The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 202

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Side Story 2

To summarize the situation, it goes like this.

Jackvell Marquess expanded the garden where he used to stroll with his wife. It was to welcome a new daughter-in-law named Airi.

But in that garden, a peculiar orb was discovered.

A mysterious orb imbued with divine power.

Jackvell Marquess, thinking this orb was the last memento left by his wife, searched for ways to identify what it was.

During this time, Violet, Airi’s mother, discovered the identity of that orb.

She said it was an orb containing the memories of Marquess Jackvell’s wife, likely a final message left for her son.

“Jackvell Marquess said he didn’t want to open it himself, but wanted to give it to Berry.”

“But why didn’t father give it directly, no, why didn’t father look at it himself…”

Airi quietly looked at Berry.

From his rambling speech and confused expression, she could tell exactly what Berry was feeling.

“…The Marquess seemed to want you to know Lady Isidel. So even through someone else… he wanted to deliver it to you.”

“But he could have given it directly.”

Berry’s words were trailing off. Airi shrugged her shoulders.

“It would have been better to give it to his son directly, but maybe he wanted to give it through me.”

As if she didn’t want any more arguments after those words, Airi’s eyes sparkled as she held up the orb.

But at the same time, she had this thought.

‘Is it really okay to give this orb?’

When handing the orb to Airi, Violet had warned her.

‘Airi. Listen carefully. You’re giving this because you want to, but I don’t know exactly what will happen after looking into this orb’s memories. So you must use it carefully.’

As Airi recalled those words and was about to move her lips, Berry struck first.

“No.”

His expression was even more resolute than Airi had expected. Airi blinked and looked at Berry.

“I don’t need to see something like that.”

“…Huh?”

At the unexpected words, Airi’s expression hardened.

But Berry was unusually stubborn. He turned away from the orb and spoke firmly.

“I want to live in the present. Mother is… just the past.”

Soon after, Berry took out a handkerchief from his pocket.

Even after becoming an adult, Airi always moved around recklessly, claiming to practice martial arts.

Taking care of such Airi was always Berry’s responsibility.

And wiping Airi’s forehead with the handkerchief he had habitually started carrying, he said.

“From now on, you can’t run around like this… worrying about such things. You’re sweating.”

Berry gripped the handkerchief a little tighter and wiped Airi’s cheek.

This time it was a more careful touch.

Airi met Berry’s eyes.

Berry’s words left subtle ripples in Airi’s heart.

She had naturally thought Berry would long for his mother, for the past.

‘Then what was that lonely expression about?’

But now, Airi had matured enough not to ask such questions.

That day’s date was still sweet and fun.

But unlike their always candy-sweet dates, today’s date was sweet like chocolate but with a bitter aftertaste.

* * *

After their usual date was completely over.

Berry escorted Airi back to Ortejo Castle.

Until then, they didn’t say anything more about Marquess Jackvell’s wife.

On the way back after dropping her off.

Berry recalled Airi’s face.

Her delicate features, plump lips, and lovably flushed cheeks.

And…

He also recalled the look in her eyes, the way she had been thinking of him.

Then he felt a strange emotion, as if his heart was quietly settling.

All these feelings were, in other words…

Finally, Berry turned around again.

Watching Airi’s retreating figure as she hurried toward her room from the castle gate, Berry quietly spoke.

“Wait a moment, Airi.”

With an expression of deep contemplation, Airi carefully turned her head.

“Hm? Berry, what is it?”

Berry’s determined expression filled her vision.

Berry lowered his head for a moment, then looked at Airi and answered clearly.

“Before I go back, I have something to say.”

“…Huh? What is it?”

When Airi looked at Berry with a puzzled expression, Berry quietly murmured.

“…I’ll try it. Airi, what you want.”

For Berry, there was always only one standard.

Namely, Airi.

Whatever Airi suggested, he would do it.

Before his absolute standard, all other emotions were powerless.

“You always want me to be happy. And you always want to do good things for me.”

So…

“Let’s break that orb.”

Berry believed.

He believed that what Airi gave him couldn’t be anything bad.

Berry’s body had grown, but his faith was even purer than a child’s.

And seeing such Berry, Airi smiled brightly as usual.

“Yes!”

“…”

“It must be good memories. If it’s memories left by your mother, surely.”

Berry could smile now.

Hearing those words somehow made him feel like a weight had been lifted from his heart.

Airi firmly grasped Berry’s hand and grinned.

“…Then let’s meet here tomorrow and break it.”

* * *

The next morning.

After worrying due to anxiety and restlessness, Berry was able to meet Airi.

Airi was pretty as usual. No, today she was wearing slightly more formal attire.

“Hello, Berry! How do I look today?”

“Pretty. The prettiest in the world.”

At his immediate answer, Airi smiled broadly and said.

“Right, I’m going to see your mother! I dressed up neatly. Of course, we won’t be able to communicate, but still!”

“…Ah.”

According to what he heard from Violet, this orb was said to ‘show memories.’

The people in the memories couldn’t perceive Airi and Berry, and naturally couldn’t affect them.

It seemed similar to entering a movie and watching it directly.

Airi extended her hand toward Berry.

“Then shall we go see the past?”

The only thing current Airi could do for the dejected Berry.

She thought it was to watch the time orb together with Berry.

“Look at this. There are as many as five orbs! That means there are five memories.”

There were five orbs in total, ranging from black to white.

Picking up the darkest orb among them, Airi spoke carefully.

“Look at this. The darker the color, the further back in the past it goes. We should start from the very beginning, right? In order.”

“…Yeah.”

When Berry gave a brief nod of agreement, Airi smiled brightly.

“If we break it, we can enter the memories inside the orb. Come on, your hand!”

As soon as Berry took Airi’s hand, Airi dropped the orb to the floor with a soft sound.

With a crash, the orb shattered into pieces.

Soon after, their bodies were now in front of the Milang Family Estate in the East.

‘It must be a clear and warm atmosphere. Since it’s a memory Mother left for the remaining people.’

But…

Contrary to Airi’s expectations, that place was far too dark and cold.

Airi barely held her breath as she looked around.

* * *

In the empty small room, a woman lay like a corpse.

Her body was bruised bluish from frequent abuse.

She was Berry’s mother, Isadel Milang.

She might have just turned twenty, but the only emotion blooming on her young face was despair.

She lay there with her eyes closed, breathing only faintly.

The door to Isadel’s desolate room happened to be slightly open…

“Count Milang was quite the libertine, and he once embraced something that wasn’t human.”

“So that’s why he brought that wench here?”

…The maids’ voices reached her ears clearly.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————