I watched the two with great interest.

Indeed, other people’s romances are always the most entertaining.

As I watched with sparkling eyes, our gazes met, and my mother, as if she never had a frown, smiled sweetly at me, kissing me on the cheek.

“Oscar, you look more adorable every time I see you.”

Not satisfied with just a kiss, my mother playfully rubbed noses with me. I giggled at the ticklish sensation, while the duke seemed too stiff to even look at us, merely flinching.

‘He really is timid, isn’t he?’

With that thought, I entered the mansion, cradled in the duke’s arms. Being held by him elevated my view considerably due to his height. Looking down, I noticed a child standing alone in the middle of a large hall.

The child had fixed his gaze on me from the moment I set foot in the mansion.

His intense look made even me, a child, instinctively lift my head to meet his gaze, and I was startled at the sight.

‘Is that child really the duke’s son?’

I knew the duke had a child, so this boy greeting us must be his son… but he was nothing like I had imagined.

Though the duke was quite handsome, his overall aura was gloomy and timid, diminishing his charm. But this child was different.

He had the same hair and eye color as the duke, a spitting image, but his expression and demeanor were worlds apart.

To put it precisely.

‘Why does he look so… sociable?’

He had the kind of face that seemed like he would have a lot of friends.

From the very first moment I saw the child, he was wearing a huge, beaming smile. That bright smile made him look incredibly cheerful and lively.

Unlike the duke’s straight and damp hair, the child’s hair was curly, and his eyes, curved like crescents, shone prettily, filled with benevolence.

‘I think he’s quite a bit older than me.’

Furthermore, I think there might be some misinformation in what I know.

I had heard from my mother that the duke’s son and I were not exactly the same age but close, yet upon seeing him, he appeared much bigger and more mature.

“Erhan, go greet your mother.”

I was a bit surprised and opened my eyes wide. The way the duke, who had been amiable with us, suddenly seemed strict and cold when calling Erhan gave me that impression.

“Alright.”

But that seemed to be an unwarranted concern.

Erhan’s approach towards us was lively and spirited, without any sign of being subdued, and his giggling face suggested that the chilliness I felt was just a misconception.

“Hello, …mother.”

“Oh my.”

It was not their first meeting, but it seemed like it was the first time my mother heard the term ‘mother’ from him, as she opened her eyes wide in surprise. Erhan, looking embarrassed, shuffled his feet and his cheeks flushed red.

How lovely the child was; the duke must feel fulfilled even without a meal.

The child’s particularly pale skin and curly light gray hair almost appeared silvery, and his lashes, nearly white, fluttered gently like a butterfly resting on his face.

Captivated by his endearing appearance, I was startled when the duke gently set me down and introduced me to Erhan.

“Meeting for the first time, right? This is Oscar, who will be your brother from now on. Get along well. Oscar? This boy will be your brother.”

Erhan immediately looked at me.

I had felt he wasn’t short even when I was in the duke’s arms, but standing on the ground and facing him, I realized that Erhan was so tall I had to tilt my head way back to look at him.

“Hello, it’s amazing to have a brother now. I’m Erhan. Nice to meet you, Oscar. Let’s get along well, okay?”

The boy was evidently well-educated and had been showered with love. Who could resist disarming in the face of his unblemished smile and outstretched hand?

However, I only moved my lips without responding.

“Oscar?”

As I just blinked and stared at his offered hand, the duke called my name, sounding puzzled. Erhan also gazed at me with curiosity. Amidst everyone’s attention, I felt a warm hand gently stroking my head.

“The child has been frail since birth… His speech is a bit delayed.”

My mother spoke calmly.

The duke and Erhan both seemed to realize at the same time, with the duke cautiously adding, “That can happen.” He was careful not to upset my mother or me.

Yes, at the age of five.

Being unable to speak properly at this age wasn’t just slow; it was very slow.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with my physical capabilities. The reason I didn’t speak was that I found my own voice grating to hear.

It would have been different if I didn’t remember my past life.

As an adult in my previous life, I found the childlike pronunciation and high-pitched voice repulsive, so I rarely spoke even when I needed to express myself, following my initial babbling stage.

I only practiced speaking when alone, and even then, I limited my verbal interactions with my mother and other servants to short phrases like “Yes,” “No,” “Don’t want to,” and “Dislike.” Even these were not uttered in front of strangers, which worried my mother considerably.

“…”

I looked at Erhan, who was silently observing me. After hearing that I couldn’t speak, he seemed to have no expectation of a response.

What should I do? After a moment’s hesitation, I carefully took Erhan’s hand, still outstretched towards me. His hand was much larger than mine, which was somewhat undersized for my age. Carefully gripping his hand, I nodded at Erhan, who looked surprised, and managed to say,

“Erhan.”

I tried to articulate as clearly as possible. It’s just a matter of saying a name.

Of course, I still disliked the mumbled and slurred pronunciation, but I wanted to make a good impression in this new beginning.

Hoping to win the favor of my brother, with whom I would be living closely from now on, I called his name with a hint of flattery. To my surprise, Erhan’s grey eyes widened in shock, and he gasped.

“Oh my, he rarely speaks in front of people he’s just met…”

My mother was equally surprised. It was the first time she saw me acting this way. While I’m usually not shy around strangers and readily embrace them, I don’t speak. Part of the reason is that people tend to take care of things for me without needing me to speak…

‘Please, just don’t torment me.’

But this situation was different. I needed to make a good impression on Erhan, who would be my brother.

As the likely heir of the Serpentine family, if he found me annoying and decided to torment me, I, merely a living being with no means of defense, would be helpless.

So, I had to make a good impression.

With this resolve and a smile tinged with ambition, I looked at him, and that’s when Erhan hurriedly withdrew his hand.

‘…What?’

It’s fine that he withdrew his hand. Who would like their hand to be firmly held for an extended period, especially if it’s bothersome?

However, the problem was the difference in our sizes. I was small and young, whereas Erhan was much bigger.

When he abruptly pulled his hand away, my small body lost its balance and swayed significantly backward.

As the ceiling filled my slowly flipping view, I recall making a rather nonchalant observation, even as I risked hitting the back of my head.

‘There are a lot of weird things on the ceiling.’

People usually don’t look up at the ceiling unless they’re lying down. The ceiling was adorned with serpentine figures and monster-like creatures, seemingly symbolic of the gloomy Serpentine family. The craftsmanship was impressive, especially the depiction of angels shedding blood tears. Unfortunately, as my body continued to tip backward, I could no longer admire or even see the ceiling’s artistry.

Just when I anticipated a significant injury due to my short and plump body being the only means of protection, the world, which seemed to move slowly, returned to its normal pace. I shut my eyes tight against the swiftly changing view, but fortunately, my head remained unscathed.

Softly, my body landed on something cushiony.

Opening my eyes to the squishy sensation, I cautiously looked around to understand why I was unharmed. Realizing the reason, I involuntarily furrowed my brows.

Behind me, the servants had lain flat on the ground, offering their backs for me to land on. They could have simply caught me with their hands, which would have been more than enough. Instead, they all hid their hands and lay motionless on the dirty floor, as if their touch was forbidden. It was a chilling sight.