ICTV - Chapter 44

 ICTV - Chapter 44

I Changed The Villain

“You’re late. Did something happen? Miss?"

"Never mind."

I stood in front of the chicken coop. At the sound of my voice, the weasel curled up in a corner slightly exposing its belly. I opened the chicken coop door went in and hugged the weasel. The weasel was dragged out obediently.

“The food is here.”

"Thank you."

After coming to this mansion, the weasel gained weight and grew in size, but his personality was very gentle. Weasels are usually fierce. Is it because he's still so shocked that he's so calm? 

It was when I was gently stroking the weasel's soft belly with my fingers.

“What do you think? Animals also have slightly different personalities. He might be a very, very rare, well-behaved kid.”

I picked up small pieces of food and put them into the weasel's mouth. The weasel lay down on my lap and slowly chewed its food.

“Wouldn’t it be fun if all people and animals were the same? Right now, the dog next door to us is really annoying to people. The cat in the house next door really likes people, so it seems like he sticks his head out every time a guest comes.”

After eating it from my hand a few times, the weasel seemed to have developed an appetite and got up and buried its face in the food bowl. I watched the weasel swallowing its food hungrily.

“After all, people and animals all have different personalities.”

"Yes. Sometimes it’s so different that I wonder if it’s okay to be this different.”

I scratched the weasel's back. Something else came to mind in Rika’s words.

'Even if I don't show cuteness, my parents love me.'

'Huh?'

‘It’s not your fault. It's your parents' fault.'

That kid whose thoughts were so different that I doubted that she was the same person. Before meeting Da-seo, the name of the only girl who paid attention to me was Seo Eun-hwa. When I was in my third year of high school, my class split up and I lost contact with Eun-hwa because she was focusing on her studies, but what she said was very impressive. 

I was worried again. Why was she so nice to me? 

I haven't done anything to that kid.

"..."

“Oh my, you’re so cute.”

Tuk. 

At that time, food fell from two cute pink feet. The weasel's eyes were half closed as if he was falling asleep again. I forgot what I was thinking for a moment due to that murderous cuteness. Is this why people like animals? 

I hugged the weasel. The weasel naturally snuggled into my arms.

“I guess the weasel really likes the Lady.”

Rose really had no choice but to ask.

 "...Why?"

I haven't done anything special for him either. The moment I thought that, Rika spoke with a knowing look on her face.

“Both animals and people have different personalities.”

Rika sat down in front of me and touched the flower.

“We have one thing in common.”

“What do we have in common?”

“You like people who are by your side.”

“Is that so special?”

“Of course it’s special. It is also a difficult task.”

Rika put her hand into her apron and took out something.

“In the past and now, the only person next to us who listens to us is the Young Lady.”

What Rika took out was none other than a rose flower cookie in a pale red container. Rika's cheek, which was holding it out, was also tinged with light pink at some point.

“Do you remember the Lady? For the first time meeting the lady until then, you were just my family.”

“How could I forget that?”

When I and Rika first met, Rika knew only her family. Even though she doesn't even know herself.

“It was a contradictory life, saying I did not have the luxury of buying my own clothes, but having the luxury of buying clothes for my family. But I thought that life was right.”

Her neighbors praised her as the number one daughter-in-law, and her parents said that the daughter who listens well makes life easier.

“He complimented me by saying that it was so nice that the atmosphere became brighter as soon as I came home from work. I was so proud and proud of myself. But one spring day, while I was cleaning the garden, tears suddenly came to my eyes. Miss, at that time, do you remember what I said?"

"Of course. How could I forget that."

I and Rika recited exactly what they said then.

“Miss, life is so hard.”

I looked at Rika. What she said while crying back then, she was saying with a smile now.

“I can’t even imagine how difficult it was for me back then. How can I say something like that to a Young Lady? And what happened? Ah, the Lady told me. Independence is not that grandiose. Well, even after hearing that, I couldn’t come to my senses, so I lived as a slave in that house for a while.”

Rika shrugged her shoulders.

“At least not now. Unlike before, when I smiled out of obligation, now I only smile when I want to.”

Rika stretched out her hand and helped me up. Rika and I stood facing each other. Not as a nobleman and a maid, but as the same eldest daughter.

“I don’t know the details of what’s going on with you.”

"..."

“But I know this. You are such a wonderful person.”

In life, even though it is clearly someone else's fault, the guilt is strangely my own. There is a situation. No matter how independent you are, there are situations where you need someone to help you out of the water, and there are also situations where you want to return the help you received from others. 

Rika shouted loudly.

“Cheer up, My Lady!”

I looked at Rika. Rika spread her arms and shouted again, not caring about what other people were thinking.

“Cheer up, My Lady!!”

The reason I listened to people around me all this time was because when they told me that Edgar was a good person, I couldn't forget those words.

