CH ss - 14

Nathaniel smiled.

[Yeah, it’s getting someone else’s soul and someone else’s body.]

The eyes of the antique color bent in a very mature and cold shape. A man who has only walked in arrogance knows no mercy.

Kyrie slapped Nathaniel on the back of his hand.

“I don’t need that. And I don’t want a child because I need my alter ego.”

[Of course]

“Well.”

Kyrie pulled the corners of her lips. Turning her head, the boy was still fighting. Kyrie did not take her eyes off the fierce battle for survival.

“I just sometimes want to talk about you with other people. Because my friends and people in the capital are afraid of you……. I wish I could talk about you in a more friendly way.”

A dark-haired boy was seen screaming and running towards the other children in the gang.  Kyrie unknowingly started cheering for the boy.

“Today, my husband put some flowers by my bed in the morning before I woke up, or the man I like doesn’t even use perfume, but he always smells fresh…….”

[My lady also has a unique taste in storytelling.]

“My man still calls me a lady.”

Kyrie laughed aloud. She looked at Nathaniel again.

“Don’t you want to do that?”

[Not at all]

“You talked about it with Bund. It’s not different from that.”

[That was before I died]

“Will it be different in the future? We always want to share memories with others.”

Nathaniel was silent on soft words. Her quiet and cozy gaze like falling snow hugged Nathaniel.

Nathaniel opened his mouth and Kyrie knew his answer before Nathaniel could answer.

[Do as you want]

***

The boy was crouching, leaning against the wall.  In his arms was a piece of bread that seemed to have been barely saved.

“Hello.”

Kyrie, who stepped on the snow and approached, greeted lightly.

She spoke and then suddenly remembered that this was Nathaniel’s first greeting, indeed the couple look alike. She burst out laughing.

The boy turned to the unexpected greeting. The alert blue eyes looked up and down at Kyrie. He was like a little cat.

Kyrie smiled softly at the boy who was standing still.

“Don’t run away. It could be a good suggestion for you.”

“…….”

“Do you want to listen to me?”

Kyrie, who spoke lightly, immediately shifted her gaze.

“No, do I have to match the eye level? I think I’ve heard it somewhere.”

She squatted down, recalling her childhood when she had to look up to the point where her head hurt. The sharp-eyed boy frowned a little.

“……Why?”

The boy seemed to be quite concerned about dirty snow and dirt on the ivory-colored robe that was clearly luxurious. Kyrie opened her lips.

“Little one. There’s a little bit of an unusual person in my house. Two, including me.”

“…….”

“He will live a little longer, a little strong, a little unusual.  But I have a friendly butler, and I have a huge, yawning cat.”

A look of wonder appeared on the boy’s face. Kyrie became a little shy at his expression. The sudden introduction of a household member would seem strange. However, she had to explain it first for the next word.

“It’s that kind of house……, Do you have any thoughts of coming to my house?”

“……what?”

The boy’s answer came late. That’s right. It would make anyone ask back.

Kyrie continued calmly.

“I want you to come to my house. I can’t be your parent, but I can be your guardian.”

“……Guardian?”

“Guardian. I can’t be a parent because I don’t deserve to be a parent. That’s why I’m your guardian. Of course this may sound like a very arrogant offer to you. Maybe you don’t need a guardian.”

Kyrie paused for a moment. And she expressed his honest feelings.

“But I liked you at first sight, and I want you to come to my house. At least it’ll be better than living on the road.”

The boy looked up and down at Kyrie with confused eyes.

“Because I’m good at fighting?”

Kyrie smiled slightly.

“It was impressive, but not because of it. There’s no particular reason. So even if you come to my house, you don’t have to try to protect the reason for me adopting you.”

The boy paused and looked at Kyrie with heavy eyes that did not match his age. Kyrie swallowed a bitter smile. Even if sympathy was true, she didn’t want to appear sympathetic.

“Let me ask you this once. More than that, it’s hard to come by.”

“…….”

“Will you come with me?”

Blue eyes, like the falling moon, stared at Kyrie. It was clear, like someone’s eyes in the carriage. The boy bowed his head loosely.

Just as Kyrie thought the same thing, too, the boy jerked up his head. The glaring eyes were like blue flames.

“There’s a condition.”

“Tell me.”

“If you take me away and you don’t need me…… Tell me, I don’t want to be treated like an unwanted guest.”

Kyrie was a little surprised, but replied softly.

“That sounds difficult.”

Disappointment crossed the child’s face.  Kyrie shook her head.

“I’m not taking you with me because I need you. We have enough workers, and we don’t have to leave it to our children.”

“…….”

“Or, well……”

Kyrie covered her mouth and tilted her head.

“You can talk to my husband later.”

“…… Husband?”

“Yes, there is a handsome man. Don’t panic when you see him.”

She could see the boy thinking, “Is she crazy?” Kyrie laughed aloud.

“That’s all I need, isn’t that enough?”

The boy rolled his eyes from side to side with his head down. Kyrie wanted him to make a quick decision. His hands and feet were getting red.

Fortunately, the boy’s decision was not long, just like when he thought of throwing the stone at the back of another person’s neck.

“I want to go.”

The boy’s eyes shone with determination. His blue eyes were really beautiful.

Kyrie grinned.

“All right.”

She flicked her left finger. As the diamond ring shone, the magic circle unfolded at the boy’s feet.

The boy was washed clean in an instant and rolled up in a fluffy fleece coat. The coat was so thick that the silhouette of the skinny boy was made into a round ball.

“Oh… Oh?”

The boy looked at himself in surprise. Then he looked up at Kyrie in disbelief.

“Wizard…?”

“Yes, I’m a wizard. Strange person number 1.  Number 2 is a prosecutor. And if he starts to hold his cane in a strange way, run to me.”

Kyrie, who answered cheerfully, reached out his hand.

“Shall we go, buddy?”

The boy’s alertness was shown in his eyes. But soon a trembling little hand held Kyrie’s hand.

***

One person got off and the carriage with two people started.

The boy who got into the carriage for the first time saw Nathaniel and rubbed his eyes, but he wasn’t too surprised, perhaps by the fact that she had told him in advance.

“……Hello.”

He was also polite.

The boy looked around him and began to doze off in the fur.  He was like a small, white furry animal.

“It must have been cold.”

Kyrie pulled the boy’s head and laid him on her lap. His long hair, which at first glance looked like a girl, was rough due to malnutrition. However, his features are neat and his jaw is pointed. The skin was white, and the end of the eyes went up like a cat was pretty.

“I think he will look a little like you.”

Nathaniel let out a little laugh.

[You…]

“I have a knack for jokes.”

[Yes.]

“Will this kid be good at joking, too? I hope so.”

Nathaniel leaned his arm against the window frame and looked at Kyrie, speaking softly. Kyrie patted the boy on the head and smiled softly.

“I hope he will grow up and make a family, see his children, and tell my story with you.”

Nathaniel guessed what Kyrie was up to, but he didn’t say. It was a distant future. Kyrie also looked at the man who looked like winter and the sea, and just smiled affectionately.

Then she mumbled in a worried voice, as if she had suddenly remembered.

“It’s a big deal. In fact, I haven’t met many children, so I don’t know much about them.”

[You worry too soon.]

“Debbie needs to know how to raise a child…….”

The falling snow covered their voices. The carriage crossed the white road, and Kyrie and Nathaniel headed where they had to go.

To that beautiful mansion where the four seasons repeat indefinitely and the sound of chess pieces moving does not stop.

***

T/N: The chapter title is the name of the song, written and performed by Taylor Swift. From the album: Speak Now