Chapter 53
Chapter 53
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Spring Has Come
When was it from?
Merthesia started shedding the layers of clothes she had been wearing one by one.
The days she kicked off the blanket increased,
she tried to head outside without her thick coat,
and the shoulders that used to hunch at the cold wind when opening the door were now held straight.
Only then did I realize.
That spring had come before I knew it.
As always, after handing the medicine to Merthesia, I gazed out the window.
Were the buds starting to sprout?
A faint light green bloomed on every branch,
and the soft greenery spread all the way down to the foot of the mountain.
Just as I thought the breeze felt pleasantly refreshing, I felt her body shivering in front of me.
“!!!!!!”
“Yeah. You drank it well today too.”
Merthesia nodded, grimacing as her whole body trembled.
Her tongue stuck out stiffly.
I lightly touched the tip of her soft-looking tongue with my finger.
“?!”
“Because it's cute.”
“...”
Merthesia stared blankly at my finger.
Eyes filled with a mix of surprise and bewilderment.
Then, slowly, her gaze shifted to my face.
I gave a light smile as our eyes met.
“You grimaced less than yesterday.”
“...”
Merthesia nodded slightly.
Her lips curved up just a bit—she seemed secretly proud.
“Here, candy.”
“...!”
When I placed the small candy in her mouth, Merthesia's eyes sparkled as she chewed on it.
It was what Loren had told me.
Give her something sweet after the medicine.
That alone would make the child's day happy.
It was a bonus that forcing bitter medicine on a kid without anything after was too harsh.
“Feeling better now?”
“!”
“...Ah, I said no snacking before meals.”
Her munching mouth froze.
Merthesia began to fidget restlessly.
She seemed torn between spitting it out or not.
Clutching her rabbit doll tightly,
she lowered her head a little and peeked up at me.
“...”
“Shall we make an exception today?”
At my words and light smile, she finally nodded in relief.
Her tense expression faded,
and her candy-chewing lips regained their calm.
The child's small legs wriggled slightly atop the blanket.
That movement was a sign she wanted to go outside.
A far more shy and subtle expression than pointing at the door.
'Fun.'
At first, I had no idea what it meant and hesitated,
but now I could pick up on more and more without her saying a word.
I quietly watched Merthesia.
Still wriggling her legs,
her gaze flickered back and forth between the door and me.
Normally, she'd point right at the door, but her subtle hints now had one reason.
I'd kept turning down my own suggestions to go out.
These past few days, it had rained nonstop.
The weather wasn't great for outings.
In these rugged mountains, even a light drizzle could be dangerous at times.
'Spring rain, huh.'
Only now did I realize what that rain blocking the child's outings had been.
I turned my gaze to the window.
The weather was perfectly clear and bright.
Ideal for a stroll.
Merthesia knew it too—expectation seeped into her twitching toes.
But she was being subtle because she was waiting for me to bring it up first, scared of another refusal.
I looked at Merthesia and opened my mouth leisurely.
“The weather's nice today...”
“?”
“Shall we go outside?”
“!”
Spot on.
Merthesia's eyes went wide as she bolted upright from her spot.
Her gaze brimmed with 'Really?'
“Yeah. Let's do some walking practice outside for a change.”
“!!!”
“...No, you have to eat first.”
I hurriedly grabbed Merthesia as she crawled toward the wardrobe.
Was it the medicine's effect?
Or had her muscles developed from all the movement?
Merthesia's motions were noticeably quicker now.
Not quite crawling anymore—she was practically sliding along.
Her tiny hands and feet patted the floor frantically, faster than even the rabbit.
'Good sign.'
I scooped up Merthesia and stroked her head.
“Eat first.”
“!”
“Wash up. I'll set breakfast out.”
Merthesia headed to the bathroom on her own two feet.
Slow and deliberate, unlike her crawls.
Still awkward at walking, her posture wobbly.
A chuckle slipped out.
I set out breakfast and fed hay to the rabbit.
This little guy seemed restless too, glancing toward the door.
“Sorry. It's walking practice today, not a walk. Can't take you.”
Then Merthesia emerged from the bathroom.
She toddled out cautiously on tiptoe and plopped right down at the table.
Naturally grabbed her utensils,
and claimed the seat across from me like it was hers by right.
“You're getting good at this.”
“...!”
Merthesia smiled shyly.
Suddenly, I recalled the first time the cabin's interior had changed.
