Chapter 42

Costance leaned back.

In his hand were photos of the three couples who wanted to adopt Alonso.

Honestly, he didn’t like any of the three couples. The fact that they were entangled with the Orsi family made it impossible for him to trust them.

〈I want to be a good brother to Alonso. So that he won’t be hurt…〉

Costance vowed.

Holding the small hand of Alonso, who couldn’t yet speak…

He promised that if their father scolded Alonso harshly, he, as the older brother, would protect him. He promised to embrace Alonso so that he wouldn’t be hurt for being an illegitimate child.

Costance closed his eyes.

〈The absence of parents can be a great wound to a child, Captain.〉

…But Costance couldn’t understand.

He was severely beaten by the Marquis Orsi as a child. As a result, Costance grew to deeply hate his father.

Isn’t it better to have no parents at all than to meet bad ones?

But is that really better?

These three couples might be good parents. As the detective said, they had received substantial support from the Orsi family, so whether they liked it or not, they were likely to treat Alonso well.

‘Is that really right?’

Costance pondered and pondered again.

Would the false love of parents truly help Alonso?

Costance ran a hand over his face. Through the gap, he saw the photos of the three couples lying on the floor.

“…Damn it.”

He didn’t like any of them.

Lost in thought, Costance finally lowered his arm. When Alonso became an adult, who knew what the Marquis Orsi would do? All three couples were under the Marquis Orsi’s control…

Costance’s shadow stretched long beside him. He bent down and picked up a pen.

For the first time, he wrote a letter to his father.

Clenching his teeth tightly, Costance slowly wrote down each sentence.

* * *

Rain poured down fiercely from the sky that had been cloudy for days.

Even though it was daytime, it was gloomy outside.

The street, usually bustling with people, was now empty. Costance walked alone down that street.

Costance had sent a letter, almost like a threat, to the Marquis Orsi. That was three days ago.

The three couples who had so eagerly wanted Alonso suddenly cut off contact.

In conclusion, Alonso was not adopted.

Costance looked up at the darkened cathedral. In his hand were sword-shaped toys and snacks that Alonso liked.

“…”

To secretly deliver these, the nun needed to be nearby. Costance was looking around when he spotted a small figure by the well.

“…”

Alonso.

Alonso was crouched under a small tent beside the well.

What if he catches a cold like that? 

Just as Costance was worrying, a tear fell from Alonso’s cheek.

At the same time, strength left Costance’s hand. He almost dropped the box he was holding. His face went cold. Watching Alonso, Costance didn’t notice the toy box in his hand getting soaked.

Alonso was crying.

The cheerful boy who used to run around the orphanage every day was crying.

Costance’s mind went blank at his brother’s tears. His gray eyes flickered with anxiety. His feet were stuck in place, watching from behind a tree. The umbrella he was holding had long been abandoned.

Why was Alonso crying? 

Costance bit his lip.

‘You liked the orphanage, didn’t you, Alonso?’

Costance stared blankly at the soaked toy box.

‘You have friends and the nun at the orphanage. And Vivi Ferren, whom you like.’

But why?

Whatever the reason, he had to give the umbrella and toy box to Alonso.

But Costance’s feet wouldn’t move. He thought he knew why. Alonso wanted parents. The person who took that away was none other than Costance himself. Guilt tightened around Costance’s heart. Even if he wanted to explain, he couldn’t convey that feeling to Alonso, which was frustrating.

Costance’s chest felt tight, his breath caught.

“They are truly irresponsible and bad people.”

A woman spoke through the sound of rain. At her voice, Alonso slowly raised his head. Costance’s tight chest loosened for a brief moment.

“So they certainly wouldn’t have been good parents.”

Vivi, holding an umbrella, squatted next to Alonso. When she offered a blanket, Alonso pretended not to see and hung his head low. Vivi quietly draped the blanket over Alonso’s back. At the warm touch, Alonso’s shoulders twitched.

“…How…?”

“Hmm?”

“How can you be sure of that, Vivi? That they wouldn’t have been good parents to me.”

Alonso’s voice trembled.

“If they wanted to be good parents to you, they wouldn’t have cut off contact so abruptly.”

“…But they wanted me. Whatever the reason.”

Alonso clenched his fists tightly.

“I liked that… I don’t have any greed, Vivi. I just wish I had a home to live in.”

“…”

“Even if they didn’t think of me as their real child, I’d still be okay with it. I just want to be like other ordinary friends…”

“That’s not okay.”

Vivi said firmly.

Hurt, Alonso looked up at her with fearful eyes. Yet Vivi’s answer didn’t change.

“You need to go to people who think of you as their real child.”

“What do you know to say that, Vivi?”

“Do you really want that? For your siblings to treat you like a guest, and for your parents to see you as a stranger. (Psalm 69:8)”

“Still, it’d be better than this wretched orphanage. Vivi, you don’t know anything! Why do you speak so carelessly when you don’t know anything?”

Alonso sobbed. As he cried out loud, Vivi’s eyes also became moist. But she held back her tears and quietly waited until Alonso finished crying.

The rain poured down like a waterfall. The raindrops hitting the ground masked the boy’s sobs.

Alonso’s nose turned red from crying until he was exhausted.

“Hey, Eugene.”

“Yes?”

“My mom…disappeared one day too.”

Vivi spoke quietly.

“My dad worked far away due to his job, and I ended up living at my dad’s workplace alone.”

“…But Vivi, you still had a dad.”

“That was the third time I saw my father.”

Alonso turned his gaze to Vivi.

“The people there treated me as a stranger more than a guest, and to my father, I was… truly a stranger.”

“So, how are you and your dad now?”

“My dad ran away too. Left me behind.”

Alonso’s eyes widened. He hesitated and silently shed tears again.

Vivi smiled slightly and gently wiped the tears from Alonso’s cheek.

“Don’t cry.”

“…Sorry.”

At Alonso’s apology, Vivi patted the boy’s head.

“I’m not saying you should endure because I did. You don’t have to endure, Eugene. But know this. I am well aware of the indifference and absence of parents.”

“…”

“I assure you, they were bad people, and the Goddess who realized that chased them away to protect you, Alonso.”

“Really…?”

“Of course, do I look like someone who lies?”

Alonso hesitated and shook his head slightly. He seemed to feel a bit better than before. Vivi noticed this and smiled brightly.

“So let’s pray to the Goddess. To say thank you. And to wish for truly good parents to come.”

“…What if they don’t come?”

“Then, well, when you grow up, live next door to me. Have you heard that neighbors are family too? If you move next door, I’ll give you a wonderful housewarming gift.”

Alonso hugged the blanket and clasped his hands together.

“I’ll pray to the Goddess anyway.”

“Good, let’s pray. The Goddess is with you even now.”

Both Alonso and Vivi closed their eyes and made a wish.

Goddess, Goddess, thank you so much…

For driving away the bad people.

If you’re listening to me, I hope a good family finds me.

Goddess, Goddess, please grant my wish.

I hope I have a truly wonderful family.

A happy family. A family that wants me.

My real family…

Costance, soaked in rain, stared intently at Alonso.

Though he was not a Goddess, he heard Alonso’s wish clearly.

He felt the bad feelings wash away with the rainwater. Even without a blanket, his back felt warm.

He cried, quietly.