WCMBI - Chapter 247: Truly Grateful (Patreon)

After returning to Matap, every time I saw Adella, I felt a sense of guilt washing over me. Though I embraced Olivia's good intentions and needed to tend to the pheromone well, my resolve was far from steadfast.

Negativity had a tendency to spread easily. Hence, my remorse for Adella continued to grow day by day, just as it did for DS. Although not to the same extent as Adella, DS had been without their mother's pheromones for a long time. Could they truly manage without it?

My concerns about the wellspring seemed unrelenting, as it showed no signs of subsiding. After days of solitary anguish, I finally sought out Lucia in the dead of night. Thankfully, she had yet to retire for the evening and greeted me warmly.

"Visiting at this hour feels like it's been ages."

"I apologize for coming so late."

"It's all right. Come over here. I was about to make some tea anyway, so this works out."

"Thank you."

Lucia and I sat at the table together, and for a while, we sipped our tea in silence. Though I felt a hint of impatience, I had no desire to decline her offer. To me, Lucia was a benefactor of life long before the Matap days.

"Do you have something on your mind that brought you here?"

"I have a place to visit briefly, and I wanted to ask if you could look after Adella for me."

"That's not a difficult task, but where are you headed?"

Having never voluntarily left Matap since arriving, it was perhaps natural for Lucia to be surprised and curious. There was no reason to hide it, though.

"I plan to see my eldest child for a moment."

"You're going to the Duke of Bryant's estate?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"In truth, I don't intend to enter through the front gate. I want to see only the child secretly."

"Even so, it's not a place with pleasant memories for you."

"That's true, but after hearing Adella's examination results, I can't help but worry for Dia."

"Indeed, I understand your feelings well."

"Thank you. I am truly grateful and sorry to Matap for everything, from the beginning to the end."

As Lucia listened to me, she cautiously took hold of my hand.

"If our roles were reversed, I believe you would have given me the same answer."

"No, I am not as selfless as you, Matap. You saw it earlier. I should have readily accepted your goodwill for Adella. Even if it meant facing criticism for being shameless, I should have placed a mask of steel upon my face for the sake of my child."

I recalled my foolish and selfish moments. Even when it was my own affair, I had failed to move as I pleased. Rather than frustration, I felt a deep sense of loathing enveloping me.

"Still, there must be a reason you wish to decline."

In an instant, my head filled with anxiety was cleared by Lucia's words. With just a few casual words, she could quell my unease completely.

"I may not know exactly what you fear and worry about... Hm, first and foremost, to me, you are a very dear disciple. And I won't abandon my disciple for trivial matters."

Her words were convincing, knowing that she had personally flown to rescue Pedro when he was captured at the palace. Though I might not believe in myself, I could believe in her.

"I will personally bring Adella back. You head to the Duke's estate right away."

"I'm truly, truly grateful."

"How many times do you need to express your gratitude before your conscience is at ease?"

"Then... I'll be on my way."

"Very well. It's your first outing on your own, after all."

With the closing words of Lucia, the landscape before me underwent a transformation. Though it had been years since my last visit, the place felt familiar, as if I had stayed there just yesterday. Subconsciously, I shifted my gaze towards the detached cottage and instantaneously teleported towards the quarters where Dia resided.

Yet, as I arrived, I was taken aback by the unchanged sight of the verdant rose garden. How much time had elapsed, and why did the garden remain just as I had left it, untouched and in disarray?

Even if this cottage was not frequented by guests, why hadn't it been tended to? What if someone stumbled upon this neglected place while wandering through the grounds? I couldn't help but question why I had left it in such a state, without even caring to know its current condition.

Amidst the discomfort, suspicion, and nagging doubts, I reluctantly surveyed the garden. My mind clouded with thoughts, I instantly teleported to Dia's room. The late hour had already embraced the child in slumber.

Any concern about a possible caregiver's presence dissipated as I found Dia lying alone on the bed. Gently approaching the child, I sat down by the bedside, making sure not to disturb the peaceful sleep.

The sight of Dia, now grown considerably since our last meeting, stirred emotions within me. The child appeared to be thriving even without a mother's presence. Yet, this relief was overshadowed by the worry that hidden troubles might lurk beneath the surface, just as it had been with Adella.

As the late hours deprived me of the option to take Olivia with me, I found myself helpless, unable to offer any form of protection or the comfort of shared pheromones. All I could do was to contemplate and ponder.