Chapter 10

“Huh? You don’t have a mother?”

Only then did the child’s voice show embarrassment. His face lost that insolent look, and he started fidgeting, glancing at me awkwardly and quickly looking away.

But since he realized that he made a slip of the tongue, doesn’t this mean that he’s no longer a total jerk?

Just so you know, I was totally fine without my mother.

Yes, it was a shame that she died just after I was born. I never got to experience the care of a birth mother. But that also meant that she was a complete stranger to me. What kind of affection could I have had towards her when I hadn’t even seen her face?

Even if I did know her, I would’ve been comforted by the thought that my mother would be reborn somewhere else and living well as a baby.

Everyone dies and is born again. Just like me now.

“Yes, my mother died giving birth to me.”

“Uhh… Mmmm. Right.”

The little boy stuttered at my nonchalant response. He, who had been so rude and full of himself till now, began to look at me differently.

The sudden change in his attitude confused me, but then I remembered that this little boy had also lost his mother when he was young. Currently, there were only two living members in the ducal family; the Grand Duke and the little one in front of me.

You’re being so cautious because you became aware that I don’t have a mother, right? Do you think that it’s a wound to others just because you’re hurting? What if it really doesn’t matter to me that my mother isn’t here?

But I didn’t explain all this and let him misunderstand. I just wanted to get out of here.

“Me too…”

I didn’t understand what he meant and looked at him questioningly. He whispered in a grave voice as if he was telling a big secret.

“I don’t have a mother either.”

He looked so sad after saying this. Where is that arrogant kid from a while ago? The person in front of me is just a vulnerable little boy.

I immediately regretted my words and struggled to find a way to comfort him. I was so immature! I should’ve kept in mind that he was just a kid and not spoken so carelessly.

Not everyone remembers their past life like me. An eight-year-old child with no mother must be so lonely. Unless it was an unusual situation like mine, he couldn’t help but miss his mother’s affection.

He seemed to be a mean child, so I wanted to be far away from him, but I don’t like him being so downcast. No matter how evil he is, he’s still just a kid.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

I went to his side and patted his back with my small hand. I don’t know whether it was any comfort to him, but the boy did look a little embarrassed.

Gosh, this is awkward! But it’ll only turn more uncomfortable if I stop now, so I pretended to be oblivious and continued patting.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

“Wh-what are you doing? No, forget it. I’m fine even if you don’t worry.”

He grabbed my hand and snapped. The weak little boy, so lonely without his mother, completely disappeared.

Sigh. He had seemed a bit more his age while looking depressed, but now he is back to being his arrogant self. I made a mistake. I should’ve known that that crappy personality wouldn’t disappear so quickly.

I tried to pull my hand away, but the kid held on with greater strength. When I met his eyes inquiringly, he asked brusquely.

“You, what was your name again?”

Somehow, it felt ominous. But I couldn’t not answer since he was asking, so I did.

“It’s Arendine Aide.”

“I’m Kirsec Rheinfont.”

I knew even before you told me! That’s why I tried to run away!

Well, I still wanted to run away, but he seemed to be waiting for something. So I reluctantly opened my mouth.

“… Kirsec Rheinfont.”

Kirsec’s mouth tipped up when I said his name aloud.

My eyes widened. But he immediately hardened his expression and, reaching out, pressed down hard on my head. He forced down my head, and I wrapped my hands over it in pain. He was having fun, playing with my head like before.