Chapter 8

8

Rustle, rustle.

There had been traces of something being dragged all along, and sure enough, a rustling sound came.

Who could have dared to intrude here without fear? Sharent Clowen turned his head, holding his breath.

‘...It’s that brat.’

The stain left by his trashy younger brother, a mix of unknown blood and his brother’s cheap blood, a dirty lineage.

Sharent Clowen hesitated for a moment about whether to draw the sword at his waist.

‘Should I try to excuse it as a mistake, saying I killed the intruder by accident?’

A cruel thought crept into his mind.

‘But Father wouldn’t let it go.’

Sharent Clowen, though he disliked the changes in his aging father, still respected him.

A person worthy of respect also deserves to be respected.

‘...I’ll have to clean up again.’

He thought he might have to dig up and turn over all the soil.

The thought of dirty blood entering his domain made him shudder.

Sharent Clowen entered the garden with a clearly displeased expression.

"Kaihsan Clowen."

"…Sniff, Ah, Father."

Kaihsan, who had been hugging his legs, jumped up and stood straight.

Kaihsan, who had been sitting on the ground, quickly wiped the dirt off and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.

"I’m sorry. You said not to enter without permission…."

"Never mind. There’s no reason you can’t come here."

Sharent slowly surveyed the area with a dejected look.

The garden, which had been neatly tended, was now in disarray. Weeds and dirt had been pulled out, and there were many drag marks.

"Were you alone here?"

"No, there was a baby."

"What were you doing?"

"Um… it seemed like we were splashing water."

Was it splashing water?

Kaihsan tilted his head.

It seemed more like he was holding something in his hand and stirring it.

Kaihsan’s eyes widened as he recalled something falling from the sky and landing on the ground.

"Why did it seem like you were wiping something the baby had in its mouth?"

"…Wiping a pacifier?"

"Yes, it seemed like that."

Sharent reached out and tapped Kaihsan’s head.

He knew his son missed his mother.

However, bringing back a woman who had already left the house was a complicated matter for Sharent as well.

"Go on."

"Yes. Um… Father."

"What is it?"

"Are you going to scold the baby? Are you going to chase it away?"

Kaihsan asked with a worried expression.

Though he didn’t seem to be raised leniently, Kaihsan had a soft side, somewhat like his aged grandfather.

Sharent, instead of answering, nodded again.

‘...Came all the way here to wipe a pacifier?’

The distance from the room he knew to here was quite far.

Was it a coincidence, or was there another reason?

"Negligence."

Sharent, thinking about firing a maid, squinted and clicked his tongue at the patch of pulled-up grass.

In any case, it was truly displeasing to have his domain invaded.

* * *

I opened my eyes to the pouring sunlight.

‘Hmm, another day where the stinky, smelly sun shines directly on where I’m lying.’

Usually, baby cribs are placed where sunlight doesn’t reach.

‘Am I going to get a sunburn?’

Autumn sunlight is strong enough to ripen crops.

What kind of maids are these, who don’t even know such basic things?

‘Anyway, it’s clear what level they are.’

Still, the pacifier, which I had bitten and slept with all night, provided a somewhat comfortable morning.

My gums were itchy, probably because my teeth were coming in, so I had to keep biting the pacifier.

‘Only front teeth.’

Having only front teeth on the top and bottom was a bit of a letdown, but drinking milk every day was getting a bit boring. It would be nice if they brought some snacks sometimes.

Rumble.

My stomach growled loudly.

‘The meal is a bit late today.’

I thought while vigorously moving my limbs in the air, a form of exercise to build strength.

The more I exercised, the more my stomach growled.

After two growls, I felt strange and quickly put my limbs down.

‘Did I eat yesterday?’

It was good to return to the room without being caught, but I couldn’t remember eating.

There was no news from the maid who usually woke me up in the early morning.

What’s going on? Surely they’re not planning to starve me to death.

Well, of course, I’m in a forgotten corner of the house, disliked by the maids, and my clothes are a bit… dirty.

"Groan."

I stretched my arms to grab the crib, which felt like a prison, and sat my bottom on the floor.

Surely they’re not planning to starve me to death here?

‘Starvation is the second most terrible punishment after burning at the stake!’

Could it be Sharent Clowen? Did he realize I entered the garden yesterday and order me to be starved to death?

If it’s that despicable man, who doesn’t care about means and methods, he might do it.

‘But Deshar Clowen wouldn’t harm a child.’

So, Sharent Clowen, unable to cut my tendons, decided to starve me to death.

I never thought being a baby would be so miserable.

‘Meline, and now you, Sharent Clowen.’

To dare order that I, who should be growing, not be given food?

Groan, I groaned and let out a sigh.

To survive for a long time, it’s best not to move much.

‘I’ll conserve my strength and look for an opportunity.’

Is this a small revenge from the maid? Did she notice I was gone?

I lay down flat.

In this state, using magic would be a significant drain.

If it was just a momentary forgetfulness, she might come later.

‘Should I wait a bit?’

I wriggled around in the narrow crib, glaring at the door, hoping it would open.

But even as morning passed,

and noon came,

and the sunset greeted me,

there was no sign of anyone.

"Ahhh!"

This can’t go on!

They’re definitely trying to starve me to death.

I’ve survived so much; I can’t die of hunger.

I’ll eat grass if I have to. I don’t want to die until I can take my revenge.

‘There were some small fruits there yesterday, I think.’

Or I’ll have to find the kitchen and steal something. I can’t die of hunger.

I need to get some water too…

‘I need to control my magic more precisely.’

Being able to lift objects briefly with magic isn’t much help.

I never thought I’d face survival threats as a baby.

"Haahh!!"

I was so frustrated that I pounded the crib with my limbs.

But it was a silent cry in the stillness, and no one would hear.

‘It feels good to be strong.’

Didn’t it used to be like that?

I rolled around on the floor for a while after my magic manifested. I was used and abused as a magician several times.

I got up quickly, my eyes shining.

‘First, I need to go back to that garden.’

There were some round fruits inside.

‘I don’t know what they are, but since they’re fruits, they should be edible.’

I’ll try a little and, if there’s no problem, hide a handful.

Once I solve the food issue, I’ll gather water and then find the kitchen.

When I can control my magic more precisely, I can pick apples and other fruits from trees one by one.

Rumble.

Another loud growl from my stomach.

I stretched out and shook my head from side to side.

If my stomach gets any emptier, I won’t be able to control my magic. If I can’t get out of here, it will be a problem.

I steadied myself.

"Groan."

I put strength into my legs and body, and my body trembled.

I landed on the floor, stumbling, which was now familiar.

The pain from my knees and palms hitting the floor was intense.

"Ah!"

My palms were red and scratched in several places.

I rolled over and saw that my clothes were torn and there were traces of blood.

‘I can do this!’

It’s all part of the training to become stronger.

Even babies need to get hurt and roll around to build calluses and become tough.