One Step Forward to the Flower Path - Chapter 5

Ivanna had lost her appetite and was now sitting far away from where she was while eating.

Alaine quickly waved two dolls in front of her for fear that the child would be scared again.

“Now, young lady. Look at this.”

Ivanna’s mouth opened wider than when she saw the delicious meal from before.

The child instantly crawled closer to her. It was a quick and immediate reaction that Alaine saw for the first time.

“Oh, do you recognize it?”

“Mommy’s work!”

She held the doll in her little outstretched hands. Ivanna frantically looked alternately at the two dolls.

“Lady, you actually have an older sister and an older brother.”

Alaine spoke cautiously.

Since she’s a child, it was difficult for Alaine to tell her about her siblings born from another woman.

She didn’t want Ivanna to doubt that she was born from love.

“Sister, brother?”

“Yes. Your mother is different, but your father is the same, so you three are siblings.”

“Then does Dad have another wife?”

“No, they broke up a long time ago. Before the Duke met your mother. Originally your mother was supposed to be here…”

Why did Louise leave Dante while pregnant?

The child is certainly a blessing for the two, who were about to marry formally.

But why did she leave?

“Anyways, these are the dolls that your mother made for your sister and your brother.”

Black cats with a red ribbon.

However, the stitches were torn in places, the ears were uneven, and the shape of the eyes were different.

Ivanna was a very familiar mother’s work, which was a mess.

“Lady Hugor was really bad at sewing. Nevertheless, She made cat dolls for your sister and brother, saying that she wanted to give gifts to the children.”

To be honest, it felt more like a monster cat than a cute cat, but when they first received the dolls, Valerie and Luan were very happy.

Because even their real mother didn’t give them anything.

“Mom made a cat doll for me, too.”

Ivanna stroked the doll’s eyes.

The yellow pupil was torn. The eyes of the doll that I got from my mom when I was young were just like this.

Like Dad’s eyes.

“It’s for you now because it’s a gift that your sister and your brother gave for their little sister.”

“Little sister?”

There was no response to the words “sister” and “brother,” and she was surprised by the words “little sister.” It made her feel like she really does have siblings.

Alaine smiled affectionately.

“Yes. You are the precious little sister of Lady Valerie and Master Luan.”

“I, sister.”

“Both are looking forward to meeting the lady. What about the lady? Would you like to meet them?”

Ivanna shook her head and hugged the dolls as if she were defending herself. There was nothing Alaine could do. She has no choice but to postpone their meeting until the next time.

The twins, who had openly expressed their anticipation, may be disappointed, but the top priority here was this precious girl.

✧────── ೋღ🌺ღೋ ──────✧

After Alaine left, I was left alone, but I wasn’t lonely or scared because I had two dolls made by my mother.

“Meow.”

I touched the cat’s ear as I sat on the floor.

The soft texture was exactly the same as what my mother made before.

“I thought I would never see you again.”

The day my mother died, I was forced to leave the house and part ways with the doll.

Those who took me told me that I was not allowed to take the doll.

I didn’t know how to go home again, and even if I did, I couldn’t go because I was locked up my whole life.

In my first life, I never met Meow again. Not even when I died.

Even in my second life, I couldn’t take Meow, and I thought that would be the end like last time.

I didn’t know we would meet again like this.

“If my mom made Meow’s for them, then my sister and brother are not bad people?”

Mom couldn’t hold the needle well as she was poor in dexterity.

It was the first and last time she made me a cat doll.

However, there were two here.

I touched its ears and hugged them again.

Somehow, it seemed to smell of my mother.

“Mom.”

When I was in prison, I was always alone, so I felt lonely and cold.

But now there were two Meows here.

There were also soft floors, warm rooms, delicious breads, and tasty juices.

So now it was okay to pull out my strength.

If you get sick, the Meows will hug you.

Now that my mommy was next to me, I could really bear it.

Ivanna hugged the Meows tightly and laughed happily for the first time after so long.

✧────── ೋღ🌺ღೋ ──────✧

“Lady Ivanna was very happy to see the Meows. I’ve also seen a decrease in alertness and anxiety.”

In Alaine’s report, Dante recalled Louise’s cat dolls.

Two dolls that she barely made over a few days and a few nights.

Louise spoke very seriously as she handed the dolls to the twins with a bandaged hand that had been pierced by a needle.

‘It’s called Meow.’

It was so cute to say meow with a blunt face. That day, Dante kissed each of Louise’s bandaged fingers.

It was one of the happiest and most enjoyable memories with Louise.

“It’s their favorite thing that they own, and they’ve handed over well.”

“Because they were very happy that their younger sister is the child of Lady Hugor. I don’t think you have to worry about them.”

“I’m only worried about Ivanna right now.”

A small and fragile child lying curled up in a dark corner of the room.

If she grew up properly, then she’d be stronger than anyone else. She must become healthy.

