IBMDSF 04

Chapter 4

After finishing preparations to go out, Grace arrived at the secret garden under Sally’s guidance.

She carefully stepped into the garden, which had turned completely white from the snow that had fallen the night before. Each step made a soft crunching sound as her footprints were left behind in the pristine snow. Watching her with amusement, Sally let out a small laugh.

“Is this your first time seeing so much snow?”

“Yes. Alberton Castle is close to the capital, so it’s warm even in winter.”

Grace nodded as she answered. In the capital, even in the dead of winter, a thin coat was enough—but here, despite wearing a thick coat, a wool scarf, and fur-lined boots, it was still cold.

Still, the air that filled her lungs was remarkably clean. Letting out puffs of white breath, Grace strolled through the snow-covered garden.

Watching her, Sally couldn’t help but think that rather than a noble new duchess, Grace looked exactly like a puppy seeing snow for the first time. Smiling to herself, Sally soon noticed Grace’s cheeks, which had turned red from the cold.

“Oh my, your cheeks are getting red.”

“Really?”

“At this rate, you might catch a cold. Perhaps it’s time to go back inside—”

“…Ah, but I’d like to walk just a little longer. Is that all right?”

It was the first moment of peace she had experienced since coming back from death. She didn’t want it to end just because of a little cold.

Seeing Grace hesitate, Sally let out a short sigh.

“Then I’ll bring you some warm tea, Madam.”

“Oh, that sounds nice.”

“Please sit on the bench and wait just a moment! I’ll be right back!”

After seating Grace on a bench cleared of snow, Sally hurried off toward the manor.

“…You could take your time.”

Murmuring the words she couldn’t bring herself to say aloud, Grace sat down on the bench.

She reached out toward a tree branch and grabbed a handful of the snow piled on top. She had held herself back earlier to maintain proper decorum while Sally was around, but in truth, she had wanted to touch the snow herself.

Rustle.

That was when it happened.

A small sound came from behind Grace as she rolled the snow in her hands into a round ball.

Had she imagined it? Grace froze instantly, focusing all her senses on her ears.

Rustle, rustle.

The sound came again—quieter than before, but more frantic.

It sounded like a small mountain animal moving about. Grace slowly stood up from the bench, carefully quieting her footsteps as she moved toward the source of the sound. She wanted to see with her own eyes what—or who—it was.

After taking a few steps, she stopped in front of a bush that was gently shaking. A strange smile crossed her face—it felt like she was playing tag, the seeker waiting for the hider to move again.

Holding her breath, Grace waited.

“…Oh.”

“…!”

A few moments later, a small child—no more than four or five years old—suddenly popped out of the bush.

Seeing the child staring straight back at her, Grace let out an involuntary gasp.

The child was dressed in an elegant silk uniform layered beneath a long black coat. Long blond bangs fell over a small face, partially hidden behind a black mask.

Grace stared blankly into the child’s eyes.

“…Those eyes and that mask. I’ve seen them somewhere…”

The mask, and the child’s exposed left eye—red and vivid, the right hidden behind his bangs—felt strangely familiar.

As Grace murmured in confusion, the child flinched. His shoulders trembled, and with a terrified expression, he turned around and began to run as if being chased.

“Oh! Wait—hey! Little one!”

Grace called after the retreating figure.

It seemed the child had misunderstood something badly. Gathering the hem of her long dress, Grace hurried after him.

Crunch—

Something crunched beneath her shoe.

Startled by the sound, Grace quickly lifted her foot.

“…A necklace?”

Lying crushed beneath her shoe was a necklace.

Bending down, Grace picked it up from the snow. A long silver chain held a clear red gemstone. Thankfully, it didn’t appear to be damaged.

Why would something like this be lying here? It hadn’t been there when she walked through earlier. After a moment of thought, Grace quickly guessed its owner.

That little boy, probably.

Wrapping the chain securely around her hand, Grace followed the small footprints ahead.

Crunch, crunch.

She followed the trail through the snow until it ended in front of a winter rose bush. Beyond it, she spotted the child curled up tightly.

Grace spoke gently.

“…Hey, little one.”

“…!”

Hearing her voice, the child startled again and scrambled upright, looking ready to run at any moment. Panicking, Grace quickly unwound the necklace and held it out in front of him.

“Wait! Is this necklace yours?”

The moment the child saw it, his visible left eye widened.

It was so adorable that Grace smiled without thinking. Carefully approaching him, she crouched down to meet his gaze and lightly shook the necklace in front of him.

“I picked it up over there. It’s yours, right?”

“……”

“If it’s not… then is it okay if I keep it?”

Grace said it teasingly on purpose. The child immediately thrust out his small hands.

It was obvious how precious the necklace was to him—his desperate expression made him look on the verge of tears.

Unable to hold it in, Grace laughed out loud. She reached out and ruffled the child’s soft hair.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was just joking.”

“…Joking?”

“Mm. A joke.”

Grace smiled as the child repeated her words like a baby bird. She then carefully fastened the necklace around his neck.

“Make sure you keep it on properly. So you don’t lose it again.”

“…Thank you.”

“That’s right. Good boy.”

Grace reached out to pat his head.

But the moment her hand moved toward him, the child flinched violently and collapsed backward onto the ground. Staring at her with wary eyes, he looked as if he might burst into tears.

Startled, Grace asked in a panic,

“W-what’s wrong? Did it bother you that I tried to pat your head?”

The child shook his head frantically. Grace crouched lower, trying to meet his gaze.

“Then why? Did I do something wrong? I’ll apologize—so please don’t cry, okay?”

“…I might get cursed.”

“What?”

The child’s answer was barely audible.

Grace frowned, unable to believe what she had heard.

Then the child, lips trembling, spoke again in a defeated voice.

“…I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me.”

“What? Why? What are you sorry for? And why would I hate you?”

“B-before… Lady Bianca said… I shouldn’t touch other people without permission. And I shouldn’t dare ask to be patted on the head. And then… just now…”

“…Why did Lady Bianca say people shouldn’t touch you?”

“I… I was born and killed my mother… so I’m a cursed child. If people touch me, the curse… spreads. Everyone… told me not to come close. That the curse would spread… from me…”

Tears welled up in the child’s eyes and spilled down his cheeks.

Grace’s face tightened as she watched the small child rub his eyes beneath his long bangs, crying helplessly.

How could anyone say such cruel things to a child barely five years old?

Her chest ached as Grace placed her hand gently on the child’s head, brushing his bangs aside.

“Don’t listen to things like that. No—forget them.”

“…What?”

“God is merciful and just. There’s no way He would place such a cruel curse on a child as cute as you.”

One hand on his head, the other wiping away his tears, Grace clenched her teeth as anger rose within her—anger toward those who had spoken such heartless words to him.

How could they say something so cruel?

If they didn’t want to show affection, they could have simply refused gently. Why wound a child with such vicious lies?

Grace’s breathing grew rough as fury surged uncontrollably inside her.

“You can’t even cast a basic one-circle spell, and yet you expect praise?”
“You’re a disgrace to our family, Grace.”
“Just focus on marrying well. Though no matter what, you’ll never compare to me—the future crown princess!”

Ah… that’s right.

The reason she felt such overwhelming anger for a child she had just met was because of the sense of kinship.

The wounds the child tearfully confessed were shockingly similar to the scars already carved deep into her own heart.

As memories of the abuse she had endured resurfaced vividly, Grace continued speaking to the child in front of her.