CHAPTER 545: BACK HOME FOR A VISIT (6)

Entering back into the house, Liam followed the quiet tug of Elsie’s presence threading through the halls like a familiar scent carried on a breeze. He moved with steady purpose as he walked down the hallways and after a few turns and a faint hum of conversation, he rounded a corner that opened into the corridor leading toward the kitchen.

The warm light spilling from within guided his eyes forward. There, just ahead, stood Ms. Rose, her posture relaxed and welcoming as always. In front of her were two young women, both dressed in attire Liam immediately recognized—brown and beige tones, comforting in their familiarity and unchanged style. Even from behind, even with the slight differences brought on by time, he knew exactly who they were. A year apart hadn’t dulled that recognition; if anything, it sharpened it. Their silhouettes were as familiar as old memories he had tucked away.

’They look taller... or maybe that’s just me,’ Liam thought, his expression calm though his curiosity stirred quietly underneath. He advanced with slow, deliberate steps, taking them in with an assessing gaze.

Halfway into the room, his eyes met Ms. Rose’s. She brightened instantly, a smile pulling at her lips the moment she spotted him approaching. Her joy was soft but unmistakable, as though she had been waiting for this exact moment. Then she spoke—a few words directed at the girls ahead of her, prompting both young women to turn around.

As they faced him, Liam paused. The confusion on their faces was immediate and expected. Elsie and Alice stared at him as though they were looking at a stranger wearing an oddly familiar coat. Their eyes trailed over the long dark hair tied into a low ponytail, the loose strands framing the sharper angles of his face, his taller frame, and the matured calm in his red eyes.

Liam exhaled faintly. ’I can’t blame them for that expression,’ he mused.

But the uncertainty lasted only a moment. Recognition struck like lightning as Elsie’s eyes widened, shimmering instantly with unshed tears, her breath catching in her throat. Beside her, Alice slapped a hand over her mouth, her green eyes going round with shock.

The sudden emotional shift made Liam raise a brow. "Well, that changed real quick," he muttered under his breath, barely audible.

He parted his lips to greet them properly, but before he could utter a single word, Elsie surged forward. Her boots thudded softly against the floor as she closed the distance in a rush of emotion and threw her arms around him.

Liam froze. Completely, utterly frozen—as rigid as a statue. The embrace was warm, full of trembling relief, and it swallowed him before he could think. For a moment, he stood there, unsure of where to place his hands, just like when Dr. Dain and Ms. Rose had embraced him earlier. But slowly—hesitantly—he lifted his arms and wrapped them loosely around her, returning the hug in his own stiff way.

"Is it... really you, Liam?" Elsie choked out, her voice breaking.

"Yes, Elsie. It is. It’s me," he answered calmly.

Hearing his voice, she held him even tighter, burying her face slightly into his chest as her shoulders shook. Eventually, after a few moments that stretched longer in her heart than in his, she loosened her grip and stepped back, wiping her eyes with hurried fingers as she tried to pull herself together.

Then she punched him in the shoulder.

Liam blinked. "What was that for?"

"That’s for making me worry to death!" Elsie burst out. "And not even calling or sending me a letter to check up! Do you know how stressed I was?"

Liam stared at her, unbothered by the hit though mildly confused. "I did send a letter."

Elsie paused, her lips parting. "Well... you should’ve called then."

Liam stared again, expression blank for a moment before a faint, fleeting smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I guess you haven’t really changed."

The sight of that tiny smile made Elsie’s breath hitch. She hadn’t expected him to smile—certainly not at her. Her pout melted instantly, replaced by a warm, teary smile of her own. "Well... yeah. I guess not."

Before the moment could become too sentimental, Alice finally sprang forward. She stopped beside Elsie, leaning closer into Liam’s personal space without hesitation, her expression bright with disbelief and excitement.

"Hey, Liam! Remember me?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Of course. How could I forget the person who helped me with the city map?" Liam said, his tone even but touched with the faintest smirk. "It’s been a while, Alice."

"You do remember!" Alice beamed. "Wow, you’ve gotten so tall! Seriously, what have they been feeding you over there?" She lifted her hand to show the height difference, exaggerating it dramatically.

"Yeah," Elsie chimed in, stepping forward. "And your hair—never thought I’d see you look like this."

"That’s right," Alice added with a mischievous grin. "You almost look like a girl with that pretty face of yours."

Both girls burst into laughter, their teasing echoing lightly around the hallway.

