"It might be meddling, but if you're troubled about the child's future, I have something to say."
As expected, experience could not be outdone.
The old woman had already noticed that Estelle and Lennox had quarreled because of Duren.
Glancing at Estelle and Duren, who looked like a tender mother and child in anyone's eyes, the old woman spoke.
"The reason I was absent today was because I went to see a doctor."
"Is the condition serious?"
"Grandma, are you sick?!"
"It's not to the point of worry."
Waving her hands urgently at their concern, the old woman explained.
"My daughter worries too much, so she took me to a nearby doctor. We were told there was nothing seriously wrong."
"That's really a relief."
"But with this frail old body, even my daughter struggles to look after me."
When her tear-filled gaze met Duren's eyes, the old woman subtly turned her head aside.
"My honest feeling is that I don't want to be a burden to my family any longer."
"Your family would never think of you as a burden."
"But I hope you can understand, Madam, that the sense of indebtedness remains on my side."
Estelle could already guess what the old woman was trying to say.
"It's an honor to meet someone as distinguished as yourself, but people like us also have our daily lives. I would appreciate it if you could leave now."
"Then… what about Duren…?"
"Please take him with you."
The old woman spoke firmly.
"Having spent many years together, I must have lost my composure when I saw the child who so closely resembles him, and ended up saying something unreasonable."
"..."
"A puppy could never become a human…"
"Grandma! I'm Dudu!"
"I must ask that you don't come here again for something like this."
"Dudu!"
Tears welled up in Duren's eyes and fell in heavy drops.
"Why do you keep saying it's not true?"
The old woman desperately turned her face away from him.
Of course, in her heart, she was certain that the child before her really was the puppy Dudu.
But if people learned that a human—let alone a noble child—held the memories of a puppy, no one would look kindly upon it.
Fearing that it might hinder Duren's future, the old woman had no choice but to turn away from the child's tears.
"Young master is not Dudu, but Duren. Even if such memories exist, you must now live your life as Young Master Duren."
"I'm not a young master!"
"I hate being a young master!"
Duren ran toward the old woman.
But she only tightened her grip on her cane.
"Don't be too harsh on purpose. I, too, don't think Dudu and Duren are completely separate."
"Madam."
"When I first asked Duren his name, do you know how he answered?"
It was an abrupt question.
The old woman looked puzzled.
"'My baby. So cute. So pretty. My puppy. My little one.'"
"Every word he spoke was filled only with affection."
In that moment, the old woman could no longer hold back her tears. Like a broken dam, she wept in silence.
Because that tiny thing had been so unbearably precious.
Because he toddled after me wherever I went, it was so endearing.
Those words had just slipped out naturally.
And yet, to think he lived believing that was his very name…
The one who had spoken them had never even considered such a thing.
"I know well enough how deeply you loved Dudu, so please don't say things you don't mean anymore. It will only leave wounds for both of you."
"Anyone who saw Dudu would have called him that."
The old woman wiped away her tears at last and gently stroked Duren's head.
His eyes were already red-rimmed, but those round pupils were still brimming with trust.
No matter what harsh words or cruel actions people may show, dogs follow humans blindly. Just like now.
That truth was both painfully pitiful and yet deeply grateful.
"…It is no empty excuse when I say I no longer have the strength to care for him."
The old woman dabbed at the corners of Duren's eyes.
Her touch was natural—after all, only a few months ago, she used to wipe him every day, worrying that tear stains might form.
"I raised Dudu always with the thought that, when a family full of love appeared, I would be ready to send him to them at any time."
But it had always been a temporary guardianship.
After checking Duren's now-clean face, the old woman gently pushed his shoulder away.
"If I keep seeing his face, I'll only grow too attached… so please, I beg you, leave now."
"Grandma… does this mean I can't see you anymore?"
The old woman hesitated, unable to answer right away, and Estelle stepped in.
"If you want to see Grandma again in the future…"
Estelle glanced sideways at Lennox.
Lennox, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, gave a small nod.
"…then you can come visit whenever you like."
"Really?!"
"Of course."
The old woman looked at them with anxious eyes, as if asking if it was truly all right.
"Just think of it as a grandchild coming to play. That much should be acceptable, don't you agree?"
"As long as you don't repeat today's conversation in front of the wrong people, it won't be a problem," Lennox added bluntly.
"Duren, you should say goodbye to Grandma now."
Since their purpose had been achieved, it was time to leave.
Hearing that he would be able to see her again, Duren happily ran over to Estelle and waved.
"Grandma! See you again!"
With light steps, Duren climbed into the carriage.
As Estelle was about to follow him in, the old woman suddenly grabbed her in haste.
"W-wait a moment! It's nothing much, but please accept this."
What she pressed into Estelle's hand was a scarf she had knitted herself.
Its bright, multicolored threads immediately drew the eye.
"It no longer has any real meaning now, but when the village was reduced to ruins, this was the only belonging I managed to keep."
"…"
"My poor skills aside, I thought it would suit the young master well, so I wished to give it as a gift."
"You could simply give it to him yourself."
The old woman shook her head.
"If I did that… I truly don't think I'd be able to let him go. So please, though it's troublesome, I ask this of you."
The old woman suddenly recalled when she had first knitted the scarf.
"Because Dudu was so small and white, like a little dust ball, there were times when people didn't even notice him properly.
"Some even kicked him by accident. After that, I always made sure he wore the scarf."
She had been so distressed back then.
But now, there was no longer any need to worry about such things.
"If Dudu really has become human, then he will have many more days to live than I ever will."
It was something she could never say in front of Duren.
And it was also the decisive reason she had to let him go.
"Before… it always pained me that such a tiny little one would never live longer than I would…"
The old woman's hands trembled faintly.
"But now, he has met people who will love Dudu—no, the young master—far more than I ever could. That alone is enough for me."
The old woman smiled.
It was a smile so beautiful that Estelle could swear it was the loveliest she had ever seen.
Once the carriage set off, Estelle's first act was to wrap the scarf around Duren's neck.
Sniff, sniff.
Catching the scent lingering in the fabric, Duren shouted:
"It smells like Grandma!"
"It's a gift from her."
"Really?!"
"She said she knitted it while thinking of you."
Heehee!
Duren laughed out loud.
Carrying the sound of his laughter, the carriage passed through the Warp Gate.
In the blink of an eye, they arrived in the North, and the scenery outside the carriage changed completely.
Duren pressed one cheek against the window, staring out in wonder.
He was still at the age where even watching flower petals fluttering in the wind made him laugh with delight.
"Dark…"
Then, spotting a distant village shrouded in miasma, Duren murmured blankly.
"Dudu has seen that before."
It was a fairly common sight in the North, but Duren couldn't tear his eyes away.
"Dudu! Let's go there!"
Suddenly springing to his feet, Duren rushed toward the carriage door.
"Duren!"
"Dudu will save the injured people!"
Standing up in a moving carriage made him look dangerously unsteady.
Estelle had been about to pull him onto her lap, but at those words she froze.
"Injured people?"
"Yeah! Like Grandma—anyone in danger, anyone hurt, all of them…!"
Rattle!
The carriage wheels struck a stone, jolting violently.
Duren swayed and nearly toppled backward, but Estelle and Lennox reached out at the same time.
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : https://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]