There was no time to ask what was going on. I heard a voice grab me from behind and say, “Ma’am.” But I didn’t stop and ran to the children’s room. As I approached the children’s room, I could hear them crying for the world to go away. Several employees were pacing in front of the person.
“My lady!”
Their eyes were on me. A look of relief appeared on his face. I caught my breath. I walked to the front of the room where the children were.
“Why are you doing this?”
“The young lady and the master…”
Before the maid who came to see me could finish her sentence, I heard a voice coming.
“Ugh!”
It was Yebin’s and Liev’s voice. I also heard Josef whimpering. I quickly ordered the pot to be opened, but the servant shook her head.
“You locked yourself inside.”
“What about the key?”
“I went to get it now, but…”
I sighed softly as he lowered his head and said, “It’s probably going to take some time.”
I guess I was very surprised when I fell asleep in an unfamiliar place and woke up to no one there. But you locked the door.
“Liev, Josef.”
I put my face on the floor and called the children in a whisper. I hoped that my voice would not be drowned out by the children’s cries.
“Do you know who is calling now?”
“Huh, Mer, M, Merchen…”
I’m glad you remember my voice. The crying subsided.
“It’s okay now, so could you please open the door for me?”
I asked, grabbing the handle and turning it. Contrary to what the voice said, I was quite nervous.
“Liev, Josef.”
Hiding my nervousness, I called the children once again.
“Mer, hen, Merchen.”
“Huh.”
“How do I open this…?”
He spoke in a tearful voice, but I bit my lip because I thought I would laugh out loud, which is inappropriate for this situation. And contrary to my feelings, tears formed at the corners of my eyes, so I quickly raised my hand and pressed them.
“Ooh, can’t we go out now?”
“Liev and Josef can’t go out anymore…?”
At Josef’s words, Liev began to cry again. I shook my head. The kids couldn’t see it, but I shook my head and patted my face. Fortunately, I heard the sound of running footsteps from the end of the hallway. It seemed like it belonged to the late Yongin who had gone to get the key.
“No, you can come out, just wait a little bit.”
I turned my head as the sound got closer.
“Ainz?”
I was about to take the key, but Ainz let out a small sigh, found the right key for the room, and opened the door. There was no time for Shadow to say anything or stop him. Big eyes were visible through the open space. As expected, the room was pitch dark. It was a room where no moonlight could enter because the curtains were drawn out of fear that the children would wake up from the sunlight.
“Ainz!”
“Liev.”
Liev, with red eyes, raised her arms. Ain Zgariev was held by the face of a child who was about to burst into tears. Josef, who was wiping away tears next to him, began to shake his shoulders. I came to my senses at that sight.
“Joseph, I was very surprised.”
“Ugh!”
As Josef burst into tears in my arms, Liev eventually began to cry too. Ainz just held Liev, who was crying sadly. I was angry at that sight.
“Don’t be like that, just try to appease him.”
“?”
He didn’t seem to understand what was being said. I comforted Josef and stroked his head while he was in Ainz’s arms. As soon as I touched him, Liev’s crying began to subside. When the children seemed to have calmed down, I asked in a whisper.
“Liev, Josef, shall we sleep together?”
“Huh.”
“Yes.”
Liev and Josef nod their heads at my question. Liev gets down from Ainz’s arms and grabs me. Josef was still in my arms. I lowered my gaze slightly, avoided Ainz’s eyes, and opened my mouth.
“I think I’ll have to sleep with the kids for a while.”
“I understand, ma’am.”
Ainz nodded his head at my words. I patted Josef, who was whining, on the back and turned around.
“Ainz isn’t sleeping with you?”
“Huh?”
I glanced at Ainz at Liev’s wet voice. Ainz was slowly moving towards her opposite direction.
“Mom and Dad slept together.”
“Don’t Marchen and Ainz sleep together?”
Liev’s question was answered with a smile. I held Liev’s small hand and told him to eat some candy and go to sleep. Liev smiled broadly. So I took the kids and headed to the bedroom. I didn’t look back until I reached the minute. Even if you turn around, there will be no one to see.
* * *
I gently stroked the head of Josef, who was tossing and turning. I brushed Liev’s hair back and lay down next to him.
“Marchen…”
“Huh.”
“Good night…”
I smiled slightly and touched Josef’s cheek with my fingertips. Marchen had a dream. A dream of lying in the same bed with his own child, soothing his whining child to sleep. I had a happy dream where the child was digging into the product and I was patting the child on the back and smiling. Suddenly, I can hear the child’s breathing. I achieved what I wanted. Therefore, Marchen’s memories must be buried. The memories of despairing at these children, then reluctantly loving them, and then hating them again, must be buried. I have to take care of my children.
I must embrace my younger siblings, whom I lost without even being able to say hello, into my wide arms so that no one can take them away from me.
I saw the faces of sleeping children until dawn came.
* * *
The bright sun shines on the head and colors the sky. Only when morning came did I feel relieved that yesterday was not a dream. I tidied up the blankets on the children and got up. The sound of my breathing made me smile.
“Hungry!”
Liev woke up, rubbing her eyes, when the maid came to tell her that breakfast was ready. The children’s belly clocks were accurate. Josef stirred and got up. I looked away from the children’s eyes and caressed their cheeks.
“Come on, let’s get up and wash our faces.”
“Marchen, I’m hungry!”
“Hold on a little.”
I washed the children’s faces with my own hands using the wash water that the maid had prepared. The maid was freaking out and said she would, but she shook her head. After gently wiping the moisture from the children’s faces with a towel, I pressed the bridge of Liev and Josef’s noses.
Liev lets out a bright laugh and falls into my arms. When I open my arms to the hesitant Josef, he comes to me with a big smile. I smiled and stroked the children’s heads.
“Did you have a good dream?”
“Yes! Mom and Dad told us to listen carefully to Marchen.”
“Okay?”
“Yes, yes, so I said Liev will listen well. Do you need to praise Liev a lot to Mom and Dad later?”
I nodded, hiding my feelings of being overwhelmed by the child’s words. He cupped the cheek of the smiling child and rubbed her forehead.
‘Liev, your vibrant violet eyes are shining on me.’
“Now, shall we go eat breakfast?”
“Huh!”
“Yes!”
As I left the room, holding my small hand, I listened to the chattering voices.
“Liev hates carrots.”
“No! You’re the one who hates carrots!”
“I eat well, right?”
It’s cute how they tell each other. They say no to each other, but they both hate carrots. I opened my mouth as if to tease the children who were fighting.
“Do I need to eat carrots to grow taller?”
“Same thing as Mom!”
“Dad said the same thing every day.”
I held his small hand carefully as he spoke with his lips pouting. I walked slowly through the corridor, keeping in step with the children. I hope that Rainswain’s skillful chef will not serve food made with carrots.
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
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