One Week Later, Mantle GraveyardSelene stood silently before her parents' graves, the cold wind brushing her hair. She placed a bouquet of white lilies on the stone markers, her voice trembling."Father... Mother... I'm sorry it took me so long."Her hand lingered on the engraved names as she closed her eyes, memories flooding back—both painful and cherished.Behind her, Rinko Schnee stood, not fully healed but determined to be there. Jacques Schnee stood stiffly beside him, his icy demeanor was gone but replaced with something else—reflection.Jacques cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Your parents... They deserved better."Selene turned her head slightly, unsure how to respond. There was no mockery in his voice—only regret."I know I can't undo what's been done," Jacques continued, gaze fixed on the graves. "But... staying in Mantle or Atlas might help you find what you're looking for.. Or you can still stay in the Manor." He paused before continuing, "Observe my actions all you like. Perhaps... you'll see that even the worst of us can change."Selene studied him carefully. The old Jacques would have dismissed the entire ordeal, yet here he was—not demanding forgiveness, but inviting judgment."I'm not ready to forgive you," Selene said, her voice guarded, but not as harsh as it once was. She took a breath, the weight of the words heavy on her tongue. "I won't leave. At least, not right now. But..." Her voice hardened, her eyes narrowing slightly as the shadows of her past crept back into her mind. "Know this, though... If you ever do the awful things again—if you ever hurt people like you did before... Expect me to hunt you for the rest of your life."The air between them thickened with the unspoken promise that hung in Selene's words. There was a quiet ferocity in her stance, a fierce determination that matched the anger she had once carried.Jacques stood there, silent for a long time, his gaze still fixed on the graveyard around them, though his mind was clearly elsewhere. There was a weight to her words, and for the first time in his life, Jacques Schnee found himself truly considering the consequences of his actions. He didn't respond immediately, knowing that Selene's words weren't a threat born of childish rebellion, but a declaration of intent—a line in the sand."I understand," Jacques said, at last, his voice low, almost thoughtful. "If that's what it takes, then I'll live with it. But I won't let myself be the man I once was. Not again."Selene's gaze softened just a fraction, though the edge of her resolve remained firm. She didn't believe him entirely—not yet—but there was something different about him, something she couldn't entirely ignore. Perhaps Jacques had been right about one thing: change was possible. Whether or not it would be enough for her to forgive him was still uncertain."We'll see, then," she said finally, her tone soft but unwavering. "I'll be watching. Don't mistake my silence for acceptance."Jacques nodded. It was a simple, almost humble acknowledgment of her stance. He won't cross that very line—never again. All he could do was show, day by day, that he was different, and hope that the pieces would eventually fall into place.Selene turned her back on him and walked slowly toward the edge of the graveyard, the breeze tousling her hair. Jacques and Rinko remained standing, his gaze lingering on the graves and then shifting to the horizon, as if the distant, unseen future held something that he was still trying to reach.Schnee ManorBack at Schnee Manor, Arthur Hale, the IT specialist, was busy working on his latest task. Though the tension between him and Selene had eased slightly in the week since the incident, there was still an awkwardness that lingered whenever their paths crossed. The Schnee Family had kept it a secret that she was the one who attacked Rinko to make sure the other staff wouldn't get uncomfortable around her or to ruin her image—but in reality, Selene doesn't care what other people think about her.In the days following the incident, Arthur had hesitated to press charges against her. The Schnee family, particularly Jacques, hadn't taken any formal legal action, and it seemed pointless for him to make a move when the family itself had chosen to move on. But that didn't mean he felt completely at ease around Selene. The damage had been done, and although she had apologized, Arthur couldn't simply forget the way she had manipulated him and used him for her own ends.It was early afternoon when Klein returned to the manor. Though he was still recovering from the injury Selene had inflicted on him—he was back in his element, resuming his role as the head butler. He had returned to his usual duties: cooking, cleaning, gardening—anything that kept him busy and allowed him to maintain some sense of normalcy.Klein had always been a figure of patience, his gentle demeanor never wavering, even in the face of adversity. When he found out that Selene was the one responsible for attacking Rinko and pushing him down the stairs, it pained him deeply. Yet, despite the betrayal, Klein had forgiven her.He had always seen Selene as something of a lost child—someone who had strayed from the path and needed guidance. His forgiveness wasn't just an act of kindness; it was born out of a deep well of understanding