I Need to Raise My Younger Sister Right

Chapter 9

So this is what people mean when they say they feel full just by watching someone else eat, huh?

“Slow down and make sure to chew,” Rachel said to Liz, who was diligently munching on the food with her small mouth.

“Y-yes, Rachel.”

Normally, there would have been more than one or two pieces of silverware on a noble’s meal table. Which silverware was used for what food varied depending on the dish that was served. But for Liz, who didn’t know how to use silverware yet, a simple dish was served.

How much suffering must she have endured at that house?

Lean cheeks, thin arms and legs…

No matter how much I think about it, it still makes me angry.

They had locked the woman up in a prison cell, but that still didn’t quell Rachel’s anger.

The look in the child’s eyes… Familiarity, or perhaps defeat.

It wasn’t the first time this had happened.

The novel didn’t mention Liz’s childhood or her life before coming to the ducal estate. She lived an ordinary life thinking she was a commoner. That was what was implied through her recollections of the past.

But it wasn’t ordinary…

What she called ordinary was a very scary thing. It ultimately meant that the events she experienced afterwards, without Rachel by her side, were much more horrifying than one could imagine.

Reminded of her hatred for Abigail, the root of this entire situation, Rachel bit her lip.

Perhaps surprised by Rachel’s reaction, Liz carefully put down her food.

“I-it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it and just keep eating,” said Rachel.

“Okay...”

Despite her assurance, Liz only nibbled at her food, glancing around anxiously.

It was a clear sign that she had lived in fear for a long time.

Damn it.

I should’ve at least slapped that woman in the face.

***

After the meal, Rachel placed Liz in Bella’s care and returned to her office.

“Marcus, how much progress have you made in disposing of the items we’ve seized?”

“I was just about to report it to you.”

She scanned the documents that Marcus gave to her. “I’m impressed. Nice job.”

He had secured twenty percent more finances than expected. With this much money, they wouldn’t face any problems running the ducal estate until the upcoming winter.

Now that they had some money secured, she summoned Rupert into her office.

“I apologize, Your Grace. I was washing up, so it took me a bit longer.”

“It’s all right. It’s my fault for calling you during your training. I called to give you this.” Rachel handed him a piece of paper.

“This...”

“We sold the former knight commander’s capital villa. I thought it would be nice if we put this money towards the knightage.”

“Thank you!” Rupert’s blue eyes wavered with emotion.

“It looked like you needed to update your weaponry and do some repairs around the drill hall based on what I saw last time. I’m sure that should be enough, but if it’s not, let me know. I have no intention of cutting costs when it comes to maintaining our knightage.”

“Thank you for caring for us,” Rupert said.

“No. I should be the one thanking you for staying by my side despite what you witnessed.”

Rupert was a talented figure that she couldn’t afford to lose.

It gave her chills to think that she could’ve missed out on him had she been even the slightest bit late.

Anyway, I’ll have to go to the imperial palace soon, which worries me.

There were a lot of things that needed to be accomplished.

And Liz was finally home. The thought of having to leave her side for a while made Rachel’s heart heavy.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Your Grace, it’s Ann!”

“Huh? Come in.”

“The preparations have been finished.”

“Really? Already?” Rachel sprung up from her seat. She had been waiting to hear those words.

Today was the historic day on which Liz had returned to the ducal estate. Though it was small, she had prepared a welcoming ceremony.

She hurried with a pounding heart to the dining room.

A long table decorated with silver candlesticks and a vase full of purple hydrangeas greeted her. There was even a white strawberry fresh cream cake and desserts that a child would like.

I hope Liz likes it!

Rachel held her pounding chest as she waited for Liz.

“Your Grace, Lady Liz has arrived.”

A brief moment later, Bella appeared with Liz.

“You’re here.”

Liz widened her eyes at the sight of the big fresh cream cake. “Cake?”

What could she have found so fascinating?

Liz couldn’t take her eyes off of the cake.

It sent a pang through Rachel’s heart to see her eyes twinkle as if she were a child who’d come across her Christmas present.

“Liz.” She slowly knelt down while calling her name, and only then did the child look at her.

She held the girl’s delicate hands, which looked as if they were going to break at the tiniest bit of pressure.

Liz kept fidgeting. She didn’t know what to do with her hands, which were held in Rachel’s. Though she may have found it unfamiliar and awkward, she didn’t show any signs of dislike.

It was okay for her to open up as slowly as she wanted to.

Hoping that Liz would be able to understand her sincerity, Rachel looked into her eyes, wishing that her love and desire to protect Liz would be conveyed to her.

It tickled her heart to recite the words that she had prepared. Her heart pounded as if she were proposing to someone.

“Liz, thank you for coming to me.”

Liz kept quiet for a moment, then a clear stream of tears began to fall down her cheeks.

Seeing the tears that poured like rain, neither Rachel, nor Bella, nor Ann could say anything.

It was heartbreaking to see this child sob silently, her shoulders quivering.

The path she had walked thus far… They could naturally guess that there hadn’t been a single person to hold her hand along the way.

“Why... did you... find Liz... so... late?”

