Chapter 13 — A Rabbit for Oscar
Chapter 13 — A Rabbit for Oscar
Translation: Godtl
In the original story, Lelia remained in the neglected tower while the imperial family gathered around Julianna. Hungry, lonely, and painfully aware of the difference between them, the young Lelia eventually crossed paths with Julianna during one of the princess's outings.
Julianna had fallen asleep with snacks and a beloved doll nearby. The original Lelia, who was searching for food, was drawn to both. She ate what she could and, overcome by envy and the simple desire to own something soft and pretty, reached for the doll as well.
Cedric and Damian caught her before she could leave. To them, Lelia was not merely a hungry child but the daughter of the woman they blamed for their mother's suffering. Their anger turned the incident into an accusation of theft, and when Julianna woke, the brothers demanded that Lelia apologize properly to the imperial princess.
Lelia had neither the strength nor the standing to resist them. She knelt and repeated her apology again and again until they were satisfied. Julianna herself was uncomfortable with the punishment, but the brothers were determined to make an example of the incident.
By the time Perseus arrived to take Julianna away, the contrast was impossible for Lelia to ignore: Julianna was surrounded by people who cherished her, while Lelia remained the unwanted child everyone wished would disappear. The memory stayed with her precisely because the doll had become a symbol of that difference.
Remembering that part of the story, Lelia returned her attention to the shelves in front of her. She had no intention of repeating the original Lelia's mistake. If she wanted a doll, she could choose one of her own.
Lelia eventually picked up a small rabbit doll from the shelf.
'Unlike the original, I have no intention of meeting Julianna, nor does she have any intention of taking her doll.'
Still, she thought a doll of his own might bring Oscar some comfort.
"Alright, I'll go with this one."
She chose another rabbit, matching the one she had picked out for Oscar.
"Blegh. Rabbit..."
Kalix mocked her choice, but...
"Then I'll get this one too."
"Hmm. I'll buy one too."
Romeo and Griffith chose matching rabbits as well, making Kalix frown.
"Then I'll... whatever."
In the end, Kalix reluctantly picked up a rabbit doll of his own.
The shopkeeper stared in disbelief at the five matching rabbit dolls chosen by his unexpected customers.
That night.
After dinner, the children washed up and naturally gathered in Lelia's room.
"...."
Wearing her pajamas, Lelia headed to the room right next to her own bedroom.
Seeing five beds lined up in a row, she couldn't help but sigh.
It was Romeo who had taken two beds for himself.
Because of his habit of rolling around while sleeping, he had brought two beds and warned the other children that he wouldn't let it slide if they intruded on his space.
And a rabbit doll was placed at the head of each bed, which she actually liked.
'It's cute!'
That's right, no matter how much these kids tried to act all grown-up, they were still just ten-year-olds.
'Though I am seven...'
Anyway, Lelia approached Oscar, who was hugging a small white rabbit doll.
"Oscar, are you all ready for bed?"
"Yeah...."
Lelia stroked his hair, recalling Oscar's flustered face when he received the doll earlier.
Earlier, Oscar had looked surprised when his friends returned with dolls in their arms after going out without him.
However, when Lelia handed him a white rabbit doll, he accepted it while hesitating.
Lelia gave him the explanation she hadn't been able to provide when handing him the doll.
"Oscar, this is called a worry doll. I went out specifically to buy it for you. That's where I went."
"W-worry doll... w-what's that?"
At Lelia's words, the other children also fixed their gaze on her.
"Well, um... hmm. You all have at least one thing you're scared of, right? Sometimes it appears in your dreams. But if you sleep hugging a doll, it eats up your nightmares. In short, it's a doll that takes on your worries for you."
"...Leader really knows how to spout nonsense."
Romeo scoffed.
"Hey, it's real!"
When Lelia bristled, the other children snickered.