Chapter 04
“……”
Why would she ask that?
Her gentle face didn’t seem to hold any ill intent, but I couldn’t bring myself to talk about the orphanage or the Rosbellier Ducal House to someone I had just met. I was afraid she might contact them.
Perhaps she sensed my hesitation from the way I fumbled, because she smiled kindly again and spoke.
“If you don’t remember, you don’t have to say anything.”
It had been a long time since I’d heard such gentle words.
My eyes started to sting with tears at her kindness, when she spoke again.
“You were unconscious for three months, so everyone was very worried.”
Huh?! Three months? I’d been lying down for that long?
Now that I thought about it, my hair was longer than before I fell off the cliff, and all the wounds that had covered my body were gone.
“Now that you’ve woken up like this, I’m sure that person will be relieved as well.”
That person? I tilted my head at the unfamiliar words, and Seraphy spoke softly to me.
“May I know your name, Sister?”
My name. My name, huh.
She wasn’t asking about my name back in Korea, before I possessed this body.
She was asking about the name of this little girl.
“……My name is, Kae.”
The name she had before the villainess ‘Ibelliana’ was adopted by the Rosbellier Ducal House.
Kae. An orphan with no surname.
It was a very common name among commoners in this empire.
“That’s a lovely name. Sister Kae.”
Priest Seraphy smiled after hearing my name.
“By the way, aren’t you hungry?”
After saying that, Seraphy went outside and came back in, pushing a tray. On it were a bowl of steaming thin soup and a spoon.
A white plate and clean utensils! How long had it been since I’d seen a proper meal? Seraphy placed the plate on the table beside the bed and called to me with a warm smile.
“Eat it before it gets cold.”
It’s not poisoned, right?
I looked at Seraphy with suspicious eyes.
‘Is it okay to eat?’
Her face was far too kind to refuse such delicious-looking food, and I was starving for a real meal. I awkwardly got up, sat on the chair she offered, and picked up the spoon. When I brought it to my mouth with trembling hands, a rich, savory taste spread across my tongue.
“It’s delicious!”
This is real soup!
It was the first time since coming to this world that I’d tasted real food. Without realizing it, my hand moved faster as I ate the soup. I was practically shoveling it into my mouth when Seraphy spoke gently.
“Eat as much as you want. Since this is your first meal in three months, I prepared soup. Once you regain some strength, we’ll have a proper meal.”
This is already more than enough, and a proper meal on top of that?
When I looked at Seraphy in surprise, she smiled as if she understood exactly what I was thinking.
“Next time, I’ll prepare white bread and meat soup, Sister.”
Just hearing it made my mouth water.
I’ll work hard to regain my strength!
After that, I didn’t say another word and focused on moving my hands, scooping up the soup.
How much time passed?
More than half the soup was still left, but I was so full I couldn’t eat anymore.
At the orphanage, I’d rarely eaten properly, and after running away I’d practically starved, so the amount my body could handle was very small.
“It seems your body can’t handle it yet, since it’s been so long since you last ate.”
Seraphy looked at me with a pitying expression.
“I can…… eat more.”
At the orphanage, if you left even the moldy porridge that was barely edible, you’d be severely punished.
But this was warm, freshly made, and not spoiled at all. It was real food.
“Urgh!”
I don’t know how much more I ate, but my stomach finally rebelled and started pushing the food back up. I tried to cover my mouth, but regardless of my will, thin soup spilled through my fingers.
I’m going to get hit! I squeezed my eyes shut.
But nothing happened.
“Oh dear, are you alright?”
At her gentle voice, I cautiously opened my eyes. Seraphy was looking at me with concern.
“You don’t need to force yourself. Just slowly increase the amount you eat.”
She went outside, brought back a water bottle and a towel, and skillfully cleaned my soiled body. Then, she kindly lifted me back onto the bed and laid me down.
After pulling the blanket up to my neck, Seraphy looked at me warmly and said,
“The Apostle told me personally to take good care of you so that you can stay here comfortably. If you ever need anything, please seek out God’s servant, Seraphy.”
“The Apostle……?”
At my question, she smiled gently.
“Yes, Sister.”
Watching Seraphy lightly pat my chest, I slowly drifted off to sleep.
Bang—!
“Why aren’t you up yet? You lazy pigs!”
The old door flew open, and the fat dorm supervisor appeared, holding a long cane. The orphans who had been sleeping curled up on filthy, smelly mats quickly got up and folded their blankets.
‘Hurry up and get ready.’
If anyone was lazy or didn’t make their bed, they’d be beaten in front of all the children. But for some reason, my body wouldn’t move.
