Chapter 02 – Is This a Childcare Story?
As she moved closer, Miela realized it wasn’t an object—it was a person. A black-haired boy, looking three or four years younger than her, was lying unconscious on the ground.
Startled, Miela dropped the basket of food she was holding.
“Hey, are you okay? Wake up!”
She hurried to the boy and gently shook his shoulder, trying to rouse him. But he remained unresponsive, as if he had been seriously hurt when he collapsed.
What do I do? I’ve never seen him before…
Unlike Miela, who wore ragged, patched-up clothes, the boy was dressed in a crisp white shirt, soft trousers, and sturdy leather suspenders—an outfit far too luxurious for anyone in this village.
Miela thought for a moment, then made a guess.
Could he be someone from that fancy villa over the hill?
About a year ago, strangers began frequenting a clearing beyond the hill, and they had built a house in no time. It was recently completed, and rumors said the villa was made with rare, high-end materials you’d only see in the capital.
“Maybe it’s a noble… or even royalty from another country living there now.”
“Yeah, that place is definitely meant for someone important. I wonder what it looks like inside!”
Lately, everyone in the village was abuzz with gossip, speculating about who the high-ranking person living in that mysterious villa might be.
But there was no real information, just endless rumors. You couldn’t even sneak a peek—guards were posted all around the estate, keeping watch like hawks.
I overheard the adults talking, but no one really knows who lives there.
Miela didn’t have the luxury of idle curiosity. Just surviving each day kept her busy enough.
Still, something deep down told her this boy had to be connected to that villa.
What should I do? Should I go there and get help? But what if something bad happens to him while I’m gone—what if a wolf or some bad person shows up? And if I leave him here too long, he could get worse…
After a moment of indecision, Miela made a decision.
“Alright, my house is right here—I’ll bring him inside for now. Then I can go to the villa and get someone.”
Even if it was a rundown shack, it was better than leaving him lying in the dirt.
“Heave-ho…”
Grunting a little, Miela managed to lift and carry the boy into her home. Despite looking much smaller than her, he was surprisingly heavy.
“There. Done!”
She laid him on the bed and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
He doesn’t seem like he’ll wake up soon, so I should go get someone from the villa while I can.
With that, she reached for the doorknob.
But then—
“Ugh…”
A faint groan sounded from behind her. The boy, whom she thought was unconscious, was suddenly awake.
His face twisted in pain, like his head was splitting open.
“Ugh, damn it. Where… where am I? What the—was I kidnapped?!”
“What? No! This isn’t a kidnapping!”
Startled and indignant, Miela shouted back. She’d helped him, and now she was being mistaken for a kidnapper?
The boy finally seemed to notice her. Tilting his head slightly, he asked,
“…Who are you?”
His vivid green eyes scanned her from head to toe.
“Me? I live here. You collapsed outside my house, so I brought you in.”
“I collapsed? Oh, right… I guess the curse flared up all of a sudden…”
He trailed off, muttering to himself as if remembering something. Despite his young appearance, his manner of speaking was oddly mature.
Weird… Do all rich people from fancy places talk like that?
Confused, Miela asked,
“Um… what’s a ‘curse flare-up’?”
“…Not ‘curse flare-up.’ I mean—it’s nothing. Forget it.”
The boy looked flustered, clearly regretting saying anything.
“Anyway, sorry to trouble you. I’ll be going now.”
He tried to stand. Miela watched with concern.
“You’re going back already? But you just collapsed…”
It was clear the boy wasn’t in good shape. He looked pale, and his legs kept wobbling.
As he struggled to steady himself against the wall, Miela hesitantly offered,
“Um… do you want me to help you walk? You might collapse again if you go alone!”
“No need.”
He rejected her offer flatly and brushed past her.
But as expected, her fears quickly became reality. Just as he reached for the door, he lost his balance and stumbled.
“Watch out!”
Miela had been keeping an eye on him the whole time, worried he’d fall again. She caught him just in time, preventing what could have been a bad injury.
“…!”
The boy was stunned into silence, his bright green eyes wide in surprise.
Wow, his eyes are so round and pretty!
Miela couldn’t help but think they looked like something out of a fairytale.
“…I could’ve really hurt myself. Thanks.”
He finally spoke, sounding a little shaken by how weak he felt.
Instead of gloating, Miela looked even more concerned.
“No need to thank me. But maybe you should lie down a little longer? It’s too risky to head out now.”
She spoke gently. The boy hesitated.
Hmm… I really don’t want to stay here.
His name was Istin Valuar—and just as Miela guessed, he was the young master staying at the villa over the hill.
He had snuck out, slipping past the guards for a look at the village. But the curse’s aftereffects had overwhelmed him, and he’d passed out.
He was grateful the girl had helped him, but truthfully… this place unsettled him.
It looks like it could collapse any second.
While Miela called it a “house,” to Istin it didn’t even qualify as shelter. It was a crumbling ruin.
There’s even a hole in the corner of the wall…
He had wondered why it felt so drafty inside—turns out part of the wall was literally missing. It looked like a mole had dug through it.
Even if you’re not a noble, people don’t usually live in places like this…
As the only heir to a ducal house, Istin had seen how commoners lived when he accompanied his father on visits to their lands.
This was beyond poverty. Even calling it a commoner’s home would be generous.
Could she be… a beggar?
Back in his homeland, there were solid welfare systems for the sick and poor, so he rarely saw beggars. But in other regions, they were more common—especially orphans who lost their families.
From what he could tell, this girl was probably one of them. There was no sign of any adult presence here.
She’s barely managing to survive herself. Is it okay to accept her help…?
He hesitated. But the truth was, he had no choice. His body still felt weak and unsteady from the curse.
“…Alright. I’ll rest here until I feel better.”
“Sure, stay as long as you need.”
Reluctantly, Istin lay back down on the bed. But he couldn’t relax. Every tiny movement made the bed creak loudly beneath him.
What kind of ancient bed makes this much noise?
Anyone hearing it might think he was jumping on it. Even shifting a finger made it groan.
He was afraid it might fall apart. It was probably the only bed the girl had.
“Sigh…”
Letting out a soft sigh, Istin laid perfectly still, annoyed by the creaking.
Then, Miela, standing beside him, asked cautiously:
“Hey… do you live in that new villa over the hill?”
