Episode 002
Chapter 1
Except for the fact that the pendant my parents left me was broken, there was nothing particularly special about that day.
I went to work as usual, did my job, and came home after buying some bread for dinner from a bakery I frequent.
Up to that point, it was an ordinary, routine day.
The only thing that differed from the norm was that a young girl was sitting curled up in front of my gate.
‘Who’s that? Don’t tell me she came looking for me?’
First, I cleared my throat softly so I wouldn’t startle the child.
“Ahem.”
She must have heard the sound, because she quickly looked up at me.
I stood a bit away from her so as not to raise her guard and asked,
“What are you doing there? Are you lost?”
“No. I’m not sitting here because I got lost. I came here because I have business at this house.”
The girl stood up and looked directly at me, speaking clearly.
Her eyes sparkled and her expression was resolute. At least she didn’t seem lost or distressed, which was a relief.
“I see. But this is my house, you know. Are you sure you got the right address?”
“No, I’m here to see Luna.”
“Me?”
I pointed to myself and asked, and the girl nodded enthusiastically.
‘How does she know my name?’
I tilted my head in confusion, as I couldn’t recall knowing any kids this young.
“Excuse me for being so forward, but… will you be my mom?”
The girl took a step, then another, and looked up at me with her head tilted back. Thanks to that, I could see her face clearly.
Large, round, pitch-black eyes. Plump cheeks tinged with a slight blush.
Silvery hair tied into neat twin braids and a bunny-shaped backpack on her back. She was an adorably cute girl.
Yes, she was really adorable, but—
“Um… What did you just say, sweetheart?”
“My name isn’t sweetheart, it’s Estelle. Pretty name, right?”
“It is. It’s a very pretty name. But it’s getting dark. Don’t you need to head home now?”
“I want to live in this house starting today—if you allow me. As your daughter, Luna!”
Ha ha ha. Look at this kid. Trying to ruin the peaceful life of a woman who’s never even dated a man before.
“I don’t eat much. I’m good at running errands. I can clean, do laundry, and wash the dishes too. I don’t cause trouble.”
“That’s impressive. Really. But it’s quite late now. Don’t you think you should go home? It’s too late to be playing outside.”
“I’m not joking!”
“Okay, okay. I understand. But you should go home now. I’m too tired to walk you back. Bye now.”
“Ah, wait a moment!”
I felt a small warmth cling tightly to my leg. But I coldly peeled the child off and went inside, locking the door.
Knock knock knock!
“Please listen to me! I’m serious, really!”
‘She must have a guardian nearby, right? No way she’s out alone at this hour.’
Bringing her inside might’ve made me look like a kidnapper.
Her guardian would come for her eventually. I came to that conclusion easily, then washed up, ate my bread, and lay down to sleep.
The next morning, thankfully, the girl was gone.
‘She must’ve gotten home safely, right?’
I thought that was the end of it. That my brief connection with the child had ended there.
“Hello! The weather is so nice today. Perfect weather for adopting a clever daughter, don’t you think?”
“Would you take a look at this? It’s a list of errands I can do! Just give me any task. Once I turn six, this list will be twice as long!”
“Don’t you think Luna and I look alike? I believe that’s fate!”
My house. My workplace, the tailor shop. Even the bakery I frequent.
Estelle popped up wherever I went, persistently clinging to me.
If she hadn’t been a five-year-old girl, I would have reported her to the patrol squad long ago.
‘She’ll give up eventually… eventually…’
I kept trying to reassure myself. But Estelle did not give up.
A week, two weeks… she kept showing up, begging me to become her mother.
In the end, I was the one to raise the white flag.
“Sigh… Fine. I give up.”
“Hooray! That means you’ll be my mom?”
“No, listen till the end. Let’s have a serious talk, okay?”
I took Estelle to a bench in a more secluded spot.
I handed her a sandwich and began to speak sincerely.
“Why me? Why do you want me to be your mom? Have we met before?”
“Yes. We met before, at a time Luna doesn’t remember.”
Estelle nodded with a lonely and wistful look, uncharacteristic of a child.
If she were around ten, I might have considered it seriously. But she was only five, so I couldn’t bring myself to treat her seriously.
“Anyway! I’m not asking to be raised for free. I’ll provide my own living expenses.”
“And where are you going to get money?”
“Just a moment.”
With the last bite of sandwich stuffed into her mouth, Estelle pulled a slip of paper from her pocket and held it out to me.
“Here! Take it!”
“What is it?”
Could it be real money? A check? An inheritance left by her deceased parents?
…Those were the kinds of things I imagined as I unfolded the paper, only for my strength to drain instantly.
It was just a piece of paper with some numbers written on it.
“You’re still young, so maybe you don’t really understand what money is…”
“It’s a lottery number. You know the lottery they sell at the plaza, where you pick your own numbers? These are the winning numbers for this month.”
“What?”
“You have to buy it with these exact numbers before the end of this month!”
“Do you even know what a lottery is?”
“Yes! This month’s first prize is 10 billion Luche! That’s more than enough to raise one kid, right?”
It was more than enough. You could raise ten, even twenty kids with that. Assuming you actually won, of course.
‘She seems oddly mature for her age…’
I sighed lightly as I looked at the neatly written numbers.
“Alright. If I win with these numbers, I’ll raise you. But if I don’t win, you stop following me. Got it?”
“Really? Promise! You promised!”
“Yes, I promise.”
I made the pinky promise with Estelle thinking there was no way these numbers would win.
‘10 billion Luche? Does money like that even exist?’
That’s definitely what I thought at the time, but—
“Congratulations on winning the first prize! You’re the sole winner this month, so the full prize of 10 billion Luche goes to you!”
It actually won?
—
Was this a dream or reality?
I still felt dazed, like I’d been struck in the back of the head.
“10 billion Luche… I really won…”
Walking out of the bank, I felt like I was walking on clouds. Nothing felt real.
‘Maybe I’m dreaming?’
Just as I absentmindedly reached for the pendant around my neck—
“Luna!”
A small figure came running up to me, arms spread wide to block my path.
She looked up at me with a face full of anticipation and excitement and asked,
“What happened? I was right, wasn’t I? First prize—mmph!”
“Hahaha! Estelle, didn’t I tell you? Lottery wins don’t happen to just anyone. Unfortunately, you’ll have to give up on that new doll.”
I quickly pulled Estelle into a hug and covered her mouth, gesturing for her to be quiet.
‘There are too many people watching the bank right now!’
This was 10 billion. Not one billion, not even ten—ten billion!
And of course, a few people who overheard Estelle were already looking at me. Some were even whispering to each other.
‘Did they hear? No way… right?’
