The Locket, the Child, and the Shattered Painting

Sylvia’s husband had brown hair, so even a three-year-old could understand what this meant.

“Give it back, Fren! Hurry…!”

The woman praised as the purest and most noble in the world was, in truth, the most unfaithful of all.

“That is the only keepsake he left behind!”

Vanessa shoved the locket deep into her pocket before anyone could see.

Though the exact time was unclear, Sylvia had once fallen madly in love with a female s*ave she had bought at a s*ave market before marriage—Niobe.

After Niobe died of old age, Sylvia even took care of all her descendants.

It was no wonder Fren mocked her, saying isn’t this the ultimate one-sided love?

“Give it to me…!”

“Oh? Already finished talking?”

Without answering, Fren abruptly opened the prayer room door, and Sylvia immediately regained her dignity.

“…Oh my, Neferr. Why are you here? Were the guest rooms unsatisfactory?”

“I thought it would take a long time, but I guess the conversation ended early.”

“No matter how long it’s been since I last saw my son, I can’t keep a guest waiting.”

“Aah! Lady Sylvia is truly an angel without wings!”

“I’ll have dinner prepared. Please wait upstairs for a moment. I’ll send my son up shortly.”

“Yes! Glory to Lady Sylvia!”

Neferr saluted dramatically, then scampered up the stairs.

Once the nuisance disappeared, Sylvia reverted to a desperate—even pitiful—expression.

“Please, my son. Give it back.”

“I told you, I’ll return it when we leave. You used to live just fine without carrying this around.”

“…….”

“What is it? After wearing it once, you feel like you can’t be without it?”

Sylvia’s face flushed with shame, but she didn’t deny it.

Fren let out a dry laugh.

“Where is Niona?”

“…….”

“Hiding her? Are you afraid I’ll hurt her?”

He began to openly mock her.

“Well, that useless bloodline never changes. Unlike my s*ave, those kids can’t even protect their own bodies. Why do you even feed them?”

“…They—!”

Unable to hold back, Sylvia shouted.

Fren stared at her, daring her to continue.

Cold sweat rolled down her face as she stammered before finally managing a single sentence.

“She looks just like Niobe.”

“Exactly. Because she looks like Niobe, she’s not even remotely pretty.”

“But that alone is enough for me.”

Fren sighed and signaled Vanessa.

Vanessa knelt and returned the locket.

Sylvia snatched it with trembling hands and kissed it again and again.

Watching the pathetic sight, Fren shook his head and began walking upstairs.

He ordered:

“Find the s*ave she’s hiding.”

“…Should I bring her to you after I find her?”

“No. I don’t even want to be in the same room as her. And if I touch her, Mother won’t let it go.”

A tiger without fangs was still a tiger.

He had no desire to fight the woman who killed her own husband and seized her family just to freely love Niobe.

Fren said:

“Just check how she’s living.”

“Yes.”

Vanessa obeyed, relieved.

Sylvia would have hidden Niobe’s descendant deep, deep inside the mansion.

But it didn’t matter.

“Vanessa-oppa!”

Because unlike Fren and Sylvia, who hated each other, Vanessa and Niobe’s descendant were close.

Vanessa went to the place they sometimes met before she left the estate.

A girl with wavy hair tied into two bunches like seashell curls sat waiting.

Vanessa dipped her head in greeting.

“Hello, Niona.”

“It’s been so long.”

“Have you been well? Nothing difficult?”

Originally, Vanessa only approached Niona because Fren ordered her to—just to annoy Sylvia.

But like Jenoise, Niona was energetic and adorable, and Vanessa couldn’t help opening her heart even a little.

Niona threw her arms around Vanessa and said:

“Lady Sylvia treats us well. I just stay with her and everything’s fine.”

“That’s good.”

“What about you, oppa?”

“I’ve been well. And you know Sir Fren is just as kind as Lady Sylvia.”

“…….”

Niona’s expression darkened.

Vanessa picked her up for a piggyback ride and asked:

“What’s wrong?”

“To be honest… I really hate that Sir Fren moved out. We thought we’d live together forever. The other slaves miss you too. They said you get scolded less when you’re around.”

“It can’t be helped. We’re slaves. We follow orders.”

“…….”

“Niona, you shouldn’t act too freely just because Lady Sylvia likes you.”

