IPAMB 29

Chapter: 33

Celia returned to the Grand Duke Cassius’s residence as if she had been driven out, her strength completely drained, and made her way back to the Aster Marquessate.

She hadn’t expected Lysithea to come back willingly.

She simply couldn’t bear to sit still and do nothing.

“Celia, was it? Regret always comes too late.”

The moment Grand Duke Cassius uttered those words, it felt to Celia as though a massive door had slammed shut before her.

As if it would never open again.

Unable to endure the anxiety churning inside her, she had rushed to the Grand Duke’s estate without thinking.

“Celia, I just don’t want you in the rest of my life.”

She hadn’t expected to be welcomed—but she had never imagined he would say something so cruel.

It would have been better if she hadn’t gone at all.

Dragging her feet, Celia slowly lifted her head.

Even though it was midnight, the Aster estate was as bright as day.

Because the demonic beast harpy had crashed through the roof, repairs were being carried out day and night.

Celia’s once-comfortable sanctuary had turned into a chaotic construction site filled with noise and dust.

After watching workers bustle back and forth, Celia turned toward the rear garden.

Crossing the garden, she arrived at the detached residence where Lysithea had once stayed.

The interior had burned completely in the fire, but fortunately the building’s framework remained intact.

If we just repair it, it’ll be like before in no time…

Celia’s hurried steps came to an abrupt halt.

She stared blankly at the annex in disbelief.

The structure that had been perfectly fine just this morning was now being torn apart beyond recognition.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Shouting at the top of her lungs, Celia pushed through the workers who had begun dismantling it.

“Who gave you permission to tear this down? Do you even know where you are? This is Aster! Do you think you’ll get away with doing this to an Aster property?”

“W-we’re just doing what we were paid to do, miss.”

“Paid? Who ordered this?!”

“The young marquis instructed us to clear everything immediately—leave no trace.”

“Eddie?”

At that moment, there was the rustle of grass being stepped on behind her.

Celia turned.

“Celi, if you’ve arrived home, why aren’t you resting? Why are you out here—”

The person who appeared was her other half, Edward, who had been by her side since the moment she was born.

Edward strode toward her with concern written on his face, but when his gaze shifted between the half-demolished annex and the workers, his expression turned troubled.

That expression alone gave her the answer.

But Celia refused to believe it.

“Eddie, no, right? I told you clearly. Not a single brick, not even a tile pattern could be different. It had to be restored exactly as it was.”

There was no way Edward would have forgotten what she said. So this had to be some kind of misunderstanding.

Edward ran a hand down his face and sighed.

“Celi, you know it too. Sister isn’t coming back.”

The building would have become vacant once Lysithea married anyway.

And after such a major fire, it was only natural to clear away the unsightly wreckage as soon as possible.

Celia’s eyes flashed sharply. She grabbed his arm tightly.

“So you’re going to erase all of her traces? As if she never existed in this house?”

“What nonsense. Don’t exaggerate just because we’re clearing burnt debris.”

Just because the building she stayed in disappeared didn’t mean the surname attached to her name would change.

Edward thought his twin was being unreasonable.

Celia bit her lip hard.

The irritation, impatience, and faint disdain in Edward’s face touched something she had been suppressing.

“No, that’s not it. Eddie, did you think I wouldn’t notice? You’re afraid of her.”

That was why she couldn’t let it go like usual.

“Do you know what you look like right now? You’re like a foal with its tail on fire, panicking that someone might notice you’re scared.”

Edward thought Celia looked more like a wounded cat with all its fur standing on end.

Arguing like this would only waste unnecessary emotion.

“…You must be tired after going out. Just rest. Escort the young lady to her room.”

“Let go! Don’t touch me!”

The servants hesitated at Celia’s sharp tone.

“Celi, I’m already having a hard enough time. You don’t need to act like this too.”

In just a few days, he had lost so much weight that his clothes hung loosely on him.

Worse still, even in this state, he couldn’t spare a moment to train his body.

“That’s exactly why! If you’re already struggling, why start a fight with me by stubbornly trying to erase her traces?!”

“I’m just doing what I have to do.”

