Chapter 8

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Translated by: Miss Lassie

Judith knew that such rumors had always followed her secretly. It wasn’t just because her patron was generous, but because he was a wealthy man living in Waltz. He wasn’t an ordinary state councilor from Kinsley.

Like all young people of her age, Kinsley was overflowing with students who coveted the dream of living in Waltz. Judith crossed the room silently with countless gazes following her every move; their eyes filled with curiosity and doubt.

“Thank you for saying I’m pretty, Peter.”

Judith Wortherford was the most prominent student among the Wortherford children because of her neat appearance, quiet and docile personality. In contrast to her calm voice, she had a strong accent that indicated she was not from Baja, and it instantly drew attention even when her voice wasn’t loud.

“You better not insult Mr. ANS. I don’t think you’d be delighted if you found out that you’re the subject of gossip in a rural college. Of course, I’m not happy with it either.”

It sounded like a warning drilled syllable by syllable into his eardrums. Few were aware that Judith was rolling the amber pendant around her neck with her fingertips. Every time it touches her skin, the red glow of her eyes cast like a shadow disappearing instantly.

Her eyes were still an average auburn color, nothing special. However, the male student froze in a staggered posture. It was as if a cold wind from the north had hit him.

A feeling of unbearable reluctance and unpleasantness flooded the boy, and he wanted to turn his head away, but his body didn’t want to move as if the opposite pole of the magnet caught him.

“So watch your mouth and leave. Stop spreading false rumors. Everyone knows you’re the one talking behind my back, Peter Everette.”

A gentle voice that transcended like a sense of peace rang in his ears, and lightning bolts struck before his eyes.

Soon, a twirling vision of dark brown eyes engulfed him.

“I hope you die of a stomachache, Philip.” From the campus to the town post office, Millian grumbled about the boy. He stepped on the bicycle pedal aggressively, making Judith, seated at the back, almost nauseous.

“It’s no use telling those kids a hundred times over that you’ve never met your sponsor. They only see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. It’s such a narrow-minded and stupid thing to do.”

“His name is Peter, not Philip,” Judith responded indifferently.

“I don’t care. It’s not only just one or two kids talking like that behind your back…”

She didn’t pay much attention to whatever kind of rumors followed her. The malicious gaze directed at her wasn’t surprising since it was like that throughout her childhood in Kilgeny, so it wasn’t new to her at all.

A Main’s ability is akin to a poisonous mushroom that looked good and smelled fragrant. It could penetrate human consciousness and unconsciousness freely, and it was like a magnet that attracted others, whether in a good or bad way.

In general, Maine’s fell into two categories. First was the type loved by everyone, and second, was the type rejected for no reason. Unfortunately, Judith fell in the second category. The rumors wouldn’t have ended if it wasn’t for Lieselotte’s amber pendant that worked as a protective charm. But it didn’t spare Judith from insults. It didn’t matter that she had a wealthy sponsor too.

“Stop sneaking me out of the dormitory, Millie! If I get more penalty points, they could kick me out of the dorm.”

She wanted to handle things on her own quietly, but Millian, who didn’t know about her situation, was already on the verge of exploding in anger over the incident.

“Is that even important now? How can you stand back and live meekly in a place like that, Jude?”

Judith didn’t answer and averted her gaze. For the time being, Peter or Philip would suffer from hallucinations of being accused of sexual harassment and defamation in the city. It wouldn’t be strong enough to trigger delusions, but it will be enough to cause nightmares every night that he would probably wet his bed.

It had been a long time since Judith used her ability, and the risk of being exposed was too high since no one should know about her secret. But her powers were still very much potent. Judith interrupted Millian’s nagging, pointing to a mailbox in the distance.

“I’ll be careful that this incident will never happen again. Peter won’t also be spreading any gossip anymore. Please stop in front of the post office for a moment.”

“What do you mean by…”

Millian sounded confused, but he slowed down the bike gently. Judith checked the address on the thin parcel. 401, Waltz 7th Street, Waltz. It was a familiar address that she had written down countless times for the past five years. She mailed the parcel, swallowing lingering feelings of regret and bitterness.

After leaving the post office, Judith got back on Millian’s bike, and the view of the building quickly faded away.

