I quickly approached the two of them.
Eugene, upon spotting me, panicked and tried to escape, but I swiftly grabbed his hand.
Then, I approached the officer with silver-white hair.
He was a handsome man with striking features, and judging by his hair color, he was definitely an Esatain.
‘The Esatain were a people who lost their country and were massacred.’
Those who barely survived had all fled elsewhere.
I solemnly bowed to the Major.
“Major, I apologize for his rudeness on his behalf. I’m sorry.”
I knew he was a Major from his rank insignia.
It must have been the result of risking his life to reclaim the rights of his lost homeland and people.
Even as a member of another country.
At my apology, the young Major smiled pleasantly.
“It’s alright. He’s just a child who doesn’t know any better.”
“I appreciate your consideration. However, I don’t think we should just let it go because he’s a child.”
The Major’s blue eyes widened slightly, then softened again with a generous curve.
“I don’t want to hit him or scold him. I really don’t mind.”
“No. If we do that, nothing will change. Eugene will remember someone with white hair as a monster, and you, Major, will remember Eugene as a spoiled child. I’ll talk to Eugene about why he thinks that way, so could you wait a moment?”
He stared at me for a moment, then nodded with a smile on his lips.
“Alright. I don’t have any other plans, so I’ll wait patiently.”
I took Eugene to a slightly more secluded spot. Then, I held the child’s hands and met his eyes.
Eugene avoided my gaze and struggled, trying to escape.
“Let go! It hurts!”
I tried to meet Eugene’s eyes and said in a firm tone.
“You’re the one hurting yourself. I’ll let go when you’re ready to talk to me without running away.”
Seeing people’s attention gathering, Eugene’s face turned bright red, and then he teared up and lost his strength.
I released his hands and asked in a gentle voice.
“What’s this about a white-haired monster? Can you tell me where you heard it?”
Eugene was also a victim of the war, and he must have had trauma from it.
Perhaps he had a bad memory with someone who looked similar.
Eugene, trying to hold back his tears, sniffled and lowered his head.
“There’s a white monster in a book that eats children. The bad monster ate the main character’s friends.”
“Can you tell me the title, perhaps?”
Eugene, finally shedding tears, rubbed his wet eyes with his sleeve.
“Snow Queen.”
“It was that cruel…”
I made a puzzled expression and wiped away Eugene’s tears.
“So that’s why you were scared. But that’s just a story in a fairy tale, and neither I nor the Major eat children. White hair is just a natural trait, just like you. But wouldn’t it hurt to be called a monster?”
I explained in a calm voice.
Eugene didn’t answer, looking sullen.
“Adults also feel pain and sadness when they’re hurt.”
At my addition, Eugene’s lips twitched as if he had something to say.
He seemed hesitant, so I waited patiently, but the child ultimately said nothing.
“The Major saved many children in the war. Isn’t that cool? Shall we go listen to the story of how he bravely saved children together?”
“…”
This time, he followed me willingly.
I approached the Major and explained why Eugene had said those things.
The Major, who had been listening attentively, put on the officer’s cap he had taken off and said.
“I understand. It’s an unusual hair color, so it must be unfamiliar to him. I suppose I approached him too hastily. Eugene, I’m sorry.”
The Major turned his head and smiled at Eugene.
Eugene was looking down at his toes with a complicated expression. But he didn’t apologize.
“I, wanna go. I need to go to the bathroom.”
This situation seemed very difficult for him, so I let Eugene go.
Watching Eugene’s retreating figure, I smiled awkwardly at the Major.
“It’s difficult to make a child understand an adult’s thoughts. Forcing him to apologize won’t change anything, so please wait a little longer. He’s a good kid, so he’ll soon realize his mistake and come to apologize.”
What needed to change wasn’t the language or actions that were visible on the outside, but the thoughts inside.
If prejudice is left unchecked, it will solidify and become a lifelong value. Then it will be really hard to change.
So, I decided to try even if it took time for him to realize it on his own.
“It always takes time to understand each other.”
He shook my hand, offering it to me.
“I’m Major Isaac Rodriguez, affiliated with the Federal Army Headquarters. Are you perhaps an Esatain? I don’t know the people in the residence very well.”
I took his outstretched hand and shook it vigorously.
“I’m Cynthia Queensguard. I’m not an Esatain, I was just born with a lack of color.”
I didn’t bother talking about my genetic disease.
Instead, I handed him the macarons I had bought earlier and added.
“It’s a small gift. There’s a dinner banquet tonight, so please be sure to eat them and go.”
He stared silently at the macaron box, then gave his unique, kind smile.
“I’ll enjoy them. However, I have a prior engagement today, so I don’t think I can attend, but if you invite me next time, I’ll definitely go.”
After that, I handed out macarons to the other officers and non-commissioned officers and invited them to the dinner banquet.
Unlike Masera’s soldiers, who were reluctant, the officers above the rank of Major were happy and thanked me. Of course, it was obvious that it was fake.
‘Well, promotion depends on it…’
That’s how social life is, you have to look good even to people you don’t like.
* * *
Major Isaac Rodriguez watched Cynthia walking away with a parasol.
He was affiliated with the Federal Army, and this was his third visit to the Republic of Rutemia.
Therefore, he did not know that Cynthia was Masera’s fiancée. He just thought she was one of the daughters of the nobles who interacted with the residence.
However, it was certain that she was a thoughtful and warm person.
If she had prejudice against the Esatain, she would have questioned me about what I had done to the child.
He had also experienced countless discriminations in the past due to prejudice, so he was going to dismiss this incident as one of the situations he always experienced.
“If we do that, nothing will change.”
But she didn’t just stop at stopping the child’s words and actions, but first tried to talk to him and understand what intentions Eugene had.
‘Rather, I was the one who was prejudiced. I thought everyone would think negatively of an Esatain… The child wouldn’t know anything.’
“The scary villain in the fairy tale Eugene is reading has white hair. Eugene doesn’t really like me either. It’s just that, because of the book, white hair like ours is scary.”
In her bright expression, I could feel the consideration not to hurt anyone.
Her red eyes, sparkling even under the shade of the parasol, her lively face, and her flawless smile had the power to make the other person feel comfortable.
Originally, he was planning to leave for the autonomous region where the Esatain gathered, but his mind changed and he decided to stay in the Republic for the time being.
He became curious about the person named Cynthia.
“…I want to know more.”
He took out a lemon-colored macaron and took a bite.
He usually didn’t eat sweets, but the sweetness that melted softly in his mouth felt pleasantly different from before.
