Hearing that the newly found child had woken up, Liang Lai immediately pushed open the door and stepped inside. But since she was afraid the child might be shy around strangers, she tread carefully.
“Hi~ Hello there?”
Liang Lai walked over to the child’s bedside and tried greeting her tentatively.
The poor child flinched slightly at the sound of the voice, her silver-white pupils flickering with wariness. But when she saw that it was Liang Lai, her tense body instantly relaxed quite a bit.
“Y-you…”
She stammered, unable to form complete words, her gaze flickering nervously between Asterys and Delucia, seemingly frightened by the two unfamiliar children.
Liang Lai noticed that the child wasn’t particularly resistant to her, but was somewhat scared of Asterys and Delucia. So she gently ruffled the twins’ heads.
“You two go play outside for a bit, alright? She’s a little shy around strangers. You being here might scare her… Once I’m more familiar with her, I’ll introduce her to you and then you can all play together, okay?”
Liang Lai coaxed them in a tone meant for children.
“Okay, Mama~”
Asterys and Delucia nodded obediently, playing the part of good children.
After the twins left, the newly found child finally relaxed completely. She poked her head out from under the blanket, looking at the silver-haired Saintess before her with a mix of gratitude and fear.
Liang Lai reached out her hand and pointed to the bed.
“Can I sit here?”
“Um…” The child bit her lip, nodded hesitantly, and then sat up.
Only then did Liang Lai clearly see that the child was wrapped in bandages all over, looking like a tiny mummy.
“Oh my, your injuries are really serious…”
Liang Lai frowned, heart aching as she reached out to gently stroke the child’s head—but the child lightly dodged, and Liang Lai only brushed a few strands of golden hair. The moment became awkward.
“Uh…”
Liang Lai awkwardly laughed and withdrew her hand.
“N-no, it’s not that!”
The child suddenly became anxious, her small face flushed as she explained, “I didn’t mean to dodge. It’s just… my parents used to hit me a lot, so I got used to dodging… I’m sorry… Saintess.”
Ah, a conditioned reflex from being beaten?
Liang Lai’s heart ached even more for the child before her.
She shifted forward and tried reaching out again, this time the child didn’t pull away, and Liang Lai’s hand finally rested on the child’s less injured hand.
“Can you tell me your name?” Liang Lai asked.
Without hesitation, the child replied, “My name is Illucy.”
Illucy?
That’s actually a very nice name. It means “to create a world of dreams.” Finally, a name not as dark as Dolosa’s, Asterys’s, or Delucia’s.
“A beautiful name~”
Liang Lai smiled gently.
Hearing the compliment, Illucy quietly blushed. She lowered her head and stammered, “Thank you, thank you for liking my name…”
Oh dear, this child is so timid.
“It’s alright, you don’t have to thank me like that.”
Before Liang Lai could finish, Illucy nervously looked up with eyes almost pleading. She thought Liang Lai’s words meant she was being dismissed, or that Liang Lai disliked her and didn’t want her thanks.
“What’s wrong?”
Liang Lai was startled by the sudden redness in Illucy’s eyes and hurriedly cupped her face.
“Did I accidentally hurt your wounds? Does something hurt? I’ll call—”
Before she could finish, Illucy knelt down right in front of her.
“Saintess! Please, please adopt me… Just now, when I was fainting, I heard you say you wanted to adopt me… I know you said it to save me, but I really want to stay…!”
She looked at Liang Lai with nearly desperate eyes, like a pitiful stray dog.
“As long as you don’t send me away, I’ll do anything! I’m very good at housework—I can keep your home tidy and neat! Just please give me a full meal… I beg you, Saintess…!”
Seeing her humbled to such a degree, Liang Lai’s heart ached again.
She immediately knelt down and pulled Illucy into her arms.
“See? I haven’t even finished what I wanted to say. I was going to say I will adopt you~ Silly child, you’re so badly injured, how could I possibly send you away?”
Finishing her words, she hurried to add, fearing a misunderstanding, “Even when you’re healed, I won’t send you away. I think we’re fated to meet—how else would I have just happened to pass by and found you? Of course, I want to adopt you… Don’t be afraid, I won’t abandon you.”
Her smile was still warm, reflecting in Illucy’s eyes, bringing tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Re-really?” she choked out, gripping Liang Lai’s clothes tighter.
Liang Lai nodded firmly and gently wiped the tears from Illucy’s face.
“Really. I’m the Saintess. How could a Saintess lie?”
She patted her chest and promised, “I swear to God, I will adopt you and raise you plump and healthy! Look at you now, so skinny, oh dear…”
Like an elder chattering endlessly.
But these ramblings made Illucy feel warmth, because no one had ever cared for her like this before. It made her want to hold onto this woman’s hand tightly.
“Thank you, thank you, Saintess!”
Liang Lai shook her head. “You don’t have to be so formal with me. Since I’ve adopted you, I’m your Guardian. Uh, you might not know what a Guardian is, but it means you can call me ‘Mama’ like those two girls did just now. If that feels awkward, you can also call me by my given name, Liang…”
“Mama!”
Though timid, the voice was clear and sincere.
Illucy didn’t know why, but after shouting those two words, she gathered courage and hugged Liang Lai’s neck tightly, pressing close to her.
Liang Lai was naturally delighted by the child’s closeness.
“Alright~ Since you called me Mama, that means you’re my daughter! Don’t worry… as long as I’m here, you’ll be happy every day~”
Liang Lai’s solemn promise made Illucy feel as if she had fallen into a beautiful dream. She was truly afraid of waking up and having all this happiness vanish like bubbles.
Outside the door.
“Oh, that one’s better at pretending than we are…” Delucia frowned.
Asterys tilted her head. “Yeah, she cried faster than us too… If she keeps acting all pitiful like that, Mama’s attention will definitely stay on her, right?”