Chapter 91 - Childhood (3)

"Well, I guess that's how I became a part of the Lein Family." Ayami touched the blue flower growing out in the garden of the Lein Family.

Ayami and Celine were currently taking a walk in the garden. It was getting stuffy inside so they decided to take a walk while Ayami was telling her past.

***

On her first day, Little Ayami was asked to rest in her room. A servant told her that she would greet her other relatives in the evening.

When evening came, the servants dressed her up and led her to the function hall.

Once again, their gazes fell on her, making her feel intimidated. The room had more people compared to earlier.

There were a few kids around her age, the others were older than her. The servant escorted her to a table where the patriarch was seated, along with a few important-looking people and a teenager, who seemed indifferent.

Oujiro glanced at her before turning his gaze away. The others also ignored her, like she doesn't exist.

'Look, that's her.'

'I wonder why the patriarch brought her here.'

A few people whispered to each other. Ayami looked down, she fidgeted with her fingers. Her lips were quivering for a bit as she whispered to herself.

'Mommy… Daddy…'

After a few minutes, the door to the function hall closed. Oujiro stood up and cleared his throat.

"Now that everyone is here, I would like to introduce our new family member." Oujiro dragged her up to the chair to stand up. The family members clapped, except for the indifferent youth.

He let her go abruptly, making her lose her balance and almost falling down to the floor. Luckily, she didn't fall down, instead she sat down unintentionally.

Ayami saw with her own eyes as the old man grabbed a tissue and wiped his hands.

Ayami lowered her head. All she wanted was to go back home, where her mother and father was.

Why did she need to stay here?

It was something she could not understand.

"Let's make a toast for our new relative. Let's enjoy ourselves today."

Oujiro raised his glass and toasted with the others. This went on for a while. Ayami felt bored. Nobody was talking to her, much less approach her.

They were avoiding her like she had some kind of virus and it was making Ayami feel glum.

Meanwhile, the youth, which the others deemed as the heir, remained seated. Apparently his name was Shun. He was her cousin.

Among the others his age, he really stood out, making him suitable to be the heir.

Shun stood up and quietly left the function hall. Oujiro didn't say anything about it.

Seeing that, Ayami decided to follow him. She stood up and followed after him; nobody stopped her.

Shun went to the garden with Ayami following behind him.

"How long are you going to follow me?" Shun asked in a cold voice, making Ayami flinch.

"I… I am not following you!" Ayami pouted and continued to explain. "We are just going in the same direction."

"Whatever." Shun turned away and continued his walk. It's not his business whether she follows him or not, as long as she doesn't do anything like assassination, which was a common occurrence in this household. He experienced it so many times that he could not count.

Soon, this child will also experience that. He hoped that she would survive a month here or maybe it was better for her to die than to live in this hellhole.

Shun stopped right in front of the greenhouse built inside the garden. This was the place where his most beloved aunt liked to stay. This was also the place where they often played around.

"Kid." Shun turned around, the little girl was still following him. "If you have any big troubles that you can't handle yourself, come to me. I'm always around here at this time. Do you understand?"

Ayami nodded her head.

"Good. Now, then, I'll give you a test whether you're suitable for the Lein family or not. Go back to your room safely. That is your first test."

"Okay." Ayami nodded her head even though she only understood a little bit of it. But first, she asked for directions before she embarked on a journey to her room.

Naïve Ayami didn't know that there were many dangers lurking around the shadows. If one was not careful, it would cost their life.

The first one, she luckily avoided stepping on the trap that was placed on the pavestone. The second one, she tripped on a tripwire, due to her small stature, she managed to avoid getting stabbed by the sharp knives that flew out of nowhere. The same thing happened over and over again until she reached her room.

Perhaps, this is what you call a beginner's luck.

Of course, Shun was watching her from the shadows. He was amused seeing her manage to avoid all those deadly traps with luck.

That is to say, she successfully completed her first test.

Ayami spent her night alone. She missed her mother and father. She wondered how long it would take to see them again.

And so, she drifted to sleep while thinking about that.

The next day, she was awoken by the servants, asking her to prepare for the day. She was told that she was to attend a private class—exclusive only to the children of the Lein—from a renowned teacher, along with cousins about her age.

She was lead to a room that was set up like a classroom. There were four children beside her.

"Hm. It seems like we have a new student joining us. Would you introduce yourself, young miss?"

"Um… I'm Ayami… Lein." She felt uncomfortable saying a last name different from her parents.

"Very good, now sit down."

Ayami sat down on the empty seat. The teacher took out a test paper and started passing it to the students.

"Now, before I begin my lessons. I would like to know your capabilities. Start answering the questionnaires. You have 10 minutes." Of course, she already knew the other's capabilities, she just doesn't want the new student to be left out.

Ayami looked at the test papers. She could not understand any of it. She lost all her colors, knowing that she will fail.

10 minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

The teacher collected the papers. That was when she noticed the blank papers from Ayami. The teacher frowned as she asked Ayami.

"Young miss Ayami, why did you pass a blank test paper?"