Being Loved for the First Time Chapter 22

A duchy really was enormous.

My parents had set aside about two weeks for this journey, yet they were disappointed that we would only be able to visit half the territory.

“Are we mainly visiting the places we didn’t go to two years ago?”

“That’s right. Damian, do you remember much of it?”

“Of course. It was only two years ago.”

My brother spoke as though forgetting something from a mere two years earlier would be stranger.

At that, my sister’s face fell.

“Lara… doesn’t remember, though?”

“That’s because you were a baby back then, Laurencia.”

My brother gently stroked her hair as he explained.

“Even I don’t remember things from when I was as little as Anastasia.”

“You’re not s’posed to remember things from when you’re a baby?”

“That’s right. It says in books that everyone is like that.”

Even though my sister’s question might have caught him off guard, my brother was as dependable as ever.

Her face immediately brightened.

“Lara was worried ’cause I might meet someone I met before and not say hello!”

“Even though they remember you?”

“Uh-huh! Then they’d be sad! Lara would be sad too if someone forgot Lara. But Lara isn’t a baby anymore, so I’ll remember everyone now!”

My sister had become upset for a reason entirely characteristic of her, only to cheer up and smile again just as quickly.

Then she turned toward me and spoke as though assuring me I could rely on her.

“Sister will remember everything, Shasha! ‘Cause Shasha’s still a baby!”

She hadn’t forgotten to be considerate of me either.

‘I’ll remember everything too, though.’

But I had no intention of refusing such a sweet gesture.

After traveling for an entire day from the ducal residence, we arrived at a place surrounded by dense forests and a large river.

As we entered the village, the village chief and residents came out to welcome our party.

“Welcome, Your Grace, my lady, young master, and young ladies.”

The kindly looking village chief greeted us with a radiant smile.

“The weather is terribly hot. You must all be having a difficult time, so why have you come out here to wait for us?”

Wow, it really must be hot.

Everyone’s faces were completely red.

But contrary to my concerns, the village chief spoke as though it were nothing.

“Of course it’s hot. It’s summer, after all. Besides, it’s not as though we’ve been standing around in the blazing sun. We’ve all been resting in the shade while waiting.”

Well, that was true.

Perhaps because it was late afternoon, everyone seemed to be taking a short break, gathering in small groups to enjoy snacks.

“It seems we haven’t arrived at an inconvenient time.”

Mother smiled and gestured, prompting the knights and servants to hurriedly unload the things we’d brought.

There were blocks of ice enchanted with preservation magic, along with various kinds of food.

“Oh my, you’ve brought such precious things!”

The village chief grinned from ear to ear.

In particular, the blocks of ice enchanted with preservation magic were extremely valuable and essential because they could last for roughly two months without melting.

“We’re truly grateful every summer. Thanks to you, none of us collapse from heatstroke.”

“It’s only natural. This duchy is sustained by all of you, after all.”

Father and Mother continued checking on the residents, carefully asking whether they were experiencing any difficulties or needed anything.

‘They’re like ideal lords straight out of a picture book.’

Most of the lords I’d encountered in my previous lives couldn’t even be bothered to receive reports, yet were perfectly happy to squeeze every last coin out of their people in taxes.

But here were lords who insisted on visiting personally because they might miss something if they only listened to reports.

Perhaps that was why all the villagers looked so cheerful and showed no signs of discomfort at the ducal family’s visit.

Amid that warm atmosphere, I found something for myself to do and immediately got started.

‘I need to practice walking!’

It was the perfect environment.

Everything in the ducal residence was far too orderly and well-maintained.

People needed to practice walking on rougher ground sometimes!

Even I thought it was rather spoiled of me to complain about my surroundings being too comfortable.

‘Maybe that’s why my development has been so slow.’

Both my speech and my physical abilities.

I felt as though I was developing a little more slowly than in my previous lives.

Then again, I hadn’t exactly counted how many months had passed since my birth back then.

But why do I keep feeling people watching me…?

When I raised my head, I saw a group of women gathered beneath a shade canopy, their lips curving into delighted smiles.

No, it wasn’t just their mouths. Even their cheekbones seemed to have risen noticeably…

“Oh my, the youngest lady was only born last year, and she’s already walking around.”

“Doesn’t it almost sound like little pitter-patter noises are coming from her feet? Look at those adorable little steps.”

“Come here, young lady. Auntie has something delicious for you.”

Then they waved their hands, trying to lure me over.

But I wasn’t supposed to approach strangers.

‘Mother made a point of telling all three of us that before.’

She said we mustn’t follow people we didn’t know.

I had no intention of making my parents worry, so I tried to focus on walking again.

However…

“Hoho, we have fruit here, and cookies that children love.”

“Isn’t the youngest lady still too young to eat cookies?”

