Chapter 107
On top of the blue wrapping paper, the silver satin ribbon sparkled as if reflecting the waves. I carefully untied the ribbon.
When I opened the lid of the paper box,
“Ah……”
An ivory-colored headband-like headdress greeted me. The pink gem fixed on the upper left indicated what this headdress had originally been.
Once a net to catch good dreams, and once a mass of torn macramé knots, now all gathered like flowing streams atop deep navy fabric.
I combed my hair in front of the mirror, placed the headdress on my head, and tied the strings behind my ears.
“…….”
It felt like a sound I shouldn’t make with my mouth, but it was truly cute.
I twirled once in front of the mirror for no reason. Of course, the headdress didn’t move, but the sound of my hair brushing against the decorative knots was pleasant.
The pink gem now looked as if it had truly nested, buried in the flower-petal-shaped macramé knot. It was adorable.
After staring at the mirror for a while, I took off the headdress.
I’ll save it for now. There’s someone specific I need to show this to first.
I put the headdress back in the drawer. No need to worry about it being stolen like last time.
Inside the gift box where the headdress had been were still other items:
A small lock, several cards with talisman-like drawings, and a letter explaining how to use the cards.
“Sol Boara,
Along with a headdress that seems to suit you well, I am sending some anti-theft tools to prevent a second theft.
The paper cards bear a design that curses thieves, but that’s not the important part. Inside is powdered poisonous herb that induces coughing up blood. Apply it to a locker or similar.
If a thief tries to open the locker and tears the card, they will suffer greatly from the powdered herb.
If by mistake you are affected, bite a piece of your tail. It will neutralize the poison. The tail will regrow quickly.
From Latiger Alt Schleger, who worries about you.
P.S.: The tail tastes like mint.”
There were a few points I wanted to question.
How could he casually send poisonous herb to his daughter? How could he tell me to eat a tail? How does he know it tastes like mint—did he eat it himself?
But what bothered me more was the spacing in the postscript. The words around “worries about” between “you” and “Latiger Alt Schleger” seemed unusually wide, as if he had spent a long time deciding what to insert there later.
Haha, it’s not like I want a cheesy hidden message or anything. Still… thank you.
……Father.
After putting the headdress away, I tied the silver ribbon from the gift box where the dreamcatcher used to be and hung it in the empty spot.
Even though the dreamcatcher was gone, this ribbon would serve as proof that someone wanted to give me good dreams.
Maybe because of the ribbon, I dreamed of eating mackerel ribs for the first time in a while. I really feel like I can return to normal life.
At school, there was no more “bun girl.” It was as if she had never existed; her usual seat was filled with other students’ belongings.
But memories of the incident didn’t disappear. The students whispered, curiosity in their eyes as they glanced between where she had been sitting and me.
They probably think I chased bun girl away. I wonder if the Schlegers were gossiping that “the lady is scary, as expected.”
Anyway, I expected rumors when I asked Betty for help. I had agreed to let her watch the trouble with bun girl from the front row in exchange for her assistance.
So, no matter how sensationally Betty spread the story, I’ll let it slide this time.
Even if bad rumors spread about me, it’s not all bad, right? It proves I’m taking after my father.
……However.
After attending school and chasing bun girl away, one student approached me for the first time. Someone I wasn’t very close with.
“Sol, do you like chocolate?”
“Uh? Yeah, I do.”
“Then eat this.”
She handed me a handful of chocolate. Small, coin-sized chocolates, each wrapped in paper like little candies, reminiscent of the alphabet chocolates I used to eat in Korea.
“Thank you……”
“Yeah, enjoy your lesson!”
The unexpected visitor left, as if her business was done.
Why suddenly chocolate?
I ate it anyway. It was delicious.
The student who gave me chocolate watched me warmly from a distance.
Other students approached me in ways I hadn’t expected:
Some brought snacks, some tied my shoelaces, others complimented my hair…
It was clearly good, but also… bothersome!
Is it a rumor that “Sol Schleger must be tamed with treats because she might do anything if provoked”?
I found out the truth after all classes, from Seraphina.
“Hahaha! Sol, were you worried rumors about you being scary would spread? Worry for nothing. Your reputation didn’t get any scarier after chasing Lady Paste away!”
“……Thanks for the reassurance. Still, since even the Godel Marquis’ family is involved this time, I prepared for people to keep their distance.”
