episode_0003

As evening approached, the inside of the mansion was filled with a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and preparations for dinner were being finalized.

I sat at the dining table, waiting, and felt a little sense of stability in the fact that another day was passing.

Just then, she opened the door and came in. She still seemed unfamiliar and awkward in this house, but it looked like she was slowly becoming more comfortable spending time with me.

“How was your day?” I asked her cautiously.

She looked at my face for a moment, then took out her notebook and started writing in it. When I read what she had written, the text was concise, but her feelings were captured exactly as they were.

[Just… okay. Unfamiliar, though. But it’s okay]

I read the text and nodded my head. I thought she might still be feeling uneasy about living in this house.

So I continued speaking.

“Everything feels new at first. But I hope you’ll slowly become comfortable in this house. If there’s anything I can help with, just say the word anytime.”

After thinking about my words for a moment, she took out her notebook again and wrote. Her handwriting still felt slightly trembling. Perhaps she was still thinking about many things.

[I hate it here, it’s unfamiliar, it doesn’t suit me]

Reading that text made my heart ache a little. That child must surely be enduring various things alone, and thinking about her position, I unconsciously wanted to help her more. So I answered softly.

“You are truly an important presence in this house. This big house might feel awkward and unfamiliar, but with time, you’ll be able to live comfortably here too. Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”

She remained silent for a moment at my words, lowering her head. Seeing her like that, I made a promise to myself once again. That if there was anything I could do to help her, I would do anything.

In a quiet moment, she took out her notebook again. And as I read the text, I knew that the worries in her heart were still continuing.

[Even if… I’m here?… Just a nuisance…]

I answered with conviction.

“You are not a bother, but someone who is truly needed here. I can help you, and don’t forget that you are an important person here too.”

She was quiet for a moment after hearing my words. And after a little time passed, she took out her notebook again.

This time the writing looked a little different. There was a little more certainty in the text.

[Then, I’ll try… so I can be here…]

Reading that text, I felt that the child was gradually gaining confidence in this house. Her writing was slowly changing.

At first, they were writings filled with anxiety and fear, but now they were becoming writings that felt a little more positive and determined.

“Yes, do that. And whenever you need anything, tell me.”

At those words, she smiled and nodded her head slightly. Although she didn’t say anything, I could understand her feelings from that expression alone. It seemed like she was slowly accepting herself in this house and preparing to live here with me.

That day, too, as usual, it was time to prepare dinner, and she sat quietly by the dining table.

In the quiet atmosphere of the mansion, she still didn’t seem to have fully adjusted to life here. There was a mix of anxiety and tension in her eyes, and having realized that she was not familiar with social norms or etiquette, I decided to start teaching her about them from today.

“Let’s learn a few things starting today.” I began cautiously. She heard me and wore a slightly confused expression for a moment. But she soon took out her notebook and started writing.

[What?]

“Well, to live well here, you need to know basic etiquette and social norms. While you’re staying at our house, you need to learn how to talk to people and behave politely.” I explained slowly.

She still tilted her head.

Of course, it was clear that she had never been taught etiquette at all. So I decided to take it a step further.

“First, let’s learn how you should speak in front of people. When we talk, you should use polite speech. It’s even more important, especially with elders or in formal settings.” I said.

She thought for a moment, then wrote in her notebook again.

[What is… polite speech?]

To answer her question, I continued explaining calmly. “Polite speech is a way of respecting others. For example, like ‘Hello’ or ‘Thank you,’ it’s using words that show consideration for the other person when you speak.”

She listened to the explanation and nodded her head. But she still wore an expression as if something was missing, and wrote again.

[How? I don’t know well.]

“It’s okay, you’ll get used to it little by little. For example, when I ask, ‘Did you eat?’ you should answer, ‘Yes, I did.’ If you answer ‘I ate’ when I ask ‘Did you eat?’, it might sound too unkind. So it’s better to answer in polite speech, saying ‘Yes, I did.’”

She wrote again.

[I understand. Then, did you eat?]

“Well done!” I replied with a smile. “That’s how you say it. Now, shall we learn a little more?”

From that day on, I taught her basic etiquette every day.

