Chapter 59

Costance Orsi remained inside the confessional for a long time.

Despite Alonso’s warning not to let anything stain the letter, Costance’s tears had already soaked it.

Even when he was out of his mind, Costance cried again. His heart was worn and torn, aching to the point of breaking. The letter Vivi left behind made Costance feel like he was going to go mad from missing her.

Why was she trying to leave me while saying such sweet things…? 

Costance couldn’t understand it with his head.

Costance was now confused.

Even as she pushed him away, Vivi seemed to be desperately asking for help.

In that one letter, Costance wondered if Vivi still loved and cherished him deeply.

He quickly forgot the woman who had stabbed him with countless daggers in the form of words.

〈Goddess.〉

On a day when the rain poured like a torrent, Costance vividly remembered that day. How could he forget Vivi, crouched with Alonso, making a wish? It was the day Costance first lost his heart to Vivi.

〈Goddess, please grant my wish.〉

Her voice was as vivid as if it happened yesterday.

Vivi’s action of closing her eyes and clasping her hands replayed in Costance’s mind like a slow-motion scene. Costance sobbed quietly, unable to lift his shoulders.

Costance experienced a strange emotion for the first time beside Vivi. It was new and warm…

Then, he heard a presence beside him.

“Are you done crying?”

When he lifted his head, Costance saw Alonso opening the small sliding door.

Through the gap, Alonso’s face was visible.

“…Do you still like Vivi a lot?”

Alonso asked, noticing Costance’s reddened eyes. Costance slowly raised his body and nodded.

“Yes, a lot.”

Alonso was surprised by the clear voice of Costance he heard for the first time. But soon, Alonso opened the sliding door wider and looked straight ahead instead of at Costance.

“Do you know where Vivi is?”

“I do, but before that, I have a confession to make to you.”

Costance spoke in a trembling voice.

“I know I stained the letter. It’s covered in tears.”

“…Alonso.”

“Huh?”

Alonso looked at Costance at the sudden unfamiliar name.

It was certainly an unfamiliar name, but Alonso’s body reacted strangely. Costance held Alonso’s gaze tightly and slowly opened his lips.

“It’s your name.”

“…My name is Eugene.”

Alonso said, squinting his eyes. Costance’s gaze was hard to bear, making Alonso want to close the sliding door. His hand fumbled with the sliding door, then lowered.

“It’s the first name you had. Alonso Orsi.”

“…And your name?”

“Costance Dieter Orsi.”

Alonso remained still, then exhaled a breath. Instead of speaking, Alonso meticulously examined Costance’s face from head to chin. The only resemblance was the hair color.

Other than that, there was no similarity in face or personality. Yet, every time Alonso looked at Costance, his whole body tingled.

“…You’re not my father.”

At Alonso’s words, spoken after a long silence, Costance chuckled.

“Brother?”

“Yes.”

“…Orsi. I’ve heard it a lot…”

Alonso struggled to recall the name Orsi. Costance wiped his smile and handed the letter to Alonso. As soon as Vivi’s neatly folded letter left his hand, Costance made the sign of the cross.

Alonso stared blankly at Costance’s large hand.

“I want to confess my sins.”

“…”

It was the procedure of confession. Costance was the believer confessing his sins, and Alonso became the priest who had to listen and keep the believer’s sins secret. Alonso realized that the content of Costance’s confession was related to his birth and the reason he came to the orphanage.

Alonso was conflicted, and Costance waited for him. It was an anxious time for both.

Still, he hoped Alonso would listen to the person’s story to the end.

Just… at least listen to the end for now.

Alonso looked at Vivi’s letter in his hand. If it weren’t for Vivi… he wouldn’t have wanted to see Costance at all.

〈There’s someone who misses you.〉

A very wonderful person.

Alonso recalled Vivi’s words.

The words from the woman he liked.

That had the power to prevent Alonso from feeling any discomfort or anxiety, even knowing Costance Orsi was his family.

Until then, Alonso had not hated the family that abandoned him all his life.

“Confess your sins… truthfully.”

Alonso said.

Even in this moment when Vivi Ferren was absent, she gave sunlight to the Orsi brothers.

That warm light gave the timid Costance Orsi the courage to confess his sins and opened the ears of the once hate-filled Alonso.

* * *

The man spoke, and the boy listened.

Now, Alonso’s tears also stained Vivi’s letter.

The letter, which had been kept clean for days, became crumpled and wrinkled in just a few hours.

Having finished his confession, Costance looked at Alonso. The boy’s silent sobbing expression did not hold any distinct emotion like anger or sadness. The boy had no thoughts.

“Alonso.”

Ignoring Costance’s words, Alonso stood up. Costance followed Alonso out of the confessional. Alonso needed time to collect his thoughts.

‘If only Vivi were here…’

Costance clenched his fist.

If Vivi were beside Alonso, he might have been able to think more comfortably. He could have relieved some of the sudden burden, and perhaps his heart would have felt lighter.

Costance circled back to thinking of Vivi Ferren. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to dig into Vivi’s circumstances to hold onto her.

“Alonso?”

While he was lost in thought, Alonso disappeared from his sight.

Panicked, Costance entered the inside of the cathedral, but there was no sign of anyone there.

Costance looked out the darkened window. Outside, men in a black suits stood, and in front of him was Alonso.

“Alonso!”

Costance rushed outside the cathedral.

“C-Costance.”

Quickly stepping between Alonso and the men, Costance suppressed his anger and exuded an overwhelming presence. His gray pupils flashed, and his shadowed face threatened the men in front of him.

“Who are you?”

“…We didn’t mean to harm the boy. The Marquis is calling for you, Young Master.”

They were from the Orsi estate. Costance further hid Alonso’s figure.

“Father?”

“The Marquis is very worried about you, Young Master.”

“Then he should have contacted me directly.”

“You must come to the estate immediately, Young Master.”

“Leave.”

Costance replied in a firm voice.

The men flinched but showed no sign of backing down.

“Young Master, we don’t want to use force.”

At the men’s words, Costance’s eyes gleamed.

“Force?”

“Young Master, we are only here to take you with us. Please come with us. If you keep resisting… we’ll have to take the boy behind you as well.”

“How dare you.”

Costance approached as if he would subdue the men at any moment, then stopped his actions. Alonso was frightened and clung tightly to Costance’s clothes.

Damn it. 

Costance cursed inwardly as his anger surged to the top of his head.

“Do I just need to get in that car?”

Costance calmed his chest and pointed to the black car in front of the cathedral. The men quickly nodded.

“This is the only time I’ll let it slide.”

Costance’s feet moved.

“Uh, um.”

Alonso’s voice held Costance back. Costance forced a smile and patted Alonso’s head.

“See you later.”

A man kindly opened the door for him. As soon as he got in the car, Costance looked at the driver who handed him a magnetic telephone.

“It’s the Marquis.”

“You really go to great lengths.”

Costance grabbed the phone and answered.

“This is Costance.”

• What on earth have you been doing in the military?

He heard the Marquis’s unpleasant voice.

“Have you been watching me?”

• Don’t forget that your superior was my subordinate.

“Do I really have to go to the estate?”

Costance’s voice rumbled in a low tone.

• The military must have been lenient. Seeing how your mind has completely rotted. The government is just about to increase the agency’s workforce. There’s a position open at the agency. Go there and work.

“I am a naval officer.”

• I’ve arranged for alternative service. Don’t think you can work as loosely there as you did here.

“…”

• There’s someone who knows the design of the destructive weapon.

Costance’s face twisted at the sudden main topic.

“Who is that…”

• Benny Galinne. Go to the agency and catch her, Costance.