Chapter 744: Uncle or Brother

"Squeak"

With a creaking groan from the rusted hinge, a small gate nestled in the corner of the wall slowly swung open, and a tall, graceful woman with pale skin and delicate features bent slightly to step through, entering the half-abandoned garden.

Even in its state of partial decay, this vast garden still exuded an air of elegance: numerous plain stone slabs intricately carved with peony patterns encircled the long-dry marble fountain at its center, forming several petal-shaped, secluded pathways.

These winding, intersecting paths, littered with stones and fallen leaves and clearly neglected, stretched outward past collapsed stone pillars and abandoned statues, past the delicate greenhouse whose glass had long since shattered, and along the courtyard walls whose paint had peeled away in patches, finally leading to the only remaining well-tended structure in the garden's farthest corner—a small wooden cabin.

"Ellie."

Walking the path all the way to the cabin's door, Emma gently tapped on it with the back of her un-fossilized hand and called softly:

"I'm back—are you home?"

"……"

No sooner had Emma finished speaking than the cabin door opened, and a little girl with two light chestnut braids, each tied with a ribbon, darted out gracefully like a butterfly and landed in Emma's arms.

"Sorry for worrying you again."

After gently stroking her daughter's head, Emma spoke in an exceptionally tender voice:

"Don't worry—I'll never die, not while you're waiting for me at home. Even if I truly die one day, I'll come back step by step, and I'll never let you be alone again."

"……"

The ribbon-tied girl remained silent, merely nodding slightly; then, as if suddenly remembering something, she loosened her arms from around Emma's waist and raised her tightly clenched right hand to eye level.

"Hmm? What are you showing me?"

After placing the bag she was carrying on the cabinet by the door, Emma knelt down, smiling as she extended her hand; the adorable, porcelain-skinned girl placed her right palm carefully into Emma's and slowly opened it…

"Did you catch this in the garden?"

Looking at the tiny pink-blue butterfly gently flapping its wings in her palm, Emma smiled in delight, then asked with unmistakable guilt in her eyes:

"So beautiful… Ellie, thank you for this gift—I love it. But how have you been these past few days? Did you feel lonely staying home alone?"

"……"

Upon hearing Emma's words, the girl with twin braids first nodded slightly, then vigorously shook her head, beaming a wide, radiant smile at her.

She might have felt a little lonely, but now that Mama was back, she wasn't lonely anymore.

Understanding the meaning behind her daughter's nod and then shake, Emma bit her lip slightly, about to speak—when suddenly the little butterfly took flight. The girl had released her gentle grip on it and instead seized Emma's bandaged right hand.

"？"

Glancing at the faint green hue visible through the bandage's seams, the girl's large, dark-and-white eyes blinked twice, then filled with concern as she raised her hand and pointed toward Emma's right hand.

"It's nothing—just a little scratch."

After kissing her daughter's forehead affectionately, Emma smiled and explained:

"I did run into a bit of trouble on my trip, but it's all settled now. These little wounds will heal in no more than a week—don't worry!"

"……"

Hearing Emma's assurance, the girl's worry melted away, replaced by renewed joy. She let go of Emma's hand and hurried back to the room with the pink wooden sign, returning with a piece of paper depicting two colorful little figures, which she proudly offered to Emma as she changed her shoes.

Is this… a drawing of last year's birthday?

Unfolding the slightly crumpled paper and recognizing the two colorful little figures seated around a table, clapping happily,

seeing the round shape on the table that was probably a cake, and the tiny crown atop the smaller figure, Emma hesitated briefly, then knelt down, holding the drawing with serious expression and asked:

"Ellie… do you remember? I told you that the day after tomorrow, on your birthday, a big… uncle will come?"

"？"

Upon hearing Emma's question, the girl blinked in surprise.

Uncle? Wasn't it supposed to be a big brother?

"There's actually quite an age gap between you two, and since he's my colleague… you should call him uncle."

Seeing the confusion in her daughter's eyes, Emma blushed slightly and explained, then quietly clenched her fist, her ears warming as she whispered:

"Ellie… would you like it if we had one more person in the house… hmm… do you like it when things are lively?"

Feeling embarrassed by the understanding gleam in her daughter's eyes, Emma hastily changed the subject:

"I meant that on your birthday, besides Uncle Leon, his sister and two children about your age will come too—we'll all celebrate together. Will you be happy?"

"Frie… friends?"

"Yes, friends!"

Seeing the mixture of hope and faint apprehension in her daughter's eyes, Emma understood: she longed for companions her own age, yet feared she wouldn't get along with them. She pulled the girl into a warm embrace and whispered soothingly:

"Don't worry—I've already checked. They're lively, but wonderful children. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time playing together."

Hearing Emma's assurance, the girl exhaled deeply, her delicate face lighting up with excitement and anticipation.

"Th-then that's good…"

Though her voice was as clear and melodic as wind chimes beneath the eaves, the girl rarely spoke to others, her speech slow and slightly muddled.

Yet, eager for her peers to come celebrate her birthday, she who usually stayed silent blinked her eyes, striving with all her heart to speak:

"Do they… like flowers? I planted some in the little greenhouse… and butterflies… and birds…"

"……"

Recalling the flocks of crows that had persistently defecated on the windowsill in Leon's memories, Emma's lips twitched slightly.

Compared to cute little birds, Leon's hyperactive younger siblings would probably prefer climbing trees to steal eggs… Hmm, I really need to make sure they don't raid Ellie's favorite birds' nests.

"Do those two kids… like birds, do you think?"

After telling a half-truth, Emma slipped on her indoor slippers and led the girl inside. Just as she was about to ask what had happened these past few days, she caught sight through the cabin window of a large, leveled patch of ground at the garden's rear.

Someone came here these past few days?!

(End of Chapter)