“From now on, I guess I have to think about it.”
“…….”
“If you want, you can go back. The real Isabella is dead. Whatever I do from now on won’t concern you.”
At my words, he wiped his face with a tired expression and replied firmly.
“Why wouldn’t it concern me? The order I received is to safely escort Lady Isabella to the Count’s estate in the Imperial Capital. If you insist on living as Isabella, then I must follow my order.”
“…….”
“Do you really think you can do it?”
“Whether I can or can’t isn’t important. I have to do it.”
Seeing my gaze toward the inside of the room, Hugh asked again.
“What about that child?”
“For now, it’s best to take him back to the temple by carriage. Oliver’s condition isn’t good.”
As I stepped inside, he followed. When I picked up the feverish Oliver in my arms, I instinctively almost dropped him, but Hugh took the child from me.
“I’ll carry him.”
Watching him stride toward the carriage, I looked down at my trembling hands.
Soft, pale, and completely uncalloused, Isabella’s hands were too delicate to even hold a child.
“You’re not going?”
At Hugh’s pressing question, I finally took a slow step forward.
The carriage that carried us sped toward the temple.
“My goodness, there was a robbery? And the child’s sister is dead?”
Hearing the news, Priest Bio’s face twisted in shock.
“That’s why I told you not to go there. You don’t know how dangerous it is, my lady. The place is filthy and crude, and the people are violent and barbaric.”
“Priest, please, could you look after the child first?”
Interrupting his rambling, the priest’s expression turned reluctant.
Glancing cautiously at the child, he finally spoke.
“I understand your compassion, my lady… but if the child’s only guardian is dead, even if he survives the immediate danger, it will be difficult for him to survive there until adulthood.”
“So?”
“So, even if we use divine power to bring down his fever, it wouldn’t matter. Returning there, the chance he survives to adulthood… is minimal.”
So the noble divine power should be reserved for more worthy causes. His excuses were always the same.
A memory surfaced. On the day of the festival for the goddess, I had once seen a lord and his daughter greeting their people from afar.
She wore beautiful, dazzling shoes and had barely taken a few steps before she staggered as if her feet hurt.
That day, the priest had bent without hesitation, pouring his divine power to ease her aching feet.
“Priest.”
At my call, he sighed.
“My lady?”
“I want to leave the child in the temple’s orphanage. Of course, I’ll act as guardian until he comes of age.”
The priest’s eyes widened. I ignored Hugh’s intense gaze as I continued.
“And I’ll cover all the costs.”
The temple orphanage offered far better conditions than the slums. Meals and a bed were provided, and at least basic literacy could be taught.
By the time he grew up and left, he could even enter a theological school with recommendations, or make a living by copying texts.
‘Even if I can’t return, the child will have a path to survive.’
The priest’s eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together.
“My lady, your compassion is truly admirable.”
“Priest, will you treat the child?”
At my gentle urging, the priest placed his hands on Oliver’s forehead.
White light flowed from his hands into the child. Seeing Oliver’s feverish, pained expression soften, I exhaled in relief without realizing it.
“Truly, the child couldn’t have better luck. Even the deceased woman wouldn’t regret giving her life for you, my lady.”
Before the priest could finish his flowery words, a tiny voice asked.
“Die?”
I turned to the direction of the faint, fragile voice.
Oliver had woken up, his pale face staring at us.
“Who… dies?”
He swallowed his rising tears with effort and asked again, trembling.
No one dared answer.
“May I speak with the child alone for a moment?”
Hugh and the priest silently stepped aside.
Once they had left the room, I quietly approached the crying Oliver.
“Oliver.”
The child turned his head away from my hands trying to wipe his tear-stained face.
Right now, I was a complete stranger to him.
Feeling that truth, a soft ache formed in my chest.
‘It’s okay.’
I forced a smile and called his name again.
“Oliver.”
In a clear, resonant voice, Isabella called his name, but still, he didn’t respond.
“Will you let me take care of you?”
Only then did Oliver slowly lift his gaze toward me.
“Do you remember what happened last night? Your sister came with me to get you, right?”
Perhaps recalling a faint memory, the child nodded slightly.
“I’m a friend of your sister Rebecca. My name is Isabella.”
Rebecca.
At the mention of the name, tears welled again in Oliver’s eyes.
I wanted to tell him that I was alive, that he didn’t need to cry.
‘No.’
It was better for him not to know, to ensure his safety.
And if I couldn’t return to him in the future…
‘Then he must be able to survive on his own.’
I remained silent and embraced the small child, smaller than his peers.
Through his thin clothes, I could feel the sharp outline of his spine.
“Did our sister… really die?”
“Most likely.”
At my brief reply, his small body trembled.
“Listen, Oliver. Rebecca worried about you until her last moment. I brought you here to the temple on her behalf.”
“…….”
“All I could do for Rebecca was bring you here. Then, Oliver, what do you think you can do for Rebecca?”
Oliver’s eyes widened at my question.
The child, surprised, stared at me, then stopped crying and thought.
Finally, he spoke seriously.
“To… live well?”
My heart ached.
‘Yes, live well, Oliver.’
Every morning, I had told myself that as I left for work.
I forced a smile and nodded.
“That’s right. You understand.”
I fiddled with his worn sleeves and continued.
“From now on, you’ll live in the temple orphanage. You’ll have a warm bed, meals, and learn to read and write.”
Even if the orphanage accepted him, adapting wouldn’t be easy. Some might look down on his background.
Surviving hardships would be entirely Oliver’s responsibility. I couldn’t help with that.
So I hoped he would do well. At least until I return.
If I couldn’t return…
“Learn to survive, Oliver.”
Only then could I worry less and do my best to return to him.
As the child listened in silence, I took a few steps back and waved my hand in the air.
“Worthy.”
Calling the name, a blue wolf with a chill of water appeared.
I spoke to Oliver, who couldn’t take his eyes off the spirit.
“This is a water spirit. It will be by your side, whether you’re happy, or too tired and troubled.”
The wolf, now small like a puppy, approached and licked his feet.
A faint smile appeared on Oliver’s face.
“Will you promise to live well until we meet again?”
I forced down all I wanted to say and quietly asked.
Oliver nodded calmly.
“I will.”
The child swallowed his sorrow and smiled.
Seeing his mature, reassuring smile, I finally couldn’t hold back and turned away to hide the tears that welled up.
And I made a vow.
I would survive and definitely return to your side.
