Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Chapter 110 - #24_회귀(3)
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Regression (3)
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It had been ages since their last dinner.
Ever since Siwoo collapsed, Amelia hadn't touched a bite of food besides alcohol and cigarettes.
She'd had neither the time nor the mood for it.
The long table in the dining room was laden with a feast fit for at least ten people.
Suckling pig roasted whole—its skin crisped to perfection by repeated bastings of boiling oil—served as the centerpiece, surrounded by an array of lavish dishes.
Dinner with Siwoo was even rarer and brought joy, but Amelia couldn't relax completely.
It was all because of the reaction he'd shown the moment he woke up.
That subtle distance, that fear.
Even without full recovery of his memories, his instincts recoiled from her with negative emotions. She had burrowed deep into his subconscious in the worst possible way.
The realization stung her heart sharply.
But separately from that, Amelia felt a duty to convey the exact truth to Siwoo.
"So, according to you, Lady Amelia, I was originally 28 years old, and after the accident, I suddenly turned young during recovery?"
Siwoo sat on a chair padded with layers of cushions to make up for his height, glancing nervously at Amelia as he spoke.
A napkin she'd tied around his neck herself hung there.
His expression screamed disbelief at the absurd tale.
Truth be told, Amelia herself wasn't sure where to even begin explaining.
"That's right..."
Yet he didn't rush to doubt her over his questions.
Whether that stemmed from the instinctive fear he felt toward her, she couldn't say.
"Then, could you tell me what I need to do? Sorry, my memories are... kind of a mess right now."
"There's nothing else you need to do. Just rest here until your body recovers."
"Is that really okay? I'm your slave, Lady Amelia..."
Seeing his cowed expression, Amelia pretended to sip her water to avert her eyes.
She couldn't bear facing him, knowing she was the one who'd pushed him to make that face despite his ignorance.
"Slave... no, you're not."
"Pardon?"
"While you were unconscious, I tore up your slave contract."
Amelia replayed every word he'd spat in fury that day he'd lashed out at her.
One thing above all had repulsed him: the lack of freedom.
Remembering that, on the one-month anniversary of his collapse, she'd gone to city hall and filed the paperwork to nullify his slave contract.
"I see. Thank you."
Siwoo's face was dazed.
Watching his reaction, Amelia thought to herself.
He'd seemed remarkably mature for his age long before this.
Most would revert to childish ways upon returning to their youth, but his judgment and consideration for others defied any child's capabilities.
Back when she was that age, rummaging through old memories, Amelia had been a complete brat.
Clink, clink.
After that, conversation petered out.
The awkward clatter of cutlery filled the table.
Apologizing to Siwoo would have to wait until his memories fully returned.
He wasn't in a state for sound judgment now.
"That was delicious."
The moment Amelia set down her utensils, Siwoo slowly lowered the knife he'd been using to cut the pork.
Watching him, Amelia spoke.
"If it's not enough, feel free to have more."
"No, this is plenty."
His reaction suggested he'd only been pretending to eat until she finished.
She used to take such behavior for granted.
Why did his constant glances at her now make her chest ache so?
Dinner ended, and they rose together, heading to the second floor.
They used to walk side by side with his head much higher.
Seeing Siwoo so small and adorable now felt profoundly strange.
"Well then, get some good rest. Call if you need anything."
"Yes, good night, Lady Amelia."
They were about to part ways to their rooms.
At the fork in the central staircase, Siwoo suddenly grabbed Amelia.
"Um, Lady Amelia."
She hadn't expected him to speak first and felt a flicker of surprise.
"I'm listening."
Siwoo hesitated, then spoke to her.
"Actually, I don't know what's going on exactly, but... I wanted to say I'm okay."
"What... do you mean?"
"You apologized the moment I woke up. I don't know precisely what for, but... I think it'll be fine. I forgive you."
"........."
The words hit her like a blow to the head; Amelia nodded vaguely.
"I... see..."
"Ah..."
How had her ambiguous response struck him?
Siwoo's face paled, and he apologized frantically.
"S-Sorry! I overstepped..."
"No, no, it's fine...!"
Amelia floundered, soothing him.
She repeated it was okay until he relaxed, watched him enter his room, then retreated to hers with tangled emotions.
'I forgive you.'
Forgiveness.
The very word she'd yearned for.
But Amelia knew better.
As Duke Keter had said, Siwoo's body would soon revert, and his jumbled memories would gradually recover.
What she'd received now was empty forgiveness.
