Chapter 19
The Child's Enrollment Preparations
The street in the capital's square of the Eldarion Empire.
Lucia and Nia were walking in the middle of an alley lined with the most successful luxury stores on that large street.
As they walked, Lucia realized that her childcare leave had only one month left, with the cloudless sky and the increasingly cool weather.
Moreover, the kindergarten entrance ceremony was only a week away.
It was late, but the mother and daughter had finally come to the city to buy the supplies the kindergarten had told them to prepare.
Among Headmistress Norzia's words of unknown intent, the only certain fact was the acceptance notification.
Exactly one month later, an acceptance notification arrived from the Academy's affiliated kindergarten.
Since it was the only kindergarten in the Empire, the interview period alone lasted several months, and the interview they had in late spring resulted in an acceptance notification in early summer.
So, the current kindergarten admits students in late autumn and operates on a five-semester system instead of six.
The reason why the entrance ceremony is in autumn is that the Empire was founded in summer.
To be precise, the Empire was formed by merging large and small countries, so there was internal strife, and for those who were wary, they immediately put up the prestigious brand of Eldarion Academy and created a kindergarten in a matter of months.
Thanks to this, the fighting between them decreased, proving that there is no match for the love of one's children.
-Clang.
Feeling the pleasant weather, they arrived at the tailor shop.
"Welcome, this is Goose von Closet."
As Lucia and Nia opened the door, a woman wearing a dress with a puffed-up hip, which was said to be in fashion these days, came out to greet them.
Was the military uniform really that intimidating?
Perhaps because of Lucia's plain attire following the kindergarten interview, the flamboyant clerk greeted them brightly.
The young woman walked ahead, guiding them through the interior of the tailor shop, which was filled with countless items neatly arranged, including adorable dresses, small suits, and accessories.
It was clear to anyone that this was a place specializing in making children's clothes.
The seemingly kind clerk bent slightly at the knees and smiled at the little girl behind Lucia.
"Oh, a cute young lady. Are you entering kindergarten? Congratulations! Your hair is braided so beautifully. Who did it for you?"
In the past, Nia would have only peeked out from behind Lucia, shy and speechless.
Even now, she still didn't leave Lucia's side, but what was different from before was that.
"Yes...! Vernon, did it for me!"
It took a little time, but she definitely answered.
Was it thanks to the experienced headmistress?
Certainly, since the interview with her, the child's frequency of speaking had increased, and she smiled more often as well.
"Oh, really? Your butler must be very skilled. I'm envious!"
Vernon had become a butler in an instant, but since what he did wasn't much different from a butler's job, Lucia neither affirmed nor denied it.
"Well then, Madam, would you like to sit here and wait while I measure the child's size?"
"Alright."
As they went to the table she was guided to, the clerk placed animal-shaped cookies in front of Nia and then went to greet new customers.
Lucia felt a sense of pride as she looked at the changed Nia.
But on the other hand, she also thought of the two bad habits that still seemed difficult to correct.
The first was that the habit of trying to help with all kinds of housework like a maid had not been corrected.
It was just a threat to keep her in check, but she had scrubbed so much that now, rather than footprints, the wooden floor was rising because it was being washed with water every day.
Should she be thankful that traces were still being left like that?
Lucia couldn't bring herself to say anything because she was afraid that if she told her not to, she would say she would go to the orphanage.
The reason why the members of the royal guard didn't find it strange was that they thought the child was kind and trying to help with the housework.
And also.
Lucia saw Nia staring intently at the cookies that had been brought out.
"……."
She kept glancing at the cookies while looking away at the window.
That's right. This is the second bad habit.
The habit of not saying what she likes.
Lucia didn't like that even more than helping with housework.
If the child were an adult, she might be more skilled at hiding it, but there was no five-year-old who could hide it in front of cookies.
She would be taken care of at home without having to say anything, but if that habit continued, what about lunch at kindergarten? What about snack time?
At this rate, she would probably give everything to the other children if they asked for it.
Lucia sighed at the thought of her being deprived of her food by other children, no matter what else happened.
