Episode 2

* * *

It sounds ridiculous, but from the moment I was born, I had an immense affinity with nature.

‘According to what Eliae told me later, it’s because my soul crossed over from another world…’

As someone who contributed to the destruction of Earth’s nature as one of its 8 billion inhabitants, that explanation was laughable.

Look, I’m well aware of my sins.

Someone like me, who practically lived with the air conditioner and heater on all year round, having immense natural affinity? If that’s the case, then everyone in this world must be nature itself.

No matter how hard I tried to make sense of it, the truth remained: my affinity with nature was incredibly strong.

As ridiculous as it seemed, there was nothing I could do about it—it was what it was.

However, I was all alone, a complete orphan.

I was forced into an orphanage, receiving cheap care with cheap supplies, and the orphanage staff seemed more focused on finding ways to pocket extra bonuses than actually taking care of the children.

In other words, they were siphoning off the funds allocated to the orphanage.

Now, if those money-hungry staff members found out about my immense natural affinity?

‘Wow, I can already imagine how they’d bleed me dry…’

It would’ve been like watching my life plunge straight into the gutter.

‘I absolutely cannot live like that.’

From that moment on, I hid my abilities and constantly looked for a chance to escape the orphanage.

As a result, I discovered a few important things.

First, my favorite character, Harnen, was the same age as me.

Second, a few years from now, the Atlanta Academy would be visiting orphanages as part of a routine inspection.

The Atlanta Academy was the top educational institution on the continent, located in the Elberc Empire.

Under the principle of “all talented individuals, regardless of their status, have the right to education,” the academy visited orphanages and slums every five years.

Harnen, who had been reincarnated as an orphan, was able to attend the Atlanta Academy thanks to this policy.

Once I knew this, I set myself two goals.

One: to get into Atlanta Academy and live an amazing life with my immense natural affinity.

Two: to become close with Harnen and help him complete his much-deserved revenge, which I had been rooting for!

‘If the sparkle in the soda has gone flat, I’ll just add the carbon dioxide myself!’

I clenched my fists with determination and roared inside.

I would orchestrate a grand revenge story—one for Harnen, by Harnen, and with me!

* * *

My plan went smoothly.

After hiding my power for years, I revealed it in front of the academy officials, causing a sensation in the orphanage, and got admitted to the academy.

Once there, I became close to Harnen, with the devotion of a fan who cherished their favorite character.

After my natural affinity reached its peak, I even formed a contract with the King of Water Spirits, Eliae.

After graduation, I worked as a court spiritist directly under the royal palace, earning plenty of money while continuing to assist Harnen, rising to greater success.

As a bonus, I also built up my favorability with Harnen’s superior and the original novel’s antagonist, Archduke Aches de Serenia, pulling him fully into my camp.

‘…I really like you. A lot.’

‘I… I’m sorry!’

…Until that embarrassing moment happened.

“Sigh…”

I stopped reminiscing and once again quietly looked at the child.

* * *

The child woke up after I returned from the market, having bought a bunch of supplies and clothes for them.

Without warning, the child bolted upright, gasping for air.

I had been soaking a cloth in cold water and quickly moved closer to the child.

“Are you feeling a bit better? How’s your body?”

At the sound of my voice, the child’s confused eyes, which had been scanning the walls of the house, suddenly froze.

The child’s head slowly turned toward me.

At the moment our eyes met, I couldn’t help but let out a small gasp of admiration.

Their eyes were a stunning shade of red, like beautiful drops of transparent wine.

I blinked in a daze, but when I saw the child flinch and tremble, I snapped out of it.

I softened my expression, smiling as kindly as possible, and greeted the child.

“Ah, my name is Ainra.”

“……”

“And you are?”

At that moment, the child’s face twisted in pain.

Startled, I reached out, thinking they might be hurt.

“Are you okay—”

Smack.

The child reflexively slapped my hand away, making me wince from the sudden pain in my wrist. I instinctively grabbed it with my other hand, and the child flinched again, turning their head away as if avoiding me.

Right… I guess it’s understandable. Suddenly being touched by a stranger can be uncomfortable. Ha ha, you must be really shy.

I awkwardly laughed and slowly moved my body back, giving the child more space.

“Alright, I won’t touch you without permission. I’m sorry.”

“……”

“But, um, you were really sick just this morning, right? How are you feeling now? Is your body okay?”

The child remained silent, but with a wary gaze, they gave a small nod.

It seems the healing magic worked well. I breathed a sigh of relief.

“That’s good to hear. I was really worried about you.”

“……”

Is the child just shy, or are they feeling uncomfortable?

Since I didn’t know anything about the child’s background, I decided to keep talking.

“So, um, do you know where your home is? It doesn’t matter if it’s far. If you tell me, I can contact your parents. I could even take you there myself.”

Once again, the child didn’t respond, their gaze sliding away.

They lowered their eyes, staring at their hands, and then at the blanket slipping off, revealing their clothes underneath.

Seeing the child’s focused gaze on their worn-out clothing, I quickly realized what I’d forgotten and pulled out the new clothes I had bought earlier.

“Oh right! I completely forgot! Do you want to change clothes? I didn’t want to change you while you were unconscious in case you didn’t like it, so I waited until you woke up.”

“……”

The child glanced at the clothes I offered, seemingly unimpressed, and turned their gaze away.

It almost seemed like they sighed.

Panicking a little, I hurriedly pulled out more clothes from the shopping bag.

“If you don’t like these, I have more!”

Pants, skirts, dresses, cardigans, skorts, and even a small Rococo-style dress.

I had more than enough money, and since I didn’t know the child’s taste, I just bought one of each style.

But the more clothes I pulled out, the more the child looked away, and eventually, they just closed their eyes.

“Gasp. Do… do you really not like them?”

“You…”

“Hm?”

The child’s lips moved as if they were about to say something but then clamped shut again.

After a brief silence, they slowly spoke once more.

“…I’m a boy.”

“What?”

“I’m not a girl.”

I was so surprised by the unexpected revelation that my mouth hung open.

I was too stunned even to notice that the word “you,” coming from a child’s lips, seemed far too mature for them.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Flustered, I began stuffing the clothes back into the bag.

Even the pants I had brought had frills or ribbons, which might have been off-putting for a boy.

“H-How about wearing these for now? I’ll buy you some new clothes later.”

I handed him a plain top and pants, the least decorated ones I had purchased.

The boy glanced down at the clothes, sighed softly, and then picked them up.

“…Thank you for being considerate.”

His reply was so polite and mature that I couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly.

How grown-up he sounded.

‘Come to think of it, he referred to me as “you” earlier, didn’t he?’

Maybe he’s the child of a noble family?

I nodded internally, finding the thought plausible.

The noble children I had met at the academy often tried to speak like adults and with dignity from a young age.

Besides, now that I looked closer, despite being torn and dirty, his tattered clothes were clearly made of high-quality fabric.

‘Kids should be allowed to grow up as kids.’

Not knowing such a simple truth… I clicked my tongue inwardly.

The boy quickly changed into the clothes I had given him.

He awkwardly fidgeted with the frills on the pink shirt.

Watching him with amusement, I asked again, “By the way, would you mind telling me your name?”

His hand, which had been fiddling with the ribbon, suddenly froze.

He blinked a few times, then slowly lifted his head to look at me.
TL/N: I used them/theirs cuz it was in raws