Chapter 70

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: The First Fairy Tale Lesson
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‘What should I be called?'

"Hmm, I'd like to be Perido's tutor, but I want to hear your opinion first. Would it be okay if I became Perido's tutor?"

'I like that.'

"Then from now on, will you call me Teacher Marin?"

Perido drew a little closer to Marin. He clasped his hands over his chest and carefully opened his mouth.

'Yes, Teacher Marin. But, Teacher... could you pass a message to my big sister Dia for me?'

"Sure. What do you want to say to Dia?"

Perido stared up intently at Dia, then mouthed his words exaggeratedly, as if desperate to convey his true feelings.

'I'm sorry for not opening the door that day when you called for me. I had no choice because of the promise I made to Mom. Please tell her I'm sorry. I wanted to say it right away, but I couldn't speak, so I didn't. Please tell her I'm sorry.'

Dia's earnest gaze fixed on Marin. Garnet looked equally desperate to hear what Perido was saying.

"Perido says he's sorry for not opening the door that day when you called for him. He had no choice because of the promise he made to your mother. He really wants you to know he's sorry. He wanted to tell you right away, but he couldn't speak, so he didn't. He says please tell you he's sorry."

Marin's voice trembled faintly as she relayed his words.

She didn't know what day it was or what had happened. But thinking of this child suffering in silence with guilt all this time made her heart ache.

"Perido..."

Dia couldn't continue, covering her mouth as tears streamed down.

"Sister."

Startled by the sight, Garnet hurried over to Dia.

She didn't fully understand Perido's words either, but she couldn't help being shocked to see the ever-composed Dia break down in tears.

'Sister, I'm sorry.'

"'Sister, I'm sorry,' he says."

"No, Perido. You did well. You did so well. You don't need to be sorry to your sister. Okay?"

Dia pulled Perido's thin frame into a tight embrace.

Perido nestled in her arms, his eyes welling with tears.

'Are you forgiving me?'

"'Are you forgiving me?' he asks."

At Marin's words, Dia's heart crumbled with sorrow.

"Forgiving you? I'm so proud of you for keeping your promise to Mother. So, Perido... we're all okay now. Got it?"

Only then did Perido burst into sobs in her arms.

Watching them, Garnet turned her head away, biting her lip hard to fight back her own tears.

After crying for a long while, Perido panted wearily with exhausted breaths.

"Perido. Want to climb into bed and rest a bit?"

At Marin's question, Perido nodded weakly. His eyes were tired and sleepy from all the crying, but he didn't close them.

Marin picked up the fairy tale book and approached the child's side.

Perido, lying on the bed, looked up at her curiously.

"Perido. Since it's our first day of lessons, how about your teacher reads you a fairy tale?"

'Sure.'

"Ladies, would you sit on that sofa and listen together?"

"Yes. Garnet, sit down."

Dia sat first on the long sofa, then called to Garnet, who stood awkwardly to one side.

"Why me?"

"You want to leave Perido all alone?"

"...Fine."

Marin confirmed the sisters were seated on the sofa and began reading the fairy tale slowly.

"Long, long ago, there lived two sisters who got along wonderfully. They laughed together like twins, cried together, and got angry together. One day, the older sister said, 'I'm going to marry the handsome prince from the neighboring kingdom.' Her younger sister replied, 'Sister, you've never even seen the prince. How do you know he's handsome?' The older sister said, 'He's a prince from the neighboring kingdom, so of course he's handsome.'"

***

Marin read on with a smile playing on her lips.

As she read the fairy tale in her gentle voice, she wished for her little cousins to fall into a deep sleep without any nightmares.

"...In the end, after endless adventures, the older sister finally met the prince. Her younger sister was by her side. The prince was as handsome as she had imagined. With a warm gaze, he extended his hand to the younger sister standing beside her."

Wait, why did the story suddenly take such a dramatic turn?

Marin widened her eyes and skimmed the rest.

She had only glanced at the beginning of the long book before bringing it, but the latter part didn't seem helpful for the child's emotional well-being.

Marin quietly closed the fairy tale book.

She lifted her gaze from the book and gazed steadily at Perido lying on the bed.

Fortunately, Perido was sleeping soundly, breathing evenly.

Marin carefully tucked the blanket around him and stood up.

Turning around, she saw Dia and Garnet leaning against each other, sleeping peacefully.

Marin smiled softly and fetched blankets, draping one gently over each.

Dia and Garnet's dry, pallid skin caught her eye. Taking care of their brother who couldn't sleep had worn the sisters down too.

She wasn't sure if it stemmed from recalling her past life granting her this mystical ability, but one thing she'd realized while lulling the duke to sleep:

As she read the fairy tale and wished for the duke to sleep deeply, he did.

She had evolved into a true human sleeping pill!

This time, while reading, she had wished not just for Perido but for the sisters to sleep as well. That's why she had suggested the comfy-looking sofa.

She'd have loved to have them all lie on the bed together, but that would have been a bit odd.

"Garnet sis... Huh?"

Rubiana opened the door and froze at the sight of everyone asleep—first shock—then double shock seeing Marin tucking a blanket over Dia.

"Shh."

Marin pressed a finger to her lips and gestured for her to go outside.

Rubiana nodded vigorously and backed out stealthily.

Marin closed the door carefully behind her and took Rubiana's hand as they walked down the hall.

Then, noticing Rubiana staring intently at her profile, Marin turned with a gentle smile.

"Rubi, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Teacher Marin."

"Yes?"

Rubiana gestured for her to bend down a bit, and Marin leaned in slightly.

The girl glanced around, clasped her hands, and whispered in her ear.

"Are you a magician, Teacher?"

"No. Magicians don't exist."

The young girl's imagination brought a smile to Marin's lips.

Monsters existed in this world, but not magicians. There were alchemists who made all sorts of things instead.

Ah, no elves or dragons either. What a shame.

"Then how did you put them all to sleep?"

Rubiana asked with an innocent expression.

"Why do you think I put them all to sleep?"

Marin looked at Rubiana with kind eyes.

Wouldn't most people think it was just a coincidence that all three fell asleep together?

"Perido hasn't been sleeping lately, and neither have the sisters. For all three to fall asleep at the same time... it's like magic."

The imaginative little girl's eyes sparkled.

"I read Perido a fairy tale, so he fell asleep. The sisters must have been really tired."

"You read a fairy tale to Perido?"

"Yeah."

"Mom used to do that too..."

A shadow fell over Rubiana's bright face.

Marin gently wrapped her arms around the child's small shoulders.

"Rubi, want your teacher to read you a fairy tale?"

"You'll read to me too? But I'm not as little as Perido."

***

Rubiana blushed, twisting her body shyly.

"I like fairy tales too. Shall we go to your room?"

"Yes!"

Rubiana didn't need lulling to sleep, so Marin hoped the fun story would make the child's day happy.