~Chapter 113~
IF Side Story 2
Catherine forced a smile and gently held Aisel’s hand, leading her to sit in a chair.
“Sit here.”
“…My name is Aisel.”
She spoke hesitantly.
At that moment, Aisel’s stomach growled loudly.
Her dry little face flushed red like an apple.
“Are you… hungry?”
Catherine glanced at her and carefully asked.
Aisel answered in a tiny, trembling voice.
“Yes…”
Feeling sorry for her, Catherine spoke kindly.
“You don’t need to use polite speech. We’re the same age.”
“But…”
“It’s fine. I’ll bring some food. Just wait a little, okay?”
She hurried into the hallway and asked for snacks.
Soon, a maid returned with a cart full of sweet desserts and tea.
“Here we go…”
Catherine personally pushed the trolley over and set everything on the table.
But just as she was about to tell Aisel to eat, her eyes fell on Aisel’s shabby clothes.
“…Oh.”
Even the Ernest family’s maids would never wear such clothes.
The fabric looked so worn, it seemed like it would tear just by touching it.
Her hands and feet were covered with scratches and dirt—signs she had done hard labor at the orphanage.
“If you can wait a little longer, how about changing clothes? And taking a bath too.”
“…Ah.”
Aisel lowered her head, embarrassed.
At the orphanage, everyone was dirty, so she never felt ashamed.
But here, in such a polished, luxurious place, she felt it for the first time.
“Come, this way.”
Catherine suddenly grabbed her hand.
Aisel’s eyes widened.
She hadn’t expected someone to hold her filthy hand so easily.
“M-my hands are dirty…”
She tried to pull away, but Catherine gripped her tighter.
“They’re not dirty.”
And she led her to the bathroom.
She filled the tub with warm water using magic stones and added fragrant oils.
A rich, luxurious scent filled the air.
“Take a bath.”
Not wanting her to feel embarrassed, Catherine prepared a soft towel and robe, then stepped out.
After a while, Aisel came out in a robe.
“Um…”
Catherine returned with a clean one-piece dress.
“You can wear this.”
She helped Aisel put it on herself.
“Now then, let’s eat.”
She guided her to the table.
“It’s just past breakfast, so… let’s start with sweets. Then we’ll eat a proper lunch later.”
There’s no girl who dislikes sweets.
Catherine filled Aisel’s plate with many treats.
Not knowing what to eat first, Aisel hesitated, then suddenly stuffed bread into her mouth, eating quickly.
At the orphanage, she had never been able to eat enough.
“Shall I give you cold tea?”
“Ah, I…”
She swallowed the bread, and her eyes went straight to the fresh milk on the table.
She had only rarely tasted milk before. And even then, it was spoiled—but still new to her.
Just once, she had wanted to drink cool milk in big gulps.
“Can I… drink milk?”
“Of course.”
Catherine immediately poured her a glass.
Aisel drank it in one go.
“Haa…”
Without realizing, a satisfied sound slipped from her lips.
After eating many sweet desserts, Aisel glanced at her nervously.
“But… why are you being so kind to me?”
She fiddled with her fingers, then spoke again.
“That person earlier…”
She remembered Alicia, who had hit her before, and her shoulders trembled.
“Are you done eating, Aisel?”
“Yes? Ah, yes.”
“Then there’s somewhere we need to go.”
Catherine smiled gently at her.
“Where?”
Taking her hand, Catherine immediately led her away.
If Aisel had no time or place to bathe, wore ragged clothes, and was starving…
“Here.”
Her angelic mother would be heartbroken.
Catherine knocked softly on Diana’s door.
“Mother, it’s me.”
“Catherine!”
The door opened wide, and Diana greeted her with a bright smile.
But then she noticed Aisel, standing shyly at Catherine’s side.
She was startled—the child looked so much like her.
“You are…?”
“Mother.”
Catherine took Aisel’s hand, stepped inside, and locked the door.
“This girl’s name is Aisel. And…”
She spoke slowly.
“They say… she’s your real daughter.”
“…What?”
Diana tilted her head in shock.
Catherine was still young, but she wasn’t a child who would joke about such things.
“What do you mean, Catherine?”
“I’m sorry, Mother.”
She apologized and then knelt down in front of Diana.
“Catherine!”
Diana hurried to lift her up, but Catherine didn’t move.
She began to recount everything she had seen and heard today.
Hearing it all, Diana let out a small breath of shock.
“How could this be…”
“I’m not your real daughter, but an illegitimate child… And the one who gave birth to me committed such a terrible sin…”
She tried to hold back her tears but couldn’t. They poured out.
“Even if you hate me, I thought I had to tell you the truth.”
At those words, Aisel looked between Catherine and Diana in surprise.
“…Catherine.”
Diana thought for a moment, then spoke.
“I need to confirm this, but… you have done nothing wrong.”
“Mother…”
“My love for you hasn’t changed.”
She pulled both Catherine and Aisel into her arms.
“I only have one more child to love, that’s all.”
Looking at both girls, she said:
“Thank you for trusting me with the truth, Catherine. And nice to meet you, Aisel.”
“Really… are you my mother…?”
“Stay here for now, both of you.”
Her face turned cold as she stood.
“I will find out the truth.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone that I was the one who told you.”
“Good.”
Diana gave a faint smile.
“No matter what happens, I will protect you both. So don’t be afraid.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Catherine smiled brightly at her.
But just then—
Diana’s hand, full of anger, accidentally struck the teapot on the table.
The pot tilted and fell to the floor.
‘Huh?’
Time seemed to slow.
But instead of shattering, the pot rolled on the floor.
And tea kept pouring out endlessly.
“What… is this…”
The water quickly filled the room, rising to Catherine’s ankles.
And before she knew it—Diana and Aisel were gone.
Breathing hard, Catherine felt something terribly wrong.
“Huff…!”
She opened her eyes wide with a gasp.
Water rippled below her knees.
She must have dozed off and dreamed.
“No… Impossible…”
Her trembling hands touched her face.
She was no longer ten years old—she had the wrinkled face of an old woman.
“No! Please, make me go back…!”
“Crazy woman.”
Alicia and Calypso, trapped with her, shook their heads.
“Mother, I was wrong… Mother…!”
Shaking with regret, Catherine could only scream.
