I'm Being Raised by Villains - Chapter 13
<Chapter 13>
Thud, the child’s head fell down. Erno reached out slowly, then placed his finger under the girl’s nose.
The soft and even breaths indicate that the child is alive.
“Father, are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
This is the first time I’ve gotten out of hand unexpectedly like this.
And the fact that the fuss stopped so quickly.
Really such a strange thing.
Usually, that feeling appears about a week before it happens.
When the mania approaches, there will be rage and even an urge to kill at the slightest trifle.
If it was almost the time, I would also go on trip for a while.
Because there was too much trash in this world that was legally allowed to die.
But until now, there had never been such a dangerous urge. It was because I couldn’t realize that my body was being pushed to the limit.
‘Come to think of it, there should have been a sign about 2 weeks ago.’
If it was two weeks ago…
‘That was the day when he found this child.’
There was a refreshing feeling when I received the ring. Also the sweet and bitter taste that goes around in the mouth.
When that scent filled the tip of my nose…
The mania had calmed down.
Not only that, a slightly fishy fragrance still swirling lightly on the tip of my tongue. It must be this child’s blood.
No wonder the child’s hands are full of scratches.
I started calling this little girl ‘my daughter’ to fill up my spare time.
“The doll…”
He got up while holding the child, then picked up the tiger doll that was rolling on the floor.
The doll was full of dirt from being trampled on, not as clean as the child always carry it with.
“…If only I didn’t burn them all,” he muttered softly.
Erno Etam felt regretful for what he did for the first time in his life.
If he had left a few dolls behind, surely he could have given the child a new one if something like this happened.
When he slowly looked around him, he saw a maid who was really scared that he couldn’t approach her.
She stared at him with a pale complexion, as if seeing a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.
The prejudiced gaze that he had felt since childhood.
‘Right, usually that’s the normal reaction.’
The first thing to do is run away in order to stay alive.
Stay away from things that could harm ourselves.
Even his sons made an escape as their top priority. Because that’s what they learned.
Once the mania began, there was only one way to stop it.
Stronger opponents must immobilize entities experiencing mania.
But, no one in this house was capable of taking him down.
In fact, the only ones comparable like Duke Mirel or the eldest son of the family was absent.
“Father, fortunately no one died.”
“Right.”
Even so, I came to my senses without seeing blood from a single person.
Initially, nothing could stop me.
‘But, it stopped.’
By this small and young child.
The child didn’t care how many times she fell, even when her hands got dirty and scratched in order to stop the mania.
Otherwise, this child’s life would also be taken away.
“Clean everything up.”
“Yes, Father. I’ll do it, so Brother and Father can leave first.”
“Oh, okay. In the meantime, find the fruit that this child was holding and bring it to me. For some reason, it seems that the fruit can calm mania. I have to check it out.”
“Understood.”
Callan Etam ruffled his red hair roughly, then chased after Erno Etam who was holding the small child in slightly messy clothes.
“Father, is it true that the fruit calms you down?”
“Maybe.”
“I’ve been traveling to find it… How did this kid know about that fruit?”
“Who knows. She is my daughter who has many secrets.”
Callan Etam frowned at Erno Etam’s answer.
“Father.”
His steps along the corridor got slower. Erno Etam nodded as soon as Callan opened his mouth
“Actually, I’m not used to saying these things.”
Callan shook his head as if feeling pressured.
“The game this time, how about stopping it here?”
Callan opened his mouth carefully. “This time, she’s even helping you, Father… Actually I pity her. Last year, Father made a deal with that man, but it’s not like that with this kid. Shillian also agrees with me…”
“Callan.”
“Yes, Father.”
“This isn’t something you need to be concerned about.”
“How could I not be concerned about it? Even so, she shook my hand and told me to run away and went to save Father.”
“Enough. I don’t think it’s something to talk about in this kind of place. So, we’ll talk about it later.”
Erno refused to speak twice. Callan understood that this was the end he could interfere with.
“…I understand.”
Erno laid the child on her bed as carefully as usual.
After giving a few orders to the maids who were waiting inside, Erno looked at the girl’s flushed cheeks, then turned around.
“I’ll excuse myself as well.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Callan Etam lowered his head, then walked down the long passage and disappeared.
