FMLDM 17

Chapter 17

Was it because I emphasized “someone else’s house” so firmly and pressed it down with such weight? Macaron, who had briefly lifted his head, looked like a wet puppy. Regardless, I shot him a sharp glare just like yesterday. When our eyes met, he lowered his head again and pulled out something crumpled, offering it to me.

“What is this?”

“I… I’m sorry.”

The small piece of paper clasped in his large hand looked delicate and cute. Macaron placed it on the table and disappeared as if running away. I stared down the empty hallway where he had gone for a while, then snapped back to reality and unfolded the letter. Neat handwriting appeared:

To Lady Calypso,
I have committed an unforgivable wrong to you. I cannot bring myself to ask for forgiveness, but I will strive to deserve it. I am sorry and also grateful.
– Macaron Creed –

The tightly pressed writing showed at a glance how much thought had gone into every word. The image of such a big hand writing such tiny letters made me chuckle softly. Underneath it was another letter. Opening the envelope revealed messy handwriting:

Reflection Letter
Mom, I’m sorry.
It’s not because I hate you.
I’m sorry for causing trouble and throwing tantrums.
I’ll try to do better from now on.
– Kai –

Even in the training hall, Kai’s awkward expression made me think he was just shy around me.

“Is this really a letter written by Kai, who couldn’t even look me in the eye properly?”

The word “Mom” stuck in my mind.

“I thought Kai still had a long way to go, seeing him turn his head whenever our eyes met in the practice yard…”

Reading the reflection letter, my heart warmed enough that a smile never left my lips. Though I knew he must have been troubled by the Coral situation, I was grateful he approached me first like this. I read Kai’s letter several times before putting it in the most visible storage box. As for Macaron’s letter, I thought about what to do with it, then decided to return it to Lord Momont.

The next morning, Macaron seemed to have truly entered repentance mode as stated in his letter. The breakfast laid on the table today was as grand as an emperor’s meal. From the cream soup appetizer to the cheese tart, everything looked like carefully chosen dishes matching my taste perfectly.

“Macaron must have put a lot of effort into this.”

The chef subtly let me know that he prepared it, perhaps worried I wouldn’t notice. But Macaron himself was absent from the dining table. Instead, only Kai sat there awkwardly. Kai hesitated, lowering his head so his black crown was visible, and slowly approached me.

“I… I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I won’t do it again. And…”

After a long pause, Kai finally spoke.

“Thank you… for your hands.”

His face slowly reddened as if unsure how to say what he wanted. Fumbling, he quietly added,

“Mom.”

Just that word made my heart beat strangely.

“I thought he wouldn’t even realize since I only applied ointment while he was asleep…”

When I stroked Kai’s head, I saw his face flush deeper. He still seemed awkward around me, but compared to before, this was definitely an improvement. Once seated and the meal prepared, Coral glanced once at me, once at Kai, then turned her head to the empty seat. It seemed she was bothered by Macaron’s absence at this rare family meal. Coral turned her head and quietly asked with her small mouth,

“What about the stepdad…?”

Kai glanced around and then looked at me.

“Shall I… go see him?”

Did Kai know about the rift between Macaron and me? I felt a little sorry watching Kai and Coral exchange glances. But there was no way I was ready to forgive Macaron yet.

“No need. He seems busy, so let’s just eat by ourselves.”

“……!”

Had I been too blunt? Kai’s eyes widened slightly. From then on, Kai and Coral quietly focused on their meal. So I didn’t realize that while I hid my face, they were exchanging subtle signals.

Three days had passed with the same meal repeated. Only the three of us sat at the table, and the conversation was somewhat pleasant.

“Even though Dad isn’t here…”

On the third day of family meals, Kai sensed something strange.

“I thought Dad was just busy and didn’t come…”

But the Dad Kai had seen recently was nothing like a busy person. He looked restless all day as if he had done something wrong. Kai felt sorry and confused about how such a confident Dad could become like this. And today, Kai witnessed an even more shocking scene.

“Dad watching Mom secretly.”

Sensing the seriousness, Kai called Coral aside after the meal. Perhaps troubled by the same issue, Coral started talking about Dad as we entered the secret garden.

“Have you asked Dad to have breakfast together?”

“That’s not the problem right now.”

“Then what?”

“I think Dad did something wrong to Mom.”

Kai’s cautious tone deepened Coral’s serious expression.

“Something wrong? What kind of wrong?”

“I don’t know. But it seems serious.”

Coral, already sensing the gravity of the situation, soon wore a distressed look. Old nightmares kept resurfacing.

“Will we be abandoned again?”

With a tearful face, Coral barely spoke.

“Does that mean Mom and the new stepdad will separate?”