From boy Shin Siwoo, who forgot all she'd done, feared her but harbored no hate.
"...Forgiveness..."
Even that felt like salvation; Amelia stood blankly for a long while.
Tears threatened like a fool's.
She pulled rum from the display shelf and slumped onto the sofa.
She absently reached for a cigarette, lit it—then thought of Siwoo.
She vaguely recalled him saying secondhand smoke was bad.
It meant nothing to a witch, but Siwoo was human.
Especially in his fragile child's body.
Amelia quietly snapped the cigarette and poured rum into an on-the-rocks glass.
Tonight would be another night of heavy thoughts.
The night deepened, but sleep evaded her as usual.
She opened a book, closed it; rose pointlessly, sat again; tossed and turned in bed.
Unable to bear it, Amelia bolted up.
Just a dozen meters down the hall was Siwoo's room.
He still seemed uneasy around her, so for his sake, she shouldn't intrude.
At least until his judgment and memories fully returned.
"...I need to check if he's sleeping okay."
But hadn't he just recovered abruptly?
Anything could happen without warning; constant watch was key.
She knew Duke Keter wouldn't overlook basics, yet Amelia rationalized her way to his door.
Gazing at his sleeping face might ease her turmoil, she thought.
Careful not to wake him with the door, she slipped in quietly.
"......!"
Her consideration went to waste.
The moment she entered, Siwoo—buried under covers up to his head on the bed—twitched visibly.
Too coincidental for sleep-tossing, and the motion too pronounced.
Amelia checked the grandfather clock in the corner.
Past 2 a.m., and still awake.
By the bed.
She sat in the chair where she'd once gazed at his face and held his hand; the covers slowly lowered.
"Ah... Lady Amelia, sorry. I know I should sleep early... Wait, didn't you say that?"
Siwoo averted his eyes guiltily, babbling incoherently.
She was the one who should feel sorry.
"It's fine. Sleep whenever. Oversleeping's okay too."
"S-Sorry..."
Amelia spoke as gently as possible, waiting for him to calm before continuing.
"Can't sleep because something's wrong?"
"N-No, not that, but..."
"Want some warm milk?"
"No, it's just..."
After much deliberation, Siwoo hesitantly spoke.
He seemed deeply embarrassed.
"I'm... a little scared."
"Ah."
Of course.
Amelia realized.
Fixated on him being Siwoo and his adult-like maturity, she'd overlooked the obvious.
He was, undeniably, a child now.
As a girl, she'd startled at tree shadows swaying in the wind, losing sleep.
Left-open wardrobes had to be shut tight; under the bed, crammed full to bar monsters.
Thunderstorms sent her running to her master's room.
Master would read fairy tales, sing lullabies, or chat until exhaustion claimed her.
Children needed care.
Now she grasped Duke Keter's warning: "He'll take a lot of looking after."
"Want to sleep together?"
Lost in fond memories of her master, the words slipped out unplanned.
Not quite her deepest thought, but sensible once voiced.
"N-No... I'm fine!"
Siwoo's expected refusal came swiftly.
Given his fear, why would he accept?
Amelia felt a twinge of disappointment.
Then Siwoo spoke again.
"Um... Lady Amelia..."
"Yes?"
"Then... just for tonight?"
His wide, sparkling eyes and shy plea were utterly endearing.
Amelia understood why her master had poured such love on her bratty self.
It awakened innate maternal instinct.
"Here okay? Or my room?"
Gently.
Cautiously stroking his forehead to avoid scaring him.
At first flustered by the unfamiliar kindness, Siwoo gained confidence and stated clearly.
"That picture over there feels creepy. I want to switch rooms."
He pointed to the tree-shaped magic circle he'd drawn.
In the dim light, it did look eerie.
"Sure."
Amelia nodded; Siwoo flung off the covers and slipped on slippers.
He stood awkwardly, unsure how to carry himself around her.
"Ah."
As she reached to refasten his eyepatch—askew from tossing—Amelia noticed something.
"Mind if I take off the eyepatch for a sec?"
"Oh, sure, Lady Amelia."
Removing it revealed his left eye.
Lifeless, unmoving.
A prosthetic.
Duke Keter had rewound his time to childhood, but the damage from Ea to that eye remained.
Amelia lingered holding the patch; Siwoo touched his face.
"Wh-What's wrong?"
He couldn't possibly know.
Amelia shook her head calmly and resecured it.
"Nothing. Let's go."
She'd need more explanation from Duke Keter on this.
Amelia led Siwoo back to her room.
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