Though I Don’t Recall It, I’ll Take Responsibility - Chapter 14

“My, Liz, what’s the matter?”

As I called out to her, perhaps the emotions she had been desperately holding back finally unraveled.

Liz’s tiny shoulders trembled, and at last, transparent tears began to roll down her cheeks. She was gripping Ral’s hand tightly; to my eyes, it looked as though he were the only support keeping her loneliness at bay.

“She realized you weren’t there, and then this happened. I’m sorry, Mother, even though I said I’d look after her.”

Ral lowered his brows apologetically. He must have been startled when Liz suddenly burst into tears, but the way he felt so responsible for it was very much like him. Melissa stood behind them, looking equally contrite.

“You don’t need to apologize. Thank you for bringing her to me, Ral. You truly are a wonderful big brother.”

At those words, Ral’s spine straightened just a little.

“Liz, look, it’s Mother.”

As Ral gave her a small nudge, her tiny body rushed toward me with great momentum, and she clung to me tightly. The way she shuddered in my arms told me exactly how anxious she had been.

“Oh, Liz. I’m sorry for disappearing so suddenly. You were lonely, weren’t you?”

As I gently stroked her back, Liz gave a silent, firm nod.

“Aira, who is that child?”

A voice called out from a short distance away, and I turned around. There stood my brother, his eyes wide in shock, and Tiana beside him looking just as stunned.

“My son and daughter.”

“No, I knew about the son, but a daughter? When did you give birth to her?”

I blinked at the sheer abruptness of the question.

“Strictly speaking, I have no memory of giving birth to either of them, but this girl is Leonard-sama’s daughter from his previous marriage.”

“Eh? You’re living together?”

“Yes, as of yesterday.”

“Since yesterday?”

My brother and Tiana spoke in unison, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads. Their reaction was perfectly reasonable. However, I am the person involved, and I am the most surprised of all. Can you understand that?

“Now, both of you, introduce yourselves.”

At my prompting, Raphael stepped forward.

“Yes, Mother! I am Raphael Langford. Though I am still inexperienced, I look forward to your kind favor!”

His enthusiastic voice rang clearly through the hall. It was his signature, perfectly practiced introduction.

“Sniff… I am Clarice. I am three years old…”

With eyes still swollen from crying, Clarice answered from the safety of my arms. She, too, gave her signature four-finger salute.

“I am Virgil Langford. Thank you for the polite greeting. It is our first-time meeting, but I am your mother’s brother—your uncle.”

“And I am your aunt.”

Watching the two of them introduce themselves so calmly, I couldn’t help but think: How incredible. They have no resistance at all to calling themselves ‘Uncle’ and ‘Aunt.’ Time is a terrifying thing.

“Uncle and Aunt?”

Raphael’s eyes blinked rapidly. His expression was a mix of tension and curiosity at hearing the names of relatives for the first time.

“Ah, that’s right. I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you until now. I’ll be visiting frequently from now on.”

“I have a son, too. He’s your cousin, and the same age as you.”

What was that?!

“A cousin! Will he be my friend?”

Ral’s voice bounced with excitement. At his innocent joy, the atmosphere of the room softened and thawed.

“Yes. He has a sister one year younger, too, so I hope you all get along.”

A daughter, too!

“We’ll get along great!”

Ral’s face brightened instantly. His voice was so buoyant it seemed to light up the very air in the hall.

“Well, we should be heading home. We must return this mother to her children.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

My brother and Tiana stood up. I still had a mountain of things I wanted to talk about. However, I understood that they were being considerate of my situation.

Tiana gave a light wave.

“I’ll come back soon so we can talk properly.”

I nodded at her words and saw the two of them to the front door.

“Mother… the blocks…”

Liz looked up at me, softly tugging at the bodice of my dress. Even though she had been crying so hard, she hadn’t forgotten what she wanted to do.

“Yes, I’m sorry. Let’s go finish them.”

At my reply, Clarice gave a satisfied nod.

Night fell.

In Ral’s room, it was time for the picture books the children looked forward to every day. As I read to them in a calm voice, Liz began to drowse and eventually closed her eyes. Lucy gently picked Liz up to carry her to bed, while Ral was already fast asleep under his covers, breathing peacefully.

I quietly slipped out of the room. When I reached the entrance hall, Leonard-sama had just returned.

“Leonard-sama, welcome home.”

“Ah, I’m back. As expected, work piled up while I was away. I didn’t mean to be this late.”

As he handed over his overcoat and let the tension drop from his shoulders, the fatigue of a long day seeped through.

“Thank you for your hard work. May I speak with you for a moment? It won’t take long.”

“What is it?”

He turned to me, his deep gaze fixed straight on mine.

“Yes. Let us get married as soon as possible. Yes—right now, if we can.”

My voice came out surprisingly clear, even to my own ears. But I didn’t have a single doubt.

Leonard-sama simply stared at me, his mouth agape, without even blinking.