Chapter 99

"Adelheid. I've told you, you can't go out alone! What if something had happened?"

"Something like what?"

"Like falling off your horse..."

"Grandpa. Do I look like I'd fall off a horse?"

The Marquis Reichnek made a strangled sound, apparently at a loss. Seeing him flounder, the marchioness elbowed her husband aside.

"You have to fall off a horse for something to happen? The weather's been getting warm — there've been plenty of snake bites lately. Something can always go wrong."

"Ugh..."

"Adelheid. What did Mommy say before we came down? When you ride, you listen to your grandfather. Didn't you promise your mother?"

Unable to be as bold with her grandmother and mother as she was with her grandfather, Adelheid pursed her lips and nodded. The movement was so slight anyone who wasn't watching closely would have missed it.

Claudia nodded firmly on her daughter's behalf.

"Adelheid. You need to answer."

There was no way out.

"...Yes, I promised."

"And what do you say to your grandfather?"

"I'm sorry for being rude, Grandfather."

"And?"

"...I won't go alone next time."

Though the Marquis Reichnek himself didn't look the least bit inclined to scold his granddaughter.

Somewhat bewildered, Edgar took in the scene playing out in front of him... how to describe it? Would calling it a little farce be rude?

Edgar hadn't had much contact with other noble houses. Loath as he was to admit it, the only person he could really call an acquaintance was the Duke of Lambert.

But this homey atmosphere wasn't the House Lambert Edgar knew. Well, this was Reichnek — but one of them clearly went by the Lambert name, and Claudia could arguably be counted as a Lambert too.

Then again, by the time Edgar had met Duke Grisha Lambert, that household hadn't been in any state to have an atmosphere either. The duke and duchess were dead, and Adelheid too—

"..."

Edgar pulled himself back to the present.

Even if he hadn't mixed with noble houses, the training he'd received at the Lambert estate didn't just vanish. Inviting guests to your estate and, before proper introductions had even been made, letting them see something this... private — nothing in Edgar's training had covered anything of the sort.

Unless they were family.

Or as close as family—

Edgar looked at his uncle.

Uncle was wearing a rare, mischievous grin. Edgar started and looked away. He'd never seen Uncle smile like that.

It wasn't the smile he wore when playing along with Edwin's antics. He couldn't have said exactly how it was different, but it was different. And Edgar could see it.

Just then, the Marquis Reichnek looked over at Edgar. Given that he had grown grandchildren, the Marquis Reichnek was on the older side.

Even so, he was in remarkably good shape for his age. Big enough that standing beside Uncle, the two of them looked about even. Between his lined face and a scar running from his throat up to his cheekbone, there was something imposing about him. If Edgar hadn't just watched him crumble in front of his young granddaughter, he might have been intimidated too.

It might have been that the marchioness's small frame and gentle features made the marquis's features stand out all the more by contrast. When their eyes met, the Marquis Reichnek smiled carefully. The smile sat easily on his face — clearly, whatever his looks suggested, he was a man who smiled often.

"..."

Even so, Edgar ducked behind his uncle. It felt more childlike. He didn't want the adults' attention — Adelheid's included — settling on him.

He'd gotten skilled enough at playing the child to know that acting scared like this kept adults from coming closer. And whenever he did this, Edwin would inevitably kick up a fuss and pull the attention his way.

The Marquis Reichnek didn't look hurt watching Edgar do this. If anything, he gave an apologetic smile and a small wave. It was the reaction of a man who already knew how his appearance came across to children.

"Harold!"

Instead, the Marquis Reichnek called out to Uncle.

"Sir."

"It's been a while. Have you been well? I heard the news, but... good to see everyone looks healthy!"

"You've been well too, sir?"

"Father. The boys must be tired — don't keep them here too long. Edgar, Edwin. Was the trip hard on you?"

"It was fun!"

"Was it? That's a relief."

This still wasn't... the scene Edgar had been expecting.

The Marquis Reichnek warmly called Uncle by name and clapped him on the shoulder. It was hard enough that Edgar, pressed against Harold's leg, could feel the impact through him — but Harold didn't seem fazed in the slightest.

Claudia caught Edgar's attention and asked how the trip had been. Distracted watching the Marquis Reichnek and Uncle, Edgar answered without really thinking.

"Harold, why don't you introduce your nephews?"

Even the marchioness spoke to Harold with easy familiarity. Hanging off the marchioness's arm, Adelheid — the moment her eyes met Harold's — broke into a smile so bright it seemed to bloom across her face.

Adelheid waved at Harold.

"Um, um, Uncle!"

She'd done the same earlier, when she'd ridden up to the carriage.

"I didn't get to say hello properly before..."

"Hello, Adelheid. I haven't seen you since you were little. Do you remember me?"

"Hmmmm..."

Adelheid twisted her body as she spoke.

"Honestly, not really! But my brother's told me a lot about you!"

Watching the exchange, Edgar suddenly realized.

Right. This wasn't just... inviting a close friend to the estate. This wasn't a friendship between two individuals — the whole families were close.

