Chapter 4 (1/2)

It felt as if I was struck across the face.

Dumbfounded, I vacantly gaped at Luca.

When I recalled “Judith’s” memory of Judith and Luca’s conversations, I could sense how their conversation typically went, but it was certainly shocking, to say the least.

Basically, the conversations between the two were along the lines of…

“Luca, you filthy pig. Stop eating so much and earn some money already!”

“I earned this bread. You’re the swine around here!

… more or less.

Yep, they normally shot insults back at each other in this fashion. And then all of a sudden Judith becoming kind is obviously suspicious.

You reap what you sow. Judith’s way of talking was so horrendous that it would be odd for Luca to reply calmly.

“Judith’s at fault, it’s all Judith’s fault.”

I tried to side with Luca as if I was his mom.

But there were so many reasons why I couldn’t side with myself…

Luca was the novel’s protagonist, who I favored from the very beginning.

‘It’s obvious that I like him since he’s the main character of the story.’

Fair enough. I didn’t expect him to open up to me after cooking for him once.

Luca’s mom, Larissa, died 5 years ago.

Of course, Judith didn’t abuse him as severely 5 years ago.

At first, it simply started with being annoyed by Luca’s existence, but the neglect quickly escalated.

Notably within the last 3 years, the neglect crept towards abuse.

It became significantly worse when Luca’s looks began to bloom.

Three years isn’t that short of a timespan. But for the young Luca, 3 years felt excruciatingly long.

I have to anticipate that it’ll take a long time for him to open up his heart.

But time is in my favor…

Since Luca’s uncle, Rüdiger Winterwald will come to pick up the 10-year-old Luca on May Day…

Exactly 1 year remained.

‘Come to think of it, did Luca always get sick when May Day rolls around? In the original plot, he was also sick when Rüdiger arrived.’

Rüdiger, a year ago from now, discovered Luca’s existence shortly after Luca’s dad Jonas died after falling off a horse.

And he rushed to the Maybaum residence a year later.

By then, Luca was ill and suffering alone at home.

Whether he was sick or not, Judith didn’t care. She cared more about enjoying her time at the May Day festival.