Chapter 4

Chapter 4 (4/247)

“Sigh.”

At that moment, Diana looked at the ragged clothes she would wear later and let out a dejected sigh.

Feeling both cute and pitiful, I tried to suppress a smile and said,

“I’ll wash your clothes tomorrow.”

“Onni?”

“Yes. Big sister.”

Diana tilted her head like a small thrush, and I couldn’t help but stroke her hair, finding her adorable.

Although we don’t have soap, if we wash them several times in the lake, they should get clean enough.

Of course, the path to the lake is treacherous.

That’s why Thomas and his gang can boss the other children around—they fetch water from the lake.

‘It’ll be tough, but I have no choice since I promised.’

Worried about washing clothes by the lake tomorrow, I sighed. Then, I suddenly lifted my head.

“Am I an idiot?”

I had completely forgotten something important since being reborn as a child.

“How could I forget that?”

I lightly tapped my head and couldn’t hide my joy, breaking into a wide smile.

Even though I couldn’t become a great magician due to my low innate mana, I was quite skilled at various simple spells.

“I can use the Lightening Spell!”

When I show the children tomorrow by lifting heavy buckets of water with both hands, they’ll be amazed with their mouths wide open.

“I need to show Thomas a thing or two, too.”

Although I knew it was childish, I covered my mouth and giggled. Diana, who had been watching me with big eyes, also smiled softly.

“Come on, let’s wash your feet now.”

Feeling generous because I could use magic to replenish the water, I put the wet cloth aside and filled a bowl with water.

When I sprinkled water on her dirty feet and legs, Diana shivered.

“Huh?”

I thought it was because the water was cold, but then I saw that her legs were covered in scrapes and her feet had a large wound.

My eyes trembled as if caught in a storm.

I had no idea. Not in the past, not even a moment ago.

How could I have left this injured child alone and neglected her?

As my face turned serious, Diana suddenly shouted,

“No! It doesn’t hurt!”

Diana shook her head stubbornly.

Her chubby cheeks wobbled, making her look cute, but her eyes were filled with anxiety.

She looked like a rabbit that had been scared stiff.

“It’s okay. I’m not angry. You can tell me the truth.”

“...Really? You won’t yell?”

I nodded, but she still seemed hesitant, looking at me nervously before sniffing.

“It hurts...”

“I’ll make it stop hurting right away.”

“Will you kiss it better?”

Feeling sorry, I quickly reassured her, and Diana’s eyes widened in surprise.

Her innocent words made me laugh.

I couldn’t leave such a small and adorable child in pain.

I quickly spread my small hand and placed it on her foot.

As I recited the healing spell in my mind, a dazzling light burst from my hand.

“...!”

The light quickly enveloped Diana’s foot, and the wounds healed instantly.

“Wow!”

Diana, who had been watching me curiously, opened her eyes wide and exclaimed loudly.

“Big sister is amazing!”

Diana clapped her hands, praising me.

I would have been embarrassed by her reaction to a simple healing spell, but I was also surprised by the much stronger light that came from my hand.

I smiled slightly at Diana and closed my eyes to check my mana.

At that moment, a strange warmth was felt from inside my heart.

Startled by the mana that filled my heart, I quickly opened my eyes.

‘Isn’t the amount of mana something you’re born with?’

I was very confused.

The master who took me in and taught me magic had clearly told me that I had little mana and lacked the potential to be a great magician.

Although I was disappointed, having mana at all was rare for a commoner, so I was satisfied just knowing I had it.

That’s why I focused more on physical training...

“What’s going on?”

Why was my heart overflowing with mana, something I had never felt in my past life?

Confused by this situation, which was as incomprehensible as coming back from death, I was suddenly hugged by Diana.

“Big sister, thank you.”

I heard her gentle, innocent voice.

Feeling her warm body, I was taken aback and forgot my worries.

It was unfamiliar to share such warmth with someone.

As I awkwardly patted Diana’s back, a question I had never thought of before came to mind.

How did the Elard Dukedom lose such a lovely child?

* * *

That night.

To soothe Diana, who was throwing a tantrum, I came to a large window in front of the second-floor stairs instead of the communal bedroom.

