✧ Chapter 3 ✧
As I looked into the child’s tearful eyes, my own vision blurred.
The only thing that became clear was a memory I had tried so hard to bury deep inside my heart.
I still remembered it vividly.
It was the day my world fell apart.
I was in the second grade of elementary school.
It was Parents’ Day, and during art class, I had carefully folded a carnation with my own hands.
Holding it tightly, I ran all the way home.
“Mom!”
I couldn’t wait to give it to her.
But instead of my mother waiting for me…
There were only five ten-thousand-won bills and a letter on the dining table.
I’m sorry.
Keep this money somewhere safe and use it when you need it.
I made your favorite side dishes, so don’t forget to eat.
I’ll come back for you someday.
Until then, listen to your dad.
But even though I wanted to do what she asked…
I couldn’t.
When I told Dad that Mom had left…
He never came home either.
…
These children had been abandoned by their parents too.
Oh my…
My heart ached.
Why would anyone abandon such beautiful children?
…Wait.
As I thought over their story again, a realization suddenly struck me.
Are these two really Hansel and Gretel?
Their names weren’t Hansel and Gretel.
But maybe the author had simply changed their names.
Don’t tell me… the story only ends if they kill me?
I hoped this fairy tale wasn’t going to end like the cruel original.
I wanted it to have a warm, happy ending.
So, in that instant…
I decided my role.
Until the day their father came back, I would become Kind Witch Hazel and raise them with love.
“By the way… Witch.”
While I was lost in thought, Luna, who had already finished a slice of apple pie, called out to me.
“My name isn’t Witch.”
“It’s Hazel.”
I gently wiped the stewed apples from around her mouth with a napkin as I introduced myself.
“Hazel.”
“Yes.”
“You’re feeding us so we’ll get fat before you eat us, right?”
“Waaah…”
The moment Luna asked that suspicious question, Luka burst into tears again.
“Now you’re going to wash us and roast us in the oven too, aren’t you?”
Even while I fed them and helped them bathe, Luna never stopped doubting me.
Poor Luka had only just stopped crying.
He was happily splashing around in the bath when Luna’s words made him sniffle again.
“Have you ever seen someone roast a chicken with its clothes still on?”
After their bath, I wrapped both children in towels.
The problem was…
I didn’t have any children’s clothes.
So I dressed them in my oversized shirts and tied ribbons around their waists.
“I’ve never roasted a chicken.”
Oh dear.
They really must have come from a poor family.
I’ll make roast chicken again sometime.
“I’m going to clean up now.”
“You two can play with Doggy and Kitty.”
Leaving the children with my furry babysitters, I started cleaning.
I washed their filthy clothes and hung them outside before sunset.
Then I repaired the wall they had eaten.
As I cleaned the dining table, I casually waved my fingers.
The leftover cake floated through the air into the pantry.
The dishes flew into the sink and washed themselves.
The children stared with their mouths hanging open.
“Waaah… that’s scary.”
“Did you turn a person into that broom?”
“But… why doesn’t it have eyes, a nose, or a mouth?”
Luka carefully avoided the broom that was sweeping away their muddy footprints by itself.
Meanwhile, Luna followed it around, poking it with her finger.
For dinner, I made roast chicken with mushroom sauce.
The mushrooms were the ones the girl who ran away earlier had left behind.
I had placed the basket neatly in front of my cottage in case she came back for it.
Since no one returned…
I decided to eat them instead.
I’ll just count it as payment for my gingerbread cookie.
The children devoured the chicken in no time.
But they left every single mushroom untouched.
“Mmm… They’re delicious.”
“They’re chewy and taste just like chicken.”
“Isn’t that right, Mr. Ginger?”
“They look weird…”
“Mushrooms are mold!”
“I won’t eat mold!”
Well…
Unlike the carrot cake, my little trick didn’t work this time.
After cleaning up dinner and preparing for tomorrow…
Night soon arrived.
Owls began calling outside.
Unfortunately…
My tiny cottage only had one single bed.
It was too small for the three of us.
Besides…
The children were still afraid of me.
So I let them sleep in the bed while I slept on the sofa.
“Good night.”
I tucked the blanket around them.
Their sleepy eyes were still filled with caution.
Then I quietly left the room.
