Chapter 10

But it was what I expected.

Marquis Corel was so very anxious about his health that he could not stand any threats to his well-being.

He was a person who was seriously afraid of getting sick and dying every day.

Even in the original work, when an employee bumped into him while carrying trash, he tried to kill himself and ran wild.

The logic was that if a mouse had eaten the garbage, it would have passed the germs of the mouse to him and he could die.

To describe it in a word, it was a ‘disease’.

But a coughing human from an area where an epidemic had spread… 

“Of course, the child belongs to the Forest! I really don’t care. Today’s trial is over!”

A deep frustration crept over Viscount Puterio’s face.

It was a situation in which the outcome of this trial would determine whether his life would be revived or fall into hell.

Besides, how confident was he that he was sure of his victory?

As if hearing a death sentence, Viscount Puterio shouted in complete devastation.

“M-Marquis, please reconsider!”

Viscount Puterio crawled on the floor and hung on to the hem of Marquis Corel’s trousers.

The marquis was astonished as if he had seen a cockroach.

“Let go of me! Can’t you let go!”

“How are you so cold-hearted? Isn’t the relationship we’ve been dealing with for a while… Keuk…!”

“The deal with the Viscount is over forever. I was reluctant to meet you from the beginning because you were from an epidemic area, but you brought the disease!”

Marquis Corel’s face turned red. His anger went all the way to the top of his head.

“If this isn’t an intention to kill me, then what is it! Give the Viscount an order of exile and a fine of 1 billion gold for trying to kill me!”

“A billion gold?!”

“If you don’t pay the fine, you will be tortured and have to toil for the rest of your life until you pay it back!”

Viscount Puterio cried out in despair.

“Marquis! You can’t do this to me!!!”

Marquis Corel cried out in disgust.

“Hey, get the Viscount out of here!”

The marquis’s guards rushed in and dragged Viscount Puterio out of the way.

“Marquis, please…! Please save me! Argh, let go, you bastards!”

* * *

‘Huhu, I’ve succeeded.’

I hummed out of the scene

Marquis Corel would probably suffer from trauma for several months due to his personality. Viscount Puterio would pay the price for the sins he committed with his sharp tongue and cruel hands.

Most of all, I was most happy that I didn’t have to send Sislin away.

Now it was her turn to keep her promise to Madam Mimosa with a fresh heart.

That evening.

At the end of the three-day time limit imposed by Madam Mimosa.

I visited her room with Sislin.

“I’m here to keep my promise, Madam.”

Madam Mimosa glanced at Sislin with her stern golden eyes.

I was nervous and swallowed my saliva.

By my standards, Sislin was now in a very clean state.

“Sisl, the Viscount who tormented you will never come back here again. So now, you only have one person left to defeat.” 

“… Who is that?”

“Yourself!”

‘You are afraid of water.’

It was no longer a problem with the viscount, but a problem with the boy himself.

Sislin understood what I was saying and had a determined expression on his face.

After a while.

The Sislin that came out of the bathroom was really soft and shiny. Enough to be impressed with him.

Black hair that smelled good. Smooth, white skin. And neat small hands and feet.

He was said to be the blood of the royal family, but if the baby appears to have dignity, was it my illusion…?

‘It’s clear that there’s a Gwanggong buff.’

To me, Sislin was so pretty, but what about Madam Mimosa?

Soon after completing a sharp, emotionless scan, Madam Mimosa said,

“Perfect.”

Oh, I did it!

An indescribable joy flashed across my face.

“As promised, I’ll pretend there was no corporal punishment.”

“Yes, madam!”

“But if you break the rules again…”

The golden eyes shone sternly.

“Keep in mind that I will never let you off in that situation.”

As soon as I got out of Madam Mimosa’s room, I hugged Sislin and stomped my feet.

I liked it so much.

“Sisl, you don’t have to hide anywhere anymore! Let’s make friends, eat delicious food and get along well!”

“…”

Sislin’s ears turned red for some reason.

“Thank you, Annette.”

I laughed softly.

“You don’t have to thank me. Wouldn’t it have been impossible without the courage of the Sisl?”

I liked the clean and soft feeling, so I kept touching his hair.

My chest was filled with joy.

‘Do I think the first goal has finally been achieved?’

I initially set two goals.

First, to let Sislin live comfortably in the Forest like other children.

Second, to make Heinrich and Sislin get along well.

Now that Sislin could live freely in the forest, all I had to do was focus on improving the relationship between the little ones.

