“The baby has light brown hair like its mother. Since its eyes haven’t opened yet, I can’t tell what color they are. Ms. Delgado, this child is so cute and lovely.”

“Indeed. I’ve held many babies, but I’ve never seen one as handsome as this one.”

Jacqueline couldn’t take her eyes off the child. She pushed thoughts of Muriel aside and focused solely on taking in the baby’s face. Suddenly, Jacqueline wondered what Muriel had been thinking.

‘What thoughts went through your mind when you gave birth to this child, and what feelings led you to abandon it and enter the convent?’

It didn’t matter anymore.

‘Even in death you remain selfish. You knew exactly what choice I would make.’

Jacqueline trembled with anger at Muriel’s irresponsibility and cowardice, casually leaving just an address while pretending to give her a choice.

That day, young Jacqueline chose herself over her friend. Much later, she learned what “Schnami” meant. 

A Schnami was a pre-pubescent girl used for an old man’s rejuvenation. When Jacqueline learned the meaning, she was so shocked she couldn’t function for a while.

She regretted not carrying Muriel out of there, even if she had to knock her unconscious, but by then she had already left and considerable time had passed. Though she tried to forget, Muriel kept coming to mind. Her heart ached like a bruise.

When they reunited after four years, Muriel said she was thrown out of the luxurious villa when she started her period. 

Seeing Jacqueline deeply saddened by this story, Muriel comforted her friend, telling her not to feel too guilty because she had been treated better than expected. At that moment, Jacqueline vowed never to let anything bad happen to her again.

Jacqueline had always seen Muriel simply as a fragile girl, but in some ways, she was more mature than Jacqueline.

Melinda, who had observed their relationship for a long time, always remained wary of Muriel.

‘That girl feels inferior to you. Because of her inferiority, she doesn’t recognize when she’s made the best choice. Who can she blame? That’s all she’s capable of.’

Jacqueline had laughed off Melinda’s words.

The day Muriel left home, Jacqueline finally understood why she had been so fixated on Muriel’s innocent appearance and why Muriel had acted so childishly around her and others.

‘She never intended to forgive me for running away alone that day. And she exploited my feelings while knowing exactly what they were.’

But it was hard to admit this immediately. Muriel was a cunning adult who knew how to manipulate people’s hearts, while Jacqueline was someone who had grown older without truly maturing. Acknowledging this felt like collapsing exactly according to Muriel’s wishes.

Muriel had always had a mean streak, tormenting Jacqueline by asking if she would still like her despite her behavior. 

Annoyingly, she knew exactly how far she could push Jacqueline before crossing the line. Muriel knew Jacqueline would never abandon her. She was the hard shell surrounding a chrysalis; that’s what she was to Jacqueline.

Jacqueline’s shoulders began to shake slightly. Finally, this moment had come. Through flowing tears, Jacqueline sent off her love for Muriel.

Sheila Delgado wiped Jacqueline’s tears with a clean towel and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yes, hic… The baby is just so beautiful.”

With Muriel’s death, Jacqueline abandoned her complacent world and emerged from her shell. Becoming an adult made things that were previously invisible now crystal clear.

‘If you called me here with pure intentions for your son, I would have hated this baby in my arms intensely. Yet you asked me to name the child. You didn’t have even a shred of affection for the child you carried for ten months.’

Jacqueline concluded that Muriel must have hated either the baby or its father just as much.

“The child’s name.”

Jacqueline made her decision to give this abandoned baby a name.

“Let’s call him Troilus. From now on, this child’s name is Troilus Merlin Peyton.”

Jacqueline, led by Muriel’s hand, sank to the floor along with the light Muriel had carried.

* * *

Melinda listened to the violin melody coming from the third floor while casually drinking the tea Michael served her. The Siloam tea leaves from the East lived up to their nickname “King’s Pond” with their luxurious aroma.

Melinda put down her teacup with a satisfied expression. Anyone watching would have found her movements elegant. No matter how much she denied it, her innate background and upbringing were impossible to erase.

“Not bad.”

“I’m glad it’s to your liking, Linda.”

“By the way, what happened with that girl?”

