SRNVW 05

Chapter 05 …

“I said I would raise her the best I could.”

“People change. Back then, I took your niece reluctantly out of pity, but as time passes… I suppose I might want to pass on the heir to my own child someday.”

“……”

“That’s why this thought crosses my mind. Erios Kiliet… that now, suddenly, you find your niece bothersome…”

I let the words slip casually, carefully observing Erios’ expression.

I wasn’t saying this out of spite.

‘Is he neglecting Artea, or does he dislike her?’

If his concern for his niece was an act, I wanted to see even a flicker of hesitation in his eyes at my sharp words.

Even for a moment, if that sign appeared, I wouldn’t let it pass.

“Bellona.”

Erios’ eyes, which had silently endured my anger until now, changed.

“I can endure any ridicule. This is my fault. But if you ever speak of your niece as a nuisance in front of me… that, I cannot allow.”

If it were anyone else, they might not withstand this tension, but I met his gaze confidently, without flinching.

Erios didn’t look away.

“The heir of Kiliet is Artea. I will give her everything I have.”

His eyes were steady, unwavering, as if there were no trace of a lie.

So he does care for Artea? Just because she wants to stay by her aunt’s side?

I wondered what could have driven a little child to run away…

‘No. If Artea hasn’t lacked her uncle’s love, that’s good. But even now, this could be an act.’

Of course, the Erios Kiliet I know is not at all skilled in acting.

At least, as far as I know.

But mistakes happen when someone lets their guard down.

Just like when Erios unexpectedly told me he wanted to break up.

‘I must not let my suspicion go, not even a little.’

“Is that so? Then why did your precious niece want to live with me?”

“Bellona. And when did you even start caring about her to speak so recklessly? You haven’t even come to see her once.”

It felt awkward to say, “Well, we were lovers before, so I considered that,”

I didn’t want to spill my feelings immediately to the ex-boyfriend who caused this situation.

So instead of answering his question, I shot back sharply.

“Yes. But still, I think I’ll raise her better than you would.”

I wanted to maintain formal distance, but the words slipped into informal tone unconsciously.

No, he spoke informally first, so it’s his fault, right?

“She ran away all the way here, happily thinking… and went so far as to ask an aunt she had no connection with to raise her.”

“She ran away?”

“You didn’t know? That the child had complaints… not even a little?”

Erios’ expression twisted painfully at my words.

Almost as dramatically as my own expression.

I wondered if I had been too harsh.

After all, she’s just six years old and ran to an aunt she had never met.

• Thankfully, I thought even my own aunt disliked me…

I remembered Artea thanking me for caring about her.

I am her aunt.

He’s my ex-boyfriend now, no longer someone I need to prioritize.

“Enough. From now on, I, her aunt, will raise Artea. I’ve thought a lot, and this is my decision.”

“……”

I saw Erios clench his teeth.

He thought for a long moment, then spoke.

“Let me see Artea.”

If Erios were a person without much fault,

From his perspective, his niece disappeared while he was out hunting monsters, and now he comes back only to be scolded and have custody taken away—it would be frustrating.

‘But Artea asked me to raise her.’

Even hearing that, I’m not cruel enough to simply hand her over to her uncle.

Even if Erios did nothing wrong intentionally, the problem at the duke’s residence is clear.

Even if it hurts him, I need to decisively end this here.

• Raise me!

• You are my aunt!

Seeing the clear determination Artea had shown me earlier, he would likely give up quickly.

“It’s fine for you to meet her, but if you show up like that, Artea might be frightened.”

I spoke sharply, and Erios asked for a wet towel, roughly wiping his face.

Even dirty, he was handsome; clean, he looked even more radiant.

‘Damn, such a ridiculously good-looking man.’

His beauty hadn’t faded; in fact, it improved.

‘I guess he really is the uncle of our lovely Artea.’

His silent, contemplative expression reminded me of Artea when she was quietly alone.

Finally, Artea entered the sitting room.

“One squirrel… two… kyaaah!”

Artea, toddling forward innocently, screamed.

Even with the blood somewhat wiped, facing a larger figure so suddenly, it was understandable she was shocked.

I opened my arms to her.

“Artea, come here.”