He should have guessed the moment he'd heard Adelheid called Uncle "Uncle." Or maybe earlier, when Grisha Lambert had shown up at his father's funeral.

"Yeah?"

"He told me about his nephews too. Said they were coming down to the domain..."

Beaming, Adelheid abruptly stuck her hand out toward Edgar, who was still hiding behind Harold. When Edgar flinched, she stuck out her tongue.

"I already said hi earlier! Are you Edgar, or Edwin?"

"..."

Edgar looked at Uncle. Uncle was just smiling contentedly.

There was nothing to resent about the sight, but the look on his face made Edgar inexplicably peevish. Still, instead of taking it out on Uncle, he turned to face Adelheid.

Ten. Adelheid Lambert was ten years old. Hair that had probably started the morning tied up in one bunch was half undone now. Not that that was surprising, given she'd ridden out on horseback. A ribbon that must have been tied at her collar was barely hanging on around her neck. The way she couldn't stop bouncing even after dismounting suggested she probably lived in comfortable, riding-style clothes rather than sitting prim in a dress.

"Sorry I couldn't tell! But you two look so alike. So — what's your name?"

That a girl like this could, in just a few years, grow so... weak she couldn't even walk properly — he couldn't believe it.

"...Edgar."

"Edgar? How old are you?"

"Eight..."

"What! You're a total baby."

"..."

"Not a baby! Edgar might be one, but not me."

Edwin, who must have been talking with Claudia and the marchioness, cut into the conversation. Adelheid scrunched up her face. Her glittering eyes were full of mischief, and she stuck out her tongue, not bothering to hide it.

"You're small, so you are a baby! This one's Edgar, so you must be Edwin?"

"I'm Edwin Bertholdt."

"I'm Adelheid Lambert! I'm two years older than you two, so you have to call me big sister."

Claudia would die in a few years. How was it the Duke and Duchess of Lambert had died? A carriage accident? Or was it something else?

But Edgar had never met Claudia before that. He'd never met the Marquis and Marchioness Reichnek either, but from what he'd heard, the Marquis Reichnek hadn't been old. Which meant the marquis and marchioness, at least the marquis, must have died. Given his age, that was likely enough.

But seeing Claudia hadn't been this hard.

"Edgar?"

His grip on Uncle tightened. Uncle looked down at him, puzzled. Edgar smiled to signal he was fine.

Just shy-around-people was exactly the right level. Thankfully, Uncle only stroked his hair and turned back to the conversation.

Looking at Adelheid felt the same as watching Uncle break down the door of a house gone cold and step inside.

No, worse. At least with Uncle, he'd believed that if he could just keep him from going down to the domain, he could save him.

The whole way on the train, he'd agonized over how to look at a girl he couldn't save — one who in a few years would be too weak to get out of bed. The answer only came once he had her in front of him.

"...Hi."

Edgar greeted Adelheid quietly.

Somehow catching the near-whisper, Adelheid whipped around toward Edgar. She was already grinning, and now she smiled even wider.

Despite the pain twisting inside him, Edgar met the eyes of a girl vividly alive.

If he couldn't save her, then at least he could remember her all the better.

---

"Uncle's going to go get Nabi. If you need anything, tell old Linda. Got it?"

"Yes, Uncle."

"You saw old Linda's in the hallway?"

"I saw, Uncle."

"Uncle will be right back."

Click.

Once the greetings were over, unpacking finally gave Edgar some time alone with Edwin.

Edwin ran straight to the window.

"You can see the sea over there, Edgar."

Edgar looked around the room. This wasn't the annex — it was a room in the wing the family used themselves. They were being treated as family, not guests.

"Edgar."

"..."

"Edgar!"

Edgar started and looked over at Edwin.

"Sorry, Edwin. I was thinking about something else."

Edwin looked at Edgar, expressionless. Certain Edwin was about to complain about him overthinking again, Edgar was the one who flinched instead.

Edwin watched him quietly for a moment, then spoke.

"Is Adelheid on your mind?"

"..."

"Why?"

Had he told Edwin that Adelheid had died?

He couldn't remember well. He might have mentioned that the Duke of Lambert's younger sister had died. Edgar bit his lip. If he'd known they'd be meeting like this, he wouldn't have said anything.

Edwin folded his arms, an unreadable look on his face. He might have been on the verge of laughing, or he might have been irritated.

"Hey, Edgar."

"It's nothing, Edwin."

"That's clearly not nothing."

Edwin sighed.

"I was going to ask you later."

Edwin looked around the room.

"The doll's in Uncle's bag, right? I should've asked him to get it out."

"I don't need the doll..."

"You will."

Edwin took Edgar's hand. Wondering if he was trying to stand in for the bear, Edgar gave him an incredulous look.

But there was none of Edwin's usual mischief in his face.

"Hey, Edgar. Can I ask you something?"

"About Adelheid?"

"No. She... isn't urgent right now."

The hand holding his was warm.

"Edgar."

"Yeah."

"You said you came back fifteen years."

"...Yeah."

Edgar noticed Edwin's hand trembling. Maybe it was Edwin who needed steadying.

"How did you end up going back in time?"

"..."

"Do you remember what happened?"