At dinner, as always, Liang Lai introduced the new child to the other three children at the table, as well as to the rest of the servants and nuns of the Court of Purity.
“This is Illucy. From now on, she’ll be a part of our family~”
Liang Lai smiled and winked twice at Illucy.
“But this child is a little reserved, she hasn’t adapted to us yet. Everyone, we need to help her out, okay~”
Her tone was completely that of coaxing a little child.
Illucy timidly observed the people around her.
The moment she caught Dolosa’s not-so-friendly gaze, she immediately lowered her head and even started trembling a bit.
Dolosa: “?”
She felt she hadn’t done anything—so why did this newcomer look so afraid of her? Her whole body was shaking as if in a panic…
Suddenly, she thought of the well-behaved Asterys and Delucia, and immediately decided this new girl must be pretending! As a result, Dolosa’s gaze toward Illucy grew even less friendly.
Illucy kept feeling that someone’s eyes were fixed on her, but she didn’t dare look up, only kept her head down, shoveling the fragrant food into her mouth.
Yet because that gaze followed her like a shadow, when she was halfway full, she finally mustered the courage to glance up—and with just that one glance, she was so startled that she started trembling again.
She had worked so hard to muster up her courage just this once…and now, as an already introverted child, she became even more withdrawn.
The atmosphere at the table was truly awkward. Liang Lai forced a couple of dry laughs, deciding to tell two cold jokes to break the tension.
Liang Lai made a “Yay” sign.
“Look, this is ‘Yay’. So…” She turned the “Yay” sign upside down. “So what’s this, then?”
A moment of silence.
The four children’s eyes all fell on her at the same time, making Liang Lai’s scalp tingle, but she could only press on, or things would become even more awkward.
“Come on, come on, guess! What is this, then?” She energetically tried to stir everyone’s mood.
However, Asterys, Delucia, and Illucy looked at her with confused faces, while Dolosa frowned and thought hard for a long time, but came up with nothing.
“……”
Liang Lai let out two more dry laughs.
“Of course, it’s a falling leaf!”
The four little ones: “……”
“Hahaha…” Asterys and Illucy, eager to please, let out two awkward laughs—their voices sounded exactly like Liang Lai’s earlier awkward laughter.
Liang Lai: covers face jpg.
So embarrassing, she just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
And so, the meal ended with bumps and hiccups.
According to what she had in mind, Liang Lai planned to spend the first night accompanying Illucy for a while, to see if Illucy was scared.
If she was, and didn’t mind having Liang Lai stay with her, then she’d stay the night.
After all, any child coming to a new place would feel afraid and uneasy.
This time, Dolosa didn’t throw a tantrum again—not because she was being obedient or sensible, but because she had her own little schemes.
After going through so much, Dolosa slowly realized that no matter how much she caused trouble, it couldn’t change Liang Lai’s thinking or personality.
If she kept making a fuss, she might even become annoying.
After all, who likes a child who throws a tantrum all day? Everyone prefers children who are obedient, well-behaved, and hardworking…
Since she couldn’t change anything, she might as well pretend to comply and play tricks behind the scenes, instead of going on making trouble for Liang Lai and giving her headaches.
Though it was a bitter thought, Dolosa was clear that Liang Lai’s love for her, Asterys, Delucia, and Illucy was only the familial kind, so there wouldn’t be any inappropriate behavior.
As long as she kept watch over them before they fell asleep, she could jump in if anything happened.
It felt like Dolosa had grown up in an instant.
Asterys and Delucia both noticed—they knew Dolosa wouldn’t openly go against them anymore, though who knew what tricks she’d play in secret.
That night, Liang Lai took Illucy back to her room.
It was Illucy’s first time having a room of her own.
In her previous home, all she was allowed was a simple little mat by the stove in the kitchen.
Now, lying on this soft, big bed, looking at the luxurious decorations, tears welled up in Illucy’s eyes.
“Saintess…” she looked at Liang Lai sitting beside her, choking with emotion.
“Hmm? What is it?”
Liang Lai gently rubbed her head.
“You’re really so good. You’re just like…like a goddess descending to my side!”
She was a little worked up.
Liang Lai smiled, “What’s that? Anyone who saw you like that would want to help you, little Xi. You have to believe, even though there are many bad people in the world, there are still good people out there.”
Are there?
Illucy tried hard to recall, and could only dig up a memory from deep within—a kind old lady who pitied her and gave her half a piece of black bread.
She desperately wanted to refute Liang Lai’s words, but swallowed them back; she was afraid if she contradicted her, Liang Lai would dislike her.
This was the only light that had ever appeared in her life—she mustn’t let it slip away.
So, Illucy slowly moved closer and, at last, that cold little hand grasped Liang Lai’s arm.
“Mom…Mommy.”
She squeezed out those two words with great difficulty, her cheeks flushing red like a cooked shrimp.
For a child just taken in to call her “Mom” so quickly, Liang Lai was quite pleased; she patted the girl’s back as a reward.
“Mm~ good child, go to sleep early tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to complete the Adoption Procedure. From today on, you’ll be one of the Pope Candidates.”
She explained it all to Illucy. Illucy nodded in a daze, but her eyes shone with surprising determination.
“I understand, Mommy. I’ll never let you down…”
If she let Liang Lai down, she probably wouldn’t receive warmth and love anymore… She absolutely wouldn’t let that happen!
Illucy didn’t really understand what it meant to be one of the Pope Candidates, nor what becoming Pope entailed, but she just wanted to do it.
That way, Liang Lai would surely smile at her, hug her in her arms, continue to love and care for her, and keep her warm.
She was like a child drowning in water who had finally grabbed onto a life-saving reed, desperately wanting to absorb warmth and nourishment from Liang Lai.
She really wanted to beg Liang Lai to hug her, like she did when rescuing her during the day, but she didn’t dare say it.
She could only fix her silvery eyes on Liang Lai, revealing endless sorrow and plea.
Liang Lai more or less understood what she meant.
“Good girl. If you’re scared, I’ll sleep with you tonight…but from now on, you’ll have to be independent, okay~ Everyone has to grow up~”
She pulled Illucy into her arms and lay down.
Illucy buried her face in her chest, her expression unreadable.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.