The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella - Chapter 19
“Ywes?”
“It’s been two years since then, so now you’re only five years old.”
Elodie blinked her large eyes.
“Do you know what my grandson called me at that age?”
What did he say?
“He had a chubby little face and asked who I was and why I was in his house.”
“……”
“That was only one time. I was still a toddler…”
Edmund grumbled with slightly reddened cheeks.
“…Quit it. I feel like I’ve heard that story over twenty times.”
“Then listen to it ten more times.”
Perhaps that incident had quite an impact on him. Eisen, dismissing his grandson’s complaints, looked down at Elodie again.
“Who remembers anything from when they were three? Only a very few might. No one expects the young lady to remember.”
“……”
“Simply being alive and well now is a miracle for them.”
The Duke’s large hand came to rest on Elodie’s head.
Thump, just like that.
Despite the impression that he might be rough even with a child, he was unexpectedly gentle, wasn’t he?
Understanding at a glance.
Is this what comes with experience?
Elodie felt bewildered by all this, but the clumsy comfort allowed her a bit of reassurance.
“Am I weally theiw daughtuw?”
“Even if it’s just talking on the communication device, what parent wouldn’t recognize their child?”
“……”
“Those worse than animals, who don’t recognize their kin, should be buried in the ground to at least be useful as fertilizer. Don’t you think?”
Duke Valkyriesen asked this while intently watching Count Bluewood.
Was the squeaking punishment actually a fertilizer punishment?
The Count’s face, still not recovered from the terror of the squeaking, turned a shade paler than pale.
“Um, Grandfather.”
There’s nothing he won’t say in front of a child.
An inwardly flustered Edmund quickly took Elodie from the Duke’s arms and returned her to Sera.
***
‘I got away.’
Just like that.
Proudly on two feet.
‘Yes, on two feet!’
Now, I too walk bipedally.
‘With Sera!’
What a miraculous thing!
Elodie still vividly remembered her past life.
Now, encountering humans wouldn’t mean they’d try to kill her on sight.
No need to hide or run away.
To stand proudly beside Sera.
“Huh? Elodie, what’s wrong?”
Sera asked.
It was because Elodie kept wiggling her toes, looking at her legs as if they were fascinating.
Sera felt a poignant yet utterly endearing sight and chuckled softly.
“Do you want to try walking on your own?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Elodie nodded.
Since becoming human, she had only been carried in the arms of people and never tried walking on her own.
Her first step towards the world…!
Thud―!!
“E, Elodie!”
Sera, horrified, quickly scooped up Elodie who had fallen.
Elodie trembled as she looked at her palm that had scraped but instantly healed.
‘I can’t stand beside Sera like this…’
All because she couldn’t walk.
The frustration of not being able to speak fluently due to her distorted pronunciation was enough to frustrate her already.
‘Do I have to practice walking first?’
It was utterly humiliating.
How could she ever become someone Sera could rely on at this rate?
“This won’t do, Elodie. I’ll have to carry you forever…”
Damn, making Sera say such things.
Instead of support, she became a hindrance!
‘Well, can’t help it.’
She’d learn to walk in just two days.
Elodie clenched her fist and burned with determination.
She had planned to practice walking on two feet as soon as she safely returned to the Ratzen family.
But who knew such a trivial, insignificant plan would face obstacles right from the start?
Really.
“The location of the Ratzen family is thoroughly hidden. Only those authorized can enter, so travel by carriage is only possible up to Valkyriesen.”
Up until Elodie heard the Duke controlling his bracelet and explaining, she had no particular thoughts.
