Chapter 13
— — —
“Heinri, no more acting cute for a while.”
“Huh?”
*Scrub, scrub—*
I rubbed my eyes to clear away the rose-colored glasses I’d clearly been wearing.
Then, I blinked hard, forcing my eyes wide open.
But in that brief moment, Heinri’s beautiful face had already moved right in front of mine.
“Big Sister, I’m really good at picking apples, so doesn’t that make me the coolest person in the world?”
I forgot my resolution in a single second and nodded vigorously.
“Yes! Of course you are!”
……Good heavens, I’m far too weak when it comes to Heinri.
At this rate, will I even be able to catch the culprit objectively?
But still…… if Heinri really did do it,
‘I’m the only one who can stop him.’
I have to set things right.
Besides, calling someone a “scheming brat”! That kind of character isn’t right for his education, Heinri.
I widened my eyes and said sternly,
“Heinri, haven’t I always told you? I don’t like children who do bad things.”
“Ah, well, that goes without saying.”
Heinri answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“That’s why I’m refraining from doing anything bad, so I can stay in your good graces.”
……That’s right. In the current Heinri’s life, there is the element of me.
Maybe he didn’t do it because he didn’t want to be hated by me. I really hope that’s the case…….
“Big Sister.”
Just then, Heinri leaned into me and hugged me. He lowered his gaze, his eyes holding the chill of dawn, before slowly closing them.
“You know, don’t you?”
“Hmm?”
I habitually stroked his hair, which shone like silver birch trees covered in snow.
Heinri opened his eyes slightly and whispered,
“Just how much I love you.”
“…….”
It sounded even more sincere because he couldn’t bring himself to look at me while saying it.
“So…….”
“…….”
“I’m definitely going to become a ‘good Heinri’.”
Moving his lips, Heinri whispered in a voice filled with determination.
It didn’t sound like a promise to me, but rather a strong vow to himself.
‘My dear Heinri. How wonderful it would be if you really did that.’
Then you wouldn’t be hated by Sislein, and there would only be a happy ending for you.
Heinri, do you know that your happiness is my greatest wish?
I smiled brightly and replied,
“I love my baby the most, too!”
“…….”
I could see Heinri’s face turning bright red. Oh dear, he’s going to burst at this rate.
“I know that even without you saying it.”
“Oh, really? Then I guess I shouldn’t say it anymore…….”
“That’s not it! Say it as often as you can! Every single day!”
Just as Heinri was throwing a tantrum, shouting, “Take that back! Take back what you said about not saying it anymore!”, a child as small as a baby acorn came running over and said,
“Heinri, Ms. Mislin is calling for you!”
Heinri replied listlessly,
“Why me? How annoying.”
“They say some terrifying villain made all the apple trees in the orchard bald!”
Heinri’s eyes narrowed. He had the look of someone thinking, ‘That villain is me.’
“I’ll be right back, so wait for me, Big Sister.”
“……Okay.”
Heinri grumbled about how annoying it was, saved his seat next to me, and left the classroom.
“Phew…….”
Only then did I let out a long breath.
* * *
Quite some time passed, and even though the next class had started, Heinri didn’t return.
Well, it was the apple orchard Ms. Mislin cherished so much. Heinri had picked over a hundred apples there, so it was only natural he’d get scolded.
Even Julian, who had only picked one, was there, after all.
……Still, he’ll be back soon, right?
However, contrary to my expectations, Heinri didn’t return even after the break and the start of the following class, and I began to grow worried.
‘What could it be? The meeting seems to be dragging on…….’
Is there really a need for such a long meeting just for picking a few apples?
I was deep in thought when,
“Look at this!!!”
“Oh, you startled me.”
Suddenly, a large teddy bear brooch was thrust right in front of my eyes.
‘The teddy bear’s butt is way too close to my face.’
“Hehe, isn’t it cute? Annette!”
The owner of the bear was Reina.
She was nine years old this year, had awakened quite early, and had even gone through Socialization Training a while ago.
“It really is a cute bear, isn’t it?”
The girl with blueberry-colored hair and matching eyes crinkled her eyes and smiled adorably.
‘She’s like a giant, smiling blueberry…… so cute.’
The giant blueberry, or rather Reina, clasped her hands together and said with a dreamy expression,
“I got it as a gift from Baron Bibibo after I went to Socialization Training! He says he’s going to adopt me soon.”
“Wow, that’s wonderful, Reina!”
‘If it’s Baron Bibibo, he even has a good reputation, doesn’t he?’
They would be good parents for Reina.
