Her Family (1)

On the day of Kilianerisa’s execution, her family members did not leave the mansion.

Some speculated that despite being considered a villain, they couldn’t bear to witness the death of their loved one. However, only those involved knew the truth.

Creak.

As the door opened, a faint light seeped into the darkness, and Severus’ vacant gaze turned toward the door.

“Will you finally come to your senses now?”

A voice tinged with exhaustion, accompanied by a displeased glare, was directed at Severus. Severus’ tear-streaked face, which was a mess, reflected in Fabius’ pupils. He clicked his tongue and jerked his chin at the servants who were nearby.

Upon receiving the signal, the servants worked hastily to undo the ropes that had bound Severus. The ropes that had restrained him loosened weakly, but Severus, perhaps having exhausted all his strength, stared at Fabius with unfocused eyes, not struggling as he had before.

“Why have you come?”

The deep lines on Fabius’ forehead deepened upon hearing Severus’s faint muttering.

“It’s only natural for a father to come looking for his son. Don’t question such obvious matters.”

It had been a day since that “matter” had occurred, but it seemed that Severus had not given up yet. Fabius sighed as if to express his pity. Addressing Fabius with a resentful tone, Severus continued as if chewing his words.

“That ‘obvious’ matter didn’t seem to apply to that child.”

Fabius did not respond. Severus did not expect or seek a response either. Severus pursed his lips and continued.

“How, how can you do this?”

Fabius, who had been observing Severus with anger splattered across his face, replied that he didn’t know.

“What do you mean?”

“Was she only that much to you, Father? Huh?”

How could a person be like this? Even a snake knew how to care for its offspring. But why?

For some reason, out of anger or perhaps pity, tears that he thought would never come out again blurred his vision. Severus’ face, which had already been a mess, became even dirtier due to the tears, but he didn’t care.

His younger sister was dead. He didn’t want to think about his pride in such a situation. How could he dare do that?

Poor Kilianerisa. Pitiable child. He felt terribly sorry for her, who had never received proper love from her father even for a single moment, and he couldn’t even bid her farewell in her last moments.

Fabius, who had been watching Severus as if he couldn’t understand his anguished expression, let out a heavy sigh and turned his back to him.

“It was an inevitable matter. So, that’s enough and get out.”

He seemed a little upset, but overall, he didn’t appear much different from his usual self.

In response, Severus felt like something inside him, which he had believed to be no longer there, was crumbling once again.

An inevitable matter. Was it really inevitable?

Countless questions that had been thrown aside inevitably resurfaced and filled his mind. Despite this, he couldn’t stay in the warehouse any longer, so he slowly followed his father.

***

Fabius led Severus to the dining room. Was this the reason he had been called in the first place? In the dining room, dishes were laid out on the table, and his brother, Euclid, was looking at them as they entered.

“You’re late.”

Without saying anything, Fabius returned to his seat and spoke.

“Severus, come and sit as well.”

Severus involuntarily glanced over the table. Everything seemed unchanged, with three seats arranged as usual, and a meal was served. However, the dishes were slightly more extravagant than usual.

It was a very subtle change. Apart from him, there wasn’t much difference from usual.

Was it just an ordinary day for the rest of the family, except for Severus?

No, it was clear that they were deliberately avoiding it. They acted as if nothing had happened, even displaying a sense of indifference, almost as if they were trying to show that everything was normal.

Severus had no way of knowing their true intentions, but he hoped that his assumption was correct. Because that was the only way they could remain human in his heart.

Even so, the current situation remained incomprehensible to him. Severus spoke with a chilly voice.

“That child had died, and you’re having a meal?”

Knowing exactly how she died, and yet could not even bid her a proper farewell… It was unsettling that he was breathing while that child had died. Severus felt sorry not only for her death but also for being unable to do anything other than to feel sorry.

But how about you all?!

Fabius ignored Severus’ words in silence, and Severus received an emotionless gaze, which was much like his father. Fabius spoke bluntly.

