I Became The Mother Of A Worn-Out Protagonist

Chapter 4

 

Afraid that I might be noticed if I stayed, I quickly hid behind the bushes.

“Why did I come here? I probably didn’t want to come for a while….”

The words the child said were vividly remembered, and my heart still felt heavy. And Kardisel, who was sitting in front of the dessert with a pensive expression, seemed different from usual.

“Is it because of me that he has no appetite?”

Feeling somewhat gloomy, I thought I shouldn’t bother the child anymore and decided to leave early today. But then I saw Kardisel looking around hesitantly, as if waiting for someone.

Feeling curious, I gathered my courage and approached slowly. When the sound of rustling leaves reached my ears, the child’s gaze met mine.

I saw enlarged pupils in surprise. He soon averted his gaze, but I noticed bandages wrapped around his knees, shaking on the chair.

Without realizing it, instead of greeting, different words came out first.

“Wound… You’ve treated it.”

The child hesitated as if there were words to say, then nodded.

“It’s warm today. Your cheeks are lightly tinted pink.” Somehow feeling amused, I called the child’s name.

“Kardisel.”

“….”

“Did you wait for me by any chance?”

The child’s shoulders twitched slightly. It was so lovely that laughter kept bubbling up on my face.

“Did it bother you that I disappeared without saying anything?”

The belated words came out with a somewhat feeble denial.

“There’s no way.”

The gaze upon the bright red strawberry atop the white cream seemed shy, as if trying to avoid it.

“Oh, really…. What should I do with you?” I wanted to hug tightly and pat his head, but I knew our distance.

Taking a step back, I spoke to Kardisel.

“You see, Kardisel, I thought you wouldn’t come today.”

“This is where I used to come often. So, just because someone else is coming doesn’t mean I should give up my spot.”

I nodded firmly at his sharp words. Then, I gestured to the empty chair beside Kardisel.

“Then, can I sit next to you?”

But immediately, a refusal came from the child’s lips.

“No.”

Even though it should have hurt my feelings, strangely, my heart melted like sugar dissolving in water.

“Then, is it okay if I stand behind you?”

“Up to you.”

“Thank you, Kardisel.”

The child didn’t respond to my gratitude.

Nevertheless, because it was okay, I quietly hid among the bushes as usual.

Only then did the child start eating the dessert, and I watched from behind.

The child, who was already cute, seemed even cuter today, making me keep laughing.

I quietly watched Kardisel again today.

The difference from before was that I wasn’t sneakily watching, but confidently looking at Kardisel.

The soft cheeks, the fidgety lips, the golden eyes as bright as the sun, and even the curly silver hair.

If there were a cutest child competition here right now, Kardisel would undoubtedly have won first place.

“…Adorable.”

Kardisel was still adorable today. I watched the child for a while.

As Kardisel sipped the tea, swinging the legs that didn’t reach the ground, he then hopped off the high chair and walked away after glancing at me.

I wanted to say something, but Kardisel didn’t respond to my words. Except for when exchanging greetings.

“Hello, Kardisel.”

As I approached and greeted, the child nodded curtly.

When he nodded, his soft cheeks moved, which was cute.

And now, before leaving, he even glanced back at where I was.

I thought this was quite an improvement.

Returning from watching Kardisel, I was busy looking over the invitations that had arrived from the aristocrats. Even though Sherry wasn’t much involved in social activities, invitations piled up, probably because of her aristocratic status.

“Bother. And I’m busy. I don’t even have time to see Kardisel, so let’s just go to the garden.”

I was busy copying and pasting the politely written rejection messages like a pro.

If Daisy hadn’t suddenly spoken, I wouldn’t have made any mistakes.

“Madam, are you getting closer to Master Kardisel?”

“What are you talking about? We’re just slowly becoming friends.”

Pausing my response for a moment, I widened my eyes in puzzlement.

Then Daisy let out a deep sigh.