It hurt Vanessa to tell a child this, but she had no choice.

No matter how well-treated a s*ave might be, if the owner lost interest, their life could turn into hell overnight.

Especially someone like Niona—loved one moment, then easily targeted by other slaves the next.

So Vanessa lectured her every time they met.

“Niona, why aren’t you answering? You should reply when I speak.”

“…Oppa.”

Niona spoke in a gloomy whisper.

“I kind of don’t get it… Why did Lady Sylvia like Grandma Niobe? I mean…”

“Why are you asking that?”

“It’s just weird. Grandma wasn’t skinny like you or pretty either. If she looked like me, wouldn’t she be like… a seal?”

“A seal? Who said that?”

Vanessa’s tone hardened immediately.

Niona flinched and shook her head quickly.

“No… I just saw a picture book and she looked exactly like me.”

“Oh, I see.”

Vanessa’s expression softened.

“You saw correctly. Seals are cute like you.”

“I’m cute? Really?”

“Of course. Very cute.”

“Then Lady Sylvia must have liked Grandma because she was cute too.”

Niona giggled and hugged Vanessa tightly.

After playing with her until she was satisfied, Vanessa went to report to Fren.

But Fren wasn’t in the guest room.

Only empty apple wine bottles rolled around on the floor, and Neferr lay sprawled out drunk.

‘If he’s like this already, what’s he going to be like at dinner…?’

Vanessa moved him to the bed and went searching for Fren.

She didn’t need to search long.

She already knew where he would be.

“Sir Fren.”

“You’re here, Vanessa?”

As she expected, Fren was in the hall.

He stood staring at a painting on the wall when he asked:

“She was doing well?”

“Yes, she seemed fine.”

“Good. Mother always takes care of her properly.”

Vanessa approached him, but Fren’s eyes stayed fixed on the painting as his hands moved restlessly.

Unable to stand it, Vanessa grabbed his wrist.

“Please stop, Sir Fren.”

“…….”

“You’ll hurt your hand.”

She gently coaxed him, prying his fingers open one by one.

A dagger fell from his grasp onto the floor.

Vanessa wrapped her arms around him entirely.

Fren stayed silent for a long time before whispering:

“I’m sick of this. It’s disgusting.”

Vanessa lifted her head while holding him.

The painting Fren had lovingly created in his youth—of his family—had been slashed and shredded beyond recognition.

Later, even when a servant announced that dinner was ready, no one came to the dining hall.

Sylvia was feeding Niona.

Fren was spending time with Vanessa.

Neferr was passed out somewhere.

Though the family had gathered, they were most peaceful when staying apart.

From that day on, the Fronia estate was calmer than ever.

Sylvia and Fren silently agreed never to mention that day again and pretended to be a loving mother and son before visitors.

“Here, try this, my son.”

“At this rate, Mother, I’ll become twice my size. But… are you sure this was meant for me? It seems like you bought it for someone else.”

“What nonsense. Of course I bought it for you. Hurry and eat.”

“Ah, really?”

“Really.”

Watching them, Vanessa realized the saying you understand only as much as you know was true.

While Sylvia lovingly fed Fren, he suddenly turned and said:

“But it’s too much for me alone. Vanessa, bring Neferr. He must be hungry after all that swimming.”

“Yes, right away.”

Vanessa headed to the back garden as ordered.

There, a massive artificial lake Sylvia had built just for siren guests sparkled under the sun.

As soon as Vanessa arrived, Neferr popped out of the water.

“You’re here?”

Vanessa nodded.

Neferr tilted his head back and slicked his wet hair.

As his hair flipped, the thin cloth covering his body revealed the entirety of his torso.

Could this even be called clothing? It was thin, white, nearly see-through—completely useless as actual clothes.

He looked more indecent than if he had simply been naked.

Yet instead of shame, Neferr looked at her eagerly and asked:

“How is it?”

“…Sorry?”

“Show me a reaction.”

“…Forgive me, but foolish as I am, I don’t quite understand what—”

Neferr sighed loudly enough to split the water.

“Vanessa, why are you so oblivious?”

“…Pardon?”

He lifted his garment even higher, revealing everything.

“I’m acting like a shameless slut because I’m trying to seduce you.”

“…….”

And what exactly does he expect me to do?

Vanessa was speechless.