I Ended up Raising the Children of the Protagonists

“Liev likes candy, and Josef likes books!”

 

“Okay?”

 

“Huh!”

 

I listened to the children and winked at the maid who was standing behind her. The maid immediately understood what I said and left her room. When she returns, she’ll bring an armful of candy. ainswain Manor was too large to be explored in one day. The children started whining as if they were tired from walking, so I brought them to my bedroom.

 

Josef looked at the book on the bookshelf and slightly opened his lips. I liked sweets, I liked books, we were all the same. He was really the same as his younger brothers. Josef, who was looking at a book on the bookshelf, opened his mouth.

 

“That’s why Liev’s teeth rot all the time.”

 

“Not all the time.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Seeing the kids bickering with each other made me laugh. Even though the names they call me are different and the names they call each other are different, those children are my younger siblings. Yebin kept her promise to come back, even though it took a long time. Even though he doesn’t remember me, he still faces me like this.

 

“Liev and Josef… get along well.”

 

“Not good!”

 

“No!”

 

The children who answered at the same time looked into each other’s eyes and frowned. A small smile came out at that sight. The maid who went to get her candy came back. Liev’s eyes widened when she saw her maid come with her bowl full of lollipops.

 

“Wow!”

 

“One a day, three if you listen well.”

 

“I’ll listen carefully!”

 

I patted the child’s head as he nodded enthusiastically. Liev bursts into laughter at my touch. I peeled off the candy wrapper and placed it in the child’s hand. When I turned my head to see Josef staring at me, I saw him looking at me with a look on his face that said he wanted to eat too.

 

“Joseph too?”

 

“Huh? Oh, no…”

 

“Then Liev will eat Josef’s too?”

 

“Joseph, can I eat it?”

 

Liev asked brightly, munching on the candy. I teased Liev in a playful voice.

 

“Then Liev’s teeth will rot again.”

 

“I said no!”

 

Lev cried and stretched out his hand to me. He gestured for candy, but he couldn’t give it. I used to do this even when I was young. When I heard that my sister’s teeth were going to rot, Josef purred his lips and held out his hands to me.

 

“Liev, you can’t let this rot.”

 

I smiled and took off the candy wrapper and placed it in the child’s hand. Liev pouted his lips and showed signs of pouting, but I know that he will calm down soon.

 

“Liev, isn’t it delicious?”

 

“Huh!”

 

When asked if it was delicious, Liev immediately smiled brightly. I also looked at him and smiled. I feel like I went back to my childhood. I bit the inside of my lip at everything I saw on the children’s faces and in their every action. I had to work hard to calm my trembling.

 

“But Marchen.”

 

“Huh.”

 

Hiding his agitated heart, he answered Liev’s call. Liev munched on his candy, took it out of his mouth, and tilted his head.

 

“Where are my mom and dad?”

 

I held my breath for a moment at that question.

 

“Liev!”

 

“Ainz said that! If you come here, you can see Mom and Dad! I told you so!”

 

I took a deep breath as I heard the children fighting. On a young day when I was returning from a field filled with chrysanthemums, I spoke to the children who were asking about their parents. We can see it when we go to the house of the relative who was supposed to take care of us. I lied and added that if you listen carefully, you can meet him, so many times. Then the younger brothers stopped crying and waited. Liev cries out, holding the candy tightly. Tears began to fill my eyes, like raindrops forming on violets.

 

“I don’t have a mom or a dad…”

 

“Yebin… Liev, Liev, no, don’t cry. Don’t cry.”

 

He quickly changed the child’s name and approached Liev. Josef, who was sitting next to Liev, was also biting a piece of candy with a face that looked like he was about to cry. I picked Liev up and patted him on the back. Liev asks, shaking away tears filled with tears.

 

“Why not?”

 

That question overlaps with memories from my childhood. I closed my eyes tightly, opened them slowly, and opened my trembling lips. I wanted to raise my voice, but it didn’t come out. Why did this situation happen the same way? I rubbed my face against the child’s head and shook his head. I need to say something rude, but no words come out. My heart was filled with frustration. I felt a hand grabbing the hem of my clothes.