“What!? Why is Uncle here!”

Dashing past Erios, Artea immediately ran to me and clung.

“Go away! I don’t want to see Uncle!”

She buried her small face in my chest, ignoring Erios.

Just as expected.

“Artea, I came here to go back with you…”

“I’ll live with Aunt! Only Uncle can go!”

Even though Erios usually shows little emotion, I could feel the hurt immediately.

He’s really stubborn.

If he had backed off when I spoke, he wouldn’t have seen the child actively reject him.

“Don’t like… Uncle?”

“No! I hate him!”

Erios struggled to speak, then clamped his mouth shut.

A tense silence fell.

“Why don’t you like Uncle?”

“……”

“Artea, can you tell me why?”

Here, I didn’t provoke Erios and simply waited.

I had declared I would raise her, but now I heard directly from Artea that she didn’t want to live with him.

‘If he truly cared for Artea, it’s only natural he can’t accept this right away.’

But Artea only clung tighter to me, offering no answer to Erios’ question.

“Hmph, what can I do if I don’t like him…”

For me, the priority was worrying about my niece, who had to reject her uncle, more than Erios.

Is it even easy for a child to answer why they dislike someone?

‘If I could see Artea’s face just once, the custody issue would be over… I just hope this standoff ends quickly.’

Thankfully, Erios seemed to realize this, and hurriedly spoke.

“Artea, I’m sorry if I hurt you. I was a very inadequate uncle.”

“……”

“Even if we are far apart, I am still your uncle. You are more precious to me than anything in this world. I’m sorry if I failed to convey that.”

Just as Erios finished and was about to leave,

Artea suddenly lifted her head.

It happened in an instant.

“Eh?”

I had never seen a child move so fast.

Artea pushed me aside and ran straight into Erios’ arms.

“Ah, Artea?”

I stared helplessly at the empty space where she had been.

What just happened?

“Unc- Uncle… don’t go. Waaah…”

“So you want to go back with Uncle?”

“Yeah.”

The child who had just been in my arms was now crying over there.

Wait… what?

How am I supposed to react if she nods to go with her uncle?

“Artea, didn’t you say you’d live with Aunt?”

“When did I say that?”

Huh?

I felt like I’d been hit on the back of the head twice…

Dizzy, I barely composed myself.

‘Maybe she only temporarily sulked and doesn’t truly dislike Uncle.’

If so, that’s a relief.

Though it’s frustrating that Artea’s uncle happens to be my ex…

My trivial pride is less important than my niece.

‘This means she truly received love enough to form an attachment.’

If her runaway was just a temporary sulk, then this is a good thing.

‘Yeah, kids often say “I hate you” or “I don’t like you” casually.’

Well, if she’s going to live with Uncle, I guess there’s nothing I can do.

I watched her embrace Erios, overjoyed at being reunited, and stood up.

“Good that you cleared things up with Uncle and met again…”

Just as I thought that and was about to leave,

“Auuuuunt!”

“Huh?”

Artea, who had been clinging to Erios, now ran past him straight to me.

What… what is happening?

“You wanted to live with Aunt, but seeing Uncle made you waver?”

“Yeah!”

“So it was just a momentary whim?”

“Yup yup!”

An adult can be swayed so easily by a child’s words and actions…

I steadied myself and asked Artea firmly.

“Artea, you really want to live with Aunt?”

“Really, really!”

“Then say goodbye to Uncle. No changing your mind now.”

“Ah, byeeeee.”

Artea nodded with tears streaming down her face.

Yes, Erios was still her protector, after all.

It’s impossible to expect him to accept leaving so easily…

“Uncle!”

And as soon as she came to me, she dashed back to Erios.

I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them.

“So I’m going to leave Aunt…”

“I like Aunt!”

“Then Uncle…”

“Waaaah!”

After that, Artea continued to waver, unable to decide immediately.

“You must choose only one. Will you live with Aunt or with Uncle?”

“J-Just one?”

Her large eyes shook with indignation, as if to say how could I ask such a cruel thing.

‘Ouch, even in this chaos, my heart feels pricked.’

Still, she seemed to understand it was necessary. She squeezed her eyes shut and made her final decision.