Chapter 14
— — —
* * *
I headed to a secluded spot where no one else was around, with Sislein in tow.
Once there, I explained everything in detail.
I told him about the black shadow I had seen at our hideout and the conversation I’d had with Mrs. Mimosa.
Sislein listened to my story quietly, without much of a reaction.
‘It was the right choice to tell him.’
Even as I spoke, I felt certain.
The culprit behind this incident was clearly going to keep causing trouble. It would be wiser to know about it and prepare than to be caught off guard.
Besides, it would be easier for two people to handle this than for one.
However, even while relaying everything, I didn't reveal the fact that there were two suspects.
It was intentional. I didn't want to bring Heinri into the conversation...
"That’s how it is, Sislein."
I finished my story and gauged Sislein’s reaction. Was he deeply shocked?
But Sislein simply replied:
"I see."
‘Wait, that’s it?’
His reaction felt almost dry. The trace of hurt I had caught a glimpse of earlier had somehow vanished.
"…Sis, aren't you surprised at all?"
The answer came back.
"Everyone hates me anyway. It’s nothing strange."
The boy said that and simply lowered his red eyes.
He seemed far too accustomed to this kind of situation.
The answer hit my heart with a heavy, sudden thud.
"I make people angry."
Why did his words from before come back to me?
‘Sis. You’re still too young… to be so used to being hated and hurt.’
It felt as if pebbles had filled my chest, stinging with a heavy weight.
Without realizing it, I clenched my fist tightly.
"No. I like you, Sis!"
"…Huh?"
For a moment, Sislein looked at me as if he’d been struck on the head.
Then, his earlobes and the back of his neck began to flush red.
I looked him in the eye and emphasized:
"The children in The Forest all like you, too. It’s true. Everyone likes you!"
Sislein blinked with a somewhat unfamiliar expression.
"…I don't think so."
"It’s true!"
I really meant it, but I felt like he wouldn't believe me no matter how many times I said it. Not until he felt it for himself, anyway.
I grabbed both of Sis’s hands and looked him straight in the eye.
"So, no matter what that person does from now on, you don't have to be hurt at all."
"…."
"Because there are plenty of people who will help you."
I just wish Sis knew that was true.
I said with a determined gaze:
"Of course, I’m one of the people who will help you."
That didn't feel like enough, somehow. I raised my fist high and emphasized loudly:
"No, I’m the leader!"
At my spirited shout, the corners of Sislein’s eyes softened.
His ruby-like eyes curved gently as he smiled.
"Okay, Annette."
Good.
"Now, we just have to wait calmly. Until that nasty little brat starts acting up again."
Just try moving, I dare you.
I won't let you get away this time.
And that nasty little troublemaker devil, not failing to meet my expectations, immediately began to act.
* * *
"Waaaah! My teddy bear is gone. Hwaaah! What do I do!"
Before the last class of the day.
Reina burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
"A teddy bear? What teddy bear?"
"The legendary rare teddy bear!"
"Oh? Isn't that the one your prospective parents gave you as a gift?"
The children gathered like a swarm of clouds, stamping their feet in distress.
"Did you look for it carefully?"
"Sob, I looked everywhere. I had placed it so carefully right here on my desk… and it disappeared after we came back from outdoor practice. Waaaah!"
‘Seriously, leaving something that precious just sitting on a desk.’
Is this how foreigners feel when they see Koreans leave their laptops and wallets on a cafe table to go to the bathroom?
But I didn't want to blame Reina.
‘There have never been any theft incidents in The Forest.’
The children here were all so gentle and kind that they couldn't even imagine stealing a friend’s belongings.
Since they were relatively well-fed and clothed, they didn't have much greed, either.
But for an item to suddenly go missing—this was quite a big incident in The Forest.
I smiled soothingly and said:
"I’ll help you find it. Let’s all look for it together, okay?"
"Yeah! Don't cry, we'll find it for you!"
Julian blinked his large, sky-blue eyes and raised his adorable little fist.
I clapped my hands and said:
"Alright, everyone, let’s play a treasure hunt! Please find the teddy bear keychain we saw earlier!"
"Okay!"
At my words, the children scattered with a cheer and began searching everywhere.
Because I called it a "treasure hunt," they were all happily and brightly looking for the bear.
It was right then that Julius entered the classroom.
