Chapter 2

‘What do I do? ‘

Melody reached out cautiously to comfort the whimpering child.

She had soft blond hair and her fingertip felt fluffiness.

Melody didn’t get any closer. She thought Loretta might be more scared, or sad.

Without being able to do anything, the child hid under the blanket

Maybe she noticed Melody was trying to stroke her head.

‘..but I’m a slave trader to Loretta.’

Melody only touched the air with her hand.

Walking away from her bed, she lingered vaguely near the wet window, but she couldn’t say good night.

* * *

Melody did not give up and tried to take good care of Loretta.

About two weeks later, Loretta began to give Melody a glimpse.

Of course, it’s only a few seconds, then she’d turn her head back right away.

Still, Melody is glad to be able to make eye contact with the child a little bit. She felt like she did a great job working so hard.

“Loretta, you’re hungry, aren’t you?”

Now, when Melody approached with a basket, she did not hide in the corner immediately.

However, the boundaries did not disappear completely, when their eyes met, she would run away and cower towards the wall.

Still, she is not as nervous as she was before.

“I put bread and milk here, so eat it when you feel comfortable.”

Melody left the basket behind and escaped from the room as usual. The child ate the bread right away. There’s nothing left. Everything was eaten.

‘Cute. She looks like a squirrel.’

Melody smiled proudly as she watched her eating the bread quietly.

Then suddenly, she met eyes with Loretta, who raised her head.

This time, it was a bit longer. For so long as the big eyes blinked several times.

Don’t tell me. Is this a sign that Loretta will be more open?

“Melody! Come here now!”

But soon after, the strange eye contact ended when her mother’s shout resounded from the outside.

“Sorry, I’ll go see my mother. You have to eat slowly okay?”

Melody stood up from her seat and asked, but the child bowed her head and gave no answer.

It rained again that night. Melody is very glad to see the rain cooling off the heat of the day, but on the other hand, she is worried.

“There are a lot of clouds. What if it becomes a thunderstorm.”

Melody is not too afraid of thunder and lightning.

But since she remembered herself being afraid of it in her previous life, she somehow began to feel the same way.

Just like the thought and mind of her mindset in her previous life.

The sky got a little darker. After hearing the snore in her mother’s room, Melody went straight to Loretta.

The child had been waiting for Melody, but as soon as she opened the door, she got out of her seat.

‘But these days, Loretta’s been snoring while sleeping.’

It may be proof that Loretta has become a little more relaxed.

“Come on, let’s go to my room and sleep.”

Even before her short words were finished, Loretta crept up in front of Melody.

“...... go on.”

It’s good to be close. The child’s face looked afraid of something.

Did mother bother her?

Melody was rather worried and brought Loretta to her room for her to lay in her bed.

The child immediately rolled up and began to sniffle.

Just like the day she first came here.

‘I guess something really happened!’

Melody is so ashamed that she didn’t even think about patting the child on the head this time.

‘What do I do? What do I do?’

She was so embarrassed, so she just looked around and decided to open the window.

It’s raining a little, but the cool wind may blow and comfort Loretta’s heart.

Clink.

When I opened the window slightly with my hand, the moist wind blew and shook the curtain.

She can hear the cool sound of rain, and I’m sure it’s a good consolation for Loretta..

“Heuk, hiiiinnnnggg..”

No, it didn’t work. It seemed like her crying got louder.

Melody quickly closed the window again. Loretta’s cries were also reduced as the rain hit her less frequently.

‘Huh?’

Why?

Even though thunder and lightning are scary, the sound of rain is very ticklish.

Melody still approached the child slowly. Then soon she remembered what her mother said.

That’s what she said on the day she first brought Loretta.

“I’m so lucky today. I found a wagon that slipped in the rain on the way from the auction house. Melody, look at this.”

Rain..

‘It was raining.. when she came huh.’

It was a sad day, Loretta’s life was completely reversed.

Melody finally seemed to understand why Loretta wrapped herself with the blanket.

She must have tried to run away somehow from this constant sound of rain when the scary accident happened.

‘What should I do?’

Melody closed the window and closed the thin curtains, but the sound of rain is still resounding into the room.

‘I don’t want her to hear scary stuff.’

Melody approached Loretta’s side after much thought.

She reached for the child again. However, her fingers were not able to reach her and were only bending awkwardly.

