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Chapter 2
“Child… child. Wake up.”
I poured the boiled medicine into a teacup and walked over to the bed.
“Mm…”
The child tossed and turned with a weak groan.
I set the teacup on the bedside table, gently lifted the child up, and let her lean against my chest.
“Don’t wanna…”
She whined weakly, her body limp.
“Just this. Drink just this, and then you can go back to sleep.”
I picked up the teacup and blew on it several times to cool it down.
When it had become completely lukewarm, I tilted it toward the child’s lips.
“Try drinking it. You’ll feel better after this.”
Even in her hazy state, she seemed to understand me. She slowly drank the medicine in small sips.
“That’s right. Good job.”
After letting her take about three mouthfuls, I laid her back down.
“That should be enough.”
A little while later, the child’s face looked much more peaceful, and her breathing became slow and steady.
“Thank goodness.”
I brushed the damp hair away from her forehead.
After making sure she was completely asleep, I collapsed onto the floor beside the bed, exhausted.
“Ah… what a hectic day.”
I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.
Looking around the house, it looked as though a typhoon had swept through it.
I looked back at the peacefully sleeping child.
“I should find this child’s parents.”
Judging by her appearance, she had clearly become separated from them and somehow ended up here.
Her parents were probably searching for her by now.
Even though I thought that, my tired body refused to move.
Yawn.
I stretched my mouth wide with a yawn.
“When she wakes up, I’ll ask about her parents.”
It should be fine to look for them afterward.
Right now, both she and I were far too exhausted.
Unable to fight off my sleepiness any longer, I drifted off.
“Mm…”
I groaned and opened my eyes.
The messy room came into focus.
At the same time, I felt an intense gaze fixed on my face and flinched.
What’s with this creepy feeling…?
I slowly turned my head, as if my neck might creak.
“…”
There, sitting on the bed, was a little girl staring straight at me with round, blood-red eyes.
Fluffy cherry blossom-pink hair like cotton candy.
Ruby-red eyes.
And soft, chubby cheeks that puffed out adorably.
“So cute…”
The words escaped my mouth without thinking.
She had already been adorable before, but now that the color had returned to her face, she was unbelievably lovable.
The two of us simply stared at each other as if enchanted.
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—she didn’t seem frightened at all despite being alone in a room with a stranger.
I smiled as gently as I could.
“Hello. You collapsed in the street, so I brought you here. What’s your na—”
Grrrrrrr…
At that moment, a loud rumbling came from her stomach.
The little girl’s eyes became perfectly round.
She quickly covered her stomach with both hands, her cheeks turning bright red.
She’s so adorable.
My heart squeezed painfully, and I placed a hand over my chest.
A warm smile naturally spread across my face.
Well, I could ask her questions after she ate.
It wouldn’t take long.
“Are you very hungry?”
I gently brushed her hair aside with a smile.
The girl’s eyes suddenly widened in surprise, and she sharply sucked in a breath.
Startled, I quickly pulled my hand away.
“Ah… are you scared of me?”
She shook her head as hard as she could.
The sight was so adorable that I smiled again.
“That’s a relief.”
So this was how an aunt felt toward her niece.
I hurriedly stood up.
“Wait here. I’ll bring you some soup.”
I was about to head to the kitchen, leaving the little girl behind.
Riiip!
“Hm?”
A strong pull made me fall back onto the bed.
Turning around, I saw the little girl gripping the hem of my dress.
The part she had grabbed had been torn.
“Why is my dress ripped?”
Would a child normally have enough strength to tear fabric like this?
Just then, the girl blinked slowly.
“Eongma?”
“…? Eongma?”
I tilted my head, repeating the unfamiliar word.
What’s ‘Eongma’?
Before I could figure it out, the girl smiled brightly and pointed at me with the hand that had grabbed my dress.
“Eongma!”
“…!”
My face melted instantly, and I clutched my chest.
My heart…
Watching her smile so brightly, communication didn’t seem important anymore.
“Sure. Eongma. Eongma.”
I had no idea what it meant, but she was too adorable for me to care.
Smiling happily, I headed toward the kitchen.
“Just wait a little.”
The girl started climbing down from the bed to follow me.
“The kitchen is dangerous, so stay here and wait.”
She obediently flopped back onto the bed, placed both hands neatly on her stomach, and stared at the ceiling.
I couldn’t help laughing softly.
I reheated the soup I had made the day before and brought it back.
“Here. Let’s eat.”
I sat on the edge of the bed and helped her sit up.
Scooping up a spoonful, I gently cooled it before feeding it to her.
She chewed with tiny little bites, getting soup all over her lips.
Watching her eat with those tiny “nom, nom” movements made my heart ache again.
She’s too cute…
After feeding her for quite some time, the bowl was completely empty.
Apparently full now, she happily patted her little stomach with both hands and smiled with satisfaction.
I placed the empty bowl on the bedside table.
“Now tell me. Were you traveling with your parents? Where are they? I’ll take you to them.”
The girl pointed her index finger at me.
“Yes!”
I pointed at myself as well.
“Me?”
“Yes!”
“Me?”
She nodded vigorously.
“Yes! Yes!”
Why… is she pointing at me?
Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, loud urgent knocking echoed through the house.
The girl’s eyes immediately turned toward the door.
The gentle expression she had shown me disappeared.
Her gaze became cold and sharp.
For an instant, a chill ran down my spine.
Bang! Bang!
“Coming!”
The repeated knocking snapped me back to my senses.
Holding the torn part of my dress together with one hand, I walked to the door.
As soon as I turned the handle, the old hinges creaked, and the visitor practically pushed himself inside.
“Lucina!”
“B-Baser?”
Normally, Baser always acted carefree no matter what happened.
But today he looked unusually anxious.
“Something terrible has happened, Lucina.”
“What happened?”
Did the debt collectors come?
No, that couldn’t be it.
The installment payment had been due the other day, and I’d even paid the interest.
While I was thinking, Baser hurriedly spoke.
“Lucina! The Imperial Princess who came to visit our village has disappeared!”
“What?!”
My eyes flew open.
What was he talking about?
“The Imperial Guards have surrounded the village and are searching for Her Highness.”
“…”
“What if she was kidnapped? If they can’t find her, everyone in the village will be taken to the Imperial Palace for questioning—”
Baser suddenly stopped speaking after looking at me.
“Lucina… why are you shaking?”
“M-Me? N-No… of course not.”
“You’re even stuttering.”
Trembling all over, I instinctively blocked the doorway so he couldn’t see inside.
“…By any chance… does the Imperial Princess have fluffy pink hair and red eyes?”
Baser’s eyes widened.
“How do you know that?”
Yeah.
Because…
…she was standing right behind me.
“You will explain in detail to His Majesty why you were with the Imperial Princess.”
“I already told you—I didn’t kidnap her. I rescued her.”
“We’ll find out after the investigation.”
After turning my house upside down, now they’re saying that?
The Imperial Princess’s testimony was the only thing that could prove my innocence.
Unfortunately, just as I turned myself in, she had fallen fast asleep again.
A knight with short gray hair, his forehead completely exposed, and gray eyes quietly looked at me before walking past.
Judging from his authority, he seemed to be the commander.
Another knight handed him a robe.
Flap.
After putting it on and fastening it securely, he picked up the sleeping princess.
Without any hesitation, he walked out of the house and ordered his men,
“Bring that woman quietly. Make sure Her Highness doesn’t wake up.”
What exactly did I do wrong?
I barely managed to stop myself from laughing bitterly.
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
I let go of the torn piece of my dress and dusted myself off.
The tear wasn’t very noticeable.
I’d just go there, clear up the misunderstanding, and come right back.
Once we reached the Imperial Palace, the princess would tell everyone I was innocent.
That would be the end of it.
After all, I hadn’t committed any crime.
So I should stay confident.
With that thought, I left the house alongside the knights.
“Lucina!”
As I trudged out, surrounded by Imperial Guards in front and behind, I heard Baser calling my name from far away.
Looking around, I saw the villagers standing beyond the line of knights surrounding my cottage like a fence.
Some looked worried.
Others simply watched in silence.
“Lucina! Lucina!”
Baser tried to force his way through the Imperial Guards to reach me.
He shoved against them as though he intended to break through.
Three or four guards strained against him, their faces turning red.
“Urgh!”
“Ugh!”
Moments later, the knights were actually lifted off the ground and thrown backward.
Watching this happen, another Imperial Guard charged at Baser.
“You…!”
Baser swiftly twisted the knight’s arm behind his back and subdued him.
“Argh!”
The knight groaned and dropped to one knee.
Baser casually released his arm with a toss.
“Baser?”
Was he always this strong?
While I stood there stunned by the random thought, Baser subdued another knight before turning toward me.
“Lucina! Come here!”
He stretched out his hand.
“Stop!”
At that moment, a thunderous voice rang out.
The commander, who had apparently already placed the princess safely inside the carriage, returned empty-handed.
Removing his robe, he walked through the line of knights.
He glanced once at the fallen guards before looking at Baser with a subtle expression.
Then his gaze turned icy.
“Are you interfering with official business?”
“Please take me with you. I’ll explain everything myself.”
Realizing he was the commander, Baser hurried over.
“There’s been a misunderstanding regarding Lucina. Please allow me to come as well.”
“Baser, it’s okay.”
“Lucina.”
For the first time, Baser called my name in a firm, quiet voice.
He must have been genuinely worried about me.
He didn’t need to worry so much.
Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, I would actually be considered the benefactor who saved the Emperor’s daughter.
Thinking so calmly, I scratched my cheek.
Then I suddenly felt sharp stares pricking my skin like needles.
It was the villagers watching from beyond the Imperial Guards.
“That girl… how can she still be so carefree?”
“Leave her be. It’s because of the aftereffects of losing her memories three years ago.”
“Even so, she’s in danger of dying, yet she’s still so optimistic.”
“…Sigh. She used to be a noble young lady who was raised with such care.”
Amid the murmuring crowd, those words reached my ears clearly.
The villagers are acting strangely.
They were talking as though I were about to die at any moment.
It almost felt like they were preparing for my funeral.
“Lucina!”
The village chief stepped forward.
Ignoring the knights trying to stop him, he firmly grabbed my hand.
