Chapter 29

Responding to Noah’s question, Regina answered while recalling her memories:

“Was it two years ago? I remember them consulting with my parents about adopting a child, as they had been without a baby for a long time.”

“Are you suggesting we entrust this baby to that count and countess?”

“Yes, that’s right. I haven’t heard anything about it since then. Couldn’t we at least ask? If I say I’m Regina’s friend, I think they’d meet with me. Maybe they’d be delighted to receive this baby as their adopted daughter!”

“…I don’t know.”

Would things in the world really flow so easily?

Hearing Regina’s overly optimistic words, he made a sour face. For just a moment, he caught a glimpse of how much Regina Evelyn must have been loved by those around her, a facet of her life. Finding it unfamiliar, Noah furrowed his brow and then relaxed it.

‘Absorbing memories…’

He felt a sense of dissonance at how the Black Fairy before him, despite not being Regina Evelyn, had traces of ‘human life’ throughout their conversation. Suddenly, he wondered if possessing someone’s memories entirely was truly like stealing their life.

“Waaah!”

But his thoughts were forcibly halted there. The baby, uncomfortable with the carriage’s rocking, had burst into tears again.

“Oh no, what should we do! Baby, don’t cry. Stop!”

“Oh dear, little one, please be patient. We’ll arrive soon.”

Regina made strange noises, trying to distract the baby, while the maid desperately tried to soothe it by swinging her arms holding the child left and right. In the midst of this chaos, Noah pressed his fingers hard against his brow again.

‘Maybe I should have just left it at the mansion after all…’

He felt a deep regret anew. When they boarded the train, he would definitely have to book two separate compartments. Thinking this, he swallowed a big sigh.

* * *

Contrary to Noah’s expectations, things in the world flowed surprisingly easily.

Two days later, when Regina arrived in the capital and made contact, Lord Havering, who happened to be in the capital on business, came to meet her right away. He had been particularly fond of his niece Regina and, seeing the letter, came to the train station himself without any suspicion.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Asher Havering. Are you a friend of our Regina?”

Havering was a gentleman with a kind impression at first glance. Although flecks of white hair were visible and wrinkles lined his eyes, his gentle smile made him look much younger, making it difficult to gauge his age. Moreover, despite being neatly dressed, his wealth was impossible to hide, exuding an aristocratic air.

“Yes, Count. Pleased to meet you. Please call me Ellie.”

Regina greeted him with a bright smile, seemingly delighted by his kind greeting. Noah leaned against a nearby wall, listening to Regina give the alias ‘Ellie’. It seemed there was no need for him to step in.

“…Yes, Miss Ellie. It’s nice to meet you.”

Seeing Regina’s smile, Havering suddenly felt a sharp pain in the corner of his heart.

In fact, he still couldn’t fully grasp that Regina, that young thing, had departed so futilely. In the midst of this, the moment he saw the smile of the girl before him, he suddenly felt an unbearable longing for Regina’s smiling face. He blinked several times to hold back the redness in his eyes, then smiled gently and continued speaking.

“…But why did you seek me out?”

“Regina often talked about you, Count, so I knew. I remembered you mentioning about two years ago that you were thinking of adopting, so I contacted you. This baby is the only daughter of Baron Epola, but sadly both her parents died in an accident, leaving her with no one to depend on. I’ve heard her relatives aren’t very good people either. So, I was wondering, would you consider adopting this child as your daughter?”

Havering was at a loss for words at this unexpected request. While he did feel bewildered, strangely, he couldn’t refuse outright. The girl’s sparkling eyes, not even considering the possibility of rejection, made Havering hesitate.

“Looking at this baby reminded me of you, Count. She’s really cute and good-natured. I’m sure Aunt Cosette will fall in love with her at first sight!”

She should have said Countess, not Aunt Cosette. But Havering forgot to point this out, too surprised by the girl’s tone and expression before him.

How could she resemble Regina so much, even though she was clearly a different child, despite being a friend?

After gazing intently at the girl before him, Havering nodded after a moment.

“…Yes, perhaps this is fate too.”

Havering reached out both hands and lifted the baby from the maid’s arms. The baby, who had been dozing off, suddenly opened its eyes wide, and seeing the unfamiliar face, made a “kyaa” sound and placed its small hand on his cheek. Havering’s heart ached at that tiny, warm touch.

