s go, Noah.”

Riena held out her hand to Noah. Noah hesitated before taking her hand.

The child’s hand was so small and soft.

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“Sister, that’s so mean! You said you’d come back to play with me! Where are you going without me?”

As Riena was walking hand in hand with Noah to find the dining room, Chloe’s clear voice was heard from behind.

Turning around, she saw Chloe running towards them, her twin braids fluttering.

Spotting Chloe, Noah hid behind Riena and mumbled.

“…ding?”

“What?”

“To eat pudding.”

“Pudding?”

The girl made a ‘hmm’ sound and approached Riena closely.

“I want to go too.”

“Huh?”

Chloe looked up at Riena with her blue eyes sparkling brightly.

“Can’t I?”

“No, of course you can. Let’s go. I was having trouble finding the dining room anyway, could you guide us?”

“Sure!”

Chloe unhesitatingly took Riena’s left hand.

Riena walked holding the twins’ hands and had a brief conversation with Chloe.

“Sister, you’re lucky you found that dummy!”

“I’m not a dummy…”

While talking with Chloe, Riena noticed something a bit strange.

‘This child is just completely cheerful?’

There was nothing wrong with a 9-year-old being cheerful.

Rather, it was nice to see her chirping away like a sparrow, which was typical for a child that age.

However, it was puzzling how different Noah and Chloe’s attitudes were.

Unlike Noah, who had clearly been abused, Chloe showed signs of having grown up showered with love. Just like Aaron Dyke.

Why was that?

‘Usually, even if there’s discrimination, they neglect the girl who can’t inherit the family…’

Riena’s question remained unanswered as the three arrived at the dining room.

A maid coming out of the kitchen was startled to see Chloe.

“Miss Chloe, what brings you here? And…”

The maid trailed off as she saw Noah.

As Riena was about to explain the situation, Chloe shouted first.

“Pudding! We came to eat pudding!”

“Pudding?”

“Yes!”

“We don’t have any pudding prepared, so you’ll have to wait a bit. How about some chocolate cookies instead? They’re freshly baked and still warm.”

“Mmm, I want pudding.”

Riena intervened.

“I’m sorry. I suggested eating pudding, and it seems they’ve latched onto that idea.”

“It’s no problem.”

The maid straightened her back and addressed Riena formally.

“You must be Lady Dyke? I’ve heard about you. I’ll prepare the pudding right away and bring it up.”

“Then I’ll wait in the playroom!”

Chloe took Riena’s hand again.

“Sister! Let’s go! Hurry!”

“Okay, let’s go.”

The maid’s expression seemed odd. Riena decided to go along with Chloe for now and left the dining room.

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“I will escort the young lady and young master.”

As soon as they left the dining room, the head butler approached Riena as if he had been waiting.

Riena observed Noah and Chloe’s expressions. While Chloe showed no particular change, Noah flinched.

The head butler also didn’t seem to be very friendly towards Noah.

“I will escort the lady to the reception room until the Duke and Master finish their conversation.”

“I promised to eat pudding with the children. I’d like to stay with them until the Duke arrives, if that’s alright?”

“That might be difficult.”

“Why?”

“We can’t burden a guest with looking after the young master and young lady. We can’t impose on you like that.”

“Impose? I’m going to be these children’s aunt. I want to spend time with my niece and nephew, is there a problem with that?”

Chloe tugged on Riena’s hand and asked.

“Sister, what’s an aunt?”

“I’ll explain later.”

Riena patted Chloe’s back and spoke firmly to the head butler.

“I’ll look after them.”

The standoff between the head butler and Riena continued. Neither was willing to budge.

“What are you doing? I said I’m going to play with sister.”

However, when Chloe spoke primly to the head butler, he had no choice but to give in to Riena’s wishes.

Riena took Noah and Chloe to the playroom she had seen earlier.

Unlike Chloe who acted naturally, Noah hesitated and didn’t want to leave Riena’s side.

Riena noticed from Noah’s behavior that the child wasn’t familiar with this playroom.

She gently pushed Noah’s back.

“Noah, don’t you want to go play a bit?”

“I, I…”

Noah buried his face in Riena’s clothes.

“I want to stay with sister.”

“But…”

As she focused on Noah, Chloe seemed to get jealous and came running with a book.

“Sister, sister! Will you read a book with me?”

“Sure, let’s do that. Come on, Noah.”

Noah still shook his head repeatedly.