 

“Are you abandoning us?”

 

Josef’s question made me feel like I was wandering in space. Holding Liev, who was sobbing and crying, he bent his knees and made eye contact with Josef. He raised one hand to wipe away the tears from the corner of Josef’s eyes, but the tears that were filling up ended up running down his cheeks. She caressed the child’s cheek and exhaled thoughtfully.

 

“How much do your parents love you? How much do they love you?”

 

I paused for a moment, my voice shaking, and then continued.

 

“Your parents love you so much that they abandoned you…”

 

Josef was also embraced in his arms. I stuttered and whispered a sentence that I couldn’t finish. My arms were big and the children’s bodies were small.

 

“He went on a long, long journey and left me here. I guess Ainz didn’t tell me the most important thing.”

 

He briefly kissed Liev and Josef’s foreheads and stroked their hair. He gritted his teeth and tried to calm his trembling lips at the smooth feel of her fingertips. After traveling and repeated lies, I take out what I gave away again. Josef wriggled and raised his head.

 

“Really? Mom and Dad, you didn’t abandon us?”

 

“Yes. Of course.”

 

This time, how should I tell you the truth? I gently hugged Liev and Josef’s backs and whispered once more.

 

“Of course.”

 

My voice becomes a thorn and pricks me.

 

* * *

 

The younger siblings were allowed to stay in one room together. If you stay away from an unfamiliar place, you will feel anxious, so I told them to do so. Yebin and Yeban. I can’t call my younger brothers, who are more precious than anything, that anymore. Still, since we met like this, I held her hand and she did not regret coming here.

 

I left the children’s room after seeing Liev and Josef asleep. I almost screamed and woke up the children. Ainz Rainswain, I don’t know what he was thinking, was standing in front of the door. I calmed my startled heart and opened my mouth with difficulty.

 

“Did you come here for some reason?”

 

“How have you been?”

 

“As you can see.”

 

With this, our conversation ended. Red eyes are looking at me. I couldn’t guess the meaning in those eyes, so I averted my gaze. The silence that seemed like it would never end was ended by Ainz’s voice.

 

“The Marquis of Hawes is held by the children’s grandfather, His Excellency Lepaz.”

 

“We decided to pass on the title to the children when they grow up and come back.”

 

I didn’t know if I should thank him for telling me about the Marquis’ situation without even asking. I wondered what it would be like to face Ainz Rainswain, but surprisingly, I felt nothing. Ainz opened his mouth again, wondering what he thought of me choosing to remain silent.

 

“His Excellency asked me to take good care of the children. He asked me to tell you this.”

 

I smiled at those words.

 

“Don’t worry. I will take good care of the children.”

 

Even if those children weren’t my younger siblings, I would have taken care of them. Even though Marchen’s memories and emotions bind me, I was not Marchen. The red eyes looking at me seemed to move slowly, and Ainz nodded her head slightly.

 

“Thank you for saying that.”

 

Unlike the words “thank you,” there was no emotion buried in those words. Feeling that the smile on my face was distorted, I quickly wiped it off.

 

“If you have nothing more to say, I will leave first.”

 

Ainz moved his steps next to her to make it easier for me to pass by. I was truly grateful for his consideration. When I returned to my room, I sighed heavily and wiped my face. It had been a long time since Marchen had used her room with Ainz. That’s why I didn’t see him anymore today. Ainz Rainswain never visits Marchen unless it is for something special. My employees didn’t look down on me or ‘Marchen’ because I shared a room with Ainz. Rather, I felt like they were watching me often. They probably feel sorry for me. I sat down on the bed and rested my head on the headboard. It wasn’t the reunion I dreamed of, but I met my younger siblings. That’s enough.

 

A laugh that was almost like crying came out. She said she wanted my happiness. Did the woman who sent me know that things would turn out like this?

 

“Lady!”

 

An urgent voice was heard outside. As soon as I had given permission, the door opened and her maid came running in.

 

“You and the master…!”

 

At the maid’s words, I jumped up from my seat and ran out of the room.

 

—————————————————————

Translator Note: