Chapter 44: Memory of the ghost girl
1762 Words
Living with everything also means nothing.
It was the humor of the god. I understood it very well. People look up at me as if I’m a goddess, bow their heads at me, praising me for my appearance and everything. Talents above others and an ability to do anything I want to do.
I was envied by everyone. At the same time, I envy them.
Because in my mansion. I’m just by myself. No equals, no friends and no meaningful relationship was ever created.
My mother and father were pleased with who I am. Proudly telling stories about my achievements. . It's always like that. Eventually, I get tired of it and get bored.
I’m considered a princess. But what is the meaning of life if I can’t get out of my room? My reality has been separated from others ever since I was born.
Looking from the window, gazing at children of my age playing.
I wonder what it felt like to play with them. Running around and laughing in dirty clothes.
One day.
I decided on my choice based on what I wanted to do. It was not an order from my mother or father. This decision is based on my own will.
I sneaked outside of the mansion and met up with other kids. I want to experience it. I want to play with them.
“C-Can I play with everyone?”
I nearly bit my tongue saying those words. The other children just look at each other and c***k a grin.
“Of course you are. We’re playing tag... Since you’re the last one to come here. You’re one.”
“Playing tag? It? What does that mean?”
“You don’t know about what kind of life you have. I feel pity for you.”
“Look, she is wearing such frilly clothes. It's mostly white. It is really fine for her to play with us.”
A girl appeared behind my back. She touched my hair softly and combed it gently with her finger.
“So silky! What kind of hair plant are you using for your hair?! Your skin is porcelain white. I bet you're no ordinary kid. Where did you come from?”
The girl was very curious about me.
People are always curious about me and ask plenty of things. Most of them are adults and creepy adults look at me with their weird eyes. I felt very uneasy with them.
Having someone the same age as me being curious about myself is a different thing.
Another girl arrived and touched my hair.
“Can I comb your hair? Your hair is long. We can make various styles. I’ll make you very cute.”
“I’m the first one to touch her hair. I’m going to play with her.”
“That’s unfair. I wanted to play with her too.”
“Hey, we’re in the middle of playing tag, right?”
“I thought we would be having a tea party.”
“That’s girly. Let's play tag instead.”
“Newbie, what do you want to play?”
The other kids surround me with their gaze waiting for my response.
I don’t really have the idea of games to play.
“I want to try tag. I want to learn how to play tag.”
After that, they taught me how to play tag. Running on the grassy plains and laughing at each other.
For the first time in my life, I experienced the true joy of being a child. It was fun and carefree.
My dress got dirty and I didn’t mind it. After playing tag, we go to the river to play in the water. I pick up fruit from the tree. Taking a bite is much tastier than the fruit back at home.
I didn’t feel the time and noticed that the sun was already setting.
“It's time to go.”
I said.
“Today is fun.”
“Let’s play with each other again, Belle.”
They all smile at me while waving their hands. I waved back and told them with a big bright smile.
“Yup, I’ll come back tomorrow.”
I ran back home.
When I reached the gate of our mansion, suddenly, the entire staff surrounded me. They all had teary expressions on their faces. All of them worried, saying…
“My family is saved…”
“ Thank goodness lord he won’t be angry with me.”
“I won’t lose my job.”
They are worried about themselves.
None of them even worried about me. It made me feel gloomy. I ignored them all and proceeded to the main door. As I pushed the door, my mother and father looked at me with filth.
“Oh, this is your daughter. I never think that you're the type of parent to let your child play around. Madam… Sir…”
“Belle!”
My mother had a furious expression on her face. She pulled my arm and dragged me to the bathroom to clean myself.
“How dare you say them like that in front of high nobles. What are they going to think of me if they saw my daughter this dirty and covered with sweat daughter Your hair tie? Where is it?”
“I lost it when I dived in the river.”
“You did what… Do you swim in the river? That river is where the peasants take a bath. You're shameless! Who are these children?! Tell me!”
“No!”
“Why not?”
“I felt like you were going to do something bad to them.”
I said with a worried tone. My eyes are already teary because of the terror I’m feeling. More than anyone, I know how ruthless she is.
My mother was ignorant about my words and tossed me to the maids.
“Make sure to scrub every inch of that girl's body. Use the fanciest perfume afterward. I don’t want her to smell like peasants.”
She ordered, followed by the bow of the maids.
Turning my head to my mother, I saw her ordering the butlers.
“Find the children Belle plays with. A punishment must be held.”
“Yes, my lady.”
No… No… Not them.
After taking a bath, two maids guard my room and lock down the windows. I wanted to warn them but I couldn't escape.
I’m powerless, I can’t do anything.
The next day.
I find out that the children were punished together with their parents. The punishment wasn’t specified to me.
I got time to sneak outside again and meet up with my friends.
“Luna… Marco… I’m back.”
I said with a big smile.
“Get away from us.”
“Huh?”
I was stunned by what I heard.
“Don’t play with us anymore. My father lost his job because of you. You told your parents that we let you become dirty, right? Nobles like you are assholes that look down on us.”
“I treated you as a friend, but you look down on us. I bet you laugh at my hair when I compliment yours.”
“T-That’s not it… Mother… Mother is the one…”
“Enough with that and go away from us. We don’t have a friend like you.”
“Asshole nobles… I hope you all die.”
Wait, it wasn’t me… It wasn’t me…
I tried to reach my hand to them. They all turned their backs away from me. I turned my back and went back to the mansion.
The maid saw my action and reported it to my strict mother. From that, I never got a chance to go out of the mansion.
Seasons passed and nothing significant for me was happening. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter all felt very lonely. My family never loved me. Not a thing I wanted was heard.
I have a dream and I eventually forget about it.
It was hopeless after all.
Dreaming about someone like me is useless.
I grow up and reached my teenage years, still not experiencing outside. They just know about the outside world via books and literature I read.
Until one day, I was reading in my bedroom.
The window got destroyed all of a sudden. I’m not hurt or anything, but it shocked me. I looked toward the ground and saw a ball.
“A baseball?”
I pick it up and…
“I’m sorry for accidentally breaking your window! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m deeply sorry!”
A boy appeared.
I tossed the ball toward him and caught.
“Please play fur away from my room. By the way, why have you never seen your face before?”
“I’m the new gardener here. I’m the grandson of Rafael.”
“The old gardener.”
“ He's already in his last leg. He loves the flowers in this place but can’t stand up anymore. He wishes for someone to take care of the flowers he has taken care of his entire life.”
“I see you're the new gardener. What’s with the ball?”
“I’m playing with my…”
“Rin! Are you okay?”
From the outside, a girl is calling him.
“I’m fine… The girl here seems fine too. Nothing to worry about.”
He said.
“How about my broken window?”
He flinched when hearing my words. Staggered as I gazed at him seriously.
“You can cut my paycheck next month.”
“This window is expensive… It might take you ten years before you fully pay for it.”
His soul had already left his body as he fell on his knees. He got very depressed and started muttering.
“I’m going to be a slave forever. How about my dream of having a cute wife and three children? I want to travel the world too. I would like to work here for a while, but I don’t plan on it forever. I need to train and become an adventurer. I can’t do that if I’m stuck here for ten years. Without money how can I survive? Am I going to remain a loser forever? My future is ruined… My three kids are sorry, but I can’t reproduce. I’ll get old in this place stuck planting flowers.”
He got really depressed.
I have never seen someone lie like him before. Well, I almost never met anyone new in my life. What am I talking about?
- Writer
