A Second Visit
A thin mist still hung in the air. The morning sun shone over the eastern edge of the Rose Valley.
"Clop… clop…"
The soft sound of horse hooves echoed along the stone-paved road. A woman in a detective's coat sat gracefully in the saddle, her clear green eyes fixed on the road ahead.
A smile adorned her lips. This morning, Detective Clara travelled alone. At her waist hung a small parcel box filled with cookies.
Clara was on her way to visit Marry's home. A gentle smile bloomed on her lips as she imagined Marry and her little daughter, Caelan. She didn't quite understand the feeling in her heart, but it was warm… and peaceful.
After that night of confession beneath the moon and the stars, Clara's memories had returned. Now, she knew Marry better than anyone else.
The old world had called her the Blood Executioner, but to Clara, she was only a wrathful mother seeking justice for the silenced. And now, she was merely a gentle mother who wished to live peacefully with her little girl.
Clara pressed a hand to her chest. She didn't know what she was feeling—perhaps admiration, perhaps respect, or maybe something softer still.
Ever since Clara had used her Eyes of Judgment on Marry ten years ago, she had, for the first time in her life, seen a soul so pure—white and radiant. A noble soul unlike any she had ever witnessed. Even after the world's memory collapsed seven years ago, Marry's soul remained unchanged.
"A soul that pure… how could Marry possibly survive in this world?" she wondered.
She knew it wasn't power that sustained her, but love—pure love, the love that protects, the love that heals. Marry El Rose had once protected the world with her blood. Now, she protected something far more precious: her little daughter, whose soul shone even brighter—Caelan El Rose.
Clara tightened the reins and urged her horse up the countryside hill. She could hardly wait to reach the wooden house where the mother and daughter lived, in this world that had forgotten its sins.
When she arrived at Marry's yard, she dismounted and tied her horse beneath an oak tree. Holding the small gift box in her right hand, she walked slowly toward the door.
Standing before the wooden door, she hesitated. Her hand lifted, but she didn't knock immediately. Instead, she patted her own cheeks.
"Alright… I'm not a detective today. I'm just Clara," she whispered inwardly.
Then she raised her hand and knocked.
"Knock… knock…"
The sound echoed in the crisp morning air. Clara held her breath.
No answer. She was about to knock again when a cheerful voice rang out from inside the house.
"Big Sis Clara!" cried a little girl.
Clara turned toward the window and saw a small girl with sky-blue eyes peeking out.
"Caelan!" Clara exclaimed in surprise.
Caelan squealed with delight and rushed to open the door without waiting for her mother's permission.
"Let's play!" Caelan hugged Clara's waist tightly.
The girl looked up. Her round eyes met Clara's green ones.
"I built a cardboard house!"
Clara smiled—a sincere, gentle smile she rarely showed anyone. She stroked the girl's silver hair.
"Caelan wants to play with me?" she asked, glancing around.
"I'd love to… but why isn't Caelan playing with your mama?"
Caelan shook her little head.
"Caelan loves playing with Mommy, but Mommy's busy working." She puffed her cheeks. "Caelan doesn't have any playmates."
Clara smiled softly. "Poor thing. Caelan doesn't have anyone to play with." She sighed. "Alright then, I'll play with you."
"Hooray!" Caelan grabbed Clara's hand without mercy. "Come on, Sis! Caelan can't wait!"
Clara chuckled, letting herself be pulled along by the little girl's irresistible energy.
Caelan led Clara into the living room. Clara stopped by the table.
"Wait a second, Caelan. I brought you a little gift," she said kindly.
"A gift?!" Caelan's eyes darted to the box in Clara's hands.
Clara handed her the package.
"This is for you."
"For Caelan?" The girl's eyes sparkled. She opened the box eagerly.
"Cookies?!" Caelan froze for a moment and blinked in surprise.
"Caelan doesn't like cookies?" Clara asked softly.
