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“Is This a Raising Story?” Chapter : 07
He took a long breath for a moment, calming himself, before coming to a conclusion in a much steadier voice.
“Well, anyway. That means we’ll need a special cleansing treatment.”
“Cleansing?! I don’t know what that is, but it’s not something scary, right? Right?”
At the unfamiliar word—and Titi’s suddenly serious expression—Miela instinctively grew frightened.
“It just means washing. Thoroughly. Until all the dirt you’ve got is gone and only soft skin is left.”
“I don’t want anything that hurts.”
“Don’t worry. I happen to know a specialist artisan who’s very skilled in human special cleansing. It won’t hurt at all. In fact, it’ll feel refreshing as all the old grime is removed.”
As Isstin said that, he snapped his fingers. As if waiting for it, someone popped out from the side.
“Good day. I am Head Maid Amil리즈.”
She greeted them smoothly, having already received the situation report from the escort knight Asihell and understood everything.
“Eek!”
Miela flinched in surprise at the sudden appearance of another person, but as Amil리즈 gave her a warm smile, she relaxed and shyly introduced herself.
“A-ah, I’m Miela.”
“Yes, Lady Miela. Would you follow me? I will guide you to the bathroom.”
“Go on, Miela. I’ll wait here.”
Titi, with one hand in his pocket, casually waved her off with the other.
Sometime later.
Miela, who came out of the bathroom with the head maid, had changed beyond recognition.
The grime covering her entire body was gone, revealing soft, fair skin.
It was the first time since her mother passed away that she had taken such a proper bath.
‘This is different from the soap sold in the neighborhood shop. It was flower-shaped, and even the scent was like real roses!’
Miela’s cheeks turned slightly red.
What she had just experienced felt like something from one of her mother’s old stories—stepping into a delicate bathtub fit only for princesses, surrounded by sweet foam that kept bubbling endlessly until she got tired of it.
‘This can’t be a dream, right? I thought things like this only happened when meeting fairies from fairy tales…’
As she thought that, Miela suddenly recalled Titi’s face. Jet-black hair, green eyes like leaves, and a small, childlike body.
‘Maybe Titi is actually a fairy? He even looks like one!’
Of course, unlike fairies in stories, his personality and gaze were rather cold and sharp.
Lost in imagination for a moment, Miela was once again startled when the maid brought out new clothes.
“Wow, it’s so soft! It feels like chick fluff!”
“Hehe, is that so?”
The head maid smiled warmly at Miela’s honest reaction, like a grandmother looking at her granddaughter.
Now cleaned and dressed properly, the girl truly looked adorable beyond measure.
“Let’s go then. Titi is waiting.”
With that, Miela walked down the hallway with light steps completely different from before.
When she opened the door as instructed, she saw a small back sitting neatly on a sofa, reading a book.
Miela scratched her cheek lightly and spoke.
“Titi, did you wait long?”
Only then, as if noticing her presence, Isstin turned around. His eyes slowly widened as he took in Miela’s changed appearance.
“……!”
He didn’t speak for a while, stunned into silence. Feeling awkward, Miela spoke again.
“Um, I’m not that dirty anymore, right? Thanks to Lady Amil리즈 washing me properly, all the dirt is gone! And look, I’m wearing really clean, soft new clothes!”
Saying that, Miela spun around in place as if showing off.
She wasn’t even wearing a noble lady’s fancy dress, but her movements were so lively it almost looked like she was dancing.
“Pfft, what is that supposed to be?”
“How do I look? Do I seem okay?”
Miela’s face sparkled like a midday beach—no exaggeration, literally shining.
‘Not just okay… it’s way too pretty!’
At that moment, Isstin felt a fresh shock in his chest.
Compared to how shriveled and timid she looked earlier, she now seemed even cuter with her refreshed appearance.
If earlier she had looked like a dirty squirrel, now she looked like a freshly molted, fluffy squirrel.
“Hmm… well, I guess?”
But he couldn’t bring himself to say what he really thought. He was the type of child who was bad at giving compliments.
So instead, a blunt answer came out.
“Really? That’s good. Anyway, thank you so much. It’s all thanks to you, Titi.”
Fortunately, Miela had a strong heart that didn’t easily get hurt.
To her, “well, I guess” was practically praise.
Isstin resisted the urge to correct himself and just shrugged.
“You really exaggerate, Miela.”
“I’m not exaggerating. This is my first time wearing clothes like this, and a bubble bath? That was my first time too!”
Watching her get so excited, Isstin chuckled and called over the butler standing nearby.
“Butler.”
“Yes, Lord Titi.”
“Please tell the kitchen to prepare a meal. Bring it here, not to the dining room.”
“Yes. Shall I prepare it for the young lady as well? What menu would you like?”
After thinking for a moment, Isstin motioned the butler closer and whispered in his ear.
“….”
“Understood. I will have it prepared accordingly.”
Soon after, maids began arriving one after another, carrying dishes.
The empty table was quickly filled with warm, luxurious food as if by magic.
Miela was so shocked she couldn’t even ask what it was, only letting out repeated “wow” and “gasp” sounds.
Gulp.
At that moment, Isstin saw it—Miela swallowing her saliva.
He then dismissed all the servants.
“You can all leave now.”
“Yes. Please enjoy your meal. Call us if you need anything.”
Now only Titi and Miela remained in the room.
Miela finally spoke carefully.
“T-Titi! W-what is all this…?”
“Since you must be hungry, I thought you should eat before you go. Think of it as thanks for helping me.”
But Miela still couldn’t fully trust it.
“Are you saying everything on these plates is food? Really? There’s meat and even cake?”
“Everything except the tableware, cutlery, and napkins is food.”
Normally, Miela would have asked what cutlery or napkins were, but she was too overwhelmed by the delicious smell in front of her.
Still, she hesitated to touch anything, glancing around nervously.
“C-can I really eat this? Really?”
Isstin found her slightly frustrating, but at the same time, he could guess how she must have lived before, which made him feel a bit sorry.
Hadn’t she been happily eating hard, dried bread just earlier?
“Yes. It’s all really for you. So eat whatever you want. I, the young master, allow it.”
“Good heavens!”
Miela still looked like she couldn’t believe it as she carefully lifted a spoon.
The cream soup in front of her was steaming hot, filled with chicken, broccoli, and plenty of ingredients. Even the rare pepper had been sprinkled on top.
To Miela, it looked like gold dust.
With trembling hands, she scooped up a spoonful and brought it to her mouth.
“It’s delicious… so delicious…! Sob!”
A few seconds later, her eyes welled up with tears. They were tears of overwhelming emotion.
Watching her, Isstin scolded her with a puzzled expression.
“Why are you crying if it’s tasty?”
“It’s just… so tasty. A-and Titi, aren’t you going to eat?”
Miela replied while stuffing freshly baked bread into her mouth.
As a noble child who valued etiquette, there were many things he wanted to correct—from how she held her spoon onward—but he held back this time.
Because Miela’s teary face was surprisingly pleasant to look at.
“I’ll just watch you eat. Anyway, eat slowly.”
There was nothing more fitting than “just watching someone eat makes you full.” Just watching Miela made him feel good.
