episode_0121

It seems that when it comes to memories, it doesn’t matter how old they are or how long they last.

Rather, the more intense and unforgettable the memory is, whether it is positive or negative, the more important it is in your life, the harder it is to forget.

I guess that’s where I am with these kids.

The conversation was getting long and it was becoming a bit too long to just stay in the lobby, so we all rushed to the building’s restaurant.

There were other children and adults eating here and there in the restaurant. However, the place was quite spacious, so there was no need to kick them out even if we sat in a corner.

There were some people who looked at us with curiosity, but no one seemed to know who we were and tried to interfere. That must mean that we were well-educated and raised.

Claire motioned for them to stand up. We bowed briefly to each other and sat down in a corner of the restaurant.

After that, I listened to the children’s stories for a while.

As if they wanted to tell me a story, the children continued to tell me about how they had been doing since they came here.

At first, they were educated at an orphanage, and as they got older, they selected those who wanted to work at Grace House… … Of course, it is said that not a single one of them thought about leaving Grace House. Having spent their childhood in such a place, it would not have been easy to give up a place where they could live without freezing to death, without starving to death, and without being beaten by anyone.

As I continued to tell the story slowly, the children looked at me with a look of anticipation in their eyes.

Perhaps, he wanted to hear my story.

but……

hmm.

I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can tell you right now, so I just kept my mouth shut and listened to the children’s story in silence.

Maybe my mood felt heavy. Or maybe the children’s stories kept coming out and I reached the bottom.

As time went by, the conversation gradually died down, and by the time there was no one left eating in the restaurant, there was absolutely no more conversation between us.

“… … .”

“… … .”

There was silence for a moment.

Alice was watching me for some reason, and Claire also seemed to be expecting me to say something.

But still, I didn’t know what to talk about.

I wonder if I can also be honest with the children who have told me honestly about their lives so far.

In fact, can we say that I didn’t try to save you when I was escaping?

Could I tell these children, who consider me their benefactor, that sharing my food with them was a cheap act of pity that I could show to children who would not live long?

… … .

No, of course I couldn’t do that. I’m not that honest and courageous.

And after a very short silence, one person opened his mouth.

“That,”

It was Daniel.

The only noises in the restaurant were the rustling sounds of the children moving their bodies little by little, the small breathing sounds, and the small rustling sounds coming from the kitchen. So even though it was just one word, Daniel’s voice was very loud. Even though it was a small sound that would have been missed normally.

When everyone’s gaze suddenly turned towards him, Daniel looked flustered. His face quickly turned red.

It seems like he is still a little lacking in training as a butler. A person who is to be a butler should not show his expression so easily.

Well, Daniel is still young. It’s not like the person who’s working now will quit so soon. He’ll have a lot of time to learn.

… … If only war broke out and I wasn’t dragged into the battlefield as a bullet shield.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

But Daniel soon regained his courage and asked that. His face was still slightly red and his eyes were trembling, but it seemed like he was curious about me more than that.

The children’s gaze shifted from Daniel to me again.

Although he hadn’t heard the question yet, he seemed very curious whether I would answer it.

“Yes, please ask.”

If it’s too sensitive a question, I can’t answer, but if you really leave without saying anything… … I answered like that because I thought that it might have been meaningless for me to meet these kids again.

But I wanted to answer if it was something I could answer.

“… … By any chance, that hair,”

Daniel swallowed his saliva as he spoke and continued his story.

“From the beginning, was it that short?”

I felt the children staring at me.

In their memories, I think my hair was really long. When I was in the orphanage, there was no tool to cut hair. Maybe the old woman thought it was better if the children had long hair. After they were sold, they could change their hair style as they pleased. Depending on the owner’s wishes.

“In my childhood, it was long.”

However, it wasn’t long after I started living in the palace that I cut my hair short.

“May I ask why it was cut?”

“Because it was uncomfortable.”

It was uncomfortable to run around here and there.

I thought about doing a ponytail, but waking up every morning, washing my hair, and tying it up was a real hassle. And if your hair is long, it takes a long time to dry.

“Because I do a lot of active work.”

“Ah… … .”

Did he think there might be a deeper story than that? Daniel’s face turned a little redder at my plain answer.

I raised my hand and touched my hair for no reason. It was the same hair I touched every morning, but it was so soft that I couldn’t believe it was actually growing on my head.

“Do you think it would suit you better if you raised it?”

When I asked Daniel that, Daniel’s already red face became even redder.

And Daniel, who just lowered his head,

“Even now… … ”

He mumbled and answered. The latter part of his voice was muffled and hard to hear.

Well, let’s think of it as an answer that says it suits you.

Anyway, there aren’t many people who would tell the princess, “That hair style doesn’t suit you, so change it.”

*

As the letter said, Grace Estate was a peaceful and nice place. It was almost a miracle that there was such a space just a little way inside the busy city. It wasn’t that there were no noises coming from far away, but even so, as if there was a barrier in between, the noises that came through the humid midsummer air felt distant, like they were from another world.

Or maybe I just let my guard down after realizing that the kids I remembered were still here.

“Hair.”

I was sitting in a shady spot overlooking the lawn, blankly gazing at the green, when Alice, who was next to me, suddenly said this.

When I turned my gaze, Alice was still looking straight ahead and spoke quietly.

“Are you thinking of raising it?”

“… … Well.”

“I think long hair would suit you too, sister.”

Claire’s voice was heard from the opposite direction of Alice.

“Someday, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to raise one.”

I said, turning my gaze back to the front.

At the end of my wide-open gaze, I could see several red brick buildings. Outside of Grace Estate, the city was still running like a factory.

“But not now.”

Yeah, not now.

There was still a lot of work left to do to grow out long hair.

At least, the kids next to me right now—

I confirmed that all the characters I liked were safe at the end of the main story.

And then, after confirming that all the children I impulsively saved while they were here are safe.

After I was sure that I didn’t need to turn back time any more, I figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to let my hair grow out slowly.

I wanted to avoid the unfortunate event of having to start over from the beginning after growing it for so long by turning back time.

“When my sister grows her hair out, I’ll teach you how to tie it up nicely.”

Claire, who has become a master at tying her hair up in a ponytail every day, said.

“What are you talking about? Sylvia looks better with her hair straight. There’s no need to tie up her pretty hair and ruin it, right? ”

Alice retorted.

“My sister has a lot to do—”

“Rather, a dignified hair style befitting a princess—”

The two people soon started arguing with me in the middle.

… … It’s just like sisters fighting over trivial things.

Will there come a day when I remember this day again and say, ‘That’s how it was back then’?

… … I guess I’ll have to try my best to make it happen.