Chapter 11
“Huh?”
I thought something looked a bit messy, but I never expected she had made it herself. I had felt something was off, but I never imagined it was something Neya made.
Azure immediately gave a blunt assessment.
“No wonder it’s a mess.”
“But it’s delicious!”
Of course, Neya didn’t lose her confidence at all.
Ignoring Neya, Azure picked up her fork again.
“…Well, it’s edible.”
Though curt, Neya, having observed Azure for some time, immediately recognized it for what it was—a huge compliment by Azure’s standards!
Neya spoke in an excited voice.
“I’ll make it for you next time too!”
“I don’t want that.”
“I’ll try cookies and macarons too! I’ll make plenty so Mom can eat a lot!”
“Can’t you hear me?”
Azure remained prickly as ever, but Neya didn’t care. The usually quiet mealtimes had become quite lively.
‘Not bad at all.’
Shane, watching the scene, gave a small smile.
After that day, Neya often made desserts.
Of course, she didn’t always do it alone. Sometimes she made them with Shane, other times with the maid, gifting them one by one to Azure.
Though the appearance was still clumsy, the taste was good enough that Azure accepted the desserts without complaint. Days passed like this.
“Hmm hmm.”
Neya sat on the sofa, humming a tune while reading a book. As always, today was a pleasant day for her.
“Hey.”
“……!”
The sudden voice startled Neya. She turned to see Azure standing next to the sofa.
Neya froze.
‘Mom spoke to me!’
It was the first time Azure had approached her to talk first. It was almost overwhelming with emotion.
As Azure came closer, she spoke regardless of Neya’s reaction.
“What dessert are you making today?”
“Oh! Well, I have a lot of strawberries, so I thought I’d try making a tart!”
“Sounds good.”
With that, Azure went back to her room. There was no further conversation. It really seemed her only purpose was the dessert, but that alone made Neya very happy.
‘Has Mom finally become comfortable with me?’
Neya’s heart fluttered, feeling that her long efforts were finally paying off.
Now that they were this close, maybe Azure wouldn’t find it annoying if she spoke to her. Brimming with hope, Neya put down her book and got off the sofa.
She headed to Azure’s room—the very room Azure had just entered and closed the door.
“Phew……”
Neya tried to calm the racing of her heart at the door. She was tense, worried she might get scolded again.
Even if she got scolded for barging in, Neya didn’t care. As long as she could get closer to Azure!
“All right!”
With that, Neya energetically knocked on the door. She then carefully opened it.
Azure was sitting on the bed, looking out the window, a bored expression firmly on her face.
Perhaps surprised by the sudden entrance, Azure turned her head. Fortunately, she didn’t get angry—just looked at Neya in mild bewilderment.
Neya trotted over to the bed and spoke boldly.
“Mom, do you want to see me in my cat form?”
“……?”
Azure’s face registered disbelief. Neya’s cat form was loved by everyone, and she had mustered courage to ask, yet Azure only frowned.
“No, you’ll shed fur.”
“Hmm……”
Neya didn’t expect this rejection and thought seriously again.
“Or you could just pet my hair.”
Shane and Gary often petted Neya’s hair whenever they could, usually when complimenting or praising her. Neya naturally assumed adults liked petting her hair, but Azure’s attitude remained steadfast.
“Why would I?”
“Ugh……”
Rejected again, Neya pouted.
‘I thought we were finally getting close!’
Seeing Azure act the same as before, disappointment started creeping in.
Even so, the fact that Azure didn’t shoo her away for barging into the room was a big step forward, but Neya didn’t notice such small progress.
After having all her suggestions rejected, Neya muttered dejectedly,
“I wish Mom would like me……”
A very honest statement.
Azure let out a small laugh.
“What good is my love to you? You’d be the most useless recipient.”
Azure truly believed that. People had judged her love, and some had gone to great lengths to avoid it. She no longer had any love to give anyone else, nor did she want to. One awful feeling had cost her everything.
Yet Neya retorted passionately,
“It’s not useless! Love is wonderful.”
“What does a little kid know about love?”
“I know a lot!”
Neya explained carefully, as if to prove her point.
“When Shane reads me bedtime stories, or when the Magus Lord makes me toys, I feel it a lot.”
“……”
“I even feel it when I make cakes for Mom! My heart gets so warm, like drinking hot milk all at once.”
Azure listened quietly, a faint smile forming.
“I’m jealous.”
It was an unintentional, sincere response. Clearly, Neya had received steady love from a very young age. That bright, cheerful side could only come from being nurtured with love and attention.
“Enjoy it while you can. You’ll only get this at your age.”
“Did you receive that much when you were young too?”
“No. I didn’t get any when I was little.”
“……?”
Neya blinked in confusion and asked innocently,
“No adults liked you at all?”
“You ask sensitive questions so casually.”
By now, Azure was becoming accustomed to Neya’s innocent bluntness.
Azure made a bewildered face, then simply nodded.
“Not even once.”
“What about your mom?”
“She passed away when I was little; I don’t even remember her face. My dad didn’t care to see me after that.”
Azure chuckled dryly mid-sentence.
“…I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”
After becoming infamous as a villain, most people knew roughly about her past. People gossiped that she became a villain because of her upbringing. She had no reason to reveal her past—it wouldn’t benefit her—but this was the first time Azure herself had shared her old memories.
“……”
Neya stared at Azure, then said brightly,
“Then how about receiving it from me?”
“What?”
“I can give you lots of love!”
Without hesitation, Neya hugged Azure tightly.
“Like this!”
Caught off guard, Azure froze. A hug wasn’t a big deal, yet seeing this tiny, warm life form try so hard to embrace her, Azure felt a strange tickle in her heart.
Unconsciously smiling, Azure placed her hand on Neya’s head.
“Now I understand why Gary and Shane are so crazy about you.”
It was the first time she patted Neya’s head. Neya grinned happily.
“I’ll do this every day from now on!”
“Sometimes is enough; it’s annoying otherwise.”
“Okay!”
After a short but meaningful conversation, things definitely changed.
Early in the morning, when everyone was still asleep, Neya woke up early with a pile of toys and went downstairs. Her room was small, so the living room was better for playing freely.
“I’m a princess from a neighboring country. I came to see the prince.”
Clutching her dolls tightly, Neya began her role-playing game. She built a castle with blocks and even made a carriage for the princess. Consequently, the living room was scattered with toys and blocks.
“What’s this?”
While absorbed in play, she heard Azure’s voice. Neya’s eyes widened as she looked over. There was Azure, just coming out of her room, staring at the mess of toys on the floor.
‘This is bad…!’
Azure usually got up close to afternoon, so Neya had thought she could play freely. She swallowed nervously.
Whenever she made a mess playing in the living room, Azure always scolded her sharply.
Anticipating the upcoming scolding, Neya shut her eyes tightly.
