A Real Family (2)
The sensation still lingered on my scalp. The warm trickle of nosebleed dripping down, plop, plop. Alone in a room filled with fine furniture, I fidgeted with my hands. The pleasant scent from my clothes kept making my body go limp.
Blood got on it, so let's change first.
Rudmila calmly sorted everything out. She gave me new clothes, helped me change, and stroked my hair. Even though blood coming from the nose of Cardia's family head, Yurshil Cardia, felt like an unprecedented event.
The lady who never even coughed...
Her face even turned red...!
Family head, I'll fetch a doctor!
Recalling the chaos from that moment made my hands and feet grow a bit cold. I crawled up onto the massive bed that could fit several people. Squirming in. Like a mole burrowing into the blankets, I wriggled my way to the pillows before finally poking my head out.
"I wonder if she's okay..."
My hair was all messed up from moving around under the soft blankets. My cheeks burned hot as they emerged, and I couldn't fall asleep easily, even in the dark room. Because I was a little worried about Yurshil.
Monte had made a huge fuss in my place.
Uwaaa!! Hwaaa! What the hell is this?!
Everyone had been trembling, so I couldn't show more emotion. But still, I just wanted to know what happened.
As I rolled around restlessly on the bed for a while, someone knocked. I snapped my head up and quickly replied.
"Who is it?"
The response asked if they could come in. It was Rudmila's voice. I scrambled out of bed and ran to the door. Standing on tiptoes just a bit, I opened it. Cardia's doors were too big for me. So I couldn't open it properly—it barely swung open a twelfth of the way, feebly.
Rudmila pushed the door open the rest of the way and entered. And there was someone with her.
"We'll open it. Why'd you come out?"
It was Young Master Monte, smiling as usual and showing me his snack pouch. I greeted the two a bit glumly and hurried back to sit on the bed. Monte and Rudmila immediately picked up on why I was down.
The chattier one of the two, Monte, asked, "It's about Mom, right?"
"...Yeah."
A nosebleed meant something was wrong. I knew fatigue could cause them, but I still didn't want to see blood.
Monte plopped down beside me. Bounce. The weight launched me up briefly before my butt settled back on the bed.
"Don't worry. It was nothing."
"...Really?"
"Yeah, I was surprised at first too... but you know, that thing."
Monte eyed me up and down. I was wearing cute pajamas with frills, by the way. Apparently, these were Rudmila's from when she was three.
"Mom just seems weak to stuff like this."
"...? What stuff?"
"Uh, nothing."
Rudmila poked Monte's side. He nodded like he'd done something wrong and shut his mouth.
"Mom's healthy, so don't worry."
Rudmila said it firmly and assuredly. I nodded, hugging the blanket close. She snatched the snack basket from Monte for a moment and set it by me.
"Ah."
Without hesitation, she fed me a cookie right into my mouth. I ate it without thinking, and of course, it was delicious. Munch munch. As I chewed, I asked why Yurshil had the nosebleed.
A brief silence fell.
"Hmm..."
"Well, you see."
Both Monte and Rudmila made weird faces at my question. What the...?
They stared straight at me, their eyes implying the nosebleed was my fault. I couldn't understand, so I tilted my head. They mumbled vaguely and abruptly changed the subject.
"Anyway, you said you like our mansion, right?"
I nodded at Monte's words. Spreading my arms wide, I listed all the great things about the place. I'd mentioned it at dinner earlier too, but I'd been teary-eyed then, so I wanted to say it properly with a happy face this time.
Rudmila stroked my hair as she listened. Her hands had tough calluses, but they felt warm and comforting. After that, they said all sorts of kind things to reassure me. Listening to them all, my heart gradually eased.
This body still isn't used to seeing blood...
My heart finally settled. Rudmila and Monte stayed until I finished the snacks. How long? Until...
"Yawwwn..."
I started dozing off, head bobbing, from eating too many sweets.
Rudmila carefully picked me up and laid me down in bed. This small, frail body not even ten yet. Not even half chubby, still skinny, so the blanket felt a bit heavy. But there'd been no bedding at all in the Collodic house. So this place was like heaven. The blanket's scent wrapped around me soothingly. I fell asleep easily.
