episode_0005

“…”

Fortunately, the bleeding stopped. She carefully wiped away the blood on her small hands.

As the blood disappeared, the visible wounds became apparent. How difficult must it have been for her to sustain injuries to this extent and scratch without feeling any pain.

Starting to disinfect the wounds as gently as possible, Lily was staring at me without any reaction.

“Lily.”

“Uh, yes?”

“Doesn’t it hurt…?”

Even though she had such deep wounds and I was disinfecting them, Lily’s smiling face as she looked at me left me bewildered.

When I asked, Lily flinched with a gasp.

“Ah… It hurts!”

What’s with that awkward acting? Despite not looking like she was in pain at all, I thought it was fortunate.

Wait a minute. Could it be that she can’t feel it due to excessive stress?

I quickly pricked Lily’s side.

“Eek?”

Fortunately, everything seemed fine. But just to be sure.

Taking advantage of Lily’s surprise from being poked on the side, I blew gently into Lily’s small ear.

“Huh!? Amelia!”

Lily glared at me, trembling slightly. But even that sight was too cute.

Lily’s red pupils. They were bright and sparkling red eyes that rivaled rubies in beauty.

Her face blushed like those eyes, then she bowed her head abruptly.

And in a barely audible voice, Lily muttered something.

“Are you seducing me? Is that what you’re doing? I don’t have to resist, right?”

I couldn’t hear clearly, but I took the opportunity to neatly bandage the wounds on her small hands.

“Phew… Let’s calm down.”

Anyone who sees this would surely give it a perfect score. With this, there should be no scars left.

Scars on pretty hands are absolutely not allowed.

“I have to endure it until I’m 12.”

“Until you’re 12?”

“Eek…!”

Worried about Lily muttering continuously, I leaned in close, and Lily backed away, our eyes meeting.

“It’s nothing! I-I’m hungry.”

“Alright. Shall we go?”

After finishing the treatment, I held Lily’s hand and led her to the kitchen to examine the ingredients first.

Fortunately, there were fresh-looking ingredients available, except for the absence of meat.

There were some gaps in the vegetables. Lily probably nibbled on them one by one because she was hungry.

I’ll have to go to the main house tomorrow morning to get the ingredients myself.

For now, I need to make something out of these. Other than salad or soup, is there anything else possible…?

Still, I have to eat something today, so I took out the vegetables and moved towards the cooking area.

First, I chopped all the vegetables.

-Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

I wasn’t particularly good at cooking, but relying on Amelia’s memories, I surprisingly moved well.

Since Lily couldn’t hold my hand, she just held onto my skirt and watched me.

While chopping the vegetables, I asked Lily.

“What would you like to eat tomorrow? I’ll try to make it for you.”

“Um…”

Holding onto her skirt and pondering with her remaining hand near her mouth, Lily cautiously spoke. Very cautiously.

“Meatballs…”

As expected, Lily wanted meatballs. Ever since Lily first ate Amelia’s special meatballs in the game and loved them, she had been asking for meatballs every three days.

“Shall we? I’m really good at making meatballs~”

“Thank goodness.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Uh, nothing. Seems like this will be okay.”

I’ll have to wake up early to prepare tomorrow. Since she had vegetable soup for today’s meal, I must make delicious meatballs for her breakfast tomorrow.

I poured oil into the pot and added all the chopped vegetables. Then, I added a little salt and pepper.

Ah, there’s no pepper. Looking at it now, the seasonings are lacking. Not a single grain of sugar or pepper. Not even one expensive item.

I should go to the main building tomorrow and bring them back, no matter what it takes.

I reluctantly stir-fried the vegetables without adding pepper.

After stir-frying for a while, adding water and boiling it briefly completes the dish.

Now, all that’s left is to set the table. I knelt down, aligning myself with Lily’s eye level.

“Euk.”

Every time our eyes meet, Lily’s face blushes, seemingly embarrassed.

“Shall we prepare to eat together?”

“…Yes.”

After lightly wiping the table, I moved the dishes just in case, while Lily transferred the spoons.

Fetching water and placing it in the center of the table, it was quickly done.

Once the soup simmered enough, I ladled it into bowls and placed it in front of Lily, who was sitting.

“It’s still hot, so be careful. Let it cool down before eating. Understand?”

“Yes. Got it.”

I served myself some soup and sat across from Lily.

Lily was blowing on the soup with her spoon, cooling it down.

I feel nervous. I didn’t expect to be this jittery watching Lily eat the food I made.

“Sip.”

-Gulp.

In that tense moment,

“It’s delicious.”

Success! Lily wasn’t just saying it; she scooped up more soup with her spoon and ate it again.

