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Chapter 8
Are all children like this?
Baldwin gently stroked Lila’s hair as she fell asleep in that brief moment.
Her pink hairband had long since become a mess.
“Lala. You should wake up.”
But Baldwin’s voice was so soft, it had no intention of waking her.
Every time Lila moved her lips, her chubby cheeks twitched adorably.
Baldwin placed his hand over hers.
His hand was smaller than Lila’s, yet for some reason, she felt even smaller.
Tilting his head in wonder, Baldwin played with her hair.
So small, so fine, so soft…
“Are all human children this tiny?”
Of course, there was no answer.
And yet Baldwin knew how to live safely in this world.
Just like his father taught him—never reveal his true nature.
Hide the instincts of a sword demon and behave like a human child.
With no father to teach him how to mimic humans, he had to imitate Lila instead.
Baldwin placed his finger under Lila’s nose.
“She’s warm…”
The Llorvante couple was doing everything they could for Baldwin—
even dressing him as a girl to help hide his identity.
Baldwin decided to remember their kindness.
He also chose the direction in which his sword would someday point.
From within him, Caliburn, the sleeping sword, gave a low, resonating hum.
It must’ve been hungry for the blood of his enemies.
Baldwin curled his lips into a smirk.
The murderous impulses that sometimes wandered through his heart clawed at him again.
After all, cursed swords always craved blood.
A faint red energy shimmered at his fingertips before fading away.
Baldwin withdrew his hand from Lila.
“Mmngh…”
As if she sensed something, Lila mumbled softly in her sleep.
Baldwin’s red eyes briefly gleamed with crimson before fading again.
Lila fluttered open her large golden eyes.
“Didi?”
That tiny voice pierced right into Baldwin’s ears.
“Yeah, Lala. You’re awake?”
With a smile that now resembled Lila’s, Baldwin asked.
“Mmm… Sleepy. Where’s Mama?”
“She said she’d come get you if you wait here.”
“Oh…”
Lila reached out toward Baldwin.
“Come here, Didi. I’ll hug you.”
Even her sleep-talking was adorable.
Baldwin quietly nestled into her arms.
She smelled like milk and that sweet baby scent.
That fragrance seemed to quiet the violent urges barking inside him.
Baldwin smiled gently—just like Lila.
“Didi, trust me. I’m… your backup. I know everything…”
What kind of sleep-talking was that?
She often mumbled things no one could understand. Must be a child thing.
Baldwin leaned back into the sofa and closed his eyes.
Robelia would find the two children napping cheek to cheek quite some time later.
*
As soon as Robelia and Adolf laid the children in bed, Lila’s eyes snapped open.
“Lala?”
“Mama, I’m awake.”
Even as she yawned, her eyes were bright and curious, forcing Robelia to sit down again.
“Shall I read you a story?”
“Yes!”
Reading a book before bed was one of Lila’s favorite things.
No one knew it was because she’d never received that kind of affection in her past life.
“What should I read tonight?”
Robelia picked out a book from the shelf in Lila’s room:
“Ragnis and the Knights.”
It was a fairytale blending mythology and fantasy.
“Shall I read this one?”
“Yes, please!”
Lila snuggled under the covers while Robelia opened the book and cleared her throat.
“Long, long ago, there lived a magnificent dragon named Ragnis.
The dragon had three loyal knights… And a good friend too…”
Though she said she was awake, Lila’s eyes were already fluttering closed.
Robelia smiled gently, lowered her voice, and read three more pages before carefully closing the book.
Sleeping children really were angels.
She kissed Lila’s forehead as she gently breathed in her sleep, pulled the blanket up over her, and quietly turned off the bedroom light.
“Sweet dreams, my darling.”
*
When you become close friends as a child, there’s one inevitable rite of passage:
inviting your friend over to your house.
It was something I’d never once experienced.
I did have friends once, but my foster mother chased them all away.
So inviting a friend over, or doing something fun at home with them, felt like something out of a fairytale.
It’s not like I could visit their homes either.
What was it she used to say?
“Someone like you? Going to someone else’s house? You trying to shame yourself and us both? Absolutely not.”
And because I had nowhere else to go if she kicked me out, her words were law to me.
She knew that—and used it to control me completely.
So for me, this was a major challenge.
All day, I’d been on my best behavior.
I ran errands cheerfully, didn’t bother Baldwin, and took good care of him too.
And finally—it was dinnertime.
“Mama, here! Eat this!”
I placed my favorite piece—the chicken leg—onto Mama’s plate.
Then smiled brightly.
“What about Dad?”
“Dad too!”
I gave the remaining leg to Papa.
Even looking at the now legless roasted chicken didn’t bother me at all.
“What’s gotten into our princess today…?”
Mama looked at me suspiciously.
Time to check.
“Mama, I was good today, right? I listened well. Right?”
“Our princess is always good.”
Oof. A solid defense there.
Still, it was worth a shot.
“Mama… Can I invite Camilla over?”
“Camilla? From the Royster family?”
Mama looked surprised.
I nodded carefully.
My heart was pounding.
This was something I’d never been allowed to do before.
The thrill and anticipation made my heart race.
“Please, Mama! Papa! Let me invite Camilla!”
I pleaded as adorably as possible.
Even when I lived alone in college, I never once invited a friend over.
All because of:
“Don’t bring just anyone into the house. Don’t show off your lowborn roots.”
Funny, considering her own children brought friends over all the time.
Anyway, I was very nervous now.
“Alright. But Lala—”
“Yay! Mama, you’re the best!! Papa too!!”
I jumped up and down, arms raised.
It just came out of me.
Honestly, there were so many reasons Mama could’ve refused.
Camilla was the daughter of the unpopular Count Royster.
Associating with that family could bring harm to ours.
There was also the risk of Baldwin’s identity being exposed.
But despite all those risks, Mama gave me permission simply because she knew how much I wanted it.
“You’re that happy?”
“Yes!! Didi, aren’t you happy too?”
Baldwin, quietly eating, nodded.
“Yeah. If Lala’s happy, then I’m happy too.”
And he gave a gentle smile.
Wow. Everything was going so smoothly.
To think I was helping connect Camilla and Baldwin like this.
And I got to invite a friend over too!
Honestly, the second part made me happier than the first.
I thought to myself once again:
I’m really glad I came to this world.
Goodbye forever to that ill-fitting, miserable past life.
I am Lila Lorovante.
I buried my face in my sweet-smelling mother’s embrace.
“I love you, Mama!”
“My princess, I love you too.”
If I could just keep this love forever, I’d sell my soul to the devil.
*
At Count Royster’s estate…
“…Our daughter received an invitation, dear.”
The Countess said with a trembling voice.
Count Royster thoroughly examined the invitation in Georgia’s hand.
It was possible the children had maliciously invited Camilla with ill intent.
After carefully reading it several times, he finally spoke.
“…It doesn’t seem to have any hidden motives.”
Written in a child’s handwriting were the words:
“Camilla, it’s me, Lila! If you’re free tomorrow, come play! Mama said she’ll bake cookies and cake!”
Given how Camilla had once been hurt by other children’s cruel teasing, their worry was understandable.
“Lila… She’s the daughter of the Lorovante Duke.”
“Yes. Ever since she attended that party at their estate, Camilla hasn’t stopped talking about her.”
“Camilla has?”
“Yes, dear. She said she had a great time with Lila.”
“…Well, that’s a relief, but…”
“You don’t need to worry. You know the character of the Lorovante family.”
“Then let’s ask Camilla what she wants.”
The Countess nodded.
“I’m sure she’ll be thrilled!”