"What is going on that it is so noisy?"
He was the man who taught etiquette and was in charge of the socialization of the Trees.
After hearing the whole story from me, Julius let his deep blue eyes, hidden beneath his blonde hair, shine coldly as he said:
"A 'theft incident,' I see."
"…It could just be that she lost it! Hehe."
Teacher, you’re going to scare the kids saying it like that. Read the room, please.
"Annette, what is a 'theft incident'?"
Julian asked, his sky-blue eyes sparkling.
‘Oh dear, he’s just a baby, so he doesn't even understand enough to be scared.’
What a relief.
I smiled, lowering my eyebrows, and stroked Julian’s fluffy hair before answering.
"I’ll tell you what it means next year."
"Okay!"
It was right then.
"Ah! Found it!"
One of the little ones held up the bear with sapphire eyes high and shouted brightly:
"The bear was in Sislein’s locker!"
"…!"
In an instant, everyone’s gaze turned toward Sislein. Not just tear-streaked Reina, but Heinri and Julius as well.
I bit my lip.
‘It’s finally started.’
* * *
"This is absolutely inexcusable."
Mrs. Mimosa came to the classroom immediately to assess the situation.
"I agree with Mrs. Mimosa. 'Thievery' from a sprout of a proud noble family who will lead Eldorado in the future? …How horrific."
Julius’s gaze, filled with contempt, pierced Sislein. Sislein lowered his eyes like a criminal.
"…."
He looked so accustomed to being unfairly accused that my heart ached for a moment.
‘My baby, don't you dare shrink away!’
I stretched out my arms to block Sislein and said:
"Sislein would never do such a thing. Someone must have done this on purpose to play a mean trick on him!"
"What do you think, Reina?"
At Mrs. Mimosa’s question, the children’s gazes turned to Reina.
"…."
Reina looked at Sislein with a face red from crying.
Sislein couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes and kept his gaze lowered.
The boy must be thinking he is hated.
However, the words that came out of Reina’s mouth were completely unexpected.
"I don't think Sis took my thing. Could it be a prank by a 'house elf'…?"
Reina was an innocent child who believed in the pranks of legendary fairies rather than suspecting that Sislein had stolen her item.
At that moment, Julian popped out, clenched both his fists, and shouted:
"That's right! Sis is kind!"
"Sis is not a bad kid, teacher!"
Shasha also trembled as if it were her own problem and shouted. Her cotton-candy-pink pigtails bounced upward.
Then, the other little ones nodded their chestnut-like heads and said:
"Yeah, there’s no way Sis would do that, right?"
"It must have been a house elf."
"You idiots! Where would a house elf exist in the world? …It’s clearly because the bald apple tree got angry and summoned a spirit!"
Another little one who had played in the water with Sislein also raised his tiny hand!
"Sis is a good kid, so he wouldn't covet a friend’s stuff! Teacher."
‘You kids are even kinder.’
With a tight feeling in my chest, I watched the children who were competing to defend Sislein.
"…."
Sislein was looking at the children with eyes that were shaking, as if it were all somewhat unfamiliar, yet filled with emotion.
Being in a situation where someone believed in him… it was probably the first time in his life he had experienced such a thing.
"Everyone hates me anyway. It’s nothing strange."
To a boy who had thought that, this must be a bewildering, yet strangely warm experience.
The boy’s eyes, red like midsummer sunset, closed slowly. Then, as if he had made a decision, his long eyelashes lifted.
Sislein opened his mouth slowly with clear eyes.
"I…"
The attention of everyone in the room turned to the boy in an instant.
Although his voice was soft, Sislein spoke with confidence.
"I did not steal it, Mrs. Mimosa."
"…!"
I was so surprised that I covered my mouth with both hands.
It was the first time. For a boy who had hidden in a cave because even facing others was difficult, a boy who had only ever cowered and trembled—to find this much courage.
‘Our Sis, you’ve really improved so much…’
Suddenly, the words Viscount Puterio had said came to mind.
"You are lives that your parents abandoned."
Perhaps those words were true. But that didn't mean he had to keep his mouth shut every time he was treated unfairly, or live his whole life curled up like a bug.
No matter how he was born, his life was precious. The boy was showing that.
‘You did so well, Sis…’
Overcome by an indescribable feeling, I felt a lump form in my throat.
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