“Is it a coincidence that you started this while I was out? It’s not, is it? You’re lying to me.”

Celia was unusually persistent today. He couldn’t brush her off with vague excuses.

“…You said you knew. That I’m afraid of her. Do I need another reason?”

“Why? Aster will be yours anyway. What are you so afraid of?”

Edward looked at her silently.

Sometimes her innocent ignorance was overwhelming.

He resented that the heavy burdens always seemed to fall on him.

“Celi, do you think Aster will remain whole when it becomes mine? If the Cullinan mine is no longer ours, do you think Aster can keep enjoying the same glory as now?”

It was a problem foreseen the moment the heir to the Cullinan mine and the heir to Aster became two separate people.

And that was only part of what frightened Edward.

“Eddie… that’s all?”

“‘That’s all’—ha… Let’s stop. Talking more won’t get us anywhere.”

“What did you just say? Say it again.”

When he looked up, Celia’s eyes were already brimming with tears.

He hesitated between turning away and fulfilling his duty to comfort her.

He chose the latter.

Forcing the corners of his lips upward, Edward tugged lightly at her sleeve.

“Celi, I’m just tired. I misspoke. So please, let’s stop for today. Okay? I only slept two hours last night.”

He even drooped his eyes to look pitiful.

“…Move. You’re heavy.”

Celia pushed him away as if annoyed, but her voice had clearly softened.

Looking down at the crown of her head, Edward swallowed a sigh.

Celia was infinitely lovable and precious—but there were days like today when he had to fabricate affection out of obligation.

“Where’s Father?”

“He’s waiting for you. Let’s go.”

As Edward pulled her along, Celia wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

She didn’t want him to notice she hadn’t fully stopped crying.

Edward had bowed first—if she didn’t yield as well, she feared she’d be hated.

The backs of her father and brother, standing to protect her, were so broad and imposing that sometimes Celia felt suffocated.

At times like that, she imagined those sturdy walls collapsing into rubble.

“Celi, what are you doing?”

Edward had already reached their destination and was holding the door open for her.

“Nothing.”

Smiling brightly, Celia skipped into her warmly lit, cozy sanctuary—

A place surrounded by high walls layered upon each other, where no one could harm her.

“Hmm, hmm…”

Humming cheerfully, Marie gently brushed Lysithea’s hair.

“Milady, how shall I do your hair today? What about braiding it and looping it like this?”

Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she experimented with the long strands.

Lysithea gave a faint smile.

“Do it however. I’m not going out anywhere.”

“…Yes.”

Marie’s voice dragged out as her shoulders slumped.

It felt as though cold water had been poured over the girl who had just been humming happily.

“Make it one loose braid. Like last week.”

“Yes!”

Instantly revived, Marie hummed again and braided Lysithea’s hair together with a blue satin ribbon.

Perhaps because Marie’s fingers were a bit clumsy, the finished style looked slightly loose, as if unfinished.

But seeing Marie nod with satisfaction made it seem perfectly fine.

Just then, the door opened and a woman poked her head in before strolling inside casually.

“Oh, as beautiful as ever today.”

“Wilhelmina, could you tone down that delinquent way of speaking?”

The newcomer was Wilhelmina Richter, a fire-element mage who commanded flames, along with her partner, Ryan Dilton.

Ryan frowned at her manner of speech, and Wilhelmina shrugged.

“Give up. My mother already did.”

“How could someone as admirable as the Margrave Richter produce someone like you…”

“Why, does my way of talking sound trashy? I got it from my father. I was raised by him.”

Ryan froze at her shameless reply, then forced a trembling smile.

“L-Lord Richter must be a very honest and straightforward man.”

“Tch. You believed that? Of course I was lying.”

Realizing he’d been teased again, Ryan’s face flushed red and his nostrils flared.

Pfft—Marie failed to hold back her laughter and burst out giggling.

She quickly covered her mouth, but it was too late.

“Hi, Marie.”

Wilhelmina waved casually.

“Welcome. Are you two on duty today?”

“Yep. We’ll be in your care again.”

Wilhelmina grinned, while Ryan sighed and shook his head as they took seats nearby.