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Chapter 11
“Huh?”
It looked like a complete mess on the outside—so it turned out she had actually made it herself. He had sensed something odd about it, but he never imagined Neya had been the one to make it.
Azure immediately delivered a merciless evaluation.
“No wonder it looked like a disaster.”
“But it tastes good!”
Of course, Neya didn’t feel even slightly discouraged.
Azure ignored her and picked up her fork again.
“…Well, it’s edible.”
It was a blunt remark, but Neya—who had spent enough time around Azure—immediately understood. For Azure, that was an enormous compliment.
Neya said brightly, full of excitement.
“I’ll make it again next time!”
“No thanks.”
“I’m going to try making cookies and macarons too! I’ll make lots so Mom can eat as much as she wants!”
“Are you even listening to me?”
Azure remained as sharp-tongued as ever, but Neya didn’t care.
The usually quiet mealtime had become quite lively.
‘Not bad.’
Watching the scene, Shane smiled faintly.
Even after that day, Neya continued making desserts from time to time.
Of course, she didn’t make everything alone. Sometimes she made them with Shane, and on other days with the maids, gradually putting things together before gifting them to Azure.
Though they still looked a bit rough, they tasted fairly good, so Azure accepted them without much complaint.
Several days passed like that.
“Hm-hmm.”
Sitting on the sofa, Neya hummed while reading a book. As always, it was another pleasant day for her.
“Hey.”
“…!”
Startled by the sudden voice, Neya flinched.
Turning her head, she saw Azure standing beside the sofa without her noticing.
Neya looked blank for a moment.
‘Mom spoke to me!’
It was the first time Azure had ever approached her and spoken first. It was almost overwhelming.
Azure, having come closer, spoke without caring how Neya reacted.
“What dessert are you making today?”
“Oh! Well, we have a lot of strawberries, so I was thinking of making a tart!”
“Good.”
After saying just that, Azure went back into her room. There was no further conversation.
It really seemed like desserts were the only reason she asked—but even that alone made Neya extremely happy.
‘Does that mean Mom is getting comfortable with me now?’
It felt like her long efforts were finally paying off, and her heart fluttered.
Since they had gotten this close, maybe Azure wouldn’t find it annoying if she talked to her now. Filled with hope, Neya put down her book and climbed off the sofa.
She headed toward Azure’s room.
The same room Azure had just entered.
“Phew…”
Standing in front of the door, Neya tried to calm her racing heart. She grew nervous at the thought of being scolded again.
She might get yelled at for coming in without permission—but Neya didn’t care about that. As long as she could get closer to Azure!
“Alright!”
With a determined shout, Neya knocked on Azure’s door.
Then she carefully opened it.
Azure was sitting on the bed, looking out the window. Her face, as always, was filled with boredom.
Perhaps startled by the sudden opening of the door, Azure turned her head.
It was an unexpected visit, but fortunately, she didn’t get angry. She just looked at Neya in mild confusion.
Neya trotted over to the bedside.
Then she spoke boldly and shamelessly.
“Mom, do you want to see my cat form?”
“…?”
Azure’s expression turned completely dumbfounded.
Neya’s cat form was something everyone usually loved, so she had said it with confidence—but Azure only frowned.
“No. It sheds fur everywhere.”
“Umm…”
She hadn’t expected to be rejected. Neya thought for a moment again.
“Then… you can pat my hair instead.”
Shane and Gary would often pat Neya’s hair whenever they had a chance—usually when praising her or finding her cute.
So she had assumed adults liked doing that. But Azure’s reaction remained unchanged.
“Why would I?”
“Ugh…”
Rejected again, Neya puffed out her cheeks.
‘I thought we were finally getting closer!’
Her disappointment slowly began to grow.
In truth, the fact that Azure hadn’t kicked her out for barging into her room was already a big improvement—but Neya didn’t notice such subtle changes at all.
After all her suggestions were rejected, Neya said gloomily,
“I just want Mom to like me…”
It was a very honest confession.
Azure let out a small laugh.
“What would I even use your love for? It’s probably the most useless thing.”
That was what Azure truly believed. Everyone had once pointed fingers at her love, and some had even desperately tried to avoid it.
There was no love left in her to give to anyone anymore. And she didn’t want to.
Because of that damned emotion, she had lost everything.
But Neya, suddenly emotional, objected.
“It’s not useless! Love is something really wonderful!”
“What does a kid like you know about love?”
“I know a lot.”
Neya began explaining as if proving her point.
“When Shane reads me storybooks before bed, or when the Tower Master makes toys for me—that’s when I feel it.”
“……”
“And I feel it when I make cake for Mom too! My heart gets all warm, like drinking hot milk in one go.”
Listening quietly, Azure showed a faint smile.
“I’m jealous.”
It was an honest thought that slipped out without her realizing it.
It was clear that Neya had grown up surrounded by steady affection since childhood. That brightness could only exist with a great deal of love and attention.
“Make sure you get as much of it as you can while you can. It’s only possible at your age.”
“Did you only receive it when you were young too?”
“No. I didn’t even get it then.”
“…?”
At Azure’s words, Neya blinked in confusion.
Then she asked innocently,
“Were there no adults who liked you?”
“You ask very sensitive questions so casually.”
At this point, Azure was almost used to Neya’s innocent bluntness.
She looked momentarily speechless, then simply nodded.
“None.”
“Then what about your mom?”
“She died when I was young. I don’t even remember her face. My father didn’t even look at me afterward.”
Azure let out a dry laugh mid-sentence.
“…I don’t even know why I’m telling you this.”
After becoming known as a villainess, most people had already learned fragments of Azure’s past.
They gossiped that she became evil because of her circumstances.
Because of that, she usually didn’t speak about her past—it had never brought her anything good.
But this was the first time she had voluntarily spoken about it.
“……”
Neya looked up at Azure quietly.
Then she said brightly,
“Then… how about receiving it from me?”
“What?”
“I can love you a lot, Mom!”
“How?”
Without hesitation, Neya stepped forward and hugged Azure tightly.
“Like this!”
Taken by surprise, Azure froze in place.
A hug was nothing special.
And yet, seeing this small, warm creature struggling to wrap her arms around someone much larger than herself, Azure felt something oddly ticklish in her chest.
Without thinking, Azure let out a faint laugh and placed her hand on Neya’s head.
“Now I see why Gary and Shane are so crazy about you.”
It was the first time she had ever patted Neya’s head. Neya smiled brightly with pure joy.
“I’ll do this for you every day!”
“Too annoying. Do it only sometimes.”
“Okay!”
After having that short but meaningful conversation,
something definitely changed in Azure after that day.
Early morning. While everyone was still asleep, Neya woke up early and went downstairs carrying a pile of toys. Her room was cramped even with furniture, so the living room was better for playing freely.
“I’m a princess from a neighboring kingdom. I’ve come to see the prince.”
Holding dolls in both hands, Neya began acting out a roleplay game alone. She built a castle out of blocks and even made a carriage for the princess. As a result, toys and blocks were scattered all over the living room.
“What is this?”
In the middle of her play, Azure’s voice suddenly rang out.
Neya looked over with wide eyes. There stood Azure, just out of her room, staring at the mess on the floor.
‘Oh no…!’
Azure usually woke up later in the afternoon, so Neya had planned to play freely. She hadn’t expected her to already be awake.
Neya swallowed nervously.
Whenever she made a mess while playing, Azure would always scold her harshly.
Preparing for the coming reprimand, Neya squeezed her eyes shut.