'Is this the Saintess's destiny? Right. If this continues, the child will probably be deprived of everything. Just like before the regression...'
...Lucia was comparing the fact that the child wasn't greedy for snacks to sacrifice.
Without realizing it, she was gradually becoming such a fussing mother.
"……."
Lucia looked at the child, who still couldn't take her eyes off the cookies, and thought that perhaps this was an opportunity to practice.
"……Those are some delicious-looking cookies."
Nia quickly checked her surroundings as if her inner thoughts had suddenly come out.
But all she saw was Lucia staring intently at her.
"The outside is crispy, and the inside is soft, right? They're cookies that really make you want to eat them. Aren't they?"
"……!!"
This time, Nia blinked her big eyes and even swallowed her saliva.
Lucia began to see her as a little puppy wagging its tail excitedly, with a delicious snack in front of it.
Anyone would think she was a demon tempting a child to take her soul, as she predicted victory and delivered the final blow to Nia's ear.
"When I was young, I had never seen or eaten cookies like that. It's the same even now that I'm an adult. Now, think about it. That crumbly, savory butter-flavored cookie and the jam inside will taste like a chewy, heavenly tropical fruit. So, now. What should you do?"
Lucia's previous obsession had made her almost a gourmet with her metaphors.
It was certain that this was the first time in her history that she had used so many metaphors and so many words.
Ah, she's almost there.
Was it because of such efforts that her light shined?
Nia's small mouth slowly opened,
"……Nia wants. Cookies..."
That's when it happened.
The voice of the kind clerk from earlier and the chatter of a woman came closer.
"That's right. Cezar is so well-behaved. He's a gentleman in his own right."
"That's right, Baroness. I've never seen such a composed child!"
"Oh, really? How wonderful. Hohoho!"
The puppy, who had been wary of their noisy conversation, eventually hid its wagging tail and quickly closed its open mouth.
'……Ah. A failure.'
Lucia turned her head towards the sound to see who had ruthlessly trampled on the opportunity she had painstakingly created.
The woman, wearing a fluttering, refreshing dress, was constantly bragging about her child with Cezar next to her.
Lucia glared at them with terrifying eyes, but quickly turned her head to the window when she recognized a face she had seen somewhere before.
'Please just pass by.'
Fortunately, Lucia was relieved when the small bell stopped ringing with the clerk's farewell.
However, as she was about to turn her head back, she made eye contact with someone outside the window.
"Oh, oh my!? Could it be...!"
The woman outside the window was pointing at her with wide, startled eyes.
That's right. The place Lucia had turned her head to was a well-cleaned shop window with a clear view of the street.
'…….'
Another failure.
Is today an unlucky day?
As expected, the Baroness, who had recognized Lucia, hurried back into the tailor shop.
"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! Captain Lucia!"
Lucia, who couldn't even remember the faces of the members of the royal guard she hadn't seen in a long time, had started the who-is-who game all over again.
"Captain! It's me! Me! Marien!"
"Ah. Marien..."
Fortunately, she said her name, so Lucia responded, but unfortunately, she still couldn't quite remember her.
"Of course!! Oh my. This must be fate. Say hello, Cezar!"
"Yes, Mother. Cezar Chepli, the firstborn of the Chepli Baron family. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The child seemed to be the same age as Nia, but Lucia was quite surprised by his perfect speech and pronunciation.
It seemed that there was quite a difference even between children of the same age.
"I've heard a lot about Lucia. She's always been a wonderful person, but she's also the one who made it possible for you to have your babyhood."
'……Babyhood?'
"Yes, Mother. I know. I heard that childcare leave was created after you asked the Captain of the White Knights. Thank you, Lucia."
Cezar, with his dark brown hair and warm impression, politely expressed his gratitude.
'Ah, I was wondering who it was, but it's Berl's sister.'
Marien was Berl's sister, so thanks to the countless praises of the Captain that the loyal Berl had given, her infamy was not only something to avoid, but rather something familiar.
Lucia had only seen Marien properly once, so it was difficult to remember her, but the atmosphere emanating from Cezar was similar to Berl's, so she could easily deduce it afterwards.
"It's nice to meet you, Cezar."
