“Milady, there will be a disruption to your schedule.”
When the knight voiced his objection, the priest’s face lit up and he nodded.
“Milady’s matters take priority. Far more than the children in the slums…”
“I’ll do as you say.”
My knees ached from pressing against the puddle-soaked floor.
She placed her hand over my shoulder.
“Let’s prepare the carriage. I’ll go myself and bring the child here.”
“Mi… Milady?”
“Since you were going to the slums to check on the child anyway, wouldn’t it make things easier for you, Vio Priest, if I brought the child here?”
At Milady Isabella’s smile, Priest Vio broke into a cold sweat and stepped back.
“B-but we can’t trouble you with such things…”
“You don’t need to worry. It is a joy for me to carry out the teachings of God’s mercy.”
Her gentle voice pierced my ears.
It was the first time in my life I had received someone’s favor without any expectation of return.
Amid the gray, rain-soaked view, only Isabella sparkled.
Leaving the pale-faced, speechless priest behind, the carriage headed toward the slums.
I still couldn’t believe it, staring blankly at the scenery rushing past the window before bowing my head again.
“Thank you, Milady.”
“I hope your brother can get better. Priest Vio may not be entirely pleased, but he won’t ignore a child brought right before his eyes.”
Her words, offered as comfort, spread a warmth through my shivering body.
Breaking the silence in the carriage, I spoke.
“I know this debt can never be repaid, but if there’s anything I can do, I will do it, by any means…”
She looked at me quietly and suddenly spoke.
“Isabella.”
“….”
“My name is Isabella.”
Her fresh green eyes held an extraordinary kindness.
“And yours?”
My name.
Caught off guard, I blinked, forgetting what I was about to say.
At work, I was always called “hey,” “you there,” or “you”; at home, I was “sister” to little Oliver; to the priest, I was just “that one.” My real name.
“…Rebecca, yes.”
It took me a long moment to finally manage to speak, and she smiled.
“That’s a beautiful name.”
It was the first compliment I had ever received.
I rolled my name around in my mouth, then suddenly asked,
“Why did you help me?”
“You said your brother was sick. You came pleading with all the money you had, even knowing you’d be refused. That desperation alone…”
She smiled and glanced out the window.
“I know how painful it is to watch your family dying and be powerless to help.”
“….”
“And besides, I have a younger sibling too.”
Seeing the faint shadow cross her face, I carefully asked,
“Is your sibling…?”
“He’s not sick or anything like that.”
Isabella shook her head with a wry smile.
“No, to be precise, I just don’t know.”
“…?”
“We spent a long time apart, unaware of each other’s existence.”
Still glancing at the pouring rain outside, she added,
“Hearing about your brother made me wonder how mine must be growing now.”
I opened my lips several times, then finally clamped them shut.
I was sure my clumsy words couldn’t comfort her.
Fortunately, before the awkward silence could linger, the carriage arrived at its destination.
Hue’s face stiffened coldly as he surveyed the dilapidated place that could barely be called a home.
“It would be best if you stayed in the carriage. I’ll bring the child out.”
His words, as if the entrance itself were a filthy drain, made my cheeks burn.
Seeing my hunched shoulders, Isabella shook her head calmly.
“We should explain everything first. A child wouldn’t react well if we just grabbed him without context.”
“What does it matter…”
“Ken.”
With a single word, Isabella silenced the knight and pulled the rattling door handle.
The damp, musty smell of mold wafted out.
“Oliver?”
I cautiously called the child’s name, receiving no answer.
I quickly stepped inside toward a worn stool.
“Sister?”
The child slowly lifted his eyelids upon sensing me.
His small face, flushed red from fever, breathed heavily.
‘Thank goodness, it’s not too late.’
If we headed to the temple now, we could surely bring his fever down in time.
“It’s okay, little one. Sister will make sure you won’t be sick for long.”
“Mm…”
The child answered weakly, then closed his tired eyes.
“He has quite a high fever.”
Isabella had come closer and examined him.
“What a beautiful, lovely child. Oliver.”
Her pale, soft hand brushed through his dark chestnut hair.
Humming a lullaby, she called Hue.
“Bring some blankets from the carriage. He’s sweating a lot, so wrapping him in a blanket will be better than letting him wear damp clothes.”
The knight’s face, frozen as ever, passed me and headed for the carriage.
Startled by the sound of the door slamming, I flinched, and Isabella sighed.
“I’m sorry. His behavior was excessive.”
“No.”
If anything, it was my fault for clinging so stubbornly.
“You have every right to be angry. You brought a precious milady to such a squalid place.”
“….”
“I know that a noble should not come to a place like this.”
That desperation was all too clear.
The usual medicine couldn’t touch the fever, and hearing the child mutter nonsense, I couldn’t simply stand by.
Even if I was called shameless or scorned by the knight, it didn’t matter.
As long as I could save Oliver.
Isabella, still looking at me quietly, spoke.
“You should change your clothes. If you stay like that, Rebecca, you’ll catch a cold too.”
I realized only then that my body, soaked in muddy water, was shivering.
“You need to take care of yourself, even while caring for Oliver.”
Her soft voice, coaxing me, made me pause.
Since I became the head of the household responsible for my younger brother, I had always been the one taking care of others, never receiving care myself.
“Hm?”
Prompted by her words, I hesitantly searched the small closet next to the kitchen.
The clothes were old and tattered, but it was better than staying in wet garments.
Just as I pulled out a slightly decent dress, a curious voice spoke from behind.
“It would have been nice if you had something a bit brighter.”
Startled, I stepped back, and Isabella continued with an apologetic smile.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
I managed to calm my pounding heart and replied,
“Bright clothes will only get dirty and worn anyway.”
Pretty, radiant dresses have value only if there is someone to show them to.
I was busy from dawn till dusk; I had no need for such clothes.
“And besides, it wouldn’t suit me.”
“No, that’s not true.”
“Every object has a place where it belongs.”
I added quietly, and Isabella narrowed her eyes, ready to argue.
“Hmm. With your slender figure, Rebecca, any dress would suit you.”
I found myself unconsciously staring at her dress.
Layered frilled sleeves, dotted with radiant pearls, a dazzling pink gown.
It could never suit me, with my dull gray hair and scarred body.
“That’s impossible.”
I shook my head, and Isabella laughed.
Her skin was flawless, like untouched snow on a cold winter day.
Glossy hair, large round eyes, dimples that appeared when she smiled.
Looking at her in awe, she suddenly made a suggestion.
“Shall we make a bet?”
“Huh?”
“You’re saying this dress won’t suit you before even trying it on. Let’s put it on and see for yourself whether it suits you or not.”
“That’s absurd!”
While I jumped in protest, she calmly persuaded me.
“I’m certain this dress will suit you, Rebecca.”
Her sparkling eyes carried a hint of mischief.
She looked me over, almost enviously.
“You’re already very attractive. Slender, lovely eyes, a refined face and straight nose.”
Taking the worn clothes from my hesitant hands, she smiled.
“You’ve never tried one before, so you don’t know how attractive you really are. Even Hue will be surprised.”
“I think he’d be surprised for another reason.”
I could only hope he wouldn’t get angry that someone like me wore Milady’s clothes.
