Chapter 21

21

‘Why is this happening again...?’

As I slowly backed away, Sharent Clown’s son slowly approached.

He wiped his tears with his sleeve, shedding tears like chicken droppings.

"Mom... Mom..."

Snap! You brat!

To prevent anyone from waking up, I quickly crawled over and tapped his foot.

Sharent Clown’s son squatted down, his tears forming round droplets.

I stared at the child.

The tears falling so pitifully were heart-wrenching.

I grabbed the hem of Sharent Clown’s son’s clothes and carefully stood up. It was the first time since I wiped his snot.

Holding his shoulder with one hand, I tapped his head with the other.

Then, the tears that were falling steadily began to pour out.

Seeing the tears fall like rain, my heart was far from at ease.

‘...Like a drenched puppy.’

Oh, I reached out and tapped his head again.

"I miss Mom..."

That’s something I can’t do anything about.

If he had said he wanted to kill someone, I might have tried to help.

"Do you miss Serina?"

No, not at all.

I have no interest in parents whose faces I don’t know. My last memory of them is just their backs, so even if I tried to find them now, I wouldn’t be able to.

Sharent Clown’s son seemed to have calmed down a bit. Since I was already up, I staggered forward slowly.

To prevent my knees from getting hurt, I should start practicing walking soon.

It was so overwhelming the first time I stood up, so it was hard to stand up willingly.

‘Surprisingly comfortable?’

I blinked a few times. It might be more strange to crawl at this size.

Although it was scary, it seemed that walking would be more comfortable than crawling once I got used to it.

I tried to walk, struggling to keep my balance.

‘Then, there shouldn’t be much of a problem with movement.’

Holding the straw doll with both hands, I took slow steps.

The world seemed higher and more livable, but each step was also scary.

"Serina, what do you do at night?"

The kid, who had been sniffing, started to follow me as I began to move.

I glanced at Sharent Clown’s son and turned my head.

"Looking for Mo?"

Where could it be?

"Where are you going?"

I wondered if he wouldn’t get tired of following me as I staggered forward.

I opened my mouth in annoyance.

"Puu."

I thought he would go away if I gave a vague answer, but a sound like spitting came out.

I didn’t expect him to understand. As expected, he just tilted his head.

Where is the fireplace?

"Puu?"

He even tilted his head and imitated me.

My face flushed. I couldn’t believe I was being toyed with by such a brat.

"Serina, is it fire?"

He opened his eyes wide and nodded.

"The fireplace is this way."

Sharent Clown’s son, happy that I finally responded, grabbed my hand.

Wow, this kid is so natural with physical contact.

"This way is dangerous."

His small hand wrapped around my shoulder and pulled me into his arms.

He strained to answer with his short tongue. Even if we were in danger, I would probably run away and survive first.

‘Stupid.’

Still, seeing his small hand trembling on my shoulder, I didn’t feel like being cruel.

‘The more I look, the more he’s the opposite of Sharent Clown.’

He looks exactly like him, but his actions are those of a timid, ordinary child. How could such a child grow up under him?

"Kai-Shan, come here."

"Stay with Father."

Well, thinking of that affectionate voice, it makes sense.

Even someone who can be as sharp as a viper and bite from behind can become so gentle when it comes to their child.

‘I won’t be like that.’

After a long period of distrust, even a comrade who shared a bit of affection betrayed me.

No matter how affectionate Sharent Clown and Deshar Clown are, it’s only towards Sharent Clown’s son.

Unfounded illusions and expectations can crumble a person instantly.

When we arrived at the place Sharent Clown’s son led us to, there was a roaring fireplace.

It’s bigger than I thought. Does the heat from here spread throughout the mansion?

‘A magic-powered pipe.’

Come to think of it, there was a request to make something similar for the magic tower in Silophia.

At the time, I grumbled about what they needed it for, but it’s for this purpose.

The magic-inscribed pipes would retain the heat well and wouldn’t collapse or break.

There’s probably nothing better for distributing heat throughout the mansion.

‘It’s quite ingenious.’

I stared at the flames in the roaring fireplace and threw in the straw doll.

The intermittent crackling flames swallowed the straw doll, swelling like a balloon before shrinking with a smoky smell.

Staring at it made me feel strange.

Looking down, I saw a tiny hand, too small to even pick up a pebble, and a sigh escaped my low field of vision.

‘Let’s go to the room.’

Vera will be here soon.

‘Living under surveillance...’

A sigh escaped me as I thought.

What’s the difference between living under surveillance after breaking the magic heart and becoming an old man in the back room, and living under surveillance with limbs that can’t go anywhere?

"Huh, you can’t just throw anything in there."

"Puu."

I made a discontented sound and struggled to turn my unbalanced body.

Sharent Clown’s son clung to me.

"Serina, listen... I’m scared. Can we sleep together?"

"Puuu!!"

No! Are you crazy?

As I shook my head, Sharent Clown’s son started to circle me like a cicada.

He seemed genuinely scared, his pupils shaking like an earthquake as he looked at the dark corridor.

Finally, he ran over and hugged my stomach with both arms.

"Hmm? Let’s go quickly. I’ll lend you my bed."

"Ugh!"

No!

Despite his small size, he was surprisingly strong. He dragged a pillow into my arms and started to walk, staggering.

Being carried by such a short kid.

It’s miserable! So miserable!

Struggling with my limbs, Sharent Clown’s son still walked forward.

Why is this kid so strong? It seems the blood of the Clown family is strong.

He didn’t let me go once and carried me to his room, placing me on a soft carpet.

The soft touch on my knees and hands made my eyes widen.

‘Wow, what a difference.’

My room is marble! His room is filled with fluffy carpets!

Moreover, the room is much larger.

My lips pouted in frustration.

‘For heaven’s sake, what is this? My room was just an open space, an open space.’

Thud.

As I threw a pillow, I saw Sharent Clown’s son neatly pick it up.

Regardless, I looked around the room.

There are decorations, a bed, bed sheets, curtains, a desk, and chairs—none of which are in my room.

My room only has a small baby bed! How many wardrobes are there?

Looking at it, the difference is not just a little.

Feeling frustrated, I growled on all fours.

The kid had already tidied his bed and placed the pillow I threw next to it, patting the blanket with a bright smile.

He was quite handsome. When he grows up, he might be as handsome as Melaine...

Suddenly, I stiffened at the name that came to mind, clenching my fists in frustration.

"Serina, you need to breathe. I’ll put you to sleep."

‘What?’

Who’s the big brother, big brother?

‘This snot-nosed brat!’

Of course, he’s handsome, but he has Sharent Clown’s genes.

"I’m your big brother, Kai-Shan."

"Hmph."

"But it’s a secret that I’m your big brother. Father and Grandfather will get angry."

Sharent Clown’s son carried me to the bed, grunting.

Plop.

My body sank into the soft, fluffy bed.

‘What is this unshakable comfort...’

It was completely different from my hard, cheap baby bed. Lying down, it even gently supported my small spine and bones.

Feeling frustrated, I turned my head to see Sharent Clown’s son smiling.

"Ah."

I should try to sleep and then leave.

It was hard to get away from the clingy kid who was scared.

It’s not because the bed is soft and the brat’s strength is scary.

"Serina."

Sharent Clown’s son lay down next to me and whispered.

He patted his chest, as if he had seen it somewhere.

"Good night, Serina."

The small child spoke seriously, setting the mood.

‘But you, I’m not Serina, I’m Shalina.’

The softness and warmth beside me, along with the patting, felt good.

I had planned to slip away when I fell asleep, but that thought had long disappeared.

Just as I thought I could hear his breathing, my vision went dark.