'Maybe I was looking for it too.'
The image of Rufus from the past that Clara remembered.
And so, she had waited for him to say it.
'I was insane. To do such a shameful thing.'
If she had heard those words, Clara would have probably forgiven him and embraced him.
No, in fact, she might have already forgiven her father.
From the very moment she recalled a good memory of him, the resentment had begun to melt away.
Even though he died without returning even a handful of affection to Clara.
"It's so unfair."
Clara clenched her fists tightly.
"Adults change so easily, every single time."
Children can't let go of one brief moment of love and keep hoping.
For an affection that will never return.
"I really hate adults. Making me hope like that on their own whim."
"...As expected of the Marquis."
Adel, who had been listening quietly, suggested again in a low voice.
"I think it would be better for you to have me as your guardian."
"Why?"
Clara asked, her face still buried between her knees.
"Well, because I haven't accomplished anything in my life so far."
So what does that matter?
Clara tilted her head.
"A pathetic adult like me wouldn't dare give you good feelings or memories, Marquis."
For some reason, Clara couldn't answer simply.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A few hours earlier, while Clara had gone to witness her father's execution.
Adel was, in fact, preparing to leave Merriweather completely this time.
Once she left here and found a house, she needed to stop by the dispatch office where she did part-time work.
She had sent a letter in advance to inform them, but she had been away from work for too long.
She wanted to apologize properly.
She also planned to ask if she could work full-time, five days a week.
'Until now, they only gave me easy, simple tasks because I was still young...'
But now she was an adult.
If she took on difficult jobs, she could earn a decent amount of money.
Coincidentally, the letter she had received from the Director a while ago also said this.
To rest well, and to definitely tell him if there was anything she needed help with.
'He really is such a good person.'
Moreover, just yesterday, the son of the owner, and Adel's direct (and tyrannical) superior, Earl, had sent her a letter.
It was the first time he had ever sent her a personal letter despite always being cold, so she was a little touched.
'So Earl worries about me too...'
...or so she had hoped, but when she opened the letter, it read:
RESIGNATION FORM
*Affiliation: []
*Position: []
*Reason: []
It seemed that even someone like the Director's son had a rather fresh way of saying, 'If you're going to work like this, just quit!'
No, looking more closely, there was a messy scribble on the back.
Ah, this scribble was the letter!
The resignation form was just the back of the letter, a simple reuse of scrap paper.
[19-7 Street, contract not concluded. Seems unlikely for the time being.]
At first, she wondered what nonsense he had written.
But she soon realized the street number pointed to 'Spider House.'
How on earth did he know she had that house in mind?
Anyway, it was fortunate the house hadn't been taken.
Adel finished packing her bag and wrote a letter to Clara.
The reason for leaving only a written farewell and not saying goodbye in person was because today was the day of the former Marquis's execution.
'She must be upset.'
So, on a day like today, she didn't want to bother Clara and take up her time.
She would just quickly hand over Ori and the letter and leave quietly.
Just as she finished writing the letter, she heard the sound of Clara's carriage returning.
She headed to Clara's study.
Holding Ori carefully in her arms.
She had actually wanted to return the doll with a small ribbon attached, but she refrained, thinking giving a cheap ribbon along with it might be presumptuous.
But then.
'Thud!'
A loud sound of the wall being struck violently came from the study.
What's going on?
Remembering the incident with the nursemaid not long ago, Adel quickly knocked on the door and asked.
"Marquis, are you alright?"
There was no answer.
Filled with rising anxiety, Adel opened the door without permission.
"...!"
Beyond the door stood a deeply wounded girl.
Her eyes brimming with tears, swinging her small fists.
'I should leave her alone.'
Clara, who was always so mature, was finally letting out her emotions, wasn't she?
So she shouldn't interfere.
Thinking that, yet without realizing it, Adel grabbed and held her hand.
And in the conversation that followed, Clara returned to her stern Marquis demeanor.
"It's nothing."
"If you have no business, I'd appreciate it if you left quickly."
However, those eyes.
"I... don't want to be with you."
They were, once again, unmistakably red, so Adel quickly stuffed the farewell letter she had prepared into her pocket.
Without even realizing it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
And now.
Adel confidently explained about herself.
"Well, because I haven't accomplished anything in my life so far."
Clara's nursemaid had raised a small baby into a healthy young lady.
The former Marquis, although only for a time, was a gentleman who knew the glory of the family.
Unlike them, Adel had never been outstanding in any corner of her life, and she never would be.
"A pathetic adult like me wouldn't dare give you good feelings or memories, Marquis."
A guardian who could offer no affection.
Therefore, she could ensure Clara would never again face the unfairness she felt now.
Being bound by her present feelings because of a single memory from the past.
"Make me your guardian, if only to protect you."
Clara's body shrank even more.
Adel decided to leave it to her judgment now and dared not say more.
"That's a rather foolish thing to say."
After a moment, Clara stepped out of the bathtub.
Drip, drip.
The girl, dripping water everywhere, walked over and draped a white towel hanging on a partition over her own shoulders.
It was a cute towel with a rabbit pattern.
"...Still, I didn't dislike it."
Clara looked back at Adel intently with her blue eyes.
Her assessing gaze continued, and then the girl gave a small nod.
"But I have conditions too."
"Are you accepting me?"
Adel asked, standing up from her seat.
Instead of answering, Clara stated her conditions.
"I won't listen to any pointless nagging."
Adel lightly raised her right hand and answered as if declaring.
"Yes, I will not give you any 'pointless' nagging."
But she would give necessary advice.
Perhaps that impudent thought showed on Adel's face.
Clara grumbled with a cold expression.
"I didn't mean to add the qualifier 'pointless.'"
But it seemed not going back on one's word was a Marquis's quality.
She did not take back her words.
With the adorable rabbit-patterned towel draped over her head, she continued solemnly.
"Also, I won't hand over a single shred of real power."
"I wouldn't dare hope for it anyway."
Even if it were given, she wouldn't be able to use it properly.
"Do you have any other demands?"
"..."
Clara was silent for a moment.
As if she needed time, Adel waited.
"You said before, didn't you? That Miss Adel wanted a life unrelated to Merriweather."
Soon after, the girl asked as if to confirm.
"Yes, Marquis."
"In that case..."
Clara gathered the small rabbit towel tightly in her tiny hand and looked up.
Her sharp eyes stared intently at Adel.
"You must leave the mansion."
It was a voice filled with great effort.
"On the day I turn sixteen."
On that day, Clara would no longer need a guardian.
"You're stating the obvious."
Adel answered without hesitation.
"When you turn sixteen, Marquis, I will enjoy a life unrelated to Merriweather. Along with the ample funds you will have provided."
"Good."
Clara smiled brightly.
"Then, based on what we've discussed, I'll prepare the documents for us to become contractual sisters."
Saying that, the girl extended her hand.
"Nice to meet you."
Clara's small hand, now clasped, had grown a little cold.
But as Adel held it tightly with both hands, warmth soon transferred.
Adel smiled, thinking it was fortunate.
But when she looked at Clara again, the girl sighed for some reason.
Had she done something wrong? As Adel wondered,
"...Damn suspension bridge effect."
Seeing her even scrunch up her expression, she seemed really angry...
Adel pondered what exactly about her had offended Clara.
But she couldn't figure out the answer at all.