Your Regrets Are Late

Charelize knew intuitively. The child in front of her is her third child.

“That butterfly over there took me here. I… came because I had something I wanted to say.”

“I’m sorry.” It wasn’t enough, even if she kept saying sorry. “Because I couldn’t give birth to you in good health, and because I couldn’t protect you… I’m sorry, Baby.”

The child, who wrinkled her nose at her continued apologizes, opened her palms to show her. “Look at this.”

“…Huh?”

What was in the child’s hand was a bracelet made of lilac weaving.

“I like this flower the best. When I wear it, I feel like we’re connected like before.”

“I see.”

“How is it?”

“Pre…tty.”

“…You don’t have to be sorry.” The child wiped the tears of Charelize with her small finger. “Don’t cry.”

“Yes. Mom… won’t cry.”

The child’s body became blurred. When asked why, the child who looked at the butterfly once said it was time to go. Charelize, who wanted to be with her more, held onto the child’s body.

“Baby.”

“I really have to go…”

“Wait, Baby…”

“…I may never see you again in this life but don’t worry. We had such a beautiful relationship.”

The child, who escaped from Charelize’s arms, walked behind her. Still, her gaze towards Charelize remained the same. The body of the waving child was growing. It was blurry because of the light, but it was definitely an adult figure.

“Baby, I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to walk together with you.”

“…”

“Still, I really loved you. And Now I still love you. Although it was only for a short time… I was happy to be with you.”

“…No way.”

“My Baby, you have to go now. To those who are waiting for you.”

The moment she heard a voice filled with warm concern, Charelize woke up from her dream.

“Lize!”

“…Mother?”

“Your Majesty Mother, are you okay?”

When Charelize opened her eyes, the children snuggled, and Arensis murmured thanks over and over.

Having been absent-minded for a long time, Charelize got out of bed and rushed to Florence Palace. Then she went to her mother’s grave.

Last spring, Charteron made her bracelet because her mother’s favorite thing was lilac. The lilac bracelet that was said to be a gift and was placed on her mother’s gravestone was missing.

“Mo,ther…”

“…”

“Really… Mother… came to me as my daughter…”

Her heart pounded as she remembered that she would never see her again in any way.

“Mother…”

Charelize, who hit her chest in pain, sobbed in front of her grave for a long time.

* * *

Yekaterina, who sent Charelize herself, held the lilac bracelet dearly.

“I told you there was no way you could be back together anyway. Why did you go out and end up hurting each other for no reason?”

“…”

“If either parents or children take their own lives, they will never be able to see each other the same way again. In the case of Lino, that child was only possible because of Charon.”

“I know. Even though I know everything, I just had hope.”

“Because of the foolish choice you made this time… You will never be born again.”

“I’m satisfied because I have seen my daughter again.”

“…You don’t regret it?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s more precious than my life.”

“I don’t understand.”

Yekaterina let out a small laugh at Cella’s answer.

“You don’t want to understand, don’t you?”

“…That’s right. I don’t want to. There was a woman I knew who didn’t like being called ‘mother’. If I understood you and Belle, I thought I could understand.”

“Cella.”

“Don’t pity me. I hate that more.”

“It’s not that. Your hair is tangled here. I’ll release it. come here.”

“That’s enough.”

Even though she spoke coyly, Cella quietly received Yekaterina’s touch.

“Thank you for letting me hug her.”

“…How was it?”

“If I had to say how I felt, I was happy, and how I felt… she’s still a baby to me…”

“Hey, your daughter will soon be 30. What do you mean baby? She even already has two kids.”

“In my eyes, even though she becomes a grandmother, she still looks like a little baby.”

Cella was genuinely disgusted.

“…By the way, may I ask why you asked me to make you look like a baby tiger out of all the many things?”

“It was because of the dream when I was pregnant with Charel. I still can’t forget the day I had that dream… When I was having a hard time, I thought about it and got through it, so I wanted my daughter to do the same… Actually, I just made excuses because I didn’t have the confidence to face her.”

“…If you dreamed of a tiger, you have already predicted that she will become the empress from then on. The symbol of the imperial family of the Elioter Empire is the golden tiger.”

Instead of answering, the smiling Yekaterina held Cella’s hand.

“When your figure distorted, you didn’t want her to recognize you, so you quickly changed back to what you looked like when you were younger. But why did you reveal it again?”

“When I say I love her, I want to keep it the way it was.”

Just a little bit, it seemed like Cella could understand her feelings.

“Living in someone else’s dream feels so lonely.”

“What do you mean?”

“You can only see the other person when they’re asleep. In fact, I didn’t want to let her go… But there were people calling for that child, so I couldn’t help it.”