“What did you write in the letter?”

“I just said, ‘I received the birthday present, and thank you for everything.'”

“Ah, it’s the ‘thank you’ letter you always write. But wait a minute… thank you for everything? Why does it sound like it’s your last letter?”

“Well, because it is my last letter to Mr. ANS.”

“What?”

Hearing Judith’s unexpected response, Millian abruptly stopped pedaling and looked back at her in surprise. Judith nearly fell off the bike and rolled her eyes, but Millian didn’t care and shouted instead.

“You mean you don’t want him to sponsor you anymore? Are you crazy? Why did you say that?”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

Judith sighed and held onto Millian’s waist again.

It’s already been five years, and I can’t just live off his donations. Besides, I should be able to live comfortably with the amount I’ve received over the years.”

“Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be? You can even live abundantly for the next fifty years!”

“I don’t want to live like a leech, Millie.”

“Hey, do you think an elephant cares if a leech is stuck on its foot? You don’t even spend that much money. I don’t understand why you have to decline his sponsorship now.”

“I can’t hear you. Stop using strange analogies and start pedaling, idiot.”

“How do you know which analogy I used when you’re not listening to me? Ouch!”

Judith pinched Millian’s waist, and he reluctantly started pedaling. In the end, Judith didn’t have a choice but to suffer through Millian’s intense nagging all the way back to the dormitory.

Judith, Millian, and the rest of the former Wortherford orphans visited the orphanage every weekend and holiday as if on instinct. Life in the orphanage was still the same. It was a repetition of days when children under ten were washed, clothed, fed, and tucked to bed like herding sheep.

Director Rachel insisted that there was no need to visit the orphanage every weekend since they were now in college and living in dormitories. But they would always find themselves pedaling their bikes back to the red-brick building surrounded by poplar trees.

The Wortherford Orphanage was much bigger now than it was five years ago when Judith had first arrived. They purchased a new building behind the main one and built an annex dividing the male and female quarters. The number of children staying in the orphanage had also increased from forty-five to seventy.

“This was all thanks to our lucky charm.”

Director Rachel sat on the sofa, sighing openly. She couldn’t keep the regret from showing on her beautiful face that time had eluded.

Judith averted her gaze, but Rachel sighed again, making sure that Judith heard it.

“The monthly donations and occasional bonuses were very helpful.”

“It’s such fine weather today. Did you see the sky?”

“We have to repair the boiler room before winter comes…”

“Spring is in full swing, Director. We still have half a year before winter comes.”

“I heard you wrote in your letter that you didn’t want to be sponsored anymore?”

“Wow… the coffee smells so good.”

“Judith Wortherford?”

Judith finally raised her head after attempting to avoid the conversation.

“I sent it last week. Didn’t Millian tell you?”

“I already know everything.”

“Yes, well… I thought about it since last winter.”

She smiled awkwardly and fixed her gaze on the coffee cup.

“The Director knows that I’ve received the warmest treatment, more than I deserve, and I feel very fortunate.

“Luck is also a skill and talent.”

“It was such a once-in-a-lifetime miracle for me, and I believe it was enough to have enjoyed living a life like that for five years.”

She was merely a foreign girl who crossed the sea alone, not even knowing how to speak the language fluently. But now, she was able to go to college. The surgical scar on her right chest left only a vague mark. It was still difficult to run now, even with all her might but going back and forth to the city on a bike was bearable.

She made countless friends that she never thought possible before, had long adapted to dormitory life, and started working part-time at a grocery store in the city about two years ago. After graduation, she dreamed of becoming a state school teacher in Kinsley.

Judith was living a safe and normal life in Kinsley, just as her sponsor had wished, and she will continue living like this in the future. It wouldn’t be bad to spend all her life in this cozy state of Kinsley. With that in mind, Judith’s face relaxed.

Rachel’s eyes narrowed, observing her.

“Well, I don’t think your luck is over yet.”

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Miss Lassie’s Corner

It has been a while since I’ve translated this novel! I hope you’re still eager to read this because I’m definitely going to keep translating this until the end now that I have the time to do so. I will be releasing chapters 8-14 at the same time. We will be meeting the ML candidates very soon. Enjoy! 😍