"Caelan likes cookies. Caelan also likes baking cookies with Mama." Caelan shook her small head.
"But Mommy said Caelan shouldn't eat too many cookies." She puffed her cheeks like a squirrel. "Mommy said if Caelan disobeys, Caelan's teeth will fall out."
Clara was silent for a moment, then covered her mouth and giggled softly.
"Then I'll ask your mama for permission. That way, Caelan can eat cookies today."
"Really? Yay! Big Sis Clara is so nice!" Caelan hugged her tightly. "Caelan loves Big Sis Clara!"
A warmth spread through Clara's heart—something she couldn't quite name.
"What a sweet little girl," she thought.
For a moment, time seemed to stop. Clara savoured the warmth of the little girl's embrace. Caelan rubbed her head against Clara's clothes, and Clara gently patted her back.
"Tap… tap…"
Footsteps echoed from the northern side of the room. Clara turned and saw a tall woman with long silver hair wearing an apron. It was Marry—the mother of the little girl in her arms.
"You've come again, Miss Clara," Marry said softly.
"Mrs Marry?" Clara was momentarily startled and released Caelan from her arms. "Today, I came as Clara, not as a detective."
"Good. In that case, I'll ask a favour," Marry smiled at her daughter.
"Please play with Caelan. I'm busy preparing breakfast and mixing potions."
Clara smiled warmly.
"Of course. Leave it to me, Mrs Marry," she replied sincerely.
Marry paused for a breath, then spoke again. "But please don't let Caelan eat too many cookies, alright?"
"Mom… Big Sis Clara brought cookies for Caelan," Caelan interrupted, lowering her gaze with slightly watery eyes.
Marry fell silent for a moment, watching her daughter's little pout. Then she sighed softly.
"Alright. Mama will make an exception today. Caelan can have cookies with Big Sis Clara. But you must brush your teeth afterwards, understood?"
Caelan looked up at her mother, her lips curling into a wide smile.
"Wow, Mommy is the best!" she said, nodding enthusiastically. "Caelan promises, Mom."
Marry smiled faintly and turned to Clara.
"Miss Clara, please help my daughter brush her teeth afterwards."
"Don't worry, Mrs Marry. I'll make sure Caelan's teeth are spotless," Clara said with a light nod.
Marry left the living room. As she turned the corner, she glanced back once more.
She saw her little daughter laughing with a cookie on her lap, while Clara patted her head gently. Clara looked kind and warm. Marry smiled softly—then left them to their morning.
—
Clara Plays with Caelan
Marry was cooking fried eggs, sausages, toast, and oatmeal. While she cooked, she occasionally glanced through the kitchen doorway.
A gentle smile adorned her face—a smile that was difficult to define, a mix of awe, tenderness, and… happiness.
Clara, the detective once known for her seriousness, was now sitting cross-legged on a pile of old cardboard. On her head rested a crown made of paper flowers, and her wrists were adorned with paper bracelets—the handiwork of Marry's daughter.
"You're the Fairy Queen now, Big Sis Clara!" Caelan declared proudly.
"But amn't I a human?" Clara asked, pretending to frown in confusion.
"No! Today, you're a fairy. The Fairy Queen! And Caelan is the Princess of the World!"
"I'm the Fairy Queen? Haha…" Clara covered her mouth, unable to suppress her laughter.
"Big Sis Clara, don't laugh! You have to be a Fairy Queen who protects Caelan," the little girl pouted.
"Alright, my mistake," Clara said playfully. "Caelan is the sweetest, cutest princess in the whole world—and I'm the Fairy Queen who loves caring for sweet little girls."
"Hmm… Big Sis Clara is teasing again," Caelan said, puffing her cheeks.
From afar, Marry watched them both. A strange feeling stirred in her chest—something she hadn't felt in years.
It was the same warmth she once felt when surrounded by her only little brother. The only family she had before the world took everything away: Elvyn El Rose.