“It’s okay. Whether close or far, the Schleger family is scary anyway!”
“……”
Thank you for always explaining things honestly and quickly. But then, why do you treat me kindly…?
“Sol, does it feel strange that others are being kind?”
“How did you know?”
“It’s written all over your face. You looked like a calf suddenly offered candy.”
“Ugh.”
“You know, Sol, sudden kindness might feel like pity, which could annoy you… but I see it as proof that they trust you.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Even though your anger got one student expelled, everyone doesn’t shy away in fear. Instead, they try to get closer to you.”
Seraphina smiled, pointing to the chocolates I received.
“Sol, everyone believes you don’t get angry in vain.”
“……”
“And… they sympathize with your anger. That dreamcatcher was really precious in your family, right?”
“……Yes.”
Ah, damn. Hearing it was precious made my eyes hot again.
I thought I wouldn’t cry anymore since it revived as a headdress, but apparently, it would take more time for the tears to dry completely.
I grit my teeth and said,
“Father… gave it to me as my first gift.”
“I thought so. Anyone would have been furious in that situation. Even I would have.”
“Really? Seraphina, you can get angry?”
“Of course. You can try.”
“I won’t. I’d get struck by lightning.”
“Hahaha, the giver isn’t that petty. …Anyway, Sol, next time, tell us ‘please help me.’”
“……”
“You don’t need to demand a reward like with Betty. Everyone will want to help you, a little at a time, whether it’s direct help or calming your anger.”
Until yesterday, I would have dismissed this as naive nonsense.
Who helps whom? Everyone should be wary of Schleger getting involved with a child.
……But.
The chocolate melting in my mouth.
The candy I received at the infirmary.
The student who greeted me today with an unusually bright smile.
The tightly double-knotted shoelaces that wouldn’t come undone easily.
……It made me want to believe in their goodwill.
Finally, Seraphina opened her arms wide in front of me and said,
“Sol, can I hug you tight once?”
“……Yes.”
“Thank you. Heave-ho!”
Seraphina stepped forward and hugged me tightly.
Her arms were incredibly strong. I could hear my stomach groan, and tears pricked my eyes.
“Sol, if you still have anger left, tell me. No matter how much, I’ll hold it all for you.”
“……”
Yeah, that’s exactly why my eyes are wet.
……Seraphina’s embrace is truly warm.
I placed my hand on her back and whispered into her ear,
“Seraphina, this might sound sudden, but……”
“Hmm?”
“……Is it okay if I meet your parents?”
The Tillen Count and Countess were about to go bankrupt and flee at night.
I wondered if I should tell Seraphina. I thought it might be better to prevent the bankruptcy; she would perform miracles with her singing during the festival regardless. I remembered her sitting and crying in the empty house—it broke my heart.
However, I worried because Seraphina’s parents weren’t exactly normal humans. In the original story, they immediately passed debts to their children upon bankruptcy—would those be sane parents?
Even if they survived without bankruptcy, would they, the moment Seraphina became a saint, scam others saying, “My daughter is a saint! Invest in my business for her sake!”?
So I said to Seraphina:
“Recently, I’ve heard strange stories through my information network. The Tillens, your parents, are making reckless investments in strange businesses.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It might be a rumor, but could I visit your home sometime to talk?”
Thus, this weekend, I found myself sitting in the Tillen Count’s reception room.
The house wasn’t particularly large. Rather than antique, it felt bleak. I passed through an empty corridor to reach the reception room, whose walls were adorned with elaborate tapestries.
The Count and Countess smiled warmly.
“So, you’re Sol. Your daughter spoke a lot about you.”
“Nice to meet you. Our Seraphina is a bit unusual, isn’t she?”
They looked pleasant, easygoing, and elegant.
But when Seraphina pretended to be busy and left the room, their voices dropped.
“You’re from the Schleger family, right?”
“Yes.”
“It must be hard to make friends. Schlegers give off a scary aura.”
“I can’t deny it. Still, Seraphina approached me openly, and I’m grateful.”
“That’s right. She’s a kind child, unlike any other.”
After boasting like a merchant, the Countess brought up the main topic:
“Well, when Seraphina isn’t around, our family struggles a bit… If things get bad, we might have to take your precious friend Seraphina out of the capital.”
Oh, really.