Rachel winced at the words Liz muttered with difficulty between sobs.

“I was very sick up until now.”

Damn it.

Though she didn’t want to use Abigail’s mistreatment of this body as an excuse, she no longer wanted to hurt Liz, who looked at her with eyes full of tears waiting for her response.

“I was so sick that I couldn’t bring you home.”

Rachel told the white lie as she buried the bitter truth deep inside her heart.

The actual owner of this body died without even knowing of your existence.

That was how it was going to be according to the original novel.

***

The room had a purple carpet and hunter-green wallpaper. Though it didn’t look like a room fit for a child, it was the second biggest room after the duchess’s.

“Do you like your room?”

Liz nodded her head with her mouth closed. “It’s warm and big.”

Her words reflected many experiences.

Rachel pursed her lips for a moment, then carefully opened them. “When you were there…?”

No. Not yet.

Liz had barely stopped crying.

Worried that her question might remind Liz of the bad memories when her tears hadn’t even fully dried yet, Rachel quickly changed her words.

“I’m glad you like it. If you ever need anything, just let me know. Okay?”

Liz pondered for a moment, then opened her mouth timidly and tugged at Rachel’s sleeve.

“I...”

“Huh?”

“I’ve never heard anyone say thank you. It was also my first time eating cake. I didn’t know such a tasty food existed in this world,” Liz said as she took in Rachel’s face with her clear blue eyes. “I like things as they are now. I don’t expect anything more.”

Words of affection, pretty clothes, and delicious foods… It was her first time experiencing all these things.

Overwhelmed with a feeling of pity, Rachel hugged Liz.

After a moment of hugging this tiny body, which showed no resistance to her embrace, Rachel kissed her tenderly on the forehead.

My Liz.

How is it that you were so endearing and lovely as a child?

“But I have a question.”

“Huh?”

It was a quiet night, filled with only the sound of bugs.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

You don’t know what kind of child Liz is yet.

Through the silence, Liz’s sharp question pierced Rachel’s chest like a thorn.

***

Ye-An Park… A promising child actor, that’s who she was.

At first it was at the behest of her parents, but she quickly fell in love with the art of acting.

To live as someone else instead of me inside the screen was a surprising and interesting experience.

But just because an individual likes something doesn’t mean that they excel at it.

Her talents were soon pushed against their limits.

***

[Whatever show Ye-An Park stars in is an automatic skip lol you don’t even have to watch it to know that it’s going to be a flop hahaha]

[Who’s Ye-An Park? I’ve never heard of her or seen her lol]

[Right? I saw her on the streets one time and nobody recognized her]

[But how did you know it was her?]

[She goes to my school loool she always wears a cap and mask, but no one knows she’s a celebrity it’s so funny]

[No way hahaha how pathetic hahahahahahaha]

***

She was a beloved child actor who eventually became a laughingstock when her acting skills hit rock bottom.

The netizens dissected her from head to toe and mocked her. Her friends laughed secretly behind her back.

Stars have a lifespan.

The lifespan of her star was simply short-lived compared to others.

But the feeling that came from losing the overwhelming love and attention she had received was more than she could handle.

Eventually, she ran away from reality and confided in novels…

That’s where I met you.

***

[“Look at her clothes. Apparently she’s an illegitimate child. How vulgar.”

“She’s dying to get His Majesty’s attention, isn’t she? But why would His Majesty even dare to look at her?”

Liz, who was walking across the ballroom, stopped in front of the ladies who were purposely mocking her loudly so that she would hear.

Her mouth curved into a smile like a bright crescent moon.

However, her blue eyes were harsh and cold like a blizzard ravaging a snowy field.

“What? W-we didn’t say anything wrong, did we?”

The ladies, receiving Liz’s stare, took a step back with guilty expressions.

“No. You didn’t.”

Liz walked towards them.

“Talking about someone’s honor while pretending to be refined just means you’re not that desperate.”

She relaxed her voice and continued to speak.

“I have nothing to lose if it means I can get what I want. And of course, I have nothing to hide either.”

So, ladies, don’t you dare even cast a shadow in front of His Majesty if you don’t want to disappear without anyone knowing.

Liz looked at the ladies, who’d turned pale, and smiled brightly…]

***

Her parents, who blamed each other for her failure and eventually split…

The people who changed their attitudes as easily as breathing as soon as she plunged to rock bottom…

At a time when she was disappointed in herself for being the second lead who was always overshadowed by the main lead…

She came across a second lead that shone even brighter than the main lead.

“Liz, you don’t know it, but you’re my star.”

Unlike me, you were strong, and you were free from people’s judgment.

The mocking gazes aimed at me…

I was only able to forget them thanks to our journey.

Life only gains meaning when one knows how to love, and the one who brought meaning to her life was Liz.

She hugged Liz, who tilted her head, not understanding what she meant.

Even though Rachel knew that Liz’s efforts were in vain and that she was headed straight for chaos, she’d still stayed by her side and supported her.

That was how she was able to endure the long period of loneliness in her old life.

So now it was her turn to accompany this child on the long journey that stretched out before her.