Previously
Ash MacCallan endures a tense weekly dinner with his father, stepmother Grace, and half-brothers, feeling like an unwanted stain on their perfect family image. After the meal, he receives a letter from his biological mother, the famous actress Dolores Hamilton, requesting a meeting to ask for favors.
Contrary to my expectations, Kurt possessed an incredibly beautiful face.
When he finally opened his tightly shut eyes, his deep blue irises sparkled so brilliantly they looked like embedded jewels, making me forget to breathe for a moment.
As if he had used up all the courage he had managed to muster, he hid behind Maya again.
Maya explained the reason why he kept his face hidden.
Ah, I knew all too well what kind of ‘bad things’ could happen to pretty children.
A pretty face, poor parents, a neighborhood with terrible security…. There must have been beasts who had been scanning him with filthy eyes since the moment he started toddling.
Children who had been kidnapped or sold from such places often appeared in the Mulberry troupe as well. And before long, they would be sold off to someone else again.
Of course, Kurt must have desperately tried to hide, but the reason such a beautiful child had survived intact was likely thanks to his older sister’s blood, sweat, and tears.
However, I was against Kurt living his life hiding himself like this.
At those words, Kurt hesitated before nodding. I put strength into my eyes.
I took out a ribbon I carried for emergencies and gathered Kurt’s shaggy, long hair into a single ponytail. Even as I did so, Kurt’s hands trembled in panic, but I had no intention of going easy on him.
The clearly revealed face of the beautiful boy was enough to attract anyone’s gaze. Why let this go to waste?
Kurt shook his head.
Kurt’s eyes widened at that. He seemed surprised that he could earn money himself.
I gave a smirk and led the children out of the dressing room.
The shop owner’s gaze, which had been asking how the clothes were, immediately flew to Kurt and stayed there. A low exclamation followed.
I turned back and whispered.
At that, Kurt swallowed hard, but he did not lower his head. Though he couldn’t meet the shop owner’s eyes, he didn’t hide behind his sister.
Yes, a boy needs at least that much courage!
Perhaps because the children looked so respectable now, I didn’t regret paying for the clothes at all.
Shopping is quite physically demanding. Even more so if you’ve brought children along.
I had eaten breakfast before coming out, but because I had moved around more than usual, I felt like my stomach was sticking to my back.
It seemed the same for Maya and her brothers, as their eyes sparkled even more than when I told them we were going to buy clothes or shoes.
We couldn’t go to the high-end restaurants where only nobles were allowed, but since we were out in the busy district anyway, I wanted to buy these kids at least one nice meal.
So I entered a restaurant that could be used regardless of class. It was cheaper than the noble-only places, but it was still a place commoners could never dream of with their wages.
I had been drawn in by the mouth-watering scent, and the dishes served were equally wonderful.
Maya and her brothers only picked up their utensils to eat after thanking me several times. As soon as a spoonful of soup full of clams entered their mouths, three pairs of eyes went round.
I was really shocked when I first ate it, too.
I know that feeling. It’s a taste that makes you feel like you’ll regret it forever if you swallow even a single bite carelessly, so I used to chew until it was mush.
The children couldn’t even answer properly as they chewed the food stuffed in their mouths, only nodding their heads.
Still, I knew they wouldn’t be able to ask for more food themselves. So I would have to order more for them at the right time.
It was just as I was feeling satisfied with the expected reaction and tore off a piece of warm bread to put in my mouth.
I didn’t have many acquaintances, but there was a familiar face on the other side of the shop. But why of all people did it have to be Ash MacCallan?
While I was muttering blankly, Maya whispered from beside me.
To look at the woman first instead of Ash MacCallan—this girl has no interest in men.
Anyway.
Dolores, Dolores—I rolled the name on the tip of my tongue a few times before realizing at some point that she was the very actress who had been my childhood idol.
Looking again, it was the face I had seen on posters long ago. Although her impression seemed a bit sharper than back then.
‘It was a good thing I didn’t die, even if I had to lie!’
The old saying that if you live long enough, you’ll see everything is true. Since I’m alive, I even get to see Dolores Hamilton in person!
Maya also seemed to be thinking that it was a good thing she was alive.
Kurt and Dylan also peeked toward where we were looking, curious, but focused back on the food when the additional dishes were served.
It was actually me who kept glancing over like a country bumpkin.
‘Why is that man with Dolores? Oh, could it be…?’
It was well-known that Ash was the illegitimate son of Count MacCallan and a ‘famous actress.’
And Dolores Hamilton was far too old to be Ash’s lover.
‘So that person was his biological mother!’
If so, his presence is fully explained. Dolores Hamilton was a great actress who dominated an era.
How great must she have been for even the bottom-dwellers of a rural traveling troupe to know her?
Wow, his biological mother is a hugely famous actress and his biological father is a wealthy and powerful Count. He might have been discriminated against for being illegitimate, but at that level, he couldn’t be thankful enough for his birth.
‘But why does he have such a sour look on his face?’
Dolores was talking with a gentle face the whole time, but Ash was answering bluntly with short phrases, his face devoid of even a hint of a smile.
If I were Dolores, I would have been so angry I’d have smacked him on the back.
‘I heard he’s hated by the Countess, so I thought he’d be affectionate with his biological mother, but not at all.’
Maybe he’s just a naturally cold person.
I clicked my tongue and dipped a piece of bread deep into the soup before putting it in my mouth.
I must have soaked it too much, because the soup dripped and got on my chin, and at that exact moment, I made eye contact with Ash.
‘Why now of all times!’
I stuffed the rest of the bread into my mouth and quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe my chin. Not that I could undo what he had already seen.
Because I ate too fast, I suddenly choked and started coughing, and I belatedly discovered that the soup that had dripped on my chin had fallen onto my clothes.
There really are all sorts of ways to embarrass oneself.
I drank the water for a long time, as long as I was embarrassed. Hoping that he would turn his gaze away in the meantime.
Ash, who had been watching Rosaline’s foolish display, gave a short shake of his head to Dolores, who was asking with a tilt of her head, and wiped his mouth and fingertips with a napkin.
More than half of the sea bass steak, the specialty of this shop, remained on his plate.