“I hired a private investigator and found out she’s already dead. It was quite difficult to trace her since she’d been using aliases. Our girl will be very sad.”

Melinda mentioned Muriel’s death without any change in expression.

“How unfortunate. She had far too little time to fulfill that greed of hers.”

“That’s harsh, considering she was Jackie’s friend.”

“You were the one who didn’t approve of Jackie looking for her friend.”

“I was worried our girl would get hurt.”

“Something’s been bothering me. ‘Our girl’?”

“Ah. I care for Jackie just as much as you do, Linda. Besides, I’m her uncle, while you’re still…”

“Do you want to be thrown out for good?”

“Ahem, how cruel. Just like last time.”

“You sly fox. Whether you actually stayed away when I told you not to is another matter entirely.”

Melinda looked at the first-floor terrace. Though she, the owner, showed no interest in decorating the terrace, the flower pots changed with each season. This was thanks to Michael’s hobby. 

Recently, Michael had become deeply interested in gardening and decorated the terrace with different flowers each week. This week, new pots had been placed there.

“What can I expect from a man who doesn’t keep his promises?”

“Oh dear, I’ve been caught.”

Michael responded glibly and poured more tea into Melinda’s empty cup. With a prim expression, Melinda sipped the second serving. 

The better the quality of tea leaves, the more the taste depended on the brewer’s skill. Though it wounded her pride, Michael’s tea suited her palate best.

“Your tea-brewing skills are the only reason you’re still here.”

“It’s nice to receive a compliment from you for once.”

While the two were drinking tea, there was a knock, knock at the door. Michael’s face crumpled with irritation at having his time alone with Melinda interrupted, but he quickly composed himself and opened the door.

“Who is it?”

Upon opening the door, Michael immediately became wary of the blond man standing there. The man, who looked to be in his late twenties at most, carried a darker and deeper aura than most people from the underworld. 

Blond hair, blue eyes, handsome features. Michael instantly recognized him as Lloyd Whitaker from the rumors.

Lloyd glanced at the middle-aged man guarding the office entrance and mechanically introduced himself.

“I’m Lloyd Whitaker. I’d like to see Ms. Maynard.”

Lloyd spoke loudly enough for Melinda to hear beyond the guardian.

“I have a property I’m interested in and would like to make a deal with Ms. Maynard. May I come in now?”

“Hmm, today is…”

“Let him in.”

Melinda stopped Michael’s refusal and invited the unwelcome guest inside. Michael stepped aside reluctantly. As Michael cleared the way, Lloyd nodded slightly and entered.

“It’s been a while, Ms. Maynard.”

“Please sit.”

Wanting to hear his business and send him away quickly, Melinda skipped all social niceties and went straight to the point.

“What property are you interested in?”

“Still straightforward and without pretense, I see.”

“I don’t need to impress someone who wants something from me.”

“Then let me be direct too. Sell this building to me. I’ll pay ten times the market value.”

Melinda took a leisurely sip of tea while her mind raced through complex calculations. Specifically, she was trying to figure out why Lloyd Whitaker wanted to buy this building.

“Why would you be interested in this small building away from the entertainment district? While the location is good, it’s not worth paying ten times the market value. Do you know something I don’t, Mr. Whitaker?”

“I plan to use it as a residence.”

“A residence? Then all the more reason to avoid a place like this, if only for safety concerns.”

Lloyd removed his black gloves and placed them on the table.

“That’s for me to worry about. I just want to know if you’re selling or not.”

Whenever Melinda saw Lloyd, she thought of a beautiful monster from folklore. A lovely-faced creature that approaches its lover and slowly eats away at their stomach. 

The story was a distorted version of the insane bloodline of the former royal family. Everyone knew that this cursed, insane bloodline was the decisive reason for the closure of the royal house.

King Marius’s eccentricities were proof enough. This was the result of repeated inbreeding from an era when the king was considered divine. 

Since higher nobility were closely related to the royal family by blood, even the current powers in the Lungen Republic, the glorious five families, were distant branch lines of the royal family.

Though the collapse of the class system was considered the flow of time, this flow was also a compromise born from the fear that bloodlines would end if not diluted.

‘Anyone who exerts influence in this country in any way is a madman.’