When the knight expressed his opposing opinion, the priest smiled and nodded.
"The Lady's work comes first. It's more like a child from a slum..."
"I will."
My knees were sore as they hit the wet floor with the splattering rainwater.
She put her hand on my shoulder.
"Phew, get the carriage ready. I will go myself and bring the child here.x
"Y-young lady?"
"I heard you're going to stop by the slums to check on the child's condition anyway. If I bring the child here, won't Priest Pio's troubles be reduced?"
At the words of the smiling lady, Priest Pio took a step back, shedding a cold sweat.
"Yes, but I can't cause much trouble to the Lady..."
"You don't have to worry. It makes me happy to practice God's merciful teachings."
A friendly voice pierced my ears.
It was someone's unpaid favor that I had received for the first time in my life.
In the blurred vision of the pouring rain, only one person, Isabella, shone brightly.
***
Leaving behind the priest who could not respond with a pale face, the carriage headed toward the slums.
I still stared blankly at the scenery passing by outside the window and lowered my head once again.
"Thank you, Young Lady."
"I wish my younger brother could get better. Although Priest Pio may not be pleased, he will not turn away the child brought before him."
The comforting words spread through my trembling body.
I opened my mouth in the silence of the carriage.
"I know that it will be difficult to repay this debt with anything. But if there's anything I can do, I'll definitely do it..."
She looked at me blankly and blurted out.
"Isabella."
"..."
My name is Isabella."
The fresh green eyes facing me had a very friendly glow.
"What's your name?"
My Name.
I was so stunned by her question that I even forgot what I was going to say and closed my eyes.
At work, I was always called 'hey', 'there', 'you', etc., at home, I always had to be little Oliver's 'older sister', and to the priests, my real name was 'that'.
"...Rebecca."
She laughed at the words I finally uttered after a while.
"That's a pretty name."
It was the first compliment I heard in my life.
I quietly rolled my name around in my mouth and suddenly asked.
"Why did you help me?"
"I heard that your younger brother is sick. Even though you knew you would be rejected, you were desperate enough to come and beg with all your money."
She answered with a smile and added while looking out the window.
"Because I know how painful it is to have a family member dying and not be able to do anything."
"..."
"Besides, I also have a younger sibling."
I asked cautiously, seeing the light shade creeping onto her face.
"Is your younger sibling..."
"It's not like she was sick or anything."
Isabella shook her head with a bitter smile.
"No, I have to say that I don't know exactly."
"...?"
"We've been apart for a long time. Without knowing each other's news or existence."
She added, glancing outside where the rain was still pouring down.
"After hearing about Rebecca's younger brother, I wonder how she would have grown up by now."
I pursed my lips a few times before finally closing them.
It was clear that I wouldn't be able to comfort her with my poor speaking skills.
Fortunately, the carriage arrived at its destination before the awkward atmosphere continued.
Hugh's face turned cold as he looked at the shabby living quarters, which was embarrassing to even call a home.
"You'd better not go in. You're on the carriage. I will bring the child out."
My face heated up when I heard him look at the entrance to the house as if it were a dirty sewer.
Isabella, seeing my shrunken shoulders, calmly shook her head.
"First of all, I have to explain the whole story. If you suddenly bring in a child who doesn't know anything, they'll be scared, right?"
"What does it matter..."
"No."
Isabella silenced the knight with a single call and pulled on the rattling doorknob.
There was a musty smell from the damp moisture.
"Oliver?"
I carefully called the child's name, but there was no answer.
I quickly went inside and walked towards the old stool.
"Sister?"
When the child sensed my presence, his eyelids went up with difficulty. The child's face, which was breathing hard, was red with fever.
"Thank God. It's not too late."
If we head to the temple right now, we'll definitely be able to get the child's fever down in no time.
"It's okay, baby. I'll make sure you don't get sick any time soon."
"Yes."
The child answered weakly and closed his eyes as if he were tired.
"You have a lot of fever."
Isabella came closer and looked at the child.
"He's a pretty and cute kid, Oliver."