“What a truly adorable baby.”

Regina smiled brightly as she watched Havering carefully embrace the baby with a joyful smile. And Noah, who had retreated far back, unfamiliar with such an atmosphere, felt somewhat dumbfounded.

It was bewildering enough that a stranger had called him out of nowhere using his niece’s name, but to not only come out willingly but also to agree with a smile when asked to take the baby. It was clear that this person was just as naive about the ways of the world as Regina.

“Thank you for connecting us with this precious bond, Miss Ellie. If you have time, may I invite you to dinner tonight? I’d like you to come to our mansion and tell me and my wife stories about Regina.”

Regina shook her head at Havering’s words.

“It’s not possible right now. But when it becomes possible someday, I’ll definitely visit! Regina used to boast that Aunt Cosette’s pumpkin pie was the most delicious in the world. So when I come next time, please bake that pumpkin pie!”

“…I certainly will, Miss Ellie.”

“Yes, Count Heviering! Thank you, see you next time!”

Regina smiled brightly as she said goodbye, then turned around and ran to where Noah was standing. However, Havering, who was about to return her farewell, froze, unable to say anything. This was because a voice from the past brushed past his ears.

‘Uncle Heviering, see you next time!’

‘Regina, really. It’s Havering! How do you always get it wrong? I’m sorry, brother. The child is growing up too pampered and is a bit slow.’

‘But the pronunciation is difficult!’

The image of five-year-old Regina, pouting with her index finger in her mouth, flashed by like an afterimage. Only then did Havering realize. Ah, I can never meet that child again.

His heart felt as if it was being buried in longing that came rushing in like a bursting dam.

“Regina…”

Tears welled up in his deep gray eyes and trickled down. As a few drops fell on the baby in his arms, the baby quietly closed its mouth and looked up at Havering. Finding that adorable expression comforting, Havering smiled even as he cried.

Thanks to the baby, a warmth remained in a corner of his heart, tangled with longing and sorrow. This must surely be Regina’s gift, he suddenly thought.

* * *

After sending back the maid they had temporarily hired to care for the baby, Noah went to the waiting room inside the train station. It was to wait for Regina, who had gone to check for a letter.

“Hey, can you go to the Royal Constabulary?”

He called out to a messenger boy passing by, handing him a coin.

“Yes, sir! I can. What can I help you with?”

“Can you check if there’s any new information about the face on this wanted poster?”

As the boy promptly accepted the coin with a polite bow, Noah took out the wanted posters of the criminals that Regina had brought before and showed them to him. The boy leaned in to check the faces and names on the posters, then nodded.

“Rose and John of the Red Cat, right? Yes, I understand. Shall I come back here then, sir?”

“Yes, I might leave soon, so I’d appreciate it if you could come back as quickly as possible.”

Saying this, Noah took out two more coins and handed them over. It was a hint to come back as fast as possible without getting sidetracked.

“Yes, sir! I’ll be back in no time!”

The boy, putting his all into serving a generous customer, nodded vigorously and dashed out the door. As Noah watched his retreating figure with satisfaction, he saw Regina’s figure behind the boy. It seemed her errand had ended quickly, despite saying it might take some time.

“Our next destination is north, but I’m just checking if there’s any new information about the whereabouts of the two people you’re looking for.”

“…Ah, yes. I understand.”

“What’s with that dying expression again? You were grinning just a moment ago. Are your mood swings always this severe?”

Noah asked, seeing her gloomy face. Regina, who would normally get upset at such words, seemed distracted and just shook her head.

“No, it’s just… I’m too nervous right now.”

“Nervous? About what?”

Wondering if perhaps the Black Fairy’s molting symptoms had appeared belatedly, Noah straightened his posture. However, Regina, with her head down and unaware of his tense gaze, sighed deeply and answered.

“I received a letter from Maggie.”

“What? Who received what?”

“I said I received a letter from my friend, Margaret. That Margaret Jenkins you pretended to be the brother of.”

“…”

Noah momentarily couldn’t understand. So, Margaret sent a letter to her dead friend? How did she know Regina was here? Faced with this disconnected information, Noah made a bewildered expression, and Regina finally gave a detailed explanation.