WTBFCY Chapter 29

At Noah's question, Regina answered while searching her memories.

"Was it two years ago? I remember them consulting with my parents because they'd been childless for so long and were thinking of adopting a son or daughter."

"You want to leave this baby with that count couple?"

"Yes, exactly. I haven't heard anything about it since then. Maybe we could at least ask? If I say I'm Regina's friend, I think they'd meet with me. Maybe they'd even be delighted and accept this baby as their adopted daughter!"

"I doubt it."

When do things in this world ever flow that easily?

He made a dubious face listening to Regina's entirely positive words. For a brief moment, he caught a glimpse of just how much Regina Evelyn must have been loved by those around her. Finding it unfamiliar, Noah furrowed one brow, then smoothed it out.

'Absorbing memories...'

Even though the black faerie before him wasn't Regina Evelyn, her conversation was permeated everywhere with 'human life,' and he felt dissonance at that. He suddenly thought: taking someone's memories completely—wasn't that truly stealing their life?

"Waaaah."

But his thoughts were forcibly cut off there. The baby, uncomfortable with the carriage's swaying, burst into tears again.

"Oh no, what do I do! Baby, don't cry. Stop!"

"Oh my, baby miss, please be patient just a little longer. We'll arrive soon."

Regina made strange sounds—walalala—trying to distract the baby, while the maid rocked her arms left and right, desperately soothing the child. In the middle of that chaos, Noah pressed his fingers hard against his brow again.

'Maybe I should've just left her at the estate after all...'

He felt deep regret. When they boarded the train, he'd definitely have to get two cabins. Thinking that, he swallowed a heavy sigh.

Contrary to Noah's expectations, things flowed surprisingly easily.

Two days later, when Regina made contact after arriving in the capital, Lord Haevering—who happened to be in the capital on business—came to meet her immediately. Having been particularly fond of his niece Regina, he came directly to the train station after reading what was written in the letter without any suspicion.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Aesher Haevering. Are you our Regina's friend?"

Haevering was a gentleman with a kind impression at first glance. Though his graying hair was visible here and there and wrinkles creased his eyes, his gentle smile made him look much younger, making his age hard to gauge. Moreover, though he was neatly dressed, his wealth couldn't be hidden—nobility overflowed from him.

"Yes, Count. Pleased to meet you. Please call me Ellie."

At his kind greeting, Regina smiled brightly as if delighted and greeted him. Noah leaned against a nearby wall, listening to Regina give the false name 'Ellie.' It didn't seem like he needed to step in.

"...I see, Miss Ellie. Pleased to meet you."

Seeing Regina's smile, Haevering suddenly felt a stabbing pain in his chest.

He still couldn't quite grasp that Regina, that young one, had left so futilely. In that moment, seeing the girl's smile before him, he was suddenly overcome with unbearable longing for Regina's smiling face. He blinked several times to hold back the redness rising in his eyes, then smiled gently and continued.

"...So what brings you to me?"

"Regina often talked about you, so I knew about you. I remembered hearing you'd said you were thinking of adopting a child two years ago, so I contacted you. This baby is the only daughter of the Epola Baron family, but sadly both parents died in an accident and she has no one to rely on. I heard the baby's relatives aren't very good people either. So I was wondering—could you adopt this child as your daughter?"

Haevering was speechless at that out-of-the-blue request. He felt somewhat absurd, but strangely, he couldn't refuse right away. Her sparkling eyes, which didn't think for a moment he would refuse, made Haevering hesitate.

"Looking at this baby made me think of you. She's such a cute and good child. I'm sure Aunt Cozette will fall in love at first sight too!"

She should have called her Countess, not Aunt Cozette. But Haevering even forgot to point that out, unable to hide his amazement at the girl's manner of speech and expression.

Even if they were friends, they were clearly different children—so how could she resemble Regina so much?

After staring intently at the girl before him, Haevering nodded after a moment.

"...I see. Perhaps this is fate."

Haevering held out both hands and lifted the baby from the maid's arms. The baby, who'd been dozing, suddenly opened her eyes wide, saw the unfamiliar face, and made a kyaa sound while pressing her small hand against his cheek. At that tiny, warm touch, Haevering's heart throbbed.

