Chapter 14

"――Roy? Where are you?"

I was lost in thought and startled by Lily's voice. Lily tilted her head, peering up at my face.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just thinking."

"Even though we're finally having a conversation together."

Lily pouted. Not knowing how to respond, a dry laugh escaped me. Perhaps researchers are supposed to be mentally immature, or maybe they become detached from the world because they focus solely on their studies. Elsa is the same; she seems to have lost her social skills in exchange for her intellectual abilities. The elderly Professor Wiseman also occasionally displays a childlike curiosity.

By the way, the professor was almost killed by Quintus, too. At that time, Quintus was seriously trying to kill the professor, but Lily was spared. What is the difference between these two?

"Changing the subject, may I ask about the incident?"

"Of course. You are an investigator, after all. I really wonder how it all happened."

"I have a mutual interest with the patrol team. I can't say more than that."

"Baker said the same thing. So, what do you want to know?"

"Do you have any idea why you were targeted by Quintus?"

Lily slightly tilted her head and shifted her gaze to the bookshelf adorned with dolls, as if deep in thought.

"I don't know. All I know is that the Aviram faction's nobles are being targeted."

Baker said that all of Quintus's victims seemed to be hiding something. He said it was just a hunch, but his insight cannot be underestimated.

Is Lily hiding something? Why was only her husband attacked? Is Lily a target of Quintus's revenge? Despite being a researcher?

"Why did Quintus spare you, a researcher?"

Lily's eyes lost focus, and she looked into the distance as if through me, with a dazed expression.

"I thought I heard a noise. When I opened my eyes, a hooded figure was floating in the dimly lit room before dawn. It was a tall man. He made a gesture as if to draw a sword, but he didn't seem to have anything. He slowly approached, but I couldn't fight without my staff, like Elsa. I just held Ruby, who was sleeping next to me, and closed my eyes. I felt like I had my eyes closed for a very long time, but nothing happened. When I cautiously opened my eyes, the man had vanished like mist."

Lily spoke as if delivering a monologue on stage. Until just a moment ago, she seemed unusually normal, but now she looked like a victim of the incident.

If Lily's story is true, Quintus initially had the intention to harm her but changed his mind for some reason. Why? Did he feel pity for a mother trying to protect her child? It doesn't make sense. He has already killed many people.

Does he have a problem with killing children? I haven't heard of Quintus killing children. At the reception hall, many children, including myself, were almost killed, but only adults ended up dying.

"Perhaps Quintus hesitated when he saw you protecting Ruby."

"Yes, that must be it. I'm glad I stood my ground."

It might have been lucky that Lily was sleeping with Ruby. If she had been in the marital bedroom, she would have lost her head next to her husband, who lost his limbs.

"May I ask a personal question? Do you often sleep with Ruby?"

"Often? I always sleep with her..."

Lily tilted her head as if wondering if there was something strange about it. Isn't it weird for a child to sleep with their parent at our age? I don't think it was common in my previous life, but maybe it is normal in this country. I can't imagine sleeping with Elsa.

"No, from my perspective, it's hard to imagine sleeping in the same bed with a mother at this age."

"Is that so?"

"I suppose so. My mother isn't the type to sleep with her children."

I intended to state a fact, but it sounded like I was feeling lonely.

"I see. Then I'll tell Elsa."

Lily made a mischievous face.

"Wh-What? Don't do that!"

My voice grew louder in my agitation. Lily's eyes widened in surprise, and then she smiled gently.

"Hehe. You can get flustered, too. I've found your weak spot, Roy."

"I don't think I have any weak spots."

It seems I'm being misunderstood. I have no attachment to my family.

"Roy, you must be seeking the warmth of a mother. You want Elsa to pay more attention to you, deep down."

"I pride myself on being the least sentimental child."

Unexpected speculation made my brow furrow.

"Did I upset you? I'm not very good at reading people's hearts, so I might have been off the mark. You know, I tend to focus only on people's appearances. But when it comes to the emotions between a mother and child, I do have some understanding. So, I can tell that you have some complex feelings towards Elsa."

Complex feelings. I don't deny that I have various thoughts about Elsa, but they are mainly about her as a researcher. I don't expect anything from her as a mother. It's frustrating to be seen as someone who craves maternal love.

"Lily, you must care a lot about Ruby."

"To be honest, it surprised me."

"What surprised you?"

"Ruby. I can love her. I didn't feel anything when she was in my womb, but somehow she became the most important thing to me. It's like a curse."

Lily spoke fondly of her feelings for Ruby. Although calling it a curse sounds dramatic, it seemed accurate given her demeanor. She moistened her lips with tea and continued.

"But Ruby is such a low-maintenance child. She didn't want anything when she was little. I couldn't figure out what she was interested in, so I took her to many places."

Ruby seems to have been a quiet child from a young age.

"I can imagine."

"Right? But no matter how many places I showed her, the only thing she showed interest in was the puppet show at Ulkas Square."

Ulkas Square. An old square where political speeches are often held. It attracts street performers who come to earn a living.

"I still worry. Am I a good mother to Ruby? I've never been interested in anyone except Elsa."

I see, Lily is fundamentally uninterested in others. The people she is interested in are Elsa and Ruby. I understand Ruby, but why Elsa? Does she have something that draws people? I don't... I'm not drawn to her. Well, as a researcher, she is excellent, but that's all. As a parent, she is full of flaws.

Since I was old enough to understand, I never asked my parents for anything. I often ordered maids to bring me sweets and desserts, but I never asked my parents for anything. I thought it was pointless. Seeing the many dolls in this house, it's clear that Ruby gets whatever she wants.

"From someone who has no memory of going out with their mother, you seem like a good mother."

"…That's like Elsa. She only thinks about herself. It must be lonely, right?"

"…Well, I might have felt that way in the past."

Lily looked at me. It was a serious adult's face, not a dreamy girl's or a loving mother's.

"Don't worry. I think Elsa cares about you, probably."

"Yes, I think she values me as a researcher."

"That's not what I mean… How about I tell Elsa to be more approachable to you?"

"It's fine. She's the type who would never do that."

What's the point of playing pretend with Elsa now? I recently drew a line with my father, Lucas, because I don't want to be used by Aviram for my research. So, what about my mother, Elsa? Shouldn't I draw a line with her, too?