Chapter: 05
But unfortunately, we didn’t have that much time.
A short while later, someone visited our secret hideout that had been kept under wraps. Like a bird of prey before snatching its meal with its talons, her golden eyes gleamed as she spoke.
“Hiding in a place like this like a rat?”
—Lady Mimosa!
My tiny heart dropped to the floor. In that instant, I felt all the blood drain from my feet.
“Annette. I’m truly disappointed.”
“……My lady.”
Lady Mimosa spoke coldly, holding a sharp switch.
“I trusted you because you were a model student who never caused a single problem.”
Gulp—
A dry swallow escaped me from the tension. The worst-case scenario I had only imagined in my head became reality, and I felt like I was about to panic.
“…….”
Cysleine seemed frightened too, his breath growing hot. He had already received severe corporal punishment from Lady Mimosa before.
‘What do I do? I wasn’t supposed to get caught now.’
I still hadn’t overcome his ‘water trauma,’ and I had no way to naturally return him to the forest either.
At this rate, he’d get hit with that switch……!
And what came next was obvious. Cysleine, who had barely started to open his heart a little, would retreat back into his shell, and the situation would become much worse.
Lady Mimosa looked around the hideout, tapping the furnishings with the tip of her switch.
“All the things in here are stolen too. Cysleine…… committing such impertinent acts.”
At her chilling gaze, I was startled and hid Cysleine behind my back, shouting.
“Cysleine did nothing wrong! It was all me!”
“Annette. I know you have a warm heart and care for the trees, but you shouldn’t just protect him unconditionally.”
“It’s true, my lady. Please believe me…… I beg you.”
“Cysleine has already broken eight school rules. I cannot forgive him.”
Ah……. One more was added. Because of me.
“He already threw a tantrum about not wanting to wash and ran away into his burrow. You know how worried the teachers were, don’t you? ……How many times have I emphasized that you must obey the school rules?”
In the forest, harsh punishment follows for children who cause problems.
“Step aside.”
Sure enough, Lady Mimosa pushed my shoulder aside and swiftly swung the switch toward Cysleine.
Swish!
Ahhh, it’s going to hit!
That switch must hurt so much……!!!
Instinctively, I pulled Cysleine into a tight embrace, turning my back to her and shouting.
“Cysleine isn’t throwing a tantrum—he’s afraid of water!”
Lady Mimosa’s switch stopped in midair in an instant. But her stern golden eyes still showed no intention of forgiving us.
“Annette, regardless of the reason, the fact that Cysleine broke the rules doesn’t change.”
“…….”
“If you don’t step aside, I’ll have no choice but to punish you together with him.”
With my young body, an adult holding a sharp switch was terrifying. But I couldn’t back down.
Because of his trauma, Cysleine was trembling like a puppy that had been caught in the rain all day, and I could feel every tremor from within my arms.
I was trembling and scared too…… but I bit my lip, squeezed my eyes shut, and forced them open wide.
“I’ll take responsibility and fix him, my lady.”
“…….”
“I’ll make sure he washes properly, doesn’t run away, and follows the school rules!”
I played my trump card.
“If I fail…… I’ll accept punishment together with Cysleine.”
As if reading my resolve, Lady Mimosa’s eyebrow arched sharply. In that expression, I sensed stern suspicion mixed with a hint of interest.
“Cysleine has always failed to adapt to the forest and caused problems. Do you think that’s possible?”
“Yes, my lady.”
I nodded firmly with clear, unwavering eyes.
“Getting punished now will only make him more scared and make him hide even more. You know that too, my lady.”
Startled, Lady Mimosa’s cold expression cracked slightly. She knew it too, after all—that punishment would only make things worse in the long run.
“I’ll give you three days.”
Three days was too short……. But there didn’t seem to be any room for negotiation.
‘I’ll make it work no matter what.’
I stopped worrying and nodded with determined eyes.
“Yes, my lady. I promise.”
Only then did Lady Mimosa lower her switch. What a relief.
“Clean up this room and return Cysleine to the living quarters.”
Huff—I succeeded in persuading her!
“But as punishment for breaking the rules, Annette, you will go without dinner for three days. As for Cysleine…….”
Lady Mimosa scanned Cysleine’s frail limbs and said.
“Make sure to supplement his nutrition promptly.”
“Yes, my lady!”
Going hungry was nothing—I could endure it. As long as my little one was safe.
Hearing my vigorous reply, the lady finally left our hideout.
“Whew…….”
My tense body collapsed like a burst teddy bear.