“Delicious…”

But her pace was peculiar.

Blow, swallow, blow, swallow, blow, swallow, blow, swallow.

“Lily!”

I quickly got up and grabbed Lily’s hand, finally stopping her from eating.

“It’s too delicious…”

Before I knew it, Lily was shedding tears.

Tears fell as she found my vegetable soup, without any meat, delicious. How difficult must it have been for her until now?

I comforted Lily in my arms.

Watching Lily cry in my embrace, I made a vow.

I promised to give her a brighter smile than anyone else.

To walk alongside her through rejection by everyone.

No, I will carry Lily through the thorny path ahead.

I will protect Lily from anyone who tries to harm her.

But that promise vanished instantly.

After finishing the soup with the real Lily, bath time arrived.

A sudden thought crossed my mind. Can that young child bathe alone?

But I am Amelia, albeit half a man. Wouldn’t this be a crime?

As I observed Lily, I could see that her hair and body were cleaner than expected.

She must have bathed when I wasn’t around, likely not with the help of the previous maids. This suggests Lily can do it on her own.

Thank goodness.

I guess I won’t be committing a crime.

“Amelia! Help me bathe.”

“What?”

Seemingly forgetting something, Lily suddenly turned around at the entrance of the bathroom, looking at me.

I thought she could manage changing clothes and towels on her own, but now she asks for help bathing.

Her gaze felt like that of a hyena, as if she might devour me. Why do I feel like I’m about to be eaten?

-Determined.

There was a clear resolve in her eyes.

Suddenly, Lily’s hand caught my attention.

“Right! Lily, your hands are still injured, so it’s not good if they get wet. Let’s skip today and go to bed early, okay?”

“So, Amelia, are you going to dry my body with a wet towel?”

“What?”

“And it’s fine. Here.”

“Lily!”

I was startled as Lily roughly tore off the bandage from her hand.

Her hand looked incredibly clean. The wound that seemed like it would take a week to heal appeared almost dreamlike in its cleanliness.

“Can I bathe now?”

Taking my hand, Lily led me into the bathroom.

“Uh… Uh…”

“I feel sticky. Hurry up.”

Lily’s expression, full of anticipation, started to look increasingly menacing. Unintentionally, I felt goosebumps rising on my skin.

Finally, Lily and I entered the bathroom.

Lily effortlessly undressed, while I hesitated, unsure of what to do. Lily, already completely naked, was staring at me.

Unconsciously, I tightly shut my eyes, erasing Lily’s body from my sight.

“Ameilia isn’t undressing?”

Eventually, I slowly opened my eyes and gazed at Lily. She stood confidently, as if there were no trace of embarrassment.

“Now, I am also a woman. I am Amelia. I am Amelia.”

Well, what does an 8-year-old know about bathing alone? Now, I am an admirable maid in Lily’s service.

I would perfectly carry out Lily’s bathing etiquette.

However, once again, that determination inevitably turned into failure.

“Amelia is inside…”

“L-Lily…!”

==

It was exhausting. I had Lily dry off with a towel and helped her get dressed first. After asking her to wait outside for a moment, leaving me alone in the spacious bathroom, I found myself sighing involuntarily.

Lily seemed more interested in a woman’s body than I had anticipated. It was unclear whether I was drying her or she was drying me.

I struggled to endure the sensitivity of this body, almost feeling like my throat was tightening from holding back groans.

After a moment of calming down, I wiped away the moisture on my body with a towel. Putting on underwear and even pajamas, I stepped out of the bathroom, where Lily greeted me.

She eagerly ran over to hug me. I quickly grabbed Lily’s hand.

“Ouch.”

As expected.

Her fingers were slightly reddened, as if scratched.

Lily seemed uneasy, trying to withdraw her hand in embarrassment. I blew gently between her fingers, uttering a spell.

“Pain, fly away~ How about now? Feeling better?”

“Yeah…”

“Shall we go to sleep now?”

In our pajamas, we went to Lily’s room and lay down on the bed.

“Amelia.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t leave my side. Understand?”

“Of course. I will always be by your side, Lily.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

Covering Lily with a worn-out blanket, I closed my eyes as well. Soon after, Lily fidgeted and pressed closer to my body.

Then, she began pulling my nightgown towards her. Pretending to be asleep, I turned my body towards Lily in response to her force.

As I turned, she immediately embraced me, and soon, Lily fell asleep too.

Having never experienced genuine affection until now, Lily, who received my affection for the first time, began to crave it.

-Drip.

If no one else gives Lily affection, then I will give her as much as she needs.

-Drip, drip, drip.

It seems today might take until dawn.