Unlike before, Yekaterina, who revealed her true feelings, spoke gloomily.

“Was my younger sister also lonely?”

“Cella?”

“My clan, Edelise, each has their own unique abilities. Among them, Bell passed on to me the ability to manage dreams.”

“I also have a younger sister who I lost when I was young. It’s amazing. We really have a lot in common.”

“…Yekaterina.”

For the first time, Cella called Yekaterina by name.

“I told you before that I almost killed your daughter. But why are you so kind? Don’t you hate me?’

“I hate you.”

“…”

“But, my older sister said… you mate sin, but you shouldn’t hate people.”

“…Bell said the same thing.”

“…”

“No matter how many times humans betrayed me, I never hated them like you think. I usually don’t bring up things about Bell. Still, just by looking at Yekaterina, I can understand why I want to do it.”

“…Why?”

“Because you just like Bell.”

Cella, who suddenly stopped walking, lay back. Yekaterina sat next to her without saying a word.

“What does your younger sister look like?”

“Her eyes and hair are both brown. She doesn’t look like me… but… Well, what should I say… Ah, I think she looks like a rabbit!”

“It’s so common, I don’t think it’ll be easy to find… Is there anything else?”

“I was so young that I couldn’t remember her face very well…”

It upset Yekaterina that she couldn’t remember her own younger sister.

“Still, I’ll look for her. Right. There’s one thing I’ve been curious about for a long time. Your daughter died once… but how did you know? Do you know anything about my clan?” asked Cella, who clapped her hands and lifted herself up.

“…I heard from my younger sister’s daughter that Charelize remembered everything and regressed. Well, I didn’t believe it at first.”

“How did you know it was your younger sister’s daughter?”

“When my younger sister closed her left eye, you could see a hidden mole. Lari, that child had a mole in the same place. Best of all, she had the necklace I gave to my younger sister.”

Only then did Cella nod as if convinced.

“Most of all… their smiling faces look alike.”

“Smiling… face?”

“Yes, like this.”

Yekaterina smiled brightly. Cella laughed awkwardly, following Yekaterina like that.

* * *

A few months later, the sun just came up early in the morning. When the clock struck six, Charteron, who had been dozing off in her bed, jumped up. Considering her usual waking up time, this was impossible. Moreover, if she overslept, it would become even later, so there was a reason for Charteron to wake up so early.

“Lur!”

“…Are you up already?”

“Did you forget what day it is today?”

“No way. Since a month ago… I even marked it on my calendar.”

Luensir yawned as he answered, showing his drowsiness.

“Happy birthday, Lur. I’m really happy that Lur is my older brother.”

“I like it too. Charon, happy birthday from the bottom of my heart.”

We were born as twins, so we must die together, got it? I’ll stick with you for the rest of my life.”

“That’s a bit…”

“How dare you think about it? It’s my birthday, so I’ll let it slide. Go over it again. I’ll be waiting for your positive reply.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Charteron raised Luensir, who made a soulless retort and lay down again.

“Wake up!”

“Let’s sleep a little longer. I’m so sleepy.”

Charteron shouted, pulling the quilt. “It’s too late to be ready now!”

“…It’s annoying. Just do it roughly.”

Charteron glared at Luensir, who still seemed unwilling to get up. “Have you already forgotten? We must always be together, whether we live or die.”

“…How about we live as strangers for just one day?”

“Martin! Are you outside?”

Refreshingly ignoring him, Charteron called Martin and dragged Luensir out of the bedroom.

The children, who had finished their preparations, attended a birthday banquet and were greeted while sitting at the chair.

“B-Both of… Your Highnesses, I would like to congratulate you on your eight birthdays.”

“Thank you, Lady Tania. Have a good time.”

“I’ve seen you since I was 5 years old, but you still get nervous every time you say congratulations?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Yes? I didn’t mean it that way. There’s no need to bow your head.”

“I’ll be le-leaving.”

Lady Tania, whose face turned red as if she was ashamed of her mistake, ran away.

“This time, she memorized and recited exactly what Count Tania wrote.”

Luensir whispered as he saw the back of Lady Tania running away.

“I didn’t expect that lady would have already left. Hmm, isn’t there anyone who wouldn’t enjoy something exciting and new response when they got teased…?”

“Oh gosh. My younger sister is a pervert.”

Charteron looked around for her prey, and Luensir touched her head.

“What do you mean pervert, Lur. I’m really upset when you say things like that.”

“Charon, you’re smiling now.”

Charteron, who had been pretending to cry by lowering the raised corners of her mouth, suddenly stood up.

“Huh…?”

“What’s wrong?”

Luensir, with a curious look on his face, turned to the same side.