Dante clenched his fist. He couldn’t calm down his anger at those who abused his child.

“I, master.”

“What.”

“Why did Lady Hugor leave six years ago?  Looking at the age of the young lady, it seems that she was already with child at that time, so why…….”

The two met after Dante’s divorce, so there was no problem both legally and socially.

Moreover, the two were even engaged.

Surely the child was born in a blissful situation. Then there would have been no suffering, but why did Louise leave?

Dante’s love was also very deep.

“…..The reason for being silent can be the most terrifying thing.”

Dante already knew the reason when Louise left and he remembers her sadly distorted face when she left.

Alaine couldn’t ask anymore because she realized Dante was swallowing in pain alone.

“The doctor introduced by McKellen is expected to arrive tomorrow. I’ll tell her what you told me about Ivanna, and you will too.”

“Yes, master.”

“Be sure to remember everything, like all of your actions and counseling with Ivanna. We need even the smallest details.”

The Duke’s family has special powers and shared blood ties with the royal family.

Thanks to its power, it is not intimidated by anyone, so it does not get hurt by anyone.

So it was difficult to deal with Ivanna, whose heart was in deep pain. Dante’s never been hurt before.

Dante, the child’s father, felt lost.

“I haven’t done anything I regret, but if it has something to do with Louise, I keep regretting it.”

Louise, who was the guardian of the Holy Spirit, like Ivanna.

That’s why Louise also got hurt as she grew up.

However, by the time she met Dante, she had already fully learned how to heal her wounds and how to fight against those who coveted her power.

So Dante didn’t dig deep into her wounds. He thought it would be better and more comfortable for Louise.

Later he felt like he shouldn’t have done that. He thought he should have taken better care of her.

When Louise left, severe regret struck him.

“Until the doctor comes, make my child as comfortable as possible. She keeps eating too carefully. I have all the strawberries in the kitchen so help make her feel at home.”

“Yes sir.”

✧────── ೋღ🌺ღೋ ──────✧

Sullivan Ellen was an excellent doctor.

As a senior graduate of the medical academy, countless nobles and royal families fought to take her away, but Sullivan ignored everything and set up a medical center for the common people.

She healed the poor commoners without or with little money, sometimes taking care of the deep wounds left in their hearts.

As time passed, the commoners’ respect for Sullivan grew, but the interest of the nobles and royal families decreased significantly.

No matter how much a senior graduate of the medical academy was, the doctors that the common people could reach were rejected.

So Sullivan was quite surprised when she heard that Duke Vicente was looking for her.

“The Duke of Vicente has someone who needs my help? Is this real?”

Sullivan asked McKellen, her academy classmate, again and again.

McKellen said it was very serious and dragged her away directly to the Duke of Vicente.

“Sullivan Ellen. You will be in charge of counseling as well as healing the heart’s wounds.”

“I understand.”

In fact, the Duke of Vicente was a man beyond rumor.

Sullivan’s eyes showed fascination, but she nodded without expressing it.

“There is someone who needs treatment and counseling. I’d like you to stay in the mansion and treat this person for a while.”

“Sorry, but I have so many patients waiting. It seems to be a little difficult to stay.”

The Duke frowned. McKellen, who was next to him, took a deep breath, but Sullivan did not withdraw.

She wanted to be a doctor for all, not for one person.

“……… see for yourself and then decide.”

“Yeah?”

“It is my daughter who needs your help.”

“Princess Valerie?”

If it’s the daughter of Vicente, it must be Princess Valerie Lancelot.

At the moment, Sullivan made a trembling expression without even knowing it.

Although she had never met her, the rumors about the Duke‘s children were so abundant that she knew well.

So of course there were many stories about the Duke’s twin children.

Princess Valerie is the eldest daughter and is said to be the successor.

She needs treatment and counseling? She, who is called the duke’s hope? Did you go to fight a real dragon?

“I’m not talking about a Valerie.”

“Yeah?”

“I have one more daughter. This is a secret, so don’t tell anyone.”

“Am I going to get killed after this job?”

At Sullivan’s words, Dante turned his eyes towards McKellen, who shook his head in a hurry as if to say he didn’t know what bullshit she was talking about.

“If you don’t reveal a secret, then that won’t happen.”

It meant that if she spoke about it, she would die.

Sullivan stared at McKellen, who brought her to such a dangerous situation.

McKellen, who noticed this, shed a cold sweat.

“Who on earth is she?”

“The wound is so deep that it is difficult to deal with.”

Duke Vicente’s face became gloomy. The face of a man who is famous for having no affection noticeably darkened.

Who is she?

Sullivan swallowed.

“Louise Hugor, you were an Imperialist so you know about her, right? The person you will heal is mine and Louise’s daughter. Her inherited power is as strong as Louise’s.”

Oh my God. Sullivan sighed.

It was good to understand the situation first.

What kind of heartache is there?

And to what depth?