“Who said anything about separating?”

Though he said that, Kai felt heavy inside. In a year, what Coral worried about might actually happen… If the worst did come, what would Coral choose?

“What if…”

“What if what?”

“Nothing.”

“Say it quickly.”

“It’s really just an if.”

“Okay, say it quickly.”

“If Mom and Dad separate, who would you live with?”

“…Separate?”

Seeing Coral’s shocked, teary eyes, Kai shook his hands helplessly.

“I was just… saying it. You said it was an if.”

Kai’s usual nervous habit showed itself when he lied. His voice trembled slightly, and his pupils shook as if from an earthquake. Coral, ever perceptive, was quick to notice.

“You’re not just saying that, are you? You know something, don’t you?”

Even with Coral’s direct gaze, Kai couldn’t bring himself to reveal Mom and Dad’s “contract marriage.” Honestly, it was something only he needed to know. Hiding his despair, Kai exaggerated and puffed out his chest. Thumping his chest, he swallowed back hot tears.

“Don’t worry. Just trust me.”

“What will you do?”

Kai had spent sleepless nights devising a strategic and profound plan to change everything. For Coral’s happiness… Kai stayed up late sharing the plan. As the small grains of sand slowly formed a mountain and a grand structure took shape, Kai and Coral nodded at each other with fiery determination.

With all schedules involving Macaron canceled, there was no contact with him. The only chance to see him now was occasionally through the window. Today, Macaron stood waiting for Coral in the lush landscape outside the window. Recently, Macaron seemed to be trying to court Coral. The number of times I caught them seeing off or playing together had increased. Last time, Macaron sent a luxury carriage to the academy, which seemed to impress Coral greatly. Today, Coral returned to her room and came straight to mine, unusually clutching a doll I had never seen before.

“Has she picked up a new hobby?”

After finishing a changer job, I saw Coral carefully adjusting the doll’s clothes. Coral’s doll clothes were so pretty they caught my attention, fitting for a girl who might open a magical tailor shop in the future.

“How skillful her little hands are…”

Wait a moment.

“Isn’t that doll…?”

Having been to the secret auction several times because of the changer auction problem, I recognized it immediately.

“The doll the auctioneer said was very hard to find in the empire.”

How did Coral get that?

“Where did you get that doll?”

“From Dad.”

The doll was apparently bought a while ago and given to Coral. Judging by the timing, it must have been purchased before the ointment incident. As far as Coral was concerned, I was somewhat grateful to Macaron. He wasn’t a great husband, but he was a good father. Yet since befriending Macaron, Coral sometimes said strange things. Today was no exception.

“What kind of man do you like, Mom?”

That was a question I should be asking, not Coral. And that grin… Did Macaron teach her that? Since playing with Macaron, Coral seemed to have lost some innocence even as her vocabulary and phrases increased. Maybe I needed to separate Macaron and Coral a bit.

“A good man is nothing special—modest, innocent, but depending on the situation, seductive, and has a nice face and body.”

Saying that, it sounded like criteria for a son-in-law candidate. Someone like that would be a good match for Coral. Of course, Coral, unaware of my big intentions, tilted her head at me like hearing a foreign language.

“What does that mean?”

Well, that was probably a confusing phrase at her age. Especially in the empire, only Moon Knights knew such slang.

“You’ll understand it all when you grow up.”

Coral smiled with her eyes crescent-shaped. Then tilted her head again.

“Anything else you like?”

“Hmm… A sunflower that only looks at me?”

Did I say something too difficult again? Coral’s rabbit-like eyes grew even wider.

“…What?”

Her surprised expression was so cute I smoothed her silver hair.

“That’s the most important thing.”

But Coral doesn’t really need to understand that. Looking at Kai, I already saw promise. Coral’s eyes were sparkling, but I saw nothing like that.

Meanwhile, the west annex was gloomy again tonight. Macaron sighed as he stared at the same stack of unprocessed documents.

“Will I ever be able to see Lady Calypso again?”

The letter he agonized over all day was returned in Lord Momont’s hands unchanged. The only connection he had with Lady Calypso—the tea time—was gone.

“Is this what it feels like to stand on the edge of a cliff?”

Macaron started by putting effort into the breakfast menu. Though he knew it wouldn’t fix his troubles, he clung to the last thread. Weeks had passed with no progress, and the ever-pristine Macaron looked increasingly gaunt, something he had never experienced before. Lord Momont couldn’t just watch his master wither away anymore. He advised Macaron to go kneel and apologize to Calypso again, even if it felt like a knife was at his throat. But Macaron didn’t have the courage to face her again. Today, faint wrinkles appeared on Macaron’s smooth, porcelain-like face. At that moment, Kai entered with a serious expression.