"What an adorable baby."

Seeing Haevering carefully hold the baby tight and smile with joy, Regina smiled brightly too. And Noah, who'd stepped back far away because he wasn't used to such an atmosphere, felt somehow incredulous.

It was absurd enough that a stranger called him out using his niece's name for no reason, but not only did he come obediently, he was smiling and agreeing to take the baby? That man must be just as ignorant of the world as Regina.

"Thank you for connecting us to this precious bond, Miss Ellie. If you have time, may I invite you to dinner tonight? I'd love for you to come to the estate and tell my wife and me about Regina."

At Haevering's words, Regina shook her head.

"I can't right now. But when it becomes possible someday, I'll definitely visit! Regina used to brag that Aunt Cozette's pumpkin pie was the most delicious in the world. So next time I come, please bake that pumpkin pie for me!"

"...I certainly will, Miss Ellie."

"Yes, Count Heyvering! Thank you, see you next time!"

Regina smiled gently and said goodbye, then turned around and ran to where Noah stood. But Haevering, about to return her greeting, suddenly froze, unable to say anything. A voice from the past brushed past his ears.

'Uncle Heyvering, see you next time!'

'Regina, really. It's Haevering! How do you keep getting it wrong? I'm sorry, brother. She's been raised too indulgently, so she's a bit slow.'

'But it's hard to pronounce!'

Five-year-old Regina, grumbling with her finger in her mouth. That sulky expression also passed by like an afterimage. Only then did Haevering realize. Ah, he would never be able to see that child again.

His heart felt submerged in the longing that rushed in instantly like a broken dam.

"Regina..."

Tears welled up in his deep gray eyes and dripped down. When several drops fell on the baby he held, the baby quietly closed her mouth and looked up at Haevering. That adorable expression seemed to comfort him, so Haevering smiled even while crying.

Thanks to the baby, warmth remained in a corner of his heart tangled with longing and sadness. He suddenly thought—this must be Regina's gift.

After sending away the maid temporarily hired to care for the baby, Noah went to the waiting room inside the train station. He was waiting for Regina, who'd gone to check for letters.

"Hey, can you go to the Royal Security Force?"

He caught the attention of a boy running errands who happened to pass in front of him, offering him a coin.

"Yes, sir! I can. What can I help you with?"

"Can you find out if there's any new information about these faces on this flyer?"

When the boy promptly accepted the coin and greeted him cheerfully, Noah pulled out the wanted posters Regina had brought before from his bag and showed them. The boy stuck his head out to check the faces and names on the flyers, then nodded.

"Red Cat's Rose and John. Yes, understood. Should I come back here, sir?"

"Yeah. I'll be leaving soon, so I'd appreciate it if you could come back as quickly as possible."

Saying that, Noah pulled out two more coins and handed them over. It meant: don't waste time and come back as fast as possible.

"Yes, sir! I'll be right back!"

The boy was sincere with generous customers, so he nodded vigorously and dashed out the door. Noah watched that back with satisfaction, then noticed Regina's figure behind the boy. She'd said it might take time, but her business must have finished quickly.

"The next destination is north, but first I'm checking to see if there's any new information about the whereabouts of the two people you're looking for."

"...Oh. All right."

"What, why do you look half-dead again? You were grinning just a moment ago. Are your moods always this extreme?"

Noah asked, seeing her gloomy face. Regina, who would normally bristle at those words, just shook her head as if her mind was elsewhere.

"No, it's just... I'm too nervous right now."

"Nervous? About what?"

Could the black faerie molting symptoms be appearing belatedly? Thinking that, Noah straightened up. But Regina, with her head down and unaware of his tense gaze, let out a deep sigh and answered.

"I got a letter from Maggie."

"What? From who?"

"I got a letter from my friend Margaret. That Margaret Jenkins you pretended to be the brother of."

"..."

Noah couldn't understand for a moment. So Margaret sent a letter to her dead friend? How did she even know Regina was here? At the information that didn't add up, Noah made a baffled expression, and only then did Regina give a detailed explanation.