On the fourth day…
Levi finally opened his eyes.
A pounding headache throbbed through his skull.
It was nearly three o’clock in the morning.
The room was silent.
Only the faint glow of the moon slipped through the curtains.
Levi slowly sat up, rubbing his forehead.
“It feels like I got hit by a rock…”
His throat was dry.
Every muscle in his body ached.
Even lifting his arm felt exhausting.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and attempted to stand.
The moment his feet touched the floor…
His knees gave out beneath him.
He caught himself on the edge of the bed before he could fall completely.
“My body…”
“It feels so weak.”
A calm voice suddenly spoke from somewhere inside the room.
“You shouldn’t get up just yet.”
Levi froze.
The voice sounded young.
Almost childish.
“Are you thirsty?”
“I can get you some water.”
Levi frowned.
“Yes…”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Still dizzy, he assumed one of the younger servants had been assigned to watch over him.
He didn’t think much of it.
A few moments later…
A small hand held out a wooden cup filled with water.
Levi gratefully accepted it.
“Thank you.”
He drank every last drop before handing the cup back.
Without looking up, he spoke again.
“Could you call Olivia for me?”
“She’s staying in the third room beside mine.”
“I think I need one of her headache medicines.”
The room fell silent.
Then the same calm voice answered.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
Levi sighed.
“You are a servant.”
“Please go do your job.”
Using the bed for support, he slowly forced himself to stand.
His vision remained blurry.
As he lifted his head…
His entire body froze.
Standing only a few feet away…
Was a young boy.
He wore one of Levi’s oversized shirts, causing the sleeves to hang well past his hands.
His hair faded from snowy white at the top to a deep crimson near the ends.
His bright red eyes quietly watched Levi.
But none of those things caught Levi’s attention.
It was…
His face.
Levi’s breathing stopped.
“…Impossible.”
The boy looked exactly like Arthur.
The same eyes.
The same smile.
The same gentle features.
It was as though Levi were staring directly at his father as a child.
His hands began to shake.
Slowly…
Almost fearfully…
He reached forward.
His fingertips brushed against the boy’s cheek.
Warm.
Real.
The boy didn’t move.
Instead…
Sadness slowly filled his eyes.
Levi whispered,
“…Who are you?”
The little boy tilted his head.
“Hmm…”
“That’s a difficult question.”
He smiled playfully.
“For now…”
“You can simply think of me as a friend.”
Levi stared at him in disbelief.
“A friend?”
He shook his head.
“No…”
“If you’re a friend…”
“Then why do you look like him?”
The boy blinked.
“Like who?”
“My father.”
Silence filled the room.
The boy’s smile slowly returned.
A mysterious smile.
One that somehow felt both joyful…
He folded his hands behind his back and leaned forward.
“Maybe…”
“Because your father wanted me to.”
Levi’s heart skipped a beat.
“What does that mean?”
The boy only smiled wider.
“I’ll tell you.”
“But not yet.”
“You’ve only just woken up.”
“You need to eat first.”
Levi frowned.
“You keep talking like you know me.”
“I do.”
“No…”
“You know about me.”
“There’s a difference.”
The boy quietly laughed.
“No.”
“I know you.”
“Very well.”
Levi’s expression became serious.
“Then answer one question.”
“If you really know me…”
“Who are you?”
For the first time…
The boy didn’t answer immediately.
Instead…
He simply smiled.
A smile filled with longing.
Almost as though he had waited years to hear Levi ask that question.
He softly replied,
“I’ve been waiting…”
“For you to remember me.”
Levi’s eyes narrowed.
Remember?
He searched his memories.
Again…
And again…
But nothing came.
No matter how hard he tried…
He couldn’t remember ever seeing this boy before.
The only thing he knew…
Was that somehow…
Looking at him felt strangely familiar.
As if meeting someone…
He had forgotten long ago.