Lynn stared at the scene from afar, dazed.
Before the manor gates, where roses bloomed, Miss Doll bowed so demurely to her mother upon returning home. Drizzle soaked her toes. The scene was as beautiful as a morning in the real world, as that girl who had never understood what a "heart" was took her first, uncertain steps toward learning and trying.
Lynn watched for a long time.
At that moment, it was as though the drizzle had wet the corners of his eyes. Something warm and comforting flowed through his heart, making his nose sting faintly.
Yet Lynn still smiled.
He felt happy.
Within this illusion of memory, he felt a comfort and happiness unlike anything before.
Yes.
He really had missed so much. When he was absent, when he could not see her, Miss Doll had still taken his words to heart, putting earnest effort into learning and trying to become a truly healthy girl. She had listened to him.
Granted, back then, he really had harbored some nasty thoughts of "raising" her into what he wanted.
He had wanted Miss Doll, a blank slate without a heart, to follow his guidance little by little and become a girl who listened to him, who could talk and laugh. But he had also genuinely wanted her to get better, rather than remain as cold as before, seeing herself as nothing more than a doll that could move.
And seeing this scene...
Lynn became even more determined to bring her back.
And he would keep her by his side for the rest of his life, even if it meant turning her into his little cook.
Lynn took one last, lingering look at the figure before the gates, then abruptly raised his head, ready to rush out of this illusion of