“That. That notebook madam’s so fond of.”

I looked at the pretty gold-embossed notebook piled among the invitations.

And I asked, oblivious to what was strange about it.

“Why the notebook?”

“…The content seems like it’s approaching someone whom nobody wants to approach.”

I vigorously shook my head in denial at that statement.

Daisy seemed clueless. I confidently finished the wording of the invitation and brought the notebook.

There seemed to be no problem with it.

I opened one side of the notebook.

“See. It’s just listing Kardisel’s cuteness. It’s not like there’s anything he wouldn’t want to see.”

“Well, that’s not it. Just show it to him. It’s just a list of the young master’s cuteness. There’s nothing you shouldn’t show him.”

“Well, okay.”

“Okay. Let’s muster up the courage. Surely, he won’t dislike it, right? Plus, I can use the notebook as an excuse to start a conversation.”

Nodding to myself, I looked at the notebook.

I felt Daisy’s gaze on me as if she were watching me intently.

Daisy used to find me intimidating at first. But now, it seemed like she had completely stamped herself as a doting mother.

“Although Sherry’s cold image has distanced herself from me… Is it okay for her image to change this quickly?”

I tried to imitate Sherry’s demeanor as much as possible whenever Kardisel was involved. Or rather, I acted in a way that had become familiar to me, rather than intentionally imitating her.

Other servants besides Daisy had mentioned that the atmosphere around me seemed more relaxed than before, but there were still some who seemed uneasy.

But it seemed okay for now. There weren’t too many obvious changes in my daily appearance.

As I looked over the nearly finished responses to the invitations, I handed them to Daisy.

“I’ve only responded to important invitations, so please send them to the mansion.”

“Yes, madam.”

Except when talking about Kardisel, Daisy usually acted like a competent maid.

“Well, it should be fine. Besides, the important thing now is how to start a conversation with Kardisel using this notebook as an excuse. Do I have some free time today?”

Glancing at the clock, it seemed like I had some time to spare.

I slowly got up. Since I didn’t know where Kardisel usually stayed other than the garden, I thought I might wander around the mansion.

Or maybe I should go to Kardisel’s room.

“Wait, Kardisel’s room?”

At the sudden thought, I stood still for a moment and looked around. My heart wasn’t calming down.

A room full of Kardisel’s tastes was definitely expected! Without any hesitation, I immediately headed in the direction where Kardisel’s room might be.

I had heard about its location while handing over gifts and letters.

Although I hadn’t seen the inside of it.

Perhaps Sherry hadn’t even stepped foot into Kardisel’s room. So, I wouldn’t know the interior.

“Would it be decorated with colorful wallpaper? Or would it be filled with children’s toys?”

I felt excited for some reason, wondering how Kardisel would be playing in his room.

***

I stared at the door of Kardisel’s room.

“What should I do? I’m so nervous that I can’t open the door.”

My heart was pounding. After taking several deep breaths, I knocked on the door.

Then I heard rustling from inside.

“Who’s there?”

“K-Kardisel’s in his room!”

Even though it was a natural fact, I was surprised, not knowing what to do, so I clasped my hands tightly.

Then a sharp voice came from inside.

“Hey. Who is it?”

The voice was cold. It was different from Kardisel’s voice, which had a short tongue and was eating dessert.

I felt moved.

As expected, our son. His pronunciation has improved so much in such a short time.

While I was feeling moved alone, the door opened, and I saw the curly silver hair.

I greeted the child visible through the crack of the door.

“Hello?”

Click.

The door was closing firmly.

I quickly called out to Kardisel.

“W-Wait, Kardisel.”

“Why?”

“I came to show you something.”

The child gave me a guarded look from behind the door. It was cute, like a wary cat looking at a stranger.

As I looked at him with determined eyes, Kardisel reluctantly sighed and opened the door.

“Fine. Come in.”

I cautiously entered my son’s room.