Starting from how to greet, I explained one by one the meaning of respecting others during conversation, dining etiquette, and small acts of consideration. She slowly followed what I said and gradually gained confidence.

In particular, there was a day I taught her dining etiquette. Evening approached, and she sat at the dining table. Before starting the meal, I spoke to her first.

“Before eating, it’s always good to say ‘I will eat well’. Saying this politely to the other person is important.”

She heard my words, took out her notebook for a moment, and wrote.

[I will eat well?]

“Yes, that’s right. This phrase is used before starting a meal. Then, shall we eat together now?” When I asked, she answered with a slightly shy smile.

[I will eat well.]

When she wrote those words in her notebook, I felt that she was gradually becoming familiar with etiquette. At first, all of this must have been new and difficult. But now she was learning little by little as I taught her.

“Well done. Now being polite will become natural little by little.”

She seemed to gain a little more confidence from those words. And even during the meal, she continued to try hard to act politely as I had taught her. When eating, she even wrote “Thank you” in a small script while making eye contact with me.

After the meal, we went to the living room to drink tea and talk.

She was now slowly beginning to gain confidence, but there were still many things that felt new and difficult. Whenever that happened, I would explain it to her again.

“Next time, you’ll be able to use this etiquette naturally in front of other people too. For example, it’s important to use polite speech to other people in the house, and always greet them especially when you meet them.”

She looked at me and wrote in her notebook.

[I understand. I will behave politely.]

“That’s right. You’ll get used to it little by little now. And you can always be comfortable here. I’ll help you too.”

From that day on, she continued to learn etiquette and grew little by little. At first, she was shy and awkward, but as time passed, she gradually showed more natural polite behavior, and every time I saw her like that, my heart felt warm.

Her change was small but certain. I felt proud thinking that there were more things I could teach her in this house, and I hoped that I could continue to grow with her in the future.

Several days had passed since she came to our mansion.

She still couldn’t speak, but she could write clearly, and more than anything, the way she tried hard to remember the etiquette I taught her was endearing.

Her every action was still cautious, and she reacted sensitively to people’s gazes, but I could feel that her expression was gradually softening.

That morning, Mother said to me.

“How about dressing that child in clothes that suit her now? Keeping her in such shabby clothes doesn’t suit our family’s reputation… And more importantly, it’s not good for the child’s self-esteem.”

I nodded and looked for her. She was sitting on the bench in front of the garden, with her notebook open, looking at the sky.

Her eyes were like someone searching for forgotten memories beyond those distant clouds.

“Let’s go together. Today, there’s something for you.”

She tilted her head but followed without much resistance.

I took her to the innermost dressing room in the mansion.

This place was full of clothes collected since I was a child, and dresses personally chosen by Mother. Dresses with white lace, blouses with ribbons, skirts in subtle colors.

She hesitated, standing in front of the door. Her eyes widened. Then she slowly took one step, two steps closer, and cautiously touched the clothes on the hangers.

[All… this for me?]

“Yes. Choose what you like. If you want, you can try them all on.”

She couldn’t move for a while.

Then she slowly reached out and picked up a light purple dress.

It was made of thin chiffon material with small pearl buttons on the chest, not flashy but elegant.

[So… pretty. This is… my first time.]

I waited outside while she changed clothes. After a long while, the door opened cautiously.

She came out hesitantly like a small child.

She carefully hunched her body, tightly holding onto the hem of her skirt. How cute and touching she looked. She stood in front of the mirror, looked at the clothes she was wearing, and then lowered her head.

[I… don’t feel like I deserve to wear something like this.]

“No.” I quietly stood next to her and said. “You are fully deserving. And… it really suits you well.”

Hearing those words, she slowly raised her eyes and looked at me.

There was still hesitation in her eyes, as if she couldn’t believe it, but a very small joy was also blooming within.

[Really… pretty?]

I nodded and smiled. “Yes. Really pretty.”

She looked around in front of the mirror cautiously, as if it was the first time she had become a ‘precious being’.

She gently lifted the hem of her skirt with her fingertips, ran her hand through her hair, and slowly looked at herself to become familiar.

That day, she didn’t simply ‘change clothes’.

It was the day she accepted, for the first time, that she ‘could be considered beautiful by someone’.