Only then did Cysleine slowly lift his head from my embrace. His ruby-red eyes were filled with the boy’s anxiety.
“Annette.”
I gently stroked his small head.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine, Cysleine.”
And I gave him a bright smile.
I stayed with the anxious Cysleine for a while longer before heading down to the living quarters.
‘Maybe this is actually for the best.’
When he returns to the forest, he’ll have a warm bed and good food to eat. At least we avoided getting hit today—that alone was a huge relief.
The problem was overcoming Cysleine’s water trauma within the tight deadline of three days…….
‘Let’s think of a method.’
Surely, I can help him overcome it.
Alright! Let’s do this!
Filled with positive energy, I opened the door to the living quarters.
The little ones, each tucked snugly into their small beds, saw me and beamed, waving their short little arms.
“Annette!”
“Big sis! Siiiiis~”
“Today’s a little cold. Achoo!”
Julian, with his fluffy blond hair and big, lake-blue eyes, sneezed and a little snot bubble popped out.
“Huh? It’s because you left the window open. You guys will catch a cold. Let’s close it!”
“Yes!”
The children answered brightly and worked hard to close the window.
I rubbed my nose. I felt like I held absolute power. Hmph, being twelve is thrilling—the best!
I wiped Julian’s nose and walked over to Hinley’s bed.
“…….”
Hinley was sitting facing the wall, clearly sulking. It was what he did when something bothered him.
Sob sob, such a cute little guy!
“Hinley—”
“…….”
“Where did our good Hinley go?”
I pretended not to see him even though he was right in front of me, calling out for Hinley.
I could see his soft, squishy cheek twitch. Then he spoke with a pout.
“I heard you got punished with no dinner? ……Eat that or don’t, I don’t care.”
It seemed he had quickly read the notice board where punishments were posted.
Where Hinley pointed, there was a soft piece of bread.
Growl—
Seeing the bread made me incredibly hungry. I took a big bite, and it felt like it melted in my mouth.
With my cheeks stuffed full of bread, I mumbled in unclear pronunciation.
“It’s so delicious, Hinley.”
“……If I’d known you’d like it, I would’ve threatened to kill the bread guy and demanded more.”
“Ahh! You can’t do bad things like that!”
“Put me to sleep. I’m tired.”
When I tried to scold him, Hinley quickly changed his tune and whined.
I nibbled on the bread as I pulled the sheet up to Hinley’s chest as he lay in bed. Then I patted his chest.
Like a cat being stroked by its owner, Hinley’s violet eyes quickly softened.
At times like this, he really was an angel.
For a moment, my heart melted like pudding, but I asked the question that had been nagging at me.
“Hinley, be honest with me. Did you tell someone about Cysleine’s room? ……That hideout—only you, me, and Cysleine knew about it.”
“What? That can’t be!”
Hinley’s eyes narrowed like a mischievous cat.
“You know how much your sister hates bad kids.”
The shadow I saw in the hideout corridor was definitely a child’s silhouette. If not Hinley, who tipped them off?
‘Which brat could it have been?’
I scanned the living quarters with suspicious eyes, but I couldn’t pinpoint any particular child.
……There wasn’t anyone who specifically disliked me.
I hope this doesn’t keep interfering with my plans.
I needed to cure Cysleine’s water trauma as quickly as possible and return him to the forest, and I had to get along well with Hinley.
For the happy future of Hinley—my favorite—and Cysleine—who had become precious to me—both steps were absolutely necessary.
So what came next was important.
Even if someone tried to interfere, I absolutely couldn’t stop.
‘My first impression was a bit bad, but kids tend to get close when they play together often.’
Of course, Hinley’s jealousy was far worse than I expected, but there was a way.
I poked Hinley’s shoulder with my index finger and said.
“Hinley, I like you the most. You know that, right?”
The classic “Mommy had another baby, but she still loves you the most” strategy!
I smiled brightly with clear eyes, and Hinley’s cheeks instantly turned red as plums.
“……!”
His formerly sulky eyes softened as he closed them.
“Hmph.”
Then he grumbled.
“Of course.”
I should have heard what came after, but because Hinley turned over, I didn’t quite catch it.
“I like you the most too, sister.”
His whispering voice was so small and tender.
“……So I won’t let anyone take you away.
The next day.
From morning, I was kneading something with my hands and ran to where Cysleine was.
What I had prepared to overcome his water trauma was, well—
“Ta-da!”
A pink stick with a rounded end.
Cysleine stared blankly at the stick and asked.
“Annette. ……What’s that?”
