Terdeo ran out and returned with Phineas. According to Phineas, Aillette was suffering from severe malnutrition and her immune system had become very weak. I don't know how she made it here, but she had a high fever, indicating a difficult journey. After taking all possible measures, Terdeo said he would contact her parents, but I stopped him. It seemed better to observe the situation after she woke up before making any calls. The fever continued for a whole day. I stayed by Aillette's side all night, taking care of her personally. She might be startled by strangers when she wakes up. Terdeo and Phineas, along with Selphius, offered to help, but since the task involved wiping down the feverish girl's body with a towel, I had to do it myself. On the second day after she collapsed, her stomach growled loudly. Aillette finally opened her eyes, drawn by the inviting smell of food. She blinked her drowsy eyes and sniffed the air.
"Delicious... smell."
"Feeling better?"
I was startled by her suddenly opened red eyes but asked calmly. I placed the tray of brunch on the table.
"......!"
Aillette, perhaps worried that someone would take the food away, sat up abruptly. I approached her and gently pressed her shoulder.
"It's okay, lie down."
The fever seemed to have broken after all the effort of the night.
"Do you know where you are?"
"Here......"
Her memory seemed hazy as she looked around nervously with wide eyes, like a small fawn being hunted.
"This is the Laphreon Duke's mansion."
"Ah, Laphreon mansion?"
Aillette pulled the blanket up to her nose, her eyes darting around in fear. Though I have no talent for dealing with children, I decided to do my best.
"Um... hello first."
After all, the first thing is to greet.
"Do you know who I am?"
Aillette hesitated and then nodded. She whispered timidly.
"Is... is my mom here too?"
"No."
I could see Aillette visibly relax.
"I haven't contacted them yet. I thought it would be better to wait until you wake up. ...By the way, did you come here alone?"
Aillette nodded shyly, looking around cautiously. I tried to sound as gentle as possible, given her tense attitude.
"I see, coming alone is quite impressive. Where did you come from?"
"Mayali."
Mayali was a small suburb that took over a week to reach by carriage. It was too far for such a small child to come alone. Her stomach growled loudly again. Aillette blushed and clutched the blanket.
"I'm sorry......"
What was there to be sorry about? Aillette, who had been cautiously watching me, hastily added.
"If I drink water, the sound won't come. I'll drink water quickly."
Why was she so intimidated? Her voice was barely audible.
'You're hungry, not thirsty.'
Aillette tried to sit up to look for water. I watched her for a moment and then brought the tray of brunch to her bed.
"Why drink water when you're hungry? You need to eat."
"Huh?"
"I'm sorry. I should have given it to you as soon as you woke up. You must have been very hungry after sleeping for two days."
Aillette looked at the luxurious brunch on the bed with a surprised expression. She swallowed hard.
Since she had eaten, I decided to clean her up later. Aillette kept looking around, worried that someone might take the food away. Her appearance was pitiful. The food disappeared quickly. She licked her lips with a regretful look at the empty plates. She seemed about to lick the sauce off her fingers.
"Sauce on your fingers isn't for eating."
I spoke softly so as not to startle Aillette and wiped her hands and face with a handkerchief. Aillette nodded but couldn't hide her regret. I chuckled and got up from the chair, resigned.
"A true lady should finish with dessert."
"Dessert?"
"Right."
I picked up the empty tray and opened the bedroom door. A waiting maid took the empty tray and handed me a tray of desserts. I brought the tray of desserts back to Aillette's bed.
"Can you eat this too?"
Burnt caramel sauce on milk pudding, a large strawberry on a cream cake, soft soufflé pancakes, and chewy brownie cookies. The small pieces were just the right amount for her to eat.
"Here, pudding with a spoon, cake with a fork."
I taught Aillette how to use the utensils and sat back in the chair. She seemed quite full and slowly ate the desserts as I had taught her. She seemed to enjoy the sweet desserts and finished all of them. I cleaned her mouth with a handkerchief after putting away the tray.
"Oh, the sauce spilled on your clothes."
When I looked at her dirty clothes, Aillette also looked down at her clothes in surprise. In fact, her clothes were already very dirty even without the sauce.
