Liriet Loves Uncle
Liriet loves her uncle. That's strange. I don't know exactly what's strange about it, but anyway, it's strange. That's the conclusion I've reached. This dysfunctional family has been weird for more than a day or two. This ridiculously spacious mansion has been weird for more than a day or two. But the thing I found strange right now wasn't any of that.
It was Liriet's attitude, which had subtly changed since that very morning.
"Uncle, where are you headed today?"
"Oh, just going to the workshop in the east annex for a bit. I left some books and supplies there."
"Can I come along?"
"Of course."
It started when she wanted to follow me to the workshop early in the morning. Thinking a child might just be curious, I took her along to let her look around. But for some reason, after that...
"Uncle, are you heading out?"
"Yeah. I need some books to kill time with—the ones in the study don't interest me much."
"Can I come along?"
"Uh, sure."
She followed me even when I tried to go out for lunch.
"Uncle, it's getting late—where are you off to?"
"Thinking of taking a night stroll. The full moon makes the night sky so bright."
"Can I come along?"
"Er, well... sure."
She even tagged along right after dinner when I ran into her and decided to get some fresh night air.
"Uncle, where are you going?"
"It's bedtime now. You should turn in early too, Liriet."
"C-can we talk just a little longer? I'm not sleepy yet."
"...No harm in that."
And after that, she kept me up chatting away until nearly dawn.
Her actions alone didn't seem strange. Kids naturally stick to adults they've bonded with all day long—it's common enough. But the odd part was that the kid in question was Liriet.
She's always been so mature. She rarely acted spoiled or made requests of others, so seeing her glued to my side like this felt jarringly off.
Of course, being a child at heart, she did occasionally ask me to pat her head or something small like that. But even those were limited to things that didn't take up my time—barely qualifying as spoiling.
Does this mean we've gotten that close?">
It felt a bit off-putting at first, but I decided to think positively. In the original story, she couldn't rely on anyone, so for her to trust me and approach without hesitation was joyful—and exactly what I'd hoped for.
But as one day turned to two, then three, that subtle unease grew.
"Then I'll excuse myself first."
"Sure."
"U-Uncle!? Sorry, Father, Mother. I'll excuse myself too."
One day at breakfast, I finished my plate first and stood. Liriet hurriedly shoveled food into her mouth to follow me. Food smudged at the corner of her mouth—usually so proper and neat during meals—was amusing, but also puzzling.
"Is something wrong, Liriet?"
Wondering if it was urgent, I asked. She fidgeted with her hands and averted her eyes.
"No, nothing's wrong... It's just, without you there, Uncle, it feels a bit awkward."
"That makes sense."
It had been about a month since things improved, but eating cozily with a family she'd barely spoken to daily before must still feel off for a kid her age. Awkward, clumsy even.
She seemed to handle it so well, though.>
From what I'd observed over the past month, there was no real worry. But if she felt uneasy, it wouldn't look right for me to butt in.
"Want to take a walk to aid digestion? We could look at the flowers."
"...Yes! That sounds great!"
Her beaming smile was still utterly adorable. Even if I hadn't created this entirely, knowing I'd helped made me swell with pride.
"Summer's almost here—the flowers are blooming so lushly. This one's particularly pretty."
"That's a peony. They call it the prime minister of flowers because it's so beautiful."
"You know your flowers, huh? I didn't realize."
"Father taught me. He said Mother loved them."
I see. So Viola loved peonies. That wasn't in the original story—fresh backstory felt like peeling back hidden layers.
"How's your father been lately?"
"Much better. He forgets me very rarely now, and when he does, he remembers quickly and apologizes. Even when I say it's fine, he acts so ashamed..."
"As he should. If not, I'd have dropped a meteor on this mansion."
After all that suffering—and with his cute daughter forgiving him—to still occasionally shove her into oblivion was unforgivable. I grumbled, and Liriet, taking me seriously, waved her hands in panic.
"N-no, you can't! Uncle...!"
"Just kidding. A meteor's too much anyway—our niece might get hurt."
"...So you could drop one?"
"Never tried, so who knows."
"That doesn't sound like a joke at all."
Wiping imaginary sweat like she'd saved the mansion, Liriet sighed. So cute.
"Anyway, your father must be talking a lot about your late mother lately."
"Yes, a ton. Listening makes me feel how much he truly loved her."
"No denying that. Costs nothing to say it."
Scum or not, I'd seen it clearer than anyone. Unquestionable.
"Uncle, what is love?"
"Haha, quite the philosophical question out of nowhere."
"Ugh, don't laugh. I'm serious."
Liriet rarely pouted, mumbling with pursed lips. I knew she was serious, but that innocent face made laughter inevitable.
"Well, family love and romantic love are definitely different."
"Weren't Father and Mother family too?"
"They were man and woman first."
"It's hard. What's the difference?"
Fair enough—tough for her age to distinguish.
"Theories abound, but from my limited view, it's about how much you think of them."
"How much...?"
"Right. Take you, Liriet—you love your family despite everything, yes?"
"Yes, very much."
Classic Liriet.
"But you don't think of them all day, right?"
"Right. Sometimes I think Father should recover faster, or I'd like to be closer to Mother, or Brother's moving slow today."
Her thoughts on Abel were especially sharp. He'd become her full sandbag now. Good news.
"But if you truly fell deeply for a man someday, you'd think of him all day."
"Just... thoughts of him?"
"Yeah. Waking up: 'Is he awake too?' Lunch: 'What’s he eating?' Bedtime: 'I miss him.' Like that."
"Ah..."
A gasp escaped her—enlightenment?
"Then... do I love you, Uncle?"
"...Huh?"
Her bombshell froze me. Those pure eyes blinked up innocently as naive words tumbled out.
"Lately, I think only of you all day. Mornings, lunch, evenings—I want to see you."
"Is that so? Music to my ears."
Ah, that's what she meant. My explanation was too simplistic.
That explains her sticking to me lately.>
It clicked. Her untainted mindset was endearingly cute.
"That's love too. But not romantic—special between close family."
"...I see."
Still puzzled, she tilted her head, index finger tapping her lips.
Too hard for now. She'd realize naturally when the time came that her feelings for me and for her future true love differed.
I stroked her soft silver hair.
"It's fine. No need to figure it out now. Someday, when our niece has a man she loves and ignores this old uncle, she'll get it."
She shook her head fiercely, on the verge of tears.
"Th-that'll never happen! You're the most precious person to me!"
"Haha, glad to hear it—even if just words."
"It's true. Just thinking of you gone..."
Hm? I caught "uncle" but her voice trailed off too low.
Not meant to upset her, I soothed.
"Sorry, didn't mean it that way. Just that when you truly love someone, you'll be so smitten nothing else matters."
"Nothing else...?"
"Yeah. Never experienced it myself, but someone once said..."
Not in this world—from my past life, my parents' words as Yoo Shin-woo.
"Love makes people sly. You'd do anything despicable to win their heart, see only them, keep them by your side."
"Sounds detailed. Not from experience?"
"Hey, don't tease your uncle who hasn't even had first love."
I flicked her forehead lightly. She grinned and apologized.
"So no plans to date anyone?"
"None now. Maybe never. Could just live alone and die lonely."
No high standards, but no one appealing either. No urge to force romance or marriage.
My self-deprecating quip made her tiny hand cover mine.
"It's okay. Even then, I'll serve you forever."
She huffed determinedly. Typical kid line like "I'll live with Mom and Dad forever!"—heartwarming anyway. Who'd guess this Liriet?
Life well-lived.
"You won't take it back later?"
"N-no! I mean it."
"Really? Even as an adult?"
"Yes! Ask me then too."
Aigoo, I surrender. Just a joke, but now I've burdened her. Time to back off gracefully.
"Alright. If I'm still single in old age, I'll mooch off our niece."
"Yes, please! Oh, and Uncle..."
"Hm?"
She widened her eyes expectantly.
"...You called me 'niece' four times today."
"......"
Her glare was serpentine—intimidating despite our twenty-year gap.
"You'll make it up to me, right?"
"Y-yeah."
So that day, I stuck with Liriet all day long.
You've heard the news, right? I'll come serve you personally tomorrow.
And that night, back in my room, a short letter arrived—simple, straight to the point.