Since when was it?
The kids around Le began to call out the name of the child they were cheering for loudly like they always did, as if it was something they never get tired of doing.
If you think about it as a pastime for lonely and boring days, it’s understandable a fuss was made.
There was nothing else to do, so they could only collide with their bodies. At the center of this game was Mary.
Even though the scar on Mary’s face hasn’t faded, she still continues to fight. It would have been their own kind of days of struggle for kids that age.
Leo looked at Mary with cold eyes before changing his expression and cheering for her.
‘Why did she grow up with such a personality?’
The reason he kidnapped Mary Conler and brought her to this orphanage was because he wanted her to regain her memories from her past life, even if only a little.
A ‘sacrifice’ is needed to perform the sorcery called Yusa.
To change the fate of the person he wants to save. He knew he had to take the ‘sacrifice’ into his secret hiding place.
He had to turn a blind eye even if she was like that. Even if it damages her reputation.
Especially since most of them were children.
Wouldn’t she realize at least some of her benevolence if she grew up in a place like this? However, Mary grew up unperturbed like a weed.
That’s why the man did his best to keep Mary from going astray, but she didn’t follow his will.
Soon, Estin Conler would come here to get Mary.
Most people would have given up after searching for 9 years. However, Estin Conler was not like most people.
Mary Conler will grow up receiving plenty of love. She won’t be lonely once she receives love.
She was lonely. Leo, who always hovered around her, knew that.
The main emotion governing her was loneliness. She was lonely until the end, when she was locked in a temple alone, praying and being revered as a saint.
(TL/N: I’m not but I think he was talking about the ‘the saint’ which is Mary in her previous life.)
The child who is fighting Mary today was a boy she didn’t get along well with.
Mary quietly picked up a stone from the ground. Leo narrowed his eyes. Isn’t that a bit dangerous?
However, seeing the boy in front of Mary, who was about twice her size, Leo understood her actions.
‘They don’t really need to fight, right?’
No, they have to fight today. Leo decided to stimulate Mary’s memories today.
If she could recover all of ‘her’ memories, it would be perfect, but those memories were sealed by those damn people.
They considered Leo’s love for her a tragedy and gave her the gift of oblivion, feeling sorry for her.
So now, there was only one thing Leo could do for her. Make Mary unhappy. Like the novel Han Sohee loved.
The guy in front of Mary started glancing at Astina. Leo doesn’t know the boy’s name, but he knows he likes Astina.
So he was also trying to show off his strength. It was a pitiful sight to witness him demonstrating his strength by confronting Mary, the smallest child in the orphanage.
Anyway, it would be impossible for anyone to dislike Astina, who was shining brightly in this gloomy and damp place.
Leo, with an intriguing gaze, observed Astina, who watched the fight with concerned eyes.
Leo brought Astina to this orphanage because he thought she could be used as a ‘similar’ for Rex Bluea.
Astina was quite fond of Mary. In the orphanage, there were no girls her age, so she found herself somewhat fascinated by Mary’s confidence, which contrasted with her own.
He could tell by the way she looked at Mary with admiration while ignoring the boy who was looking at her with longing eyes.
‘I don’t like it.….’
Astina’s abduction was X’s second mistake, as he still struggled with identifying gender.
‘I should try it.’
When Mary was Ha Sohee, she used to enjoy reading novels.
With nowhere to go, she probably escaped reality by reading such fantasies. Leo quickly finished his calculations and watched with delight as Mary fell.
“Mary!”
“Brian!”
Ah, that’s right. The boy’s name was Brian. Leo began to take an interest in the fight for the first time.
Brian forcefully pushed Mary, causing her to stagger and fall to the ground.
As Mary’s head hit the ground, a thud sound echoed. Mary blinked in surprise. It was like a moment of eternity.
Whether Mary fell down or not, cries spread like echoes to resume the fight quickly, saying not to play tricks on the side.
Mary briefly touched her forehead as if it was ringing, then used the hand holding the stone to strike Brian’s nose.
Brian’s nose started to bleed. Leo observed the scene with his chin resting on his hand, then rushed towards Mary.
***
“You disliked Astina, didn’t you?”
Although he thought Mary would be cautious about Astina, she did something different. She started treating Astina well.
Leo was taken aback. Why is she being kind? Mary looked at Leo as if she found him pitiful, and like trying to console an innocent child, she told him that the most important thing in the world is perseverance.
‘What’s the point of perseverance to a Grand Duke’s daughter?’
Leo couldn’t help but let out a sigh. Astina played the role of taking away Mary’s fiance.
Mary always took pride in the fact that the three of them got along well, but in reality, Leo and Astina were not on good terms.
Astina, who was always kind and gentle even to children who didn’t spare her harsh words, was strangely cold towards Leo.
It was like the intuition of a small animal. So he hoped Marquis Borneau would come to take Astina soon.
On the day Astina left, Leo felt an inexplicable sadness while seeing Mary sincerely saddened by her departure.
It was because, although he was always disappointed in Mary, when he saw her sad face, he could see ‘her’ as well.
Peppy had died.
Peppy was the child whom Mary had cared for the most after Astina left.
Looking at Mary, whose expression and eyes changed after Peppy died of illness, Leo was delighted to know that his decision was not wrong.
He sincerely felt gratitude towards Peppy, who had performed her role well.
The next thing Mary did was steal money from the director’s office. Leo felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he watched Mary’s decision.
Did she steal the money to save the children? That thought crossed his mind.
If it was her…
Wasn’t taking those donations to save them also a form of theft? Despite understanding it like that, Leo made efforts to stop Mary’s actions.
“We have to survive, Leo.”
Hearing Mary’s words, Leo bit his lip tightly to swallow the rising anger.
His lips that turned white regained their color and looked like a real living person.
Among the thoughts he wanted to express, Leo could only refine his words into this:
Don’t cling to life. What has life ever done for you? Remember when you were Ha Sohee? At that time, you were so lonely and miserable that you rather died. Look at you now. Leaving the orphanage isn’t the end. Don’t hold onto regrets in life. Just give up everything and come with me…
“Open your eyes. That way… I can confirm that you’re my daughter.”
“Dad…”
In the end, Estin Conler took Mary Conler. Though the voice sounded cold at first, there was a hint of sadness in it.
Leo sat on the floor and watched the father and daughter reunite. Estin held Mary in his arms and carried her away.
The touch seemed so delicate, as if handling a fragile glass doll. It was a beautiful scene that could bring tears to anyone’s eyes.
But as Leo watched it, his expression hardened.
The god of death was now weak that the glory of the past was overshadowed.
He couldn’t even hide Mary from Estin Conler for a decade. Even if Estin hadn’t found her, the gods who were watching over her wouldn’t have stayed silent.
It was tiresome, really. Why couldn’t he leave her alone? After experiencing all sorts of misfortune during her life as Ha Sohee, all that’s left for her is to be happy as Mary Conler.
Mary’s life, which he had secretly spied on with his last strength, was really like that. Leo exhaled a long breath.
But it’s okay. He can have time to prepare for the years they will be apart, also he manipulated her memories, just in case.
If she were to be rejected by her family, she would become even more lonely and isolated. It worked out for the best.
But why does he feel like this to see Mary hugged by Estin?
“Don’t go…”
On the floor of the chaotic director’s office, Leo murmured so quietly that no one could hear.
“Give her back…”
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