Her white, soft hands stroked the child's dark auburn hair.
She hummed a few words that resembled a lullaby and called Hugh.
"Get some blankets from the wagon. It looks like he sweated a lot, so it would be better to wrap him in a blanket rather than wet clothes."
The knight passed me with a stern look on his face and headed toward the carriage.
Isabella sighed as she involuntarily flinched at the sound of the door closing.
"Sorry. His attitude has gone too far."
"No. Rather, if it was my fault, it was on my part, which forced you to have gone. It's natural for him to be angry. I brought a precious Lady to such a place."
"..."
"I know that this is not a place for a noble person to come."
I was that desperate. I couldn't quell the boiling fever with the usual medication, and I couldn't just sit by and watch the child talk nonsense, so I set out on this path.
Even if I was called shameless or looked down on by the knight, I didn't care.
If only we could save Oliver.
Isabella, who was looking at me blankly, opened her mouth.
"You'd better change some clothes. If you stay like this, Rebecca will catch a cold too."
Only then did I realize that my body, wearing clothes soaked in muddy water, was trembling.
"It's good to take care of Oliver, but you also have to take care of yourself."
I stopped when I heard a soft voice soothing me.
Since becoming the head of the household and taking responsibility for my younger brother, I have always been in the position of taking care of someone, but never in the position of receiving care.
"Yes?"
At her urging, I hesitantly began to search through the clothes boxes in the small storage room next to t he kitchen.
It was just old and tattered rags anyway, but it was better than wearing wet clothes.
The moment I took out the stiff one-piece dress that looked relatively intact, a curious voice suddenly spoke from behind.
"I wish you had brighter clothes."
As I took a step back in embarrassment, Isabella continued speaking with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry. I stop without even realizing it..."
I was shocked and barely managed to calm my pounding heart before answering.
"No matter how bright my clothes are, they will quickly become dirty and worn out."
Things like bright, beautiful, pretty dresses only have value if there is someone to show them to.
I was busy working from dawn to dusk, so I didn't need those clothes.
"Besides, it wouldn't suit you."
"That can't be right."
"There is a designated place for each item."
Isabella narrowed her eyes and retorted at the quietly added words.
"Well. With Rebecca's slender figure, I think you'll look good in any outfit, right?"
I unconsciously looked at the dress she was wearing.
A bright pink dress with layered frilly jean sleeves and wide, bright pearls.
There was no way it would suit me, with my dull gray hair and body full of scars.
"It doesn't make sense."
I shook my head and Isabella laughed.
On a cold winter day, my eyes were drawn to her white skin without any scars, like a field of pure white snow that no one had stepped on.
Hair that shines and shines, big, round eyes, and cheeks that curve beautifully every time she smiles.
She suddenly proposed to me as I was staring blankly at her.
"Then shall we make a bet?"
"Yes?"
"Before you even tried it on, Rebecca said this dress wouldn't suit you. Try it on. And let's check with our own eyes whether it matches or not."
"That's ridiculous!"
Unlike me, who jumped up and down, she persuaded me in a relaxed voice.
"I'm sure this dress will suit Rebecca."
"That..."
There was a light playfulness in the sparkling eyes. She looked at me as if she was jealous.
"Rebecca is attractive enough. Slender height and attractive eyes, slender face and high nose."
She smiled as she took the old, patchy clothes from my hesitant hands.
"Because you've never tried it on, you don't know how attractive you are. I'm sure even Hugh would look at you in surprise."
"He might be surprised for another reason."
It was fortunate that she didn't get angry that someone like me dared to wear a lady's clothes.
Try this series too:
- To Help You Understand [Ongoing]
- The Crown I Will Take From You [ New!]
- The Terminally Ill Princess Hold The Least Of A Mad Dog [Ongoing]
- The Fake Daughter of the Brium Family [New!]
- I Have My Enemy's Baby [Ongoing]
- I Ended Up Living Up Next Door With My Ex-Husband [Ongoing]
- The Cup Of Revenge Is In Your Hand [Ongoing]
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