"This won't do."
I put down the handkerchief and said firmly. Aillette shivered.
"Would you like to take a bath?"
"......Yes?"
"Immersing yourself in a clean, fragrant bath will make you feel refreshed. Let's take a bath, okay?"
I smiled at Aillette and got up. I opened the bedroom door and spoke to the waiting maid.
"The lady will be bathing now. Prepare everything immediately. Use the best of everything."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"And change the bed sheets since they're dirty. Oh, and the bed seems a bit hard, so put a softer blanket on it."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Throw away the clothes and shoes she was wearing and prepare new ones. Contact the nearby boutique shop and have them bring everything. I'll pay for it, so don't worry. Also, bring some dolls that the lady might like."
Finally, my money is being put to good use.
"And tell everyone that the lady has woken up."
Everyone was eagerly waiting for Aillette. The maid nodded and asked.
"His Grace has already sent letters to Sersea and Gloria. Should they be informed as well?"
Gloria is Terdeo's grandmother and a formidable person. She is staying in the capital...
"Yes, do that."
I nodded. Since this involved the Laphreon family, everyone should know.
"By the way, I'll bathe Aillette myself, so don't let anyone in."
"As you wish, Your Grace."
I needed to check the child's body. To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, I didn't want anyone else to enter. After giving all the instructions, I smiled at Aillette. She looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Come on, let's go. Aillette!"
***
"......Can I really wear this dress?"
Aillette fidgeted with the new, pretty dress. Despite her worried tone, she seemed to like the dress that fit her perfectly, and a small smile appeared on her face. With the frilly dress and her hair tied in two braids, Aillette looked like an angel.
"Of course. All the dresses here are for Aillette."
I pointed to the dresses filling the dressing room and smiled. Aillette gasped and opened her mouth wide. She turned her head to look at the dresses. Watching her, I felt a chill. As expected, her body was covered in bruises and scars, especially in places that wouldn't be visible when dressed. I had a vague idea of what this meant.
"I'm so happy Aillette came here. This is a gift from me. It must have been hard to come alone, right?"
At my question, Aillette stopped fidgeting with the dress and nodded cautiously. Her guard was down. I sat Aillette on the soft bed and continued my questions naturally.
"Did you come to see Terdeo?"
Shake. Not to see Terdeo.
"Then did you come to play?"
Shake. Not for that either. As I thought of the next question, Aillette slowly raised her finger. Her index finger pointed at me.
"Huh? Me?"
Nod. Finally, Aillette nodded.
"Did you come to see me?"
Nod. Aillette bowed her head, blushing.
"How did you know?"
Aillette fidgeted with her fingers. Then she whispered in a tiny voice.
"......I received a letter."
"Letter?"
"A letter from Sersea... She said... that you might be the one who could free me from this curse... I read it secretly."
Sersea sent letters? Oh, Phineas mentioned he received a letter from Sersea too.
"She said... that you might be the one who could break the curse... I read it without my mom knowing."
Sersea must have sent letters to the family. But reading it secretly? Even reading a letter requires caution? I frowned.
"Aillette."
At my call, the child looked up.
"Do you live with your mom now?"
At the word "mom," Aillette's shoulders shook violently. She pursed her lips and hesitated to answer.
"Would you like me to tell you first?"
"......?"
"I lost my mom and dad. I lived with my stepmom before coming here. How about you?"
I smiled and extended my hand to Aillette. She hesitated, then clasped her small hands together. She looked around again and whispered in my ear.
"I don't have a dad. I live with my mom, stepdad, and brother."
So her biological mother remarried. I tried not to sympathize and lowered my voice to match hers.
"I see. Aillette and I are similar!"
Aillette nodded.
"Do you and your stepmom get along? I don't get along with mine."
"......Sis."
Aillette called me and fidgeted with her dress. Her hand was sweaty from nervousness.
"Do you... do you get hit by your mom?"
My heart sank. It was shocking to hear it directly from the child, even though I had suspected it. I clenched my other hand into a fist.
"Does your mom hit you?"
Aillette nodded without hesitation and muttered as if it were a given.