I dreamed of Yurshil hugging me. And me wiping her nosebleed. Whatever it was, I hoped it didn't hurt.
...Even though we're not a real family yet.
Was that thought a bit over the top?
"Good. Just a bit more?"
"Riru wants to live in the mansion, right?"
The siblings nearly high-fived. Well, Rudmila almost played along with Monte's dramatics. They were thrilled that Riru was finally adapting. They'd worked hard for it, so their emotions ran high. Especially Monte.
"How didn't you know Mom was coming?"
"...My mistake."
"Musclehead. Read a book for once."
Monte had ditched other students' lessons to focus entirely on Riru. They hated classes anyway.
Rudmila acknowledged Monte's efforts had helped Riru settle in, so she patted his shoulder. Knowing it was her way of approving, Monte grinned.
And now, they had just one task left.
So who brings up the adoption?
They needed to decide who would tell her.
Riru's heart is mostly won over.
Mom's approval—the most crucial—was a pass, thanks to Riru's near-bombardment. Now they just had to inform her.
But suddenly, they froze.
What if that innocent kid says no?
What if she rejects us?
They were a little scared of rejection. Born into Cardia's bloodline, they'd never heard a real "no" or insults anywhere. Monte was a bit different, but even he hadn't faced outright refusal. Yurshil had raised them without lack, causing this disaster.
For the first time, Monte tried calling Rudmila "sis" to pass the buck. "......You do it."
Rudmila shot back more curtly than usual. Negotiations failed.
Imagining that tiny, cute girl—maybe, just maybe—frowning and saying no instead of smiling brightly... Rudmila and Monte were speechless.
"Damn, have I gotten dumber? Why didn't I think this through?"
Monte experienced an intelligence drop for the first time and spiraled. He was still only thinking of snacks for Riru—serious issue.
Rudmila was different, though. When can we train together...?
She'd commissioned a blacksmith for custom weapons and gear for tiny Riru. That's why she couldn't delay Mom's return.
Her mind replayed dreamy days swinging swords with Riru. She won't give up. She's the kid I chose.
And so, the two idiots spent the day without broaching adoption to Riru herself.
"Why are you following...? No, uh... your arms might not reach."
Even helping Riru learn letters and read in the library, they just opened their mouths silently.
"......"
"Is there something on my cheek?"
"No, just."
Even slicing meat for her, no words came. The siblings despaired realizing they took after each other. For a full week!
Meanwhile, Yurshil grew closer to Riru. A week and a day later, at lunch.
The table filled only with clinking silverware and chewing sounds.
Yurshil gently asked, "Baby, is it tasty?"
"Mmf, so yummwy!"
"Good girl. Chew well."
Basing it on Riru's worried glances, she'd leveled up to naturally seating her on her lap. Adult experience was no joke.
Monte and Rudmila just watched Riru's cheeks bob up and down, frustrated. Like a hamster.Squirrel, little squirrel.
They'd trash-talked Yurshil plenty, but what was this? Self-reproach, yet no courage emerged.
So Monte poked at his half-eaten plate. Rudmila sliced meat, sliced more—practically mincing it into stew meat.
Then Yurshil stroked Riru's head and suddenly asked them, "When are you planning to visit the Temple?"
The Temple mention flustered them. They didn't get it.
Riru looked up from stuffing her puffed cheeks, staring at Yurshil. She didn't know either.
Yurshil said, puzzled, "Why the faces? You brought it up."
"...Uh, um."
"Mother, what do you mean?"
As Yurshil wiped sauce from Riru's mouth with a handkerchief,
"About the adoption."
She shattered the massive boulder in their hearts.
Riru tilted her head. Before Monte could speak,
"ASAP, Riru."
"I want to call her my daughter."
Yurshil said it. Perfectly timed, naturally.
A massive silence fell.
Rudmila gaped for the first time, staring at Monte. Yurshil saw their reactions and burst out laughing unwittingly.
They'd been watching Riru's reactions constantly. Now she knew why. Those big lugs, scared of a kid's mood...
Absurd, and her kids looked adorable for once. She laughed and laughed.
"??"
"???"
Amid them, only one was busy. Cheeks stuffed full, unable to speak, just whipping her head around trying to understand.
Riru, and Riru alone.