"Family life… feels too warm for me." Marry's eyes dimmed slightly as she looked up toward the ceiling. "Am I… truly worthy of this peace?"
She fell silent for a moment and lifted her left hand. Her blue eyes flickered as memories returned—this hand had once been drenched in the blood of tyrants. But then she peeked again through the door crack.
Her little daughter was smiling brightly, jumping in front of Clara, who held a makeshift cardboard staff.
Marry smiled genuinely. She closed the door and continued cooking.
"As long as my daughter smiles… whatever my past was, it no longer matters."
Moments later, Marry called Clara and Caelan to the dining room. The three of them enjoyed breakfast together.
Marry sat beside her daughter, while Clara sat across the table.
Caelan enthusiastically told her mother the story of the flower fairy and the princess of the world. Marry listened attentively, occasionally wiping the crumbs from her daughter's cheek. Clara smiled softly as she watched the tender bond between mother and daughter.
"Marry spoils her little girl so much… who would've thought she was once the world's symbol of fear?" Clara thought to herself.
After breakfast, Marry began cleaning the table. Clara tried to help, but Marry refused gently, asking her instead to keep playing with Caelan.
Clara nodded and led Caelan back to the living room.
There, they continued their "home game" on the living room floor. Caelan laughed gleefully as the Princess of the World, while Clara awkwardly acted as the Flower Fairy. They played and laughed until morning slowly turned to noon.
Eventually, the energetic Caelan fell asleep in Clara's lap. Marry emerged from her workroom, wearing a white coat and holding a vial of green potion. She walked quietly into the living room and placed the bottle on the table.
For a moment, she stood still—watching the peaceful face of her sleeping daughter resting on Clara's lap. Then she stepped closer.
"Forgive me for troubling you, Miss Clara," she said softly.
Carefully, Marry lifted her daughter into her arms.
"Not at all, Mrs Marry," Clara said, shaking her head lightly. "Caelan's a good girl. Such a sweet child."
"My daughter truly is a good girl," Marry replied tenderly. "She's my love… and my hope."
Clara sat beside her as Marry cradled Caelan gently. Marry brushed her daughter's silver hair, her lips curving upward each time she heard the girl's quiet snores.
For a moment… that peace imprinted itself upon Clara's heart. She watched the mother's tenderness in silence, overwhelmed by the calm beauty before her.
Then Clara spoke softly, "You know… you're the purest person I've ever seen."
Marry turned to her slowly, her gaze neither surprised nor proud.
"I just want my daughter to grow up healthy… and laugh every day," she whispered.
Clara fell silent, nodding slowly. She understood the weight behind those words.
And for the first time in her life, she wished she were not a detective. She wanted to be a friend—a quiet ally—someone who could protect and support this mother and her child.
"Marry, you've finally found your happiness. You're no longer an executioner… you're just a mother," she thought.
Day turned to night. Without realising it, Clara had spent half the day at Marry's house. She had enjoyed every moment—playing with Caelan, sharing dinner with the mother and daughter, and quietly observing their daily life: how Marry cooked, cleaned the house, brewed her potions, and cared for her daughter with such gentle love.
Clara knew Marry had truly found her peace. And deep within her heart… she hoped that peace would last forever.
After tucking Caelan into bed, Marry walked Clara to the door. She offered to let Clara stay the night, but Clara declined politely.
Standing by the open door, Clara looked at Marry with quiet hope in her eyes.
"May I come again… just to play with Caelan, or to have tea while watching the roses from your window?"
"This home is always open to those who come with a pure heart, Miss Clara," Marry replied kindly, smiling. "You're welcome anytime."
"Thank you. I'll come again," Clara said with a nod.
She walked away lightly. But within her heart, something had begun to bloom—something warm, perhaps more than admiration.
Clara didn't know what to call it. But one thing was certain: she wanted to return to this house again… to see the smiles of a mother and her little daughter.