CHAPTER 36….
Aslan asked with pure eyes.
Come to think of it, Aslan still didn’t really understand people.
I thought about the culture here and answered.
“Generally speaking, having both parents is more common… I guess?”
To be honest, I personally didn’t think it really mattered.
In Korea, single mothers often got pitiful looks or, in worse cases, were criticized.
People would say things like, “She’s promiscuous,” or, “She couldn’t keep herself in check.”
It was similar here.
In fact, the idea of a noblewoman being a single mother was unthinkable.
Aslan tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand, and asked,
“Isn’t it the same for Ayla?”
“Huh?”
“Ayla is always with Uncle Id, right? Doesn’t she only have a dad too?”
“Uh… yeah?”
“Then it’s not strange, is it?”
When he put it that way, I had no comeback.
I also didn’t think having only one parent was strange.
But society’s perception was…
The moment I thought that, I felt pathetic.
What am I teaching this kid?
It’s because parents keep thinking that single-parent families are strange or tragic that children start thinking that way too.
Instead of saying what I’d been about to say, I spoke the words I truly wanted to say.
“You’re right. Mom thinks so too. It’s not strange at all.”
“See?”
Aslan grinned, like he was saying, Told you so.
But just because Aslan and I thought that way didn’t mean people who’d already been hurt would instantly start thinking like us.
“But people often do think it’s strange. So if they hear someone doesn’t have one of their parents, they feel like they’ve said something wrong.”
“Is that how it is for Ayla too?”
“Yeah.”
Aslan’s eyebrows shot up.
Then, as if he’d made up his mind, he hopped down from his seat.
“Then I’ll go tell Ayla! She doesn’t have to feel self-conscious because of us!”
“Huh?”
“Ayla didn’t do anything wrong, right? So why should she feel awkward? That’s weird.”
Just as Aslan was about to stomp off indignantly, I thought of a way to also tell Ayla she was fine in my own way.
I stopped Aslan.
“Aslan! Wait a second. There’s something you can take with you.”
**
At that moment, Ayla was busy beating herself up—just as Minerva had predicted.
Why did I ask something like that?
She’d been wandering around this house all day, and yet it hadn’t occurred to her that Aslan’s father might not live here.
The headmistress always hated kids who couldn’t take a hint.
Ayla had been in the orphanage for as long as she could remember.
The headmistress there would always hit the children.
Every time, she would say:
You clueless, stupid thing!
From then on, Ayla realized—stupid children don’t get loved.
So Ayla learned to be perceptive.
She believed the only reason she’d been lucky enough to be adopted by Lloyd was because she had been perceptive.
That was why she never let her guard down, never got too comfortable, always watching herself so Lloyd wouldn’t abandon her.
Even so, sometimes Lloyd would give her a pained look, as if her efforts still weren’t enough.
So Ayla studied even harder.
It was difficult, exhausting, and gave her headaches, but the more her tutors praised her to Lloyd, the more she believed he wouldn’t abandon her.
That was how she had lived for the entire year since her adoption—
Not stupid, always perceptive.
But now, drunk on the kindness Minerva had shown her, she had asked a thoughtless question.
If only she could take the words back.
She tried to make up for it by opening a book, but her eyes couldn’t focus on the page, and she slumped in defeat.
That was when she heard a knock.
“Young lady. It’s Flora.”
Flora was the maid assigned to Ayla by Louisa.
What’s she here for?
Did the madam send her?
To scold me for what I said?
Ayla felt nervous, but she answered.
“Come in.”
The door opened silently, and Flora entered with graceful steps, bowing politely to Ayla.
Ayla swallowed nervously and waited for her to speak.
Instead—
“I’ve come to help you get ready for bed.”
Her purpose was completely different from what Ayla had imagined.
Come to think of it, it was already 9 o’clock.
She’d been so busy digging earlier that she hadn’t noticed the time.
Flora needed to tend to her quickly so she could rest too, but Ayla had kept her waiting.
Ayla gave a small nod.
“Please do.”
“Yes. Let’s start with a bath.”
Flora led Ayla to the bathroom.
It wasn’t as large or luxurious as the one in Id’s mansion, but it was clean and tidy.
Ayla sank into the tub as Flora carefully assisted her.
Flora rolled up her sleeves and began washing Ayla’s hair.
W-wow…
In that moment, all her needless worries melted away in the relaxing warmth.
Flora seemed even more skilled than the maids at the Mente estate.
After a pleasant bath, Flora gently brushed Ayla’s hair.
The soft, steady sound of the comb filled the room.
“Young lady, please lift your arms.”
The pajamas Flora put on her had a scent unfamiliar to Ayla’s usual clothes—yet strangely comforting.
“I’ll take my leave now. If you need anything, please call me anytime.”
“Thank you, Flora.”
“Please, no need to speak so formally.”
“I-I’ll try.”
Ayla gave an awkward smile.
She might speak informally to the servants at her own estate, but it was hard to do so here.
The refinement in their manner and speech far outshone that of someone like Deborah, who had been a fallen noblewoman.
Of course, Flora had actually served the imperial princess before, but Ayla had no way of knowing that.
Left alone, Ayla curled up in the soft bed.
It’s warm.
The warmth of the bed made her feel how much the household cared for her.
As expected, the servants must be kind because they take after the madam.
Everyone in this house was kind and gentle.
A house reflects its master.
So this too was thanks to Minerva.
Thinking that made her remember her earlier blunder.
“Ugh…”
Ayla buried herself under the blanket, squirming nervously.
What if the madam dislikes me now?
Even if she was kind, someone like her wouldn’t like a clueless child like Ayla.
Maybe she should just go home now.
But at home, she would be alone…
The thought made her nose sting.
Sniffling under the blanket, Ayla eventually poked her head out for air.
Aslan must be so lucky—to have a mom like the madam.
Even if he was mischievous and caused trouble, his mother always loved him.
Ayla, on the other hand, had never had a mother.
Even having a father was a recent development—and if she counted only the days she’d actually seen him, it might not even add up to half a year.
But Aslan had a mother from the moment he was born, someone who always stayed by his side.
Maybe that was why it was so obvious he’d grown up loved—it overflowed from him.
Aslan probably never has worries like mine.
And then—just like the saying about tigers appearing when you speak of them—the door burst open and a bright voice called out:
“Ayla!”
Aslan came in carrying a pillow.
The moment she saw his radiant smile, Ayla’s eyes brimmed with tears.
Aslan rushed over in alarm.
“Ayla, why are you crying?”
“Aslan…”
Ayla threw herself into Aslan’s arms and began to sob.
“What should I do? I said something stupid… What if the madam hates me?”
Aslan’s voice rose in disbelief.
“Why would my mom hate you?”
“Because I asked something I shouldn’t have…”
“You’re crying because of that?”
“Yeah…”
Ayla nodded.
Aslan hadn’t expected her to cry this much.
Now he understood why Minerva had been worried about her.
He pulled her over to sit on the bed and plopped down beside her.
His small, chubby hand brushed away her tears.
“You don’t have to cry, Ayla. My mom doesn’t care at all.”
“But…”
“Mom said so herself—having only one parent isn’t strange. So she hopes you won’t feel self-conscious either.”
Ayla couldn’t understand.
She’d been taught all her life that having only one parent was strange.
And yet the smartest person she knew was saying it wasn’t—she felt like her world was breaking apart.
Which was right?
What most people said? Or what the person she liked said?
Seeing her hesitation, Aslan asked,
“Ayla, do you dislike my mom?”