While many nobles adopt children to use as trophies, there were also many families who raised them with genuine affection after adoption.
Baron Bibibo would surely cherish Reina enough.
‘Wait?’
Moreover, the bear’s eyes were so brilliant that when I looked closely, they were actually ‘sapphires’.
“Gasp. That’s incredibly expensive.”
“Hmm? Really?”
Reina looked at the teddy bear brooch with a bright face.
Marianne, who had approached at some point, was watching from the side. Marianne, who usually had a blank expression, spoke in her characteristically quiet voice.
“……A bear with eyes that color is…… the legendary rare bear…….”
“Wow~ I see!”
Do you children not realize it’s a gemstone?
It seems the mystery of a legendary rare bear appeals more to the little ones than the capitalistic thrill of a jewel.
The children quickly swarmed around like a cloud to offer Reina their congratulations.
Robert, who had wheat-colored hair and a healthy tan, asked,
“So this is the first gift from your prospective parents?”
Reina puffed out her chest.
“That’s right!”
“Wow, that’s a truly precious item.”
“Yes! I have to treasure it!”
‘If it’s a sapphire bear, you’d better treasure it. Indeed. That’s worth two months of living expenses for a noble in the capital.’
I thought a bit cynically and nodded.
Of course, there are things that are precious even if they aren’t expensive.
For example, like this.
I took out the smooth, shiny apple from my pocket and took a sniff.
“Hmm.”
The refreshing scent of the apple eased my tension and made me feel better.
‘Hehe. It’s the first gift my baby gave me.’
I loved the heart behind the apple.
That pure and kind heart that picked the prettiest apple and offered it without hesitation.
‘……Why does such a kind and innocent Sislein have to suffer like this?’
Sislein didn’t ask for much.
He didn’t have the greed to enjoy grand things.
All Sislein and I wanted was to come out of that dark, gloomy cave and live normally like the other children.
Not to fall asleep shivering in the cold. To walk under the bright, shining sun.
That was all.
……But why is even that basic and ordinary life so difficult for Sislein?
‘Some people seem to have misfortune as their default setting.’
Because misfortune is embedded in their fate, they have to exert tremendous effort just to become ordinary.
I often saw such people in my past life, too.
If I had to say, I belonged to that group as well, which is why I felt for him even more. I know a little bit about what that life is like.
‘Sislein is too young to be accustomed to misfortune.’
A life filled only with misfortune from birth until now…….
Thinking of the hardships Sislein had endured so far made my chest ache as if it had been burned.
“…….”
I was lost in gloomy thoughts, holding the apple, when,
“Annette.”
A soft, beautiful voice drifted from behind like a spring breeze. There was only one person in this world who called my name with that voice.
I turned around to the boy, still holding the apple.
Then, as if I had never been depressed, I smiled brightly.
“Sis, thank you so much for the apple. You know, I think this is the prettiest apple in the world!”
At that, Sislein curved his eyes playfully. His red, affectionate eyes watched me quietly.
The boy said to me,
“Then I’ll call you ‘Apple’, Annette.”
“Hmm, why am I an apple?”
I asked, and realized immediately.
“……!”
Because I said this apple was the prettiest in the world, he’s calling me an apple?!
I was so flustered that my face turned red. As expected of a budding obsessive-maniac……! You say the strangest things for an 11-year-old.
I babbled incoherently.
“……I’m not an apple, it doesn’t suit me at all, so call me a rambutan or a dragon fruit instead…….”
I just blurted out any weird-looking fruit, and Sislein chuckled.
I cleared my throat and quickly tucked the apple away for safekeeping.
Then, I began to worry internally.
‘Should Sislein know about this situation, too?’
In fact, strictly speaking, this was something happening to Sislein.
A little devil was trying to drive him out of this forest.
‘It makes no sense for the person involved not to know. But…….’
Would he be too hurt?
I looked at the boy, recalling how he had trembled slightly in my arms.
I couldn’t quite predict how Sislein would react after hearing the truth.
Just then, Sislein asked me first.
“Do you have something to tell me, Annette?”
“Huh?”
It seemed he had keenly sensed that I was hesitating about something.
“……Ah, yes.”
‘I have to tell him. Please, I hope he isn’t too hurt.’
I took a deep breath and spoke quietly.
“Sislein, listen carefully. Viscount Puterio coming to find you wasn’t a coincidence.”
“…….”
“Someone intentionally let the Viscount know your location to torment you, and not only that, they even informed Mrs. Mimosa of the hideout’s location.”
“……What?”
Sislein’s red eyes rippled with deep emotion.
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