A month had passed, and Charles had finally returned to the Milverton estate.
The warm glow of the afternoon sun filled the manor as Lily stood frozen behind Charles's legs, peeking timidly at the unfamiliar guest standing in the doorway.
"Ohh… and who might you be?" Hugo asked, bending slightly to match Lily's height.
The little girl remained silent, her small frame hiding deeper behind Charles's coat like a frightened kitten.
"Hey, hey, I won't bite, I promise." Hugo smiled warmly, raising both hands in mock surrender. "You must be Lily, right? Charles told me a little about you."
"Welcome, Mr. Hugo…" Lily finally whispered, her voice nearly vanishing into the air. "My name is Lily. I'm Charles's little sister."
"Sister?" Hugo raised an eyebrow and glanced at Charles. "Since when do you have a sister, huh?"
Charles answered only with a gentle smile—so different from the smirks and irony he usually wore. "Since the moment I decided I'd never let this child feel alone again."
"…You've really changed." Hugo nodded slowly, then crouched before Lily. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lily. May I be your second big brother?"
Lily gave a small nod, and for the first time, she no longer hid behind Charles.
---
Days passed, and warmth slowly began to bloom within the once-cold manor.
Hugo began visiting more often—not just to discuss politics or reports, but simply to see Lily. Sometimes he brought her handmade wooden dolls from the market; other times, a box of gold-wrapped chocolate sweets.
"Lily!" Hugo called out one morning as he entered the back garden. "Today, I brought you something special."
Lily, watering flowers with Charles, turned toward him, her eyes sparkling. "What is it, Brother Hugo?"
"This wooden bird flaps its wings when you pull the string." Hugo sat beside her and proudly demonstrated, tugging a small cord that made the bird's wings flutter adorably.
Lily laughed. "That's so cute! I love it!"
Charles, sitting a short distance away, watched them with a faint smile.
---
One afternoon in the drawing room,
Lily sat wrapped in a blanket on the floor as Hugo read a storybook aloud, his voice theatrical.
"…and the prince leapt onto his white horse, charging through the snowstorm to save the princess!"
"Did they fall in love?" Lily asked eagerly.
"Of course!" Hugo replied, forming a heart with his hands, making Lily giggle. "And they lived happily ever after… at least until the royal bills started piling up!"
Charles, seated on the sofa, only shook his head slowly—but his eyes were warm.
---
That night,
Charles was preparing tea in the kitchen when he heard soft laughter from Lily's room. He peeked inside and saw Hugo teaching Lily how to write letters with his golden pen.
"Don't press too hard, or the ink will splatter," Hugo explained patiently. "Like this—L-I-L-Y."
"Lily," the girl murmured. "That's my name."
"A beautiful name," Hugo said as he gently patted her hair.
Lily turned toward the door and spotted Charles watching them in silence.
"Charles… I can write my name now!" she called out.
"I knew you could," Charles replied, stepping inside and gently hugging her head from behind.
---
The next day, in the mansion's back garden,
Hugo helped Lily plant flowers. Their hands were caked in soil, but their smiles shone under the sunlight.
"Let's plant this one right here," Hugo said. "So that when you grow up, this flower will bloom as beautifully as your smile."
"If I go away… will the flower still grow?" Lily asked innocently.
The question made Hugo fall silent for a moment.
"…Yes. Because this soil now holds your smile. And flowers… never forget the light that once touched them."
From a distance, Charles watched them, his heart filled with a peace he had never known.
---
That evening,
Lily had fallen asleep on the sofa, clutching the wooden bird Hugo had given her. Hugo draped a blanket over her small frame and looked toward Charles.
"If you ever make her cry… I won't forgive you."
Charles chuckled softly. "Trust me… I'm more afraid of her than I am of you."
They both gazed at the sleeping child. For a brief moment, the world felt utterly still.
And night fell gently upon the little family that had finally found the warmth of home.
---
The sparrows chirped softly the next morning.
Lily giggled in the garden behind Charles's home—the garden they had built together. She wore a plain white dress that draped softly to her knees, her legs muddy from planting flowers with Charles.
"This one's called lavender, Lily. It smells sweet and lasts a long time," Charles said, gently guiding her small fingers to press the soil down softly.
Lily nodded slowly, her eyes shining.
"If I plant lots of flowers… this place won't be dark anymore, right?" she asked innocently.
Charles turned to her. He froze for a few seconds before giving a faint smile. "No… it will be full of color—just like your heart, Lily."
From behind the window, Vespera watched in silence. Her sharp eyes followed every move.
"She was supposed to be just a tool… but now, my master smiles because of a human," she muttered bitterly.
---