Lucia received Cezar's greeting, but for some reason, they didn't leave, and only a subtle silence flowed.
Realizing the atmosphere, their eyes were directed at Nia, who was hiding behind Lucia.
Perhaps because of the wariness that arose from seeing someone her age, she seemed more on edge than when she first arrived here.
'Ah, now that I think about it, I've never taught her formal greetings...'
"……Nia is."
Baroness Marien's eyes widened as if surprised by Nia's timid and short greeting.
Lucia was reminded of the etiquette of the nobles, which she had forgotten.
Marien was also a noblewoman with the status of Baroness, and even if it was a greeting from a five-year-old child, it could be considered rude to suddenly say only her name.
Marien's eyebrows twitched at Nia's short greeting.
"……You!"
'……This has become troublesome.'
Lucia sighed softly at the scolding that was about to happen.
But,
"You... You're so cute!! Oh my! You're the quiet girl I've always dreamed of!"
"……."
Contrary to Lucia's expectations, Marien was making a fuss with sparkling eyes and clasping her hands together.
"Cezar is so quiet that I wanted a lively child when I had a daughter next time. But you know what? There's a girl among my child's childhood friends, and let me tell you, that child is no ordinary child? Whenever that child comes to my house, I have to double-check everything. Something is always broken. Ohoho...!"
No matter how you listen to it, is the feeling that the girl is Ivanne just a feeling?
Marien continued to talk about the children as if she were on a train that couldn't be stopped.
Just when Lucia's ears were about to burst, she was able to escape from her hellish chatter thanks to Cezar's urging, and as she looked at Nia, who was standing with her arms outstretched in the fitting room, Lucia thought.
'……It might be easier to adapt than I thought.'
The time spent listening to the storm-like chatter was painful, but thanks to that, Lucia was less worried because it seemed that the way adults looked at the child was more relaxed than she had expected.
"Well, it's ending quickly because she's so quiet."
"Hoho, that's right. Well then, shall we give her a reward?"
"Well, go ahead and choose. Young Lady. You can have two."
The middle-aged women never stopped smiling kindly at the shy child throughout the measuring, and one of them held out a basket full of fancy candies.
However, the child seemed to be contemplating for a long time, looking around cautiously.
And then she shook her head.
'Again…….'
A young child is refusing candy.
Whenever candy was served as a snack at the residence, the child always smiled brightly.
Lucia, who knew that, thought that this was another case of her not saying what she liked.
The middle-aged tailor said with a disappointed face when the child refused.
"Oh my, she's quite a mature child. Then..."
As she was about to turn around to put the basket away, she turned back when she felt a small weight, as if her clothes had been caught.
Then,
"……Coo, cookies."
The child's timid murmur spread through the fitting room.
"Yes? What..."
When she asked back, the child had the most earnest face in the world.
"The cookies from before...! I have to give them to Lusha. Little Lusha has never seen anything like that before. She's never eaten them. So just one, just one. Please give them to me! Please...!"
The child began to ask someone for the first time in her life with the most earnest face in the world.
The changed gazes of the tailors at the child's desperate request turned to Lucia, who was dumbfounded.
"These days, young mothers are all about diet, diet, but if you can't even give them one of these cookies, is that really the way to care for your child?"
"That's right. I don't believe in that! How can you call it a great education to send them to kindergarten when you can't even feed them a cookie?"
"That's right. It's unbelievable that she's asking for such a common cookie to give to her younger sibling? My heart aches so much. Doesn't it?"
It was like the aftermath of witnessing child abuse.
Lucia was sweating cold sweat for the first time in a long time.
Was this why you had to be careful what you said in front of children?
Nia shyly handed Lucia the pile of cookies she had received with a pure and innocent smile.
Lucia, who received it, had no choice but to bravely face the terrifying eyes of the tailors who were looking at her as if she were a cold and heartless mother.
Perhaps it was because she saw the sparkling eyes of the child, who was hoping for praise for the precious gift she had brought for her mother for the first time, that she couldn't reveal that it was a misunderstanding.
Yes, as long as you're happy, I'm fine...
