"Look up."
"Really... sob... there really was a cabin... really... gulp... I lived there with Dad and Theo... hic... I also had a home... a home to return to..."
"I know. We watched the memory orb together. What do you think the background in that orb showed?"
"But... sob... it’s gone... What if I just imagined it all... hic..."
Tear stains dotted the child’s pale yellow dress.
"I don’t know anymore either."
The floodgates burst open again.
Callec’s large hand gently stroked her small back.
‘She’s as disoriented as I am, with the house gone.’
Losing shared memories while only one side retained them—it had to be deeply unsettling.
Just as his own memory loss left him unsteady, Ririn, too, must have felt abandoned in the dark, terrified and adrift.
Callec sighed quietly as he dwelled on this realization.
"I thought... if Dad saw our house, he’d remember... But I was wrong. There’s nothing left to restore his memories..."
"Why assume there’s nothing?"
He cupped her soft cheeks, lifting her face.
Tears streamed ceaselessly down her cheeks, flooding his vision.
"Then why did you come to me?"
"...That..."
Callec inhaled deeply.
His lips moved autonomously, as always—yet this time, he didn’t resist.
"Fine."
"..."
"If that house mattered so much, Ririn..."
"..."
"Do what you mentioned before."
"W-what... sniff... are you talking about?"
"The eastern forest."
Ririn blinked vacantly.
A heavy tear splashed onto Callec’s hand.
"Build a cabin identical to that house by the lake."
"...!"
"Use any remaining memory orbs as references. With my father’s help, we can make it convincing."
He tapped her nose lightly.
"Feel better now?"
"..."
Her flushed, dazed face bobbed in a slow nod.
"Will you eat soup too?"
Nod. Nod.
"C-can we make a garden too...?"
"Replicate everything exactly."
Truthfully, Callec didn’t believe seeing the cabin would restore his memories. But he’d vowed to keep Ririn safe in the mansion, and...
‘...She’s trying so hard for me. I should meet her halfway.’
"I-I want soup now! I’ll wash my face! Then I’ll review the memory orb, visit Grandpa, gather supplies, sketch plans...!"
Watching the despondent child revive, Callec felt the tension in his chest ease.
"Blow your nose first."
He offered a handkerchief, but Ririn buried her face in his palm instead.
"Sniiiiiff!"
"...That’s not what I meant."
Whatever.
"Recovery complete! Hurry! Let’s go!"
After wiping her face with a warm towel, Ririn perked up, eyes sparkling.
‘Strangely, it feels like her influence here keeps growing.’
Could he ever let her leave?
Callec spooned soup into her eager, bird-like mouth, his expression faintly troubled.
‘Still hurts.’
I clamped down on my wobbling lips.
The image of our charred home haunted me.
‘Why did it burn down?’
Secretary Ruska said even the villagers didn’t know. Maybe fireplace embers? But Dad’s protective magic should’ve contained it.
For the entire garden to burn, the fire must’ve been catastrophic—enough to overwhelm the safeguards.
My chest tightened imagining the ashen plants. It felt like I’d breathed in the smoke myself.
I scrubbed my eyes and shook my head.
‘Strong winds might’ve spread it, but... something’s off.’
Dad seemed to agree—he’d ordered an investigation.
‘Nowhere left to return to.’
The thought stung, but...
It was okay.
"Build a cabin identical to that house by the lake."
The Duke’s permission to rebuild here felt like salvation! Dad wouldn’t understand yet, but...
‘If he regains his memories and finds the house gone, he’ll despair like I did. I can’t let that happen.’
I’d do everything I could! Plus, rebuilding the garden meant preparing for the Four Dukes’ meeting!
No giving up!
"Ahem."
I pulled the memory orb from my turtle-shell bag and addressed the room:
"Thank you all for coming."
The Duke’s grandest parlor was packed—maintenance staff, architects, gardeners, interior designers. Everyone.
"I’m honored to have your expertise."
I bowed and placed the orb on the table.
"Let’s begin the first screening."
The staff leaned forward, eyes wide. Elisa and Blaine bit their lips, stifling grins.
"Playbacks are limited, so engrave every detail!"
I’d recruited help because rebuilding alone was impossible—and the orb’s footage was perfect for reference.
Placing my hand on the orb, I felt the room tense.
"Darling, can I keep a straight face?" Blaine muttered.
"...A pivotal moment," Elisa replied.
I poised my finger over the activation button.
"Starting no—"
"Wait."
The Duke’s voice cut through.
"Will... that brat... appear?" he rasped.
"Daddy—"
I glared, marking my memo. "The orb’s Dad is still Dad. Don’t insult yourself."
"Whose sassy child is this?" Elisa pinched my cheek.
The Duke sighed, shoulders heaving.
Kate, the materials manager, interjected: "We’ll... blur our vision, Your Grace."
She brought a telescope, though.
I patted his clenched hand. "You can leave if it’s too hard. But avoidance isn’t a solution, per ‘The Brave Little Snail’..."
"...Play it," he growled.
< Ririiiiin! My girl! >
"Off—no, on—just TURN IT OFF!"
"Too late," Blaine said.
The Duke buried his face in his hands.
"Damn it all.”