Liam’s eye twitched, his smirk flattening into a thin line. ’Clearly, some things about them hadn’t changed either.’

"Don’t mind them, Liam dear," Rose said warmly, stepping in with a soft chuckle. "In my opinion, you look wonderful."

"Thank you, Ms. Rose," Liam replied calmly.

"Hey, we weren’t being mean!" Alice protested. "It was a compliment. Right, Elsie?"

"Right," Elsie agreed with firm nod.

"Yeah. Right," Liam muttered dryly.

Rose clapped her hands once, her voice gentle. "Why don’t you two go freshen up? Dinner will be ready soon."

Alice grinned immediately. "Oh yes! Because of you, Liam, we get to have a feast tonight!" She grabbed Elsie’s hand. "Come on, Elsie! Let’s go!"

Elsie barely had time to wave before being dragged off toward her room, their footsteps and chatter fading down the hallway.

Left alone now, Ms. Rose let out a light giggle. "They are troublesome, aren’t they?"

"Not really," Liam answered, his tone smooth and quiet.

Rose gave him a fond, knowing look before nodding. "I’ll go get Dain. He should be finishing up. We must all eat together tonight." She stepped forward slightly. "Go and rest for now. I’ll send Ane to fetch you when dinner is ready."

"Oh. Sure," Liam said, offering her a faint, almost invisible smile.

And with that, Rose turned away, leaving Liam standing in the soft glow of the hallway’s warm lights.

***

Later that night, the Silverhart household gathered around the long, warmly lit dining table, the room filled with the easy comfort of shared company. Platters were passed back and forth, laughter rolled across the table like a soft wave, and the faint glow of lanternlight softened every corner of the room. Elsie and Alice dominated most of the conversation, animatedly recounting the small adventures and frustrations of their day. Their gestures were lively, their voices rising and falling with youthful enthusiasm.

Liam sat among them, a calm presence amidst the chatter. Though he spoke only when necessary, his silence didn’t feel distant. Instead, it blended naturally into the atmosphere, as if his quiet steadiness anchored the room in place. From time to time, he glanced at Elsie or Alice, a faint curve of amusement ghosting across his features whenever they exaggerated a detail just to make each other giggle harder.

The night unfolded in warm simplicity, each moment easing naturally into the next. As the meal neared its end, Rose instructed the maids to clear the main dishes while Anne returned from the kitchen carrying a tray of desserts—small fruit tarts, soft pudding with caramel glaze, and slices of sweet honey cake that immediately drew soft murmurs of appreciation from the girls.

Once dessert was served, utensils clinked gently against plates, and the lively atmosphere settled into a quieter, more intimate comfort. It was in that softer lull that Alice leaned slightly forward, fork hovering near her lips as she eyed Liam with barely disguised curiosity.

"So, Liam," she began, pausing only long enough to inhale the tempting scent of her dessert before lifting a piece toward her mouth, "you know... there are rumors going around—"

"Alice." Rose’s voice cut sharply through the space, not loud but firm enough to stop the girl mid-motion. Alice nearly dropped her fork, her shoulders jumping as she blinked in surprise.

"I—sorry, I didn’t mean—"

"It’s alright, Ms. Rose," Liam interjected quietly, lifting his gaze with the steady calm that had always defined him. His expression held no irritation, no discomfort—only an oddly serene clarity. "There’s no need to scold her for asking something you’re all dying to ask."

Silence rippled through the table. Not tense, but undeniably heavy. Even the flickering candlelight seemed to still, as though waiting for the others to breathe again. Elsie’s fingers tightened slightly around the stem of her glass. Alice, though clearly embarrassed, watched Liam intently. Rose’s stern posture softened into something unreadable.

For a moment, no one moved.

Then Dr. Dain cleared his throat softly, his deep voice breaking the quiet with gentle hesitation. "Forgive us, Liam," he began, his expression marked with genuine concern rather than guilt. "We couldn’t—"

"Please, Dr. Dain." Liam’s calm voice cut in, smooth and composed, but never disrespectful. "There’s no need to apologize. One of the reasons I came here was to make sure you all knew the truth. I’d rather you hear it from me instead of worrying about half-formed rumors."

His tone carried a subtle weight, something firm yet strangely comforting. It settled into the air like an anchor dropping into still waters. The tension loosened almost immediately, and though no one spoke yet, the silence no longer felt stifling. Instead, it felt anticipatory—like the moment just before a door slowly opens.