Did she feel any signs of anxiety? The child’s body crouched smaller.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Melody quickly clasped her hands in surprise. But soon Loretta found out that she didn’t shrink because of her.

The sound of rain is getting louder. The sound on the window is probably similar to what she heard in the carriage.

“You’re scared a lot...aren’t you? You see, I’m afraid of thunder and lightning too, so I cover my ears like you each time.”

Maybe it’s because of the urgency. Melody’s mouth is talkative.

She had never told anyone this before.

“You know, I’ve never said this to anyone before. If you cover your ears with your hands, you might not be able to hear it anymore.”

“So, put your hands here and here.”

Unlike usual, it was rather amazing that Melody continued talking to her for a long time.

Loretta, leaning against the corner of the bed, turned slowly and looked towards Melody. Still with her small hands covering her ears.

Relying on the light from the small candle, the two faced each other.

Just like they did during the daytime.

“Uhm, So..”

Melody took courage and took both hands to Loretta’s ears.

“How does it feel being like this?”

“....”

“Doesn’t the sound of the rain sound a little smaller?”

Melody tried to smile at Loretta, whose face was covered in tears. She hoped she’ll feel at least a little relieved.

“..I-It’s still the same.”

However, the answer that came back after a long time was rather different from what Melody expected.

“I-is that so?”

Melody felt ashamed and tried to pull back again.

However, as Loretta was about to cry again when her hand dropped slightly, she quickly covered her ears together as if she were covering her child’s hand.

“It’s not ringing anymore, is it?”

Contrary to her concern, Loretta’s face looked a little more relaxed.

“That’s a relief.”

Melody whispered so quietly. Soon the child moved slightly backward.

She then gives Melody some space.

Melody did not decline her kindness because standing by the bed and covering her ears hurt her arms.

It is a small bed, but it is enough for two young and small girls to share.

“Loretta.”

Melody softly called the child’s name.

She thought she might not be able to hear her, but Loretta’s frightened eyes stared at her.

“It’s okay. Chapter 1 is very short.”

“......?”

“Well, I mean.”

‘How should I explain this?’

Although the two are lying in one bed like this, they are actually in a bizarre situation.

Melody is destined to have such a needy life from before she was born in this world, till now.

But Loretta was different. This short chapter is a light passage to win the reader’s favor.

Her small hands will be filled with happiness and luxury that Melody can never bear to hold.

“So I mean.. It means that Loretta will be happy soon. I know it.”

“Don’t be afraid, and let’s go to sleep.”

Did Melody feel the same way? Loretta nodded quietly.

As time went by, the sound of rain grew stronger and stronger.

Nevertheless, Loretta’s breathing sounds gradually stabilized.

She then heard her going to deep sleep. Soon after, Melody fell asleep.

The rain continued until morning. However, the two girls did not know that it had rained for so long.

***

After the night of them sleeping together, Loretta seemed to have opened her heart to Melody.

“It’s Melody.”

She had a poor pronunciation, but she called her name.

“Eat together with Loredda.”

She told her to join her for a meal that she secretly ate alone.

Melody spurred the operation, ‘Be kind to Loretta.’

She gave her delicious snacks without her mother knowing and brushed her hair beautifully.

She picked up an abandoned newspaper on the street and read the letters together. Of course, she only read for a moment, and soon she played folding paper into pear shapes.

Two weeks later, Loretta and Melody became completely close.

As evidence, Loretta began to follow Melody around.

She would copy whatever Melody does and laugh when they met eyes.

And when she couldn’t see her mother, she would quickly come up and hold Melody’s hand and say, “This is what you used to say.”

“Melody, I really like chu.”

Her shy confession is so cute that Melody couldn’t calm down her twitching mouth.

Wouldn’t the Duke forgive Loretta when he picks her up and while hearing this from the female main character?

No....... that’s just a delusional imagination.

Considering the achievements her mother has made so far, it won’t be easy.

Is she going to be beaten..?

It’s going to hurt a little bit, but.. it’s a much better result. There is nothing to say compared to the original.

Alright, let’s try to keep the crime as low as possible until the Duke comes.

At least we can avoid death! Loretta gave me a big hug, saying, “Melody, you’re so beautiful.”

She’s such a nice girl. I patted her on her small back, saying, “You pretty little girl.”

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