‘Ugh……’
I could only groan as my arms and legs trembled.
Sleep paralysis?
‘Someone help me.’
The kid next to me noticed I was still lying down and kicked me lightly while muttering curses.
“Hey, white hair. Get up! Do you want to die?”
Thanks, unknown friend. Even with your kind curses and kicks, my stiff body still wouldn’t move.
Annoyed, he started kicking me harder, enough to make thudding sounds.
The spots he kicked began to ache painfully, but my body still wouldn’t move.
“What the hell!”
From afar, the dorm supervisor came stomping over.
“You lazy bitch!”
Fuming, she raised the cane high over her head.
‘Am I getting beaten again?’
I got beaten all day yesterday, and now it’s starting again in the morning.
Thwack!
“Hah, hah.”
I gasped and opened my eyes at the flashing pain that struck my body. Afraid the dorm supervisor would appear and hit me, I hurriedly looked around.
A neatly organized room, and I was lying on a soft white bed.
“Right. I escaped from the orphanage.”
I calmed my ragged breathing and sat up. My whole body was soaked in sweat.
“Phew.”
Priest Seraphy, who had stayed by my side all night, patting my chest, was nowhere to be seen.
She looked like she hadn’t slept well. Did she go to rest?
I should sleep again too. I lay back down, but my stomach growled.
When I threw everything up yesterday, I thought I wouldn’t be hungry, but it seemed I’d digested it all.
When Seraphy comes, I should ask for food. I tried to close my eyes, but my stomach, unable to forget the taste of the soup, kept growling.
Just then, as if it were mealtime, I heard chatter outside the door and smelled food.
‘This is…… this is the smell of butter!’
It smelled rich and sweet, like bread being toasted with butter on a hot pan. I couldn’t wait for Seraphy.
I quickly got up and headed toward the door.
“Hey, come with us!”
“Hurry up, hurry!”
I heard children’s voices and footsteps outside.
Are there kids my age in the temple? Hesitating, I cracked the door open.
Down the long corridor, children in white priest robes, about one or two heads taller than me, were walking in small groups. All of them looked well-fed, their cheeks plump.
“What’s for breakfast today?”
“Butter bread and sausages!”
From their conversation, it seemed they were on their way to breakfast. And today’s menu was butter bread and sausages! Imagining soft bread, melting butter, and salty sausages, I followed them as if possessed.
How long did I walk?
My legs started to tremble.
That’s when I remembered—I’d been unconscious for three months, only just woke up, and had barely eaten yesterday, only to throw it all up.
My body, having eaten nothing, wobbled. I couldn’t keep up with the kids walking ahead.
Ding ding ding!
A bell rang in the distance.
“Ah! We’re late. Run!”
The kids all started running somewhere, and I was left alone in the empty corridor. I tried to go back, but my shaking legs wouldn’t move.
Damn it. I should’ve just stayed in my room.
If someone passed by, I could ask for help, but after the bell rang, not a single person was in the hallway. I didn’t even have the strength to go back.
“Hah.”
In the end, I plopped down on the corridor floor. My stomach still growled, demanding food.
I wish someone would come……
Just then—
“Huh? Why are you here?”
A familiar-looking girl was suddenly sitting close beside me, even though the corridor had been empty just moments ago.
“Eek!”
I screamed at the sudden presence.
“What, did you see a ghost? Why are you so surprised?”
The girl frowned at me.
The girl with ash-gray hair braided into two neat plaits looked strangely familiar. Thinking about it, she was the girl who had seen me yesterday and run out in shock before Seraphy came in.
“What? Can’t you talk?”
When I didn’t answer, she tilted her head.
“No, I just thought no one was here, and you suddenly appeared, so I was surprised.”
“Hmm, I see.”
She looked at me again.
“Anyway, what are you doing here? Where’s Seraphy?”
Seraphy…… You talk so casually for someone who looks sixty years younger than her. Ignoring her shocking lack of respect, I answered kindly.
“When I woke up, no one was there. I got hungry and came out, but my legs wouldn’t move, so I’m resting.”
The girl looked startled.
“Your legs won’t move?”
Her gaze dropped to my legs.
“W-What?! Why? Why can’t you move them?”
She looked extremely anxious, as if it were something serious.
“I think…… it’s because I’m hungry…….”
But she barely listened. She bit her nails, stamped her feet, and started examining my legs like a doctor.
“Um…… hey.”
Just as I tried to calm her down—
[Heal.]
The girl muttered softly, and from her small hands holding my foot, a bright light poured out.