The scene of the full moon rising above the dense trees was quite picturesque, but it was so cold that my breath turned white.

“Big sister, read a book...”

I spread a thin blanket on the floor and covered her with the other one. Diana wriggled and rested her head on my lap.

“Read a book?”

“Yeah! A princess story!”

“A princess story?”

She nodded.

Her request, which seemed so natural, left me at a loss.

I remembered that ordinary children outside were read fairy tales by their parents before bed.

“What should I do? There are no books here.”

But the children here had no parents to read them fairy tales, and no one could read even if there were books.

“No books?”

Seeing Diana’s face fall, I smiled bitterly and stroked her head. Then, although it wasn’t the princess story she wanted, I slowly began to tell an old memory.

“Once upon a time, in a very, very distant past, there was an orphanage. One day, a large carriage, which was rarely seen, stopped in front of the orphanage.”

* * *

After listening to the story with great interest, Diana soon fell asleep, snoring softly.

Holding her and returning to the bedroom, I felt very hungry and tired.

‘Is it because I used magic...?’

I wondered, but my body was so weak that I almost fell asleep as soon as I lay down.

Thanks to that, I didn’t even notice that someone had been touching my hair for a long time a few hours later.

However, I was sensitive to the creaking of metal, so when I finally opened my eyes...

“...Dana?”

“Huh? Big sister is awake!”

Diana, who had been focusing on my hair, greeted me with a wide smile.

I was surprised.

I thought she would cry and throw a tantrum when she woke up, just like in the past.

I didn’t expect her to be so spirited on her own.

She was a clever and adorable child, probably because no one had properly comforted her before.

Quickly scanning the room, I saw the other children were still asleep and whispered,

“Dana, why are you awake so early? Don’t you want to sleep more?”

It was just dawn, and it had been a tiring day for both of us. Was the bed uncomfortable?

Then, Diana, who had placed her small hands on her stomach, said dejectedly,

“I’m hungry...”

“Oh... You’re hungry.”

Feeling sorry for her, I asked gently,

“Weren’t you bored by yourself?”

Diana shook her head, blinking her blue eyes.

“I was touching big sister’s hair. It’s pretty.”

Hearing her unexpected words, I froze.

“...Pretty?”

“Yeah, big sister is pretty. So pretty! It sparkles!”

Seeing Diana’s hands waving excitedly, I couldn’t say anything.

I felt like crying.

Had anyone ever told me I was pretty?

“...It’s the first time.”

* * *

Actually, when I was young, I thought I was very pretty.

Every time I looked in the mirror to wash my face, I was amazed.

My light pink hair, which fluttered like watercolor, and my bright, gem-like deep pink eyes, along with my flawless, fair skin, straight nose, and cute, small lips.

But no one ever told me I was pretty, and I thought everyone was jealous of me.

Until someone told me my hair color was the most common brown in the empire.

When I heard that at the age of five, I was shocked and asked the other children in the orphanage.

“Emily, what do my hair and eyes look like?”

“Huh? Brown hair and brown eyes, of course.”

Not just Emily, but all the other children gave the same answer.

Unable to accept this, I finally asked Jack, who wasn’t close but wouldn’t lie.

“Hey, Jack... Do my hair and eyes look brown to you?”

Jack, who had been waiting for this question, answered immediately.

“Yes. Your eyes are dark brown, and your hair is a lighter, softer brown.”

“...I see.”

Only then did I admit that my eyes were strange.

Even when I looked in the mirror, I couldn’t see brown, but I didn’t say it out loud.

‘I must be strange.’

But understanding it intellectually didn’t mean I accepted it emotionally.

In the central square near the bustling street of the capital, where the information guild ‘Terentium’ was located, there were many street artists performing or selling their art to earn money.

I had been watching one particular painter as I walked through the streets after the orphanage closed and I joined Terentium.

His hooked nose, a mole that took up a third of his face, and his nearly bald head...

He was a cruel and merciless painter who drew very realistic portraits without considering the feelings of the person paying.

“Sir, please draw exactly what you see.”

I mustered the courage to sit in front of him.

That day, for the first time, I saw my face as others saw it.