Age 14 Part 8
While letting the bread dough rest, I'll make scones. I want to pack them for Fritz and Mal's lunch tomorrow as well.
"Wasn't Annette-san reluctant to leave her family?"
I didn't want to be separated from my family. Even though I was told they weren't my real family, parting with the family I'd lived with for fourteen years was painful.
If Annette heard about it from the fairies, did she not feel sad about leaving her current family? The blood of the Senett Marquis family, which believes in absolute blood ties, is probably inherited by her regardless of upbringing.
My mother, Bella, answered without stopping her sewing.
"I wonder. That child may have felt relieved because she wasn't happy here. You know the story of the Ugly Duckling, right? It was like that. Her father didn't accept her. He never believed that she was mine, no matter how much I said she was different. It's a terrible thing to happen just because her hair and eye colors are different."
The words she said calmly were terrible. While I never received hugs from my parents, at least I wasn't considered a child born of my mother's affair. Or maybe I just didn't notice it?
I recalled what Clew said about my biological Father leaving home not being the first time he had done so. What should I think of him...? There's no way he could imagine it was a fairy's prank, so there's room for sympathy. But it's despicable to keep running away without taking care of the four children he's made.
"That's terrible. Running away from your family like that!"
"Yes, he's terrible. He always says he'll change and comes back. But after a while, he leaves again... It was no good. It seems like that child couldn't bear it anymore. Because Jim always ignored her."
Jim seems to be Father's name. I regretted envying Annette. She must have struggled a lot. I grew up in her place in a comfortable environment. It's not my fault that I was raised as a substitute child, but as my brother said, I should have spoken up when I learned the truth a year ago.
I realized I probably couldn't come to like my real father.
"I see. I was raised being told I was unfit to be a Marquis' child, but my parents still loved me."
"But just because you're not blood-related, you were kicked out by them right away?"
"That's... inevitable. That family, or rather nobles, believe blood is everything. Annette will be protected by her family from now on and may even become a saint. That healing magic is that amazing."
"Yes, I suppose we won't be able to see her anymore."
Mother muttered quietly, her face looking lonely.
There are few places where nobles and commoners can meet. It's unfortunate, but unless Annette wants to meet, we won't be able to. I couldn't nod or shake my head.
After that, the conversation ceased, and we silently devoted ourselves to making bread and scones.
After a while, the scent of freshly baked bread and scones wafted through the room, and Annie woke up from her nap.
"It smells sweet."
Rubbing her eyes, Annie murmured.
"The scones will be ready soon. Taste them after they cool down. You're always the taste tester for soup. Annie is the official taste tester."
"That's right. It's an important role."
"Yeah, it's important."
I wonder if Fritz and Marle ate the scones. They must be hungry, so I shouldn't throw them away.
They seem thin, both Fritz and Mal. They're in their growing years, so they need to eat more. I really want to give them some meat, but I don't have any. I have money, so maybe I'll go buy some tomorrow. But money will eventually run out. I need to think about earning as well.
"Wow, it's so crumbly!"
Annie, happily eating scones with sweet jam, seemed happy. I wish I didn't have to think about anything when I was six years old. My brother protected me from everything.
But Annette was different. She had to protect her family and herself. I can't help the Annette from back then. But at least I want to protect Annie, Fritz, Mal, and Mother. I don't want to burden them as a sister, but rather, I want to protect them.
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