that perhaps Selene had never truly known betterSelene was now back in her position as the assistant head of staff, and her presence was met with mixed reactions. While Klein had chosen to forgive her, others in the manor remained wary of her.Specifically Weiss, Whitley, and Arthur.They were unsure whether to trust her again after everything that had transpired. But Klein's forgiveness gave her a semblance of peace, and his understanding of her struggle helped to soften the guilt gnawing at her heart.There were times when Selene found herself staring at Klein from across the room, watching as he moved about the manor with his usual grace and quiet confidence. He didn't look at her with anger or judgment. He looked at her the same way he always had—with the eyes of someone who knew the weight of hardship but still believed in the possibility of redemption.It was in these moments, when the guilt tightened her chest, that Selene couldn't help but feel a deep sense of shame. She had pushed Klein—someone who had always been like a father to her—down the stairs, and yet here he was, standing tall and offering her his forgiveness. It hurt, not because she didn't deserve it, but because she had betrayed someone who had only ever treated her with kindness.Klein's forgiveness wasn't a simple act. It was a silent plea for Selene to see herself as more than just her past mistakes.Rinko, now recovering in the manor, had been a silent reminder of how much she still had to atone for. Though they were the same age, their lives had taken very different paths. Rinko—Kakashi—had grown up with compassion throughout the darkness, but Selene was still living in it.But perhaps that was part of the healing process.In some strange way, Jacques and Rinko had become a symbol of what Selene could still be—a reminder that redemption was possible, even for someone like her. And while she might never fully escape the shadow of her past actions, there was a chance—just a chance—that she could be better than who she had been before.GardenThe gentle rustling of wind through the lush, well-kept gardens of Schnee Manor contrasted with the tension lingering in the air. Weiss Schnee paced back and forth near the central fountain, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The sunlight sparkled against the crystal-clear water, but she barely noticed it.Rinko Schnee—Kakashi Hatake reincarnated—sat on a nearby bench, sipping tea with practiced calm. His silver hair caught the sunlight, making him appear even more serene despite the subject of their conversation.Weiss finally stopped pacing, her icy-blue eyes burning with frustration. "Seriously... Why is she still here?" Her voice carried a sharp edge. "After everything she did—attacking you, hurting Klein—how could Father allow her to stay? It makes no sense."Rinko set his cup down gently on its saucer, taking his time as though considering how much to say. "Weiss, it's fine," he replied in a tone so relaxed it made Weiss grit her teeth."Fine? Fine?" she snapped. "She tried to kill you! Twice! She pushed Klein down the stairs! How can you just sit there like... like it doesn't matter?"Rinko met her gaze evenly, unshaken by her anger. "Because it does matter. But hating her won't change what happened."Weiss clenched her fists. "So what? We just forgive her and move on? Pretend she didn't try to destroy this family?"Rinko sighed, resting his chin on his hand thoughtfully. "Selene... isn't someone who can be dealt with through anger or revenge. Trust me. sips.." His gaze softened, memories of battles and betrayals long past flickering behind his mismatched eyes. 'I've lived long enough to know where that road leads.'Weiss hesitated, the intensity of his words making her pause. "But... she hurt you.""And she has to live with that," Rinko answered quietly. "She's not staying because she was forgiven. She's staying because she hasn't forgiven herself. You might not believe it, but she's trying to change." He placed his cup on his lap, 'She's also staying to see if Jacques truly has changed.. Making sure he won't make anyone walk the same fate as her.. But I trust father, to never make the same mistakes again.'Weiss's expression faltered. She hated how calm Rinko always seemed to be, how he could forgive so easily—or at least appear to. "You really believe that?""I do." He smiled faintly. "Everyone deserves a chance to be better, even if they've failed before. Trust isn't given... but it can be earned."Weiss let out a frustrated breath but couldn't argue with his logic. Deep down, she hated how right he always seemed. She turned away, her arms still crossed, though her stance had softened. "You're too forgiving."Rinko chuckled, sipping his tea again. "It's not forgiveness, Weiss. It's just understanding."Weiss didn't respond immediately, staring at the distant flower beds where Selene was tending to the garden, quietly pulling weeds. There was something different about her—a heaviness that hadn't been there before. It didn't erase what she'd done... but perhaps, as Rinko said, there was room for change."Maybe," Weiss said quietly, though she wasn't sure if she meant it just yet.Rinko watched her with a knowing smile. The path to redemption was rarely straightforward—but sometimes, even the most unlikely souls could find their way back.[End]