“There was nothing we could do.”

How come they were so alike, father and son?

Severus slightly raised one corner of his mouth.

“Did you even consider doing anything?”

Euclid didn’t answer, but his gaze was a little sharper than before as he stared at Severus. Fabius, who was watching them disapprovingly, eventually fixed his gaze on Severus and spoke.

“Severus, enough of this nonsense. Sit down and have your meal.”

Nothing surprised him anymore. There was no more room for disappointment. But still!

Couldn’t they at least mourn for her, even for just a moment? Was that too much to ask for? Was he asking for too much? No, what he was asking for cannot be too much.

The atmosphere was so different from the past when his mother had passed away, and Severus could no longer bear it.

“…You guys are insane. You’re just going to have your meal in the middle of this? You don’t even feel sorry for her? Really? It’s not the child’s fault that Mother passed away!”

“Severus!”

As if his words had touched a nerve, Fabius, who had been staring at him expressionlessly all along, shouted.

A loud shout echoed through the dining room, and at the same time, silence fell. In response to this, Severus smirked. He tilted his head while wearing a stranger expression.

“Why, did I say something wrong? Father, it’s been over twenty years. How much longer… how long are you going to unjustly blame her for a crime that makes no sense! Huh?!”

Fabius remained silent, but his eyes directed at Severus were clearly full of anger. It was as if he was pressuring Severus to shut his mouth immediately. Apparently, his words struck a chord. Severus sneered.

What a ridiculous situation. No matter how you looked at it, this wasn’t a situation for him to be angry about. No, did he even have the right to be angry?

Were his emotions really that important? Severus was deeply disappointed by his demeanor, which was no different from that of a child.

He could feel that Fabius was warning him with every fiber of his being, but Severus couldn’t stop. If he stopped here, who would mourn for that child? He poured out his feelings through his throat, which was so constricted that he couldn’t breathe.

“Now, you can’t even ask for forgiveness anymore! Don’t you even feel sorry for that child? Father! Brother! Am I the abnormal one? Or is it you guys? Huh?!”

He shouted at them as if seeking an answer, but there was no response. The displeasure in their gazes fixed on him did not disappear. No, on the contrary, it seemed even more intense than before.

Severus then realized that it was useless to continue speaking any longer.

“Ha, that’s it. If you were the kind of people who could be convinced by such words, it would have happened long ago. I’ve said enough useless words. I hope you enjoy your meal.”

Severus, who had been speaking sternly while glaring fiercely, stopped and walked out of the dining room. The outside of the dining hall was a stark darkness. At the same time, there were no servants in sight. The quiet silence was more than enough to draw out the pent-up feelings of anger that had been building up inside him.

After taking a few more steps, he suddenly stopped, feeling a sense of weakness all over his body. Then, once again, he asked a meaningless question. Was she really dead? Just like that?

In truth, it didn’t feel quite real. Was it because of the family’s behavior, which was no different from usual? Or was it because he hadn’t witnessed her death?

So, was he harboring the futile hope that she might still be alive? Severus, who thought about it, immediately shook his head. He wasn’t so foolish as to cling to such a fleeting hope.

But there was something strange.

At the presumed time of Kilianerisa’s death, he had been tied up and shedding tears, feeling unjust that he couldn’t do anything about her death. His grief had seemed enormous and strong, almost as if it would last forever. However, strangely, it hadn’t last until now.

It had only been a day. He was just tired and wanted to rest.

He couldn’t even distinguish whether he was sad, feeling pity, or even angry. His chest felt heavy, as if someone had punched a hole in it, leaving it hollow. He felt lost in a fog where he couldn’t see ahead.

His reaction when he learned of her death had been truly foolish. The result was that he ended up being locked in the warehouse in an absurd manner. And now, only one truth comes to mind.

Ah, I really haven’t done anything.

She really is dead.

While I was foolishly locked in the warehouse.