‘This was supposed to be…’
He blinked slowly.
“-a fun game.”
Erno Etam clenched his fist and moved his feet which had stopped for a moment.
[Er, you know what? The child is blind. No matter how scary you are, they will give you endless affection because you are their parent. If a child is born, surely you will change too.]
[That must be from your stupid and funny perspective.]
[Oh, don’t be sarcastic. Listen to me. A child sees only the best in you, no matter what mistakes you make or how bad you are. So, if you meet a child like that, you will definitely change.]
[Dahlia, like I said, this world you’re talking about has always been an ideal world, a place where all kinds of dreams are gathered.]
[Ah, so frustrating! At times like this, a cute daughter is the best! Men are weak to their daughters, right?]
[Now it’s impossible to have more children. Three is enough.]
[Okay, I hope this child is a daughter. That way, you’ll know. That there are beings in this world that you can’t help but love.]
Having spoken so well like that, she died without giving birth to our third child.
[This child will probably change your world. So, I hope you won’t be lonely anymore.]
Those words turned to dust.
He didn’t know why it suddenly came to mind.
He walked down the empty hallway and headed to his room.
The sour taste and sour smell of fruit that lingered in his mouth was strangely not that unpleasant as usual.
* * *
Suddenly—
As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw a beautiful chandelier and ceiling.
When I tried to get up, I groaned from the pain in several parts of my body and rolled around inside the blanket.
‘Ouch, I thought I was going to die…’
Luckily, I’m still alive.
“Ah! My gems!”
The gems I moved near the fruits…
The gem I always carry with me just in case I return to my original form and need to run away!!
I reached with my little hands, but couldn’t get a piece.
‘Did I lose them? My clothes have been changed, too.’
Did Myla change my clothes?
I was about to grab the bed and try to get down to the floor, but the door opened with a click.
“Goodness, My Lady!”
“Myla…”
“I’m so relieved that you woke up.”
Myla ran and hugged me tightly.
“I was so worried because My Lady has not woken up for a week.”
“…Oh, eek?”
She said… how long…?
“A week…?”
“Yes, they say because My Lady was suddenly shocked and overworked.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yes, I was really really worried.”
I’m pretty sure my eyeballs are clearly shaking, even though I couldn’t see them.
‘I didn’t get caught, did I?’
Luckily, I didn’t turn into a lizard or anything when I was unconscious.
‘She said, a week. No way…’
Why? Because if a week has passed, the heroine would have made her appearance and the original story has begun.
“I’m screwed…”
Again, I lost time to collect points.
“You must already be hungry, right? I will immediately bring the food.”
“Mhm, okay.”
I nodded and sighed heavily.
‘My gems are gone, my time is gone too…’
Even my ambition might have gone away with it.
“Everyone was very worried. Young Master Callan and Young Master Shillian came here almost every day, even His Grace also visited you once. He asked you to meet him when you wake up.”
Strangely, Myla’s voice sounds a little desiccated as if she was reading a Korean book.
‘It must be just my imagination, right?’
I shook off my thoughts.
“Is thay swo? What about my fathwer?”
“Ah… That… A few days ago, Lord Erno visited once, but after that…”
“Is that swo?”
It’s not a big loss since this was something I expected.
But, it’s a pity that everything was over while I was asleep.
‘Even so, his debt has already piled up, so he will definitely give me his money, right?’
If we don’t expect something, we won’t get hurt. So, I became the one who didn’t get hurt.
That’s right, so I’m okay this time too.
“Yes, maybe because he’s busy. The duke brought the daughter of his deceased daughter. I heard there was talk of adoption.”
“I see.”
I roughly understand the current situation.
Duke Mirel discovered that the heroine has the power to calm mania on the way to this place.
Duke Mirel wanted to give this child to Erno, who has the most severe mania.
At first, Erno also did not reject and accepted the heroine when he got out of control once.
“Ah, then My Lady and her will be sisters!”
“That’s not possible?” I brushed my skirt as I spoke nonchalantly.
‘It’s time to prepare for the end quietly.’
It wasn’t a very long time, but it’s such a pity.
I thought it would last for three months, but I didn’t expect that it would end in less than a month.
<To be continued>