The morning it transformed in an instant thanks to Rakiss.
Maybe because the familiar cabin had shifted so abruptly.
Merthesia had been at a total loss, eyes darting everywhere.
The partial replica of Hubert's house only added to her confusion.
But she'd adapted well now—good.
I smiled leisurely as I watched her pick up her utensils.
“Eat slowly. Got it?”
“!”
Her shoulders jumped like she'd been caught.
Merthesia's movements slowed to a crawl,
but her bright eyes betrayed her excitement.
“All done?”
“!”
She carefully slid the spotless empty bowl toward me,
gazing up with a touch of pride.
I smiled and patted her head.
“Good job. Thanks for eating it all up nice.”
“...!”
A beaming grin spread across Merthesia's face.
She shyly covered her mouth with her hand, then glanced at the door.
“Yeah. Let's go.”
“!!!”
Before I even finished, she was on her feet, bustling about.
“...That exciting, huh.”
I set down my leisurely teacup.
If Merthesia was this worked up, I needed to hustle too.
I finished my quick preparations and sat in the rocking chair.
“...!”
“All set?”
“!”
Merthesia in her pink fluttering dress.
Fussing over her outfit over and over, eyes sparkling.
“...Cute.”
“...!”
Finally satisfied, she blushed and nodded.
Then, as always, she held out the black hair tie I'd given her.
“Got it. I'll tie it for you.”
“!”
Merthesia's hair had grown a bit longer.
Not quite enough to gather it all yet,
but as Loren taught, I could tie off one side.
It'd been clumsy at first, but practice made it familiar.
“Hm, looks good.”
“...”
“You like it?”
“!”
Merthesia beamed at her reflection in the mirror.
I rose slowly, a soft smile on my face.
“Let's go, Merthesia.”
“...!”
The moment I finished, her eyes lit up as she scurried to the door on all fours.
How badly she'd wanted this—
even her crawling felt bouncy, like skipping.
She was about to head out that way by habit, so I stopped her quick.
“Even if you're in a rush, we walk outside.”
“!”
Only then did Merthesia stand.
Her legs still shaky from weakness.
Yet amid the wobbling balance, she didn't topple.
Standing firm, Merthesia opened the door.
And,
turned to me with the brightest smile imaginable.
More radiant and dazzling than the spring sunlight pouring down.
“...!”
“Yeah. Let's get started.”
I took both of Merthesia's hands.
Warmth flowed from her small palms.
A slight tremble—she was still nervous about the walking practice.
Gripping tight, we took slow steps together.
Spring air wrapped softly around our skin,
and the faint scent of grass rose from the field where buds had lifted their heads.
“Yeah. You're doing great.”
“...!”
Her tension was easing bit by bit.
Merthesia grinned wide and looked around.
Freshly budding flowers swayed gently right beside us.
Her gaze locked on them instantly.
“Pretty, aren't they?”
“...!”
Merthesia nodded over and over.
One step, then two more.
We began the careful walking practice.
I matched her slow pace, staying right ahead to guide.
“You're doing really well now.”
“!”
Merthesia met my eyes and smiled shyly.
About thirty minutes like that.
Her legs quivered, then she plopped down right there.
That was the limit for today, it seemed.
“Good work.”
“...”
I gently stroked Merthesia's head.
Happy with the praise,
but her eyes held a hint of regret—she'd wanted to do more.
I chuckled softly at that look.
“You did more than enough.”
“...!”
“You'll be walking on your own without help in no time.”
Only then did a full smile bloom on her face.
I looked around.
A vast field embroidered with new buds and grass.
The nearby woods were sprouting light green leaves one by one too.
Useful herbs were mixed in among them.
'That one... better pick it now.'
I seated Merthesia atop a wide boulder.
The ground was still too muddy and rough to bring her along.
“I'll be right back.”
“...!”
“No. It's dangerous. Wait right here.”
Leaving Merthesia behind with puffed-up cheeks, I headed into the woods.
I figured it'd be quick,
but close up, the good herbs were deeper in.
'...She'll be fine.'
It wouldn't take long.
Plus, the hair tie had detection magic woven in,
so if anything suspicious stirred, I'd rush right back.
Thankfully, nothing happened while I harvested.
The wind,
the detection magic,
the presences around.
'Time to head back.'
I hurried to where I'd left the child.
The instant I emerged from the woods, my brisk steps halted.
Nothing remained on the boulder.
...Merthesia was gone.