“Cheer up, My Lady!!!”

Because it was what I wanted at the time. 

My eyes grew hot. I hugged the weasel's warm body tightly. I was so miserable when I cried alone in the temple prayer room, but now I just felt relieved.

The weasel looked at me with puzzled eyes and then buried its face in my arms again. Transparent tears fell down my pale face. 

Ji-hye was a dry child and greedy at the same time. Because there were so many things I wanted to have other than talent.

I wanted them to pay attention. I wanted them to love me. I wanted them to give me a warm look.

I subconsciously wanted it, but I could never reveal it. I resigned myself to the thought that no matter how much I said it or tried to be vague, I would never have a blunt daughter. 

So, as always, I hid it deep inside and decided that, like talent, I would never be able to solve this problem.

But Rika immediately encouraged me by saying that it had been a while since I made that conclusion. I am busy these days.

I muttered the words I had hesitated again.

“Why am I like this?”

The question I asked Belial last time was also asked again. However, this time, not to others but to myself.

“Since when on earth did it start?”

The giving up and resignation that had been the norm in my life began to crack, and sincerity and greed came out between them. 

I let out the question I had for the first time in my life.

“Maybe I wasn’t the problem?”

It's a question I asked other people without hesitation, but it was a question I could never ask myself. A question I thought I didn't even deserve. It is still just a seed, but once planted, it will inevitably bloom and bloom one day.

I thought that no matter how talented I was, I might be able to solve this question. 

I asked.

“Am I really pathetic?”

"No, Miss. It’s a very natural thing.”

Rika made direct eye contact with me. Rika's eyes were sparkling just as much as mine. Rika held my hand tightly.

“We are people, not dolls.”

Yes. Unlike dolls that have to wear only the clothes their owner wants and make the facial expressions they want, we can change as much as we want. Because we are not dolls, but human beings. Living, breathing, with determination, breaking the mold, and running to live a slightly better life.

Although it was already too late, I said to myself that I was glad I realized it now.

Eun-hwa, you were right.

A lovely daughter is not the only daughter. If you're going to treat your blunt daughter as a failure and make her feel guilty, you shouldn't raise your child.

My heart, which I had been unable to change for so many years, was overturned. The thoughts of wanting to die still persisted, and the thoughts of myself being pitiful still persisted, but half of them were completely overturned. Everyone said in unison that things could never change.

But, like Belial, who suddenly changed one day. I held Rika's hand.

"...Thank you."

Rika responded shyly to my sincere gratitude.

“Hey, thank you. What did I do."

“No, you really…” .”

'It's not just special to you, is it?'

My mouth closed reflexively.

"Miss?"

Was this what he meant at that time? Then Belial...

At that time, Rika suddenly held out something.

"Eat this. Because crying also drains a lot of energy.”

It was the rose cookie she took out of her pocket earlier.

"...It sounds delicious.”

“If you want to cry more while eating this, you can cry more.”

"Thank you."

I shook my head.

“But it’s okay now.”

“Then next time you feel like crying, call me. I will definitely be by your side.”

No matter how irrational things are, the world can still be harmonious. Even though it may not be reasonable, it might be thanks to a word full of warmth.

The moment I thought that something soft touched the back of my hand. The weasel rested his nose on the back of my hand. It seemed like he was craving cookies.

“You can’t eat this.”

I'll give you something else later. When I lifted the cookie up, the weasel immediately resigned and turned his head. Rika looked at me with curious eyes.

“He really looks like a Young Lady.”

"Okay?"

“They say pets and their owners look alike. By the way, Lady. I think I'll have to give this kid a name soon. What do you think?"

Clearly, you can't keep calling it a weasel. I nodded. Rika clapped her hands.

“Think of a good name for this trip. When you see beautiful scenery and eat delicious food, a good name will definitely come to mind.”

“... I think so too."

The question is whether this kid can endure this long. I bent my upper body to be at eye level with the weasel. The weasel was still thoughtless.

“For three days only, you will not be able to eat or eat food given by others.Can you do it?”

And there was no answerback. Me too, what do I expect from animals? 

The moment I thought that, Rikq spoke.

“It’s okay, Young Lady. If you speak sincerely, both this child and your animal will understand what you are saying.”

"Huh?"

“He knew like a ghost how to make people hate him and how to make them happy. Sometimes it's much better than people, right? Let’s take an example.”

I nodded.

“There is a saying that, unlike humans, animals repay kindness when they receive help. Actually, I didn't believe that..."

Rika, who was looking through her memories, spoke brightly.

“The cat that lived in front of us once asked the owner’s grandmother for a mouse to repay a favor. The owner's grandmother was so shocked that she dropped the bowl she was holding. Then, from the next day, do you know what he brought back?"

“What did he bring?”

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