*Knock. Knock.*
The boy's strength was gone. Perido's small fists struck the Duke's chest with no force left—the exhausted tapping of a child who had poured everything out.
The Duke dropped to one knee and carefully gathered the trembling boy into his arms.
"I'm sorry for coming."
"*I hate Mom.*" Perido hiccupped violently, the words torn and ragged. "*She doesn't keep her promises. I hate her. She always said—pinky promises are supposed to be kept. Always.*"
His small body shook with sobs.
"Perido." The Duke's voice was low, steady—an anchor in the storm. "My sister... your mother... she kept her promise."
"*She said if I stayed quiet and waited, she'd come for me.*" Another hiccup. "*But she didn't come.*"
"Your mother wrote me a letter. She told me about the vow she made the day you were born—a vow she intended to keep for the rest of her life." The Duke's arms tightened almost imperceptibly around the child. "And she did keep it. She kept it until the very end."
His voice softened.
"So don't be angry at your mother. Be angry at me. You can be as angry at me as you need to be."
"*A-a-aaah...*" Perido's wail broke through his shattered breathing. "*I want Mom. I want Mom...*"
Daya stood silent, tears streaming down her face, watching the Duke's awkward, earnest attempt to comfort her brother.
Marin caught the Duke's gaze—and saw something frozen there. Longing. Grief for a sister he'd lost.
She turned away and wiped a tear from her own cheek before anyone could notice.
---
## — The Next Morning —
Garnet pushed her carrots to the edge of her plate and buried them under a heap of celery.
Rubiena, watching this maneuver, sighed heavily.
"Garnet, eat your carrots too. Perido looks up to us."
"Oh? Well then, *you* be the responsible one, since you're so perfectly proper."
"Really?" Rubiena's eyes lit up. "Then from now on, you have to call me 'Elder Sister.'"
"*What?*"
Garnet reached over and gave one of Rubiena's neatly braided plaits a sharp tug.
"*Ow!* Daya, Garnet's hurting me!"
While Rubiena complained to Daya—who was eating peacefully, utterly unfazed—Perido set down the bread he'd been nibbling with sudden determination.
"I want to go see the Duke."
Silence crashed over the table.
Garnet and Rubiena stared at him, mouths hanging open.
"Perido..." Garnet's voice emerged strangled, as though she couldn't believe her own ears.
"*PERIDO!*" Rubiena leapt from her chair and started bouncing in place. "Are you talking now?! Perido's *talking*! Daya! Garnet! *He spoke!*"
Daya regarded her youngest brother with calm, measuring eyes.
"Why do you want to visit His Lordship?"
"...Just because." Perido looked away and only answered after a pause.
"All right. I understand. Let's ask Teacher Marin to take you."
"*Yes!*"
At Marin's name, Perido's face brightened. He nodded so vigorously his whole body bounced.
Garnet and Rubiena exchanged bewildered glances.
Perido had finally started speaking again—and Daya was acting like this was perfectly ordinary?
Before either could voice the question, Daya said quietly:
"I found out last night."
"Why didn't you *tell* us?" Garnet demanded.
"You were already asleep. I thought Perido should be the one to tell you himself."
The explanation hung in the air. After a moment, Garnet and Rubiena nodded—still confused, but willing to accept it.
*It's good that Perido is speaking again.* That was what mattered.
But then Garnet's brow furrowed.
"Wait—Daya. Why does he want to go see *him*?"
"Garnet. I already answered."
"You said 'just because.' But still—don't go. And don't be *friendly* with him."
Perido fixed her with a flat stare, then heaved a sigh so heavy it seemed to come from his very soul.
"*What?*" Garnet bristled. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Garnet." Daya's voice remained gentle. "Let's eat."
Garnet's pout deepened. She shoved her carrots even further toward the plate's edge.
Daya pretended not to notice and continued:
"One more thing. From today onward, let's stop wearing mourning."
"*Why?*" Garnet's head snapped up.
"We've worn it for too long. It's time to move forward."
Typically, mourning clothes were worn for about a week. They had been dressed in black for *months*.
Daya's gaze drifted to the top of Perido's dark head as he returned to chewing his bread.
*Honoring our parents' memory is important. But helping the living overcome their grief is even more so.*
Garnet watched her older sister watching Perido, and something in her expression softened.
"...Okay, Daya."
Rubiena nodded quietly as well.
---
## — The Outbuilding —
A knock at her door.
Marin opened it to find Daya and Perido standing on the threshold.
"Oh! Good morning, you two."
"Good morning, Teacher Marin."
Daya dipped her head. Her black hair—so like the Duke's—slid across her face in a fine, silky curtain.
"Good morning, Teacher."
Perido released his sister's hand and bowed with careful formality.
*Oh, how adorable.*
Marin stroked his head affectionately, then looked to Daya.
"What brings you here so early?"
"Perido wishes to visit His Lordship. Would you be able to escort him?"
Marin turned her attention to the boy.
"Perido, why do you want to see His Lordship?"
Perido shot a quick glance at Daya, then stepped closer to Marin. He cupped his hands around his mouth, rose onto his toes, and leaned toward her ear.
Marin bent down to meet him.
"I want to apologize for hitting him yesterday," he whispered. "And... he looks like her."
"Like who?"
She cupped her own hand near his ear and whispered back.
"...Like Mom."
Marin straightened and patted his head again, more tenderly this time.
Daya clearly wanted to know what they'd been whispering about—her curiosity was written plainly across her face—but she didn't ask.
Marin squeezed Perido's hand.
"I'll take him."
"Thank you. For both yesterday and today."
Daya bowed her head in polite gratitude.
"It's nothing—I visit Lord Gerald every day anyway. But *you* look exhausted." Marin studied the faint shadows beneath Daya's eyes. "I'll stay with Perido all day. Please, get some rest."
"Ah... there's no need to trouble yourself so much."
"It's no trouble at all. Spending time with Perido makes me happy."
Perido tugged at Marin's sleeve. "I don't mind either! Sister, rest today. I'll have fun playing with Teacher."
*Too cute.* Marin couldn't resist ruffling his hair again.
Daya crouched down to meet her brother's gaze.
"All right. If that's what Perido wants." Her expression softened. "But behave yourself in His Lordship's study."
"I will!"
He beamed and nodded vigorously.
Daya rose and turned to Marin.
"I entrust him to you."
"Of course, my lady."
"And—" Daya hesitated for just a moment. "Just call me Daya."
"Oh, truly?"
"Yes, Teacher."
"Then I will. Daya."
They met each other's eyes and smiled.
---
## — The Duke's Study —
Hand in hand, Marin and Perido made their way toward the Duke's office.
Olive was already stationed at the door, waiting.
"Mr. Olive."
His expression visibly brightened when he saw Perido walking beside Marin.
"Good morning, my lady. And young master."
"Good morning," Marin replied.
"Good morning," Perido echoed.
Olive's eyes went wide.
Perido caught the startled look and *giggled*—a bright, mischievous sound.
Olive quickly recovered his composure and handed Marin a folder.
"Today's report for reading."
"Thank you."
She accepted the papers and glanced at the study door.
Normally, the Duke's voice would have called them inside by now. But there was only silence.
"He's not here?"
"He's here."
A pause stretched.
Then, finally:
"...Come in."
Olive lit the candles with practiced ease and reached for the door handle—
And froze.
He didn't enter. He simply stood on the threshold, staring.
Marin leaned around him to look inside.
Her eyes flew wide.
The study was flooded with light.