‘After that, the extra shall leave.’

I just had to wish them a happy ending from afar and enjoy it.

Huhu, just thinking about it made me feel comfortable and cool.

But, before that… 

“Sisl, your hair is too long, so I need to cut it. It keeps stabbing you in the eyes. I’ll cut it!”

“…Huh?”

“I’m going to borrow scissors. Sisl, go to the hideout first.”

Annette left those words and ran out alone into the hallway in haste.

Sislin, who was left alone, looked at the hallway where she had disappeared and placed his hand on his chest.

He felt a strong heartbeat.

…What was this feeling?

The scent of the girl lingered on the tip of his nose. A soft and warm fragrance resembling the scent of lilac. Even when she wasn’t here, it felt like her body scent was seeping into his lungs.

“……”

As he glanced through the window, where the light was suddenly pouring in, a gentle spring breeze flew past, making the boy’s long hair flutter.

It was the first time. Such excitement.

When he remembered her round, light green eyes, it was as if he could hear her lively voice carried by the wind.

“Now you’ll stay with me, Sisl.”

The boy licked his lips and thought back to those precious words.

“Stay… together.”

All of a sudden, his ears became as red as ripe summer apricots.

‘I promise you too, Annette.’

‘Wherever you are in the future, I will always return to your side…’

The boy tried calling her name. The tip of his tongue touched the roof of his mouth twice as long and fell apart.

When he said it, his whole mouth became sweet.

“Annette…”

* * *

“Come on, customer, please sit down. How would you like your hair to be cut?”

I held silver scissors and asked the seated Sislin.

‘Don’t just blink, please answer, customer.’

“What? Cut the bangs that poke your eyes? You want a handsome and cute hairstyle!”

“….I just.”

“Yes, I’ll just make you look really cute and handsome!”

In front of me, who acted as a hair salon manager, Heinrich said while sitting on a high railing.

“Cut it roughly. No matter how you cut it, he would look like a baby beast.”

“…Heinrich.”

When I opened my eyes slightly and gave her a ‘look’, Heinrich’s purple eyes shifted away as if he didn’t like it.

“Sister only needs to cut my hair.”

“Hmm, I cut both Julien and Sasha’s already?”

The arrogant, unflinching eyes under the silver hair narrowed.

“It’s not like that.”

I nodded as if I understood it roughly.

‘What’s different?’

‘The jealousy of little ones is…’

Then I licked my upper lip with my tongue, and concentrated on cutting his hair.

I really wanted to cut these shaggy bangs once.

Snip, snip–

In the midst of silence, only the sound of breathing and hair being cut could be heard. I felt better for now reason. Perhaps because his black bangs were falling. Looking at the face of a boy who had his black eyelashes spread out like a fan…

“Open your eyes.”

At my soft whisper, the boy opened his eyes.

His eyelashes slowly lifted, and his red eyes looked at me.

It was the first time I had seen his eyes closed so close. My face was reflected in the boy’s eyes.

“Pretty.”

At that moment, Sislin whispered. Then he smiled faintly and wrapped a hand around my cheek.

“Annette.”

I stared blankly at Sislin.

‘…Oh my God, look at that smiling face. If you grow up just a little bit, you’ll seduce everyone in the world.’

With a spoonful of surprise and a spoonful of bewilderment, I spoke a little gibberish.

“…What? Because it’s not pretty at all, me.”

“Hey!”

Kudangtangtang– Just then, Heinrich pushed his butt into the chair Sislin was sitting on.

With Sislin, who was suddenly thrown out, beside him, Heinrich arrogantly folded his arms and lifted his gaze.

“Move away, it’s my turn now.”

“…Heinrich, it hasn’t been long since you had your hair cut.”

“No, look! My hair is so long, it’s messy.”

It didn’t look like that at all.

Still, I had to give some attention to this fellow.

“Okay, Heinrich.”

Snip–

When he saw me cutting into the air, Sisin had a strange expression, but I quietly asked him to pretend he didn’t know.

Then I made a scissoring sound on every side of his head.

“Okay, that’s it. Our Heinri.”(TL/N: her nickname for him… which I might have overlooked a few times in earlier episodes, sorry about that!)

I showed him the mirror and smiled.

“How is it?”

In the mirror, a boy with silver hair and purple eyes examined his own face.

Did he notice?

I was feeling a little nervous, but Heinrich raised the corners of his lips in satisfaction.

“…Now it’s worth looking at.”

‘Heh heh, you stupid idiot.’