Chapter 24

He knew his mother had once mistaken Melissa for a spy.

Back then, it had sounded absurd. But now, thinking about that child, it didn’t seem so far-fetched after all.

Eisenhart was the Guardian of the North.

The empire’s strongest shield.

What if someone had planted that child, one with frail health and apparent disabilities, as a spy inside such a household, making them lower their guard, even granting her access to the records room?

‘Maybe I should never have allowed her into the mansion in the first place.’

Yet ironically, he was the one who had insisted they take her in.

Demius closed his eyes, his mouth twisting bitterly.

Not only had he unknowingly welcomed a possible spy, but he had also lost first place in the treasure hunt to her.

Perhaps it was time to restrict her movements to the annex.

He recalled Melissa’s cheerful voice. ‘The one who gets first place will receive a gift I made myself!’

The memory made him sigh and lower his head.

Then something small tugged at his hand.

“—What are you doing!”

He shook it off, but by then, something soft and thin had already been pressed into his palm.

He was about to open his hand with irritation when a polite knock sounded, and a servant entered.

“My lord, Madam has arrived at your office.”

“My wife?”

Demius’s stern face instantly brightened.

“I’ll go right away!”

He turned to leave, but before he did, he looked back at the child.

That small pale face looked so blank that words left his mouth before he could stop them.

“Take care of yourself.”

Realizing what he had just said, Demius frowned slightly and walked out.

As he strode down the corridor, he noticed that something soft was still resting in his palm.

Why am I still holding this?

He sighed and opened his hand.

It was probably nothing. Still, if he at least checked it before throwing it away, he could use that as an excuse if Melissa asked about it later.

But the moment he looked down, his eyes widened.

‘Demi.’

For a second, it was as if a soft chuckle brushed past his ear.

‘What’s got you so upset?’

A gentle voice and a warm hand ruffling his hair.

Suddenly, he was back beneath the large tree that had been his childhood hideout.

A young boy sat beside him, his face tear-streaked, and Asellion crouched down, lightly tapping his head.

‘Look here, Demi.’

In Asellion’s hand was a single ginkgo leaf.

But the younger Demius only buried his sulky face deeper between his knees.

Asellion gave a helpless laugh.

‘Want to see something cool?’

With a secretive smile, Asellion folded the leaf in half, tied the thin stem close to the blade, then split the stalk neatly in two. When he opened it again, it had transformed.

His movements were so deft that young Demius couldn’t help but lift his head.

Before he realized it, the tears at the corners of his eyes had already dried.

‘Hold out your hand.’

When he did, something soft and delicate landed on his palm.

A butterfly made from a ginkgo leaf.

In Demius’s blue eyes, the yellow butterfly looked as if it were fluttering through the sky.

Asellion met his gaze and smiled softly.

‘When you’re sad, look at this butterfly. It’ll take your tears and fly away with them.’

“…How…”

Demius stared at the pale green butterfly in his palm with dazed eyes, then slowly clenched his fist.

He began walking again, his steps long and firm.

In his hand, the fragile butterfly folded from a leaf was pressed gently against his palm.

…Brother.

As he made his way toward the office where Melissa awaited, his eyes reflected both longing and pain.

Who is that child, really?

* * *

“Shilen!”

The door burst open to a bright voice.

A cool breeze swept in along with a head of curly orange hair that bounced as its owner stepped inside.

“Are you feeling any better?”

At the sound of that familiar voice, Shilen’s face lit up.

Nod, nod.

Melissa smiled in relief as the child’s head bobbed repeatedly.

“Thank goodness!”

To be honest, she had been extremely worried when the doctor examined her.

Even after checking her pulse and temperature, the physician had been unable to explain why Shilen had fainted.

Melissa had spent hours watching over her, unable to leave until Shilen finally regained consciousness.

“Guess what I brought?”

With a mischievous grin, Melissa revealed the basket she had been hiding behind her back.

“Tada! A first-place prize!”

Shilen’s pupils trembled. Melissa beamed.

“Everybody’s favorite, fried food!”

Maybe I should faint again.

While Shilen debated whether to collapse on the spot, Melissa continued cheerfully.

“I was going to make that, but the kitchen staff said it might be too heavy for someone recovering, so I brought porridge instead.”

Thank you.

Shilen silently sent heartfelt gratitude to every servant in the kitchen.

When Melissa had first appeared with her chosen ingredients, the cooks’ faces had been a mix of shock and horror.

A few had reluctantly tasted it, and surprisingly, some even said it was “not bad,” but still…

‘Truly, thank you.’

With small hands clasped together, Shilen sincerely prayed that the Great Spirit would bless the kitchen staff.

Just then, Demius cut in.

“I’m the one who won first place.”

“…!”

Seeing Shilen’s shocked face, Demius tilted his chin proudly.

“Not you. Me.”

In her eyes flickered both relief and pity.

Melissa’s fried food was… bug fritters.

Shilen knew exactly what that meant.

For days, Linburton had been tormented by that particular “culinary experiment.”

After it was announced as the prize for first place, the enthusiasm for the treasure hunt had… diminished significantly.

That probably explained why Shilen hadn’t found the key until today.

She sighed softly and lowered her gaze, looking at Demius with faint pity.

He thought he heard her sigh, but it didn’t matter.

What mattered was that no one else had taken his wife’s handmade food.

What should I do?

Melissa’s voice, tinged with sadness, had echoed in his mind earlier that day as he entered his office.

‘Shilen is sick, so she can’t receive her prize…’

Her delicate shoulders had drooped.

‘Fried food tastes best when it’s fresh.’

‘I’ll eat it!’

He hadn’t even thought before blurting it out.

“Oh my, really?”

Her whole face had brightened.

Demius’s expression had brightened too, even as part of him began to regret his haste.

“Yes. I can’t let such a precious dish go to waste.”

“As expected of you, Mr. Mimi!”

Mr. Mimi.

The nickname struck straight into his chest.

Deeply moved, Demius had accepted the fried food Melissa handed him and put it in his mouth.

The crunch was alarmingly loud. The texture was… interesting, to say the least. But that didn’t matter.

If Melissa had offered him poison, he would have swallowed it just as gladly.

As he lifted his chin in quiet pride, Melissa took out the porridge bowl and sat beside Shilen.

Shilen quickly reached out, but Melissa scooped a spoonful, blew on it gently, then smiled and held it to the child’s lips.

“Alright, say ah—”

“…!”

Demius’s eyes flew wide open.

What did she just say?

Had she really just offered to feed the child herself, with that adorable hand?