The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella - Chapter 4

She grabbed Sera by the collar.

“What on earth are you doing this time?!”

Then, the stepmother, who had been looking at her own hand with a disdainful expression, clicked her tongue.

“Why do you show up so late? Make sure to correct this child’s bad habits,” the count said.

Must be out of her mind to be holding a mouse in her hand like this.

The count left the drawing-room as if he couldn’t stand the sight.

After a brief silence, the stepmother muttered in a bitter voice,

“Do I have to hear such nonsense because of the likes of you?”

“M, mother…”

“It’s giving me the creeps.”

The stepmother still had Sera by the collar as she dragged her away.

The place she was heading to was very familiar to Elodie, the storage room.

Whenever the stepmother was displeased, Sera was always locked in there and subjected to severe punishment, tasks she could never accomplish on her own, until she collapsed from exhaustion.

This time was no different. The stepmother took out a dagger from her pocket and poured several sacks filled with beans and grains onto the ground.

The grains scattered, quickly covering the floor of the storage room.

“This is your punishment. Sort the beans and grains back into the sacks.”

BANG—!

The door closed with a loud sound, and the sound of a key turning was heard.

“Mother! Mother, I’m sorry! Please, open the door!”

Sera pounded on the door, shouting, but her footsteps rapidly moved away without the slightest hesitation.

“…”

Silence filled the storage room.

Sera’s hands, which held Elodie, slowly relaxed. The little life was barely hanging on, shivering.

“I just wanted to save you.”

But how could she, trapped in this storage room, do anything to help?

This mouse would soon die.

But Seraphina knew she couldn’t save even one injured mouse.

“Sob…”

A big, hot droplet of water fell on Elodie’s body with a soft plop.

“What should I do? I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

“…”

“It’s my fault you got hurt, and I can’t protect you.”

“…”

“Why am I so weak and helpless…”

Sadness, powerlessness, anger.

Various complex emotions welled up in the girl’s eyes and then dripped away.

Elodie breathed heavily, looking at Sera like that.

‘What do you mean, it’s because of you? I was the one who rushed in.’

The culprits are your father, your stepmother, and your sisters.

‘Actually, I’ve always been saved by you.’

Even if time were to turn back, it would be the same.

But Elodie was still just a mouse. Instead of comforting, she couldn’t even wipe away Sera’s tears.

‘Nothing has changed.’

In fact, it was worse than before, considering that she had caused Sera more trouble.

Only mentally aged, she was still a helpless mouse, nothing more.

This was truly pathetic.

She ended up making Sera cry again.

‘Am I destined to die like this?’

Her life was such that even if opportunities came, she couldn’t properly protect a single precious person.

But still, she hoped that Sera would not cry because of her.

Elodie barely lifted her front paw and placed it on Sera’s thumb, as if trying to comfort her.

“…Strange. It’s like you can understand me. Have I finally gone insane?”

Sera whispered like she was sharing a secret, her voice filled with moisture.

“Did you chew on Father’s nose because you got angry on my behalf?”

“…”

“To be honest, it was kind of satisfying. It was the first time I saw Father scream like that. He even left the mansion.”

“…”

“I’ve never seen a mouse as brave as you.”

Seraphina’s lips, trying to smile, quivered slightly.

Her tear-dampened lips touched the mouse’s face before falling off. It was the kind farewell of a kind girl.

“Can I name you Elodie?”

The moment Elodie heard those words, it felt as if the world had stopped.

The events of a few years ago felt vivid, as if it happened yesterday.

Back then, she was badly hurt, just like now.

‘You forcibly hurt your own hand to get the healing potion for me, and in front of you, I pretended to be brave.’

Flustered glances, bandages wrapped around her hand, the faint scent of blood, the excited voice of her new friend, and the remembered cheek…

“It’s the main character in my favorite adventure novel, and she’s a mouse, too. No wonder you felt so familiar.”

“…”

“Even though it was a short-lived connection, I will keep you in my memories.”

Elodie burst into tears, letting go of the tears she had held back.

A dirty mouse, a loathsome mouse, a lowly mouse.

Even though she was treated the same way by all humans, Sera unfailingly discovered her and reached out her hand.

She considered Elodie her brave friend, despite the mouse’s futile rebellion.

The fact that Elodie could be Sera’s Elodie was both delightful and sorrowful.

Elodie cried alongside Sera, her eyes tightly closed.

And because of that, she remained unaware.

“Uwahh, I, to me, Sewabunny… is my evwything…”

Sobs that didn’t sound like squeaks but were the cries of a human.

“So tha’s why, so tha’s why I’m hewe. I jus dun wan Sewa to get huwt… I jus wan Sewa to be happy… Pwease dun cwy…”

A bright light instantly enveloped Elodie.

Her shattered bones were mended, the wounds that would have been fatal disappeared in an instant, and she grew to the point where she could fit in Sera’s embrace, not just on her palm.

And so, Elodie was no longer a mouse but a full-fledged human child.