Dearest Anonymous, Let Me Be

Chapter 37: ARC 2 - The Woman in the Painting

"...and then Miss Ivy told me to close my eyes, and then..."

The boy wearing a flat cap paused to take a short breath. In a flash, he resumed his chatter, "And then she hugged me super duper tight..." The boy, who had revealed to them earlier that he was already ten years old this year, wrapped himself with his hands as though he was hugging himself. After a moment, he rose to his feet and ran in circles while still going on about his narrative. "And then she ran super duper fast. It even felt like we were flying!"

"Wow!" the nineteen-year-old lad exclaimed while clapping his hands, his steel-grey eyes gleaming in absolute delight. "Miss Ivy brought you here because you needed a place to stay for the night?"

"Yes!" the younger boy ceased his playful running and resumed his squatting position again, now facing his new buddy. "Isn't she the kindest person ever?"

The youth with missing eyebrows smiled gently, a tinge of pink presenting itself in his cheeks. Lucian tried taking a glance at the woman standing in the corner, his eyes focused even under the dark. The woman's arms were crossed and her face was frowning. Yet despite the menacing aura coming from her, a shy smile still found its way on his lips.

Lucian mumbled, "I think she's an angel."

No matter how quiet as a whisper Lucian sounded, Umi was undoubtedly more than able to hear his words.

The hollow wanted to flip another table but there's no furniture left to flip.

Umi wanted to spat out blood. The pair appeared to have become the best of friends already despite having only met each other. They even looked like they were having the time of their life as they babble nonsense while squatting on the floor and munching on some snacks that the little boy brought.

What is this, a sleepover?! The woman can only gape.

After finding out Lucian's sudden amnesia, the unidentified boy took it upon himself to introduce Umi to the young man at the time when she was unguarded, rendering her speechless and unable to refute anything anymore. Therefore, Umi is now known as Miss Ivy to Lucian, and the woman had to make up a spontaneous story of her being a distant relative of the Malcolm couple who came from another country, thus the reason for her sudden appearance in the manor. Long story short, she lied that she intended to visit this town for a vacation.

Lucian, on the other hand, shared that he had woken up as soon as he heard the entrance to the manor open unexpectedly. Unsure of what to do, he abruptly went towards the main door without looking around, so that must be the reason why he's still clueless about his messed up appearance.

This young caretaker, who grew up with the Malcolm couple, didn't even doubt Umi's bogus story. The lovestruck fellow accepted her in a heartbeat and with open arms.

Well, the young lad fell for the original Vera at first sight, so if things are taken into account, then him falling for this body again should not be any more surprising.

After a string of interrogations, Umi found out that Lucian's memory was as hopeless as her shattered plans. The last thing he seemed to remember was before he was asked by Ezekiel to paint a portrait of Vera.

If this was the original story, then the book would have ended then and there.

If Lucian is not hungry for revenge anymore, then what's the point of turning Vera into a ghost ah?

Umi eventually determined that she had to strain her brain for this one. Since the story has become like this, then the new Vera, the one who was supposed to have transmigrated in this world, would have to take all the work with or without Lucian's help.