Lying on the sofa, I thought about everything that still needed to be done.
They’re picky eaters.
That wasn’t the only thing I needed to fix before their father came back.
“Luna, you should speak politely to adults.”
“We don’t have to speak politely.”
She looked at me as if I had just told her kissing a frog would turn it into a prince.
She seemed completely convinced there was nothing strange about what she had said.
…Wait.
Don’t children in this world use polite speech with adults?
Or am I the one misunderstanding this world’s manners?
The owl outside suddenly fell silent.
The cottage became quiet.
Then…
Soft whispers drifted out from the bedroom.
They weren’t mine.
Nor Daisy’s.
Nor Lady’s.
They were children’s voices.
Suddenly…
My chest tightened.
I really was lonely.
I quietly listened through the half-open bedroom door.
“Noona.”
“What?”
“She… doesn’t seem that scary anymore… right?”
“The witch who eats people?”
“Sniff…”
“Just hurry up and sleep.”
“But… what if she eats us while we’re sleeping?”
“…Then I’ll stay awake.”
Oh dear.
Children needed plenty of sleep to grow.
Even if they caught me listening…
I couldn’t help joining the conversation.
“My stomach is full.”
“You saw me eat all the mushrooms you left behind.”
“There’s no room left in my stomach for you two.”
I heard both children suddenly stop breathing.
I couldn’t help smiling.
“So don’t worry.”
“Sleep well.”
Before long…
The bedroom grew quiet.
Only the steady sound of peaceful breathing remained.
Smiling, I closed my own eyes.
Never imagining…
That the next morning, which was usually so peaceful…
Would begin with an accident.
And tears.
* * *
“Waaah…!”
“Shh! Be quiet!”
I had been sleeping soundly when crying suddenly woke me up.
Hmm…
Why am I sleeping here?
For a moment, I stared blankly at the ceiling.
Then I remembered yesterday.
Jumping up from the sofa, I rushed toward the bedroom.
“What happened?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Why are you crying?”
Luka’s sobbing hadn’t stopped.
As soon as I entered, Luna quickly hid something behind her back.
Unfortunately…
There was no way someone her size could hide a large bedsheet.
“Nothing happened.”
Just looking at her guilty face told me that something had definitely happened.
“Waaah…”
Luka stood beside the bed, rubbing his eyes with his tiny fists as he cried.
Between the two children…
A huge “map” had appeared on my bed.
It didn’t take much imagination to understand what had happened.
Luka had wet the bed.
“Looks like the Water Fairy came during the night and made a little lake on the bed.”
I made up an excuse for him.
Luna tilted her head.
Her eyes widened.
She must have expected the evil witch to grab a broom and punish them.
“Y-Yeah.”
“The fairy did it.”
For a seven-year-old, Luna caught on surprisingly fast.
She immediately played along.
Luka…
On the other hand…
Was still an innocent five-year-old.
“Sniff…”
“I… did something bad.”
“It’s okay, Luka.”
“I’m already five…”
“I’m sorry I wet the bed.”
Has someone scolded him for this before?
Otherwise…
There was no way such words would come from a little child.
“No.”
“You’re just nervous because you’re sleeping somewhere new.”
Children often had accidents like this when they felt anxious.
I gently patted Luka’s head and took the wet sheet from Luna.
While I was holding it…
Luka slowly walked over.
Still sniffling, he tugged on my skirt.
“Sniff…”
“It’s because Lulu isn’t here.”
“You wet the bed even when Lulu was with you.”
“Who’s Lulu?”
“My bunny.”
“It’s his stuffed rabbit.”
“We forgot it at home.”
“Sniff…”
“I miss Lulu.”
“Where’s your house?”
“I’ll bring Lulu back for you.”
I knew teleportation magic.
I still couldn’t move large things.
But a stuffed toy?
As long as I knew exactly what it looked like and where it was…
One snap of my fingers would be enough.
“Really?”
“Our house is over th—”
Before Luka could answer…
Luna quickly covered his mouth.
“Our house doesn’t exist anymore.”
“It doesn’t?”
“No.”
“It burned down.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
“It burned completely.”
“Otherwise… why would we be here?”
“We would’ve gone home.”
Hmm…
Something about that answer felt suspicious.
