Chapter 45
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Chapter 45
Belzeon had always maintained a consistently cold demeanor.
It was rare for him to display emotions so openly, which caught Chesa slightly off guard.
'But I really don't need anything expensive.'
As a fairy, Chesa wasn't particularly materialistic.
If anything, she had some interest in pretty clothes and accessories.
But Miya and Hata had already provided her with more than enough, leaving no room for greed.
She already possessed wealth in abundance.
Fools who picked fights with a fairy appeared quite frequently.
So she'd dealt with them swiftly and collected money and jewels—enough to rival the wealth of any respectable noble house.
Belzeon, unaware of this fact, seemed deeply troubled by it.
Chesa added a few words to ease his mind.
"But I didn't bring anything with me anyway! Honestly, as long as I have the puppy, that's all I need."
....
"Count and the young masters have all been so kind to me. I'm truly grateful."
When she thanked the Count and his sons for their kindness, Belzeon's expression grew even darker.
'What's wrong with him?'
Since she wouldn't be family anymore, she thought it best not to call him father or brother, so she'd changed how she addressed him.
But it seemed to have produced the exact opposite effect from what she'd intended.
'Maybe I should have waited longer before changing how I address him.'
But it felt odd to call him father or brother affectionately when she was about to leave.
'What should I call him then?'
Chesa was lost in thought about what to call him.
Then Belzeon suddenly asked a question.
"...Aren't you sad?"
At this unexpected question, Chesa's eyes widened.
Belzeon's gaze was now almost glaring.
"Why don't you ask to stay with the Basilian family? I thought you were doing well here, and if you'd grown even slightly attached, you should at least cry. Why don't you?"
Belzeon's jaw tightened.
He clenched his teeth hard, then slowly spoke again.
"...Why are you being so composed about this?"
She never expected Belzeon of all people to say something like this.
'What is this...?'
So he'd been pretending, but it seemed he too had grown attached to Chesa.
Her heart felt strangely unsettled, so she let out a small, awkward cough.
Chesa hugged the puppy in her arms tightly, her expression turning pitiful.
And she whispered softly.
"But there's no choice. Just because I want to stay doesn't mean I can."
She buried half her face in the fluffy fur and murmured.
"It's fine. I'm used to this."
This wasn't a lie—it was the truth.
Children from the Orphanage being adopted and then returned was commonplace.
Taking them away under the guise of adoption only to work them as servants was considered fortunate.
Countless children were abandoned again and again.
Chesa had experienced this herself.
Someone had taken her away, thinking she was cute and pretty enough to raise as a daughter.
Then gradually grew tired of her, neglected her, and eventually....
Everyone at the Orphanage where Chesa spent her childhood were good people.
The Orphanage Director was also rare—someone who genuinely cherished the children.
Other orphanages would send their children out as servants for menial labor.
Especially the prettier ones were typically sent like merchandise to wealthy families under the pretense of adoption.
If all else failed, they were sold to unsavory places.
When a child sent for adoption was returned, they were treated as a burden and harshly driven away.
But Chesa's director never did such things.
When Chesa was eight years old.
She had been adopted into the mansion of a wealthy magnate everyone envied, only to be returned to the Orphanage after mere months.
With nothing in her hands.
Though young, the memory of that moment's shame remained vivid.
The memory of hesitating, lingering before the Orphanage's worn Iron Gate, unable to step inside.
The Orphanage Director discovered Chesa wandering aimlessly first.
Upon seeing her, she collapsed to the ground.
It seemed she was quite shocked by Chesa's condition, which was rather disheveled.
"Why didn't you come back sooner...!"
Embracing the young Chesa, covered in marks of abuse, she wept loudly.
She shed tears in place of Chesa, who could not cry.
What had I answered then?
I probably said I was sorry for coming back.
I knew the Orphanage's circumstances were difficult.
I was sorry for being returned when I should have reduced the burden by one mouth.
I was sorry for not bringing anything back despite being adopted into a wealthy household.
To the blank-faced Chesa who only whispered apologies, the director grew angry while crying.
"Do you think I can't feed one more child?"
She treated Chesa's wounded body while crying again, growing angry again....
When the scars etched into Chesa's body had completely healed and the bruises had faded cleanly.
The director took Chesa's hand and spoke gently.
"Let's stay together at the Orphanage until you come of age. And if you don't want to leave even after becoming an adult, you can become a teacher at the Orphanage."
She smiled and said to Chesa.
"This is your home."
Those words were salvation to Chesa.
Only then did Chesa finally release the tears she had been holding back.
I wept, wanting to return home cradled in the Orphanage Director's arms.
I confessed how desperately I missed everyone, how I didn't want to leave anymore.
Crying profusely and acting childish, the Orphanage Director soothed me and laughed.
They were truly good people.
The Orphanage Director, the children—everyone cherished Chesa with genuine affection.
Chesa gave them all her heart in return.
My childhood spent at the Orphanage was nothing but happiness, even amid hunger and hardship.
But now they were people I could never meet again.
'Because they all died that day.'
The Orphanage consumed by crimson flames licking hungrily through the air.
The screams of friends dying.
The Orphanage Director's desperate pleas to save at least the children.
The laughter of the Slave Hunters.
Unable to save anyone, I barely managed to escape alone.
A fairy who had just awakened, young and powerless.
"...."
I'd recalled an unwelcome memory.
Chesa pulled Hata closer, gripping tighter.
The hand clutching her fur trembled faintly.
The soft warmth that flowed through me eased my constricted breathing slightly.
Hata, sensing Chesa's state, barked quietly.
Thanks to her, I could swim back up from the endless abyss of memory dragging me down.
"...I'm r-really okay."
Speaking as if to herself, Chesa whispered softly.
But anyone could hear it wasn't okay.
Belzeon said nothing.
The atmosphere seemed to have grown too heavy because of me.
Belzeon couldn't help it, but I didn't want to burden him with unwarranted guilt.
Chesa lifted her head sharply and forced a bright smile.
"I'm all m-mentally prepared!"
After a long silence, Belzeon spoke heavily.
"Yes."
He covered his face with his hand for a moment, then continued slowly.
"I'll ensure you live comfortably outside, so don't worry."
Chesa nodded.
If it was a plan Belzeon had devised, it was worth trusting.
'For now, we escape like this, then slip away quietly later.'
I just need to endure until the Pure Child Prayer Ceremony ends.
After that, Kieran won't search for me anymore.
I just need to stay hidden until then.
Or perhaps the moment we stepped outside, I could report the situation, and as soon as Hata's potion was complete, I could transform into an adult and disappear without a trace.
'Escape is the only option!'
But Chesa's rosy future plan had completely fallen apart.
We had succeeded in escaping the Basilian Mansion as smoothly as water flowing downstream, exactly as Belzeon had orchestrated.
But an entirely unexpected situation had emerged.
"I will accompany you as well."
Belzeon had declared that he would follow Chesa.
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