For some reason, the women seemed terribly excited, laughing and beckoning to me.

“Oh my, she looks exactly like her mother.”

“Goodness, look at those chubby cheeks. Young lady, may I touch your cheeks just once?”

“If each of us touched them once, there wouldn’t be any cheeks left!”

No, I’m just walking around.

Why is everyone so interested in me?

Besides…

‘I feel like they’re going to eat me.’

Their gazes were all so intense.

Intense enough that I instinctively began taking little steps backward.

But apparently, even that delighted them, because their eyes curved into smiles once again.

“Look, you’ve frightened the young lady.”

“I told you to stop being so silly. Young lady, we aren’t going to eat you. We’ll give you some fruit. Here, here.”

It felt a little awkward to keep refusing.

When I glanced around, Mother, who seemed to have been watching the entire time, nodded to show that it was all right.

If Mother says it’s fine, then it must be fine!

But why… am I afraid to approach them?

They all looked so friendly, yet somehow it felt as though I were walking toward a ferocious beast with its mouth wide open.

And I’m not even shy around strangers!

For some inexplicable reason, I approached them cautiously and held out my hand.

Once again, they exclaimed in delight, as though I’d done something remarkable.

“Did you see that?”

“The youngest lady really is different.”

“She’s still so little, but she already knows how to ask for something?”

“I kept trying to teach my child to hold out his hand and ask, but he never did!”

“Here you are. Hold it tightly, and don’t swallow it all at once.”

I began nibbling on the piece of watermelon they’d placed in my hand.

It was sweet, cool, and delicious.

‘Have I been walking too much?’

Apparently, I was thirstier than I’d realized.

For a moment, I forgot their gazes and simply stood there, concentrating on the watermelon.

“Oh my, she eats so well!”

“Goodness, look at those little cheeks moving as she chews.”

“Ah, I could watch her all day. Young lady, would you like to come live here with us?”

“You! You’ve been saying such dangerous things for a while now!”

Having said that, the women burst into laughter once again.

“Now, would you like another piece?”

“Young lady, show us how you ask for more.”

I hesitated.

They’d told me not to eat too much fruit before meals…

But those expressions…

‘Everyone looks so expectant that I feel like I shouldn’t refuse.’

Still, it was a little embarrassing.

They were praising me just for holding out my hand.

But I didn’t want to disappoint them over something so insignificant either.

All I had to do was extend my hand.

When I tilted my head slightly while considering it, another small chorus of delighted exclamations reached my ears.

‘Well, if they’re this happy about something so trivial…’

Very cautiously—I still felt as though they might eat me—I extended my hand toward them.

But instead of giving me watermelon, they first wiped my hand clean.

“There we go. We need to clean your hands before you eat again.”

They’re just going to get dirty again.

Even though they knew that, the women looked delighted to go through the trouble twice.

Only afterward did they place another cool, juicy piece of watermelon in my hand.

“Oh my, she eats so well. But this will have to be your last piece.”

“That’s right. If you eat too much, your tummy will hurt.”

“Goodness, look at those little chewing motions… His Grace must feel full just watching her eat!”

All I’d done was eat watermelon.

Yet laughter erupted around me once more.

To think that strangers who weren’t even my family could be delighted by something so insignificant…

‘Have I really spent all my previous lives in strange places?’

If ninety-nine out of a hundred were one way, and only one was different, surely that one would be the strange exception.

And yet, for some reason, I wanted to believe that this one was normal.

Their attention was slightly overwhelming, but every emotion they showed me was bright and warm.

A little farther into the village we’d first arrived at stood a quiet house.

It was built from logs, and although it wasn’t particularly large or extravagant, it was spacious enough to accommodate our family, the accompanying knights, and the servants.

A river flowed directly in front of the house, which was surrounded by forest.

Because of that, we’d decided to spend about two days here.

“It would be lovely for our babies to play in the water, since it’s summer.”

“We even brought some little boats for you to ride in.”

Somehow, I think Mother and Father are even more excited than we are…

“Oh my, our babies! How are you all so adorable even in your swimming outfits?”

Mother gazed at the three of us with a satisfied expression.

“As expected, my lady, your taste is extraordinary. Seeing all our babies wearing matching outfits makes me so happy.”

“Doesn’t it? I put a great deal of thought into them. Especially the designs of their swimming hats.”

Each of our hats had decorations resembling animal ears.

My sister’s had rabbit ears, while my brother’s had what looked like little antlers sticking out.

And mine…

‘Why a tiger…?’

It was a hat that looked remarkably like the beloved stuffed toy my brother had given me.

‘Wouldn’t a cat or dog make more sense as part of this set?’

I was terribly puzzled.

But…

“Shasha’s so cute! Shasha’s a baby tiger!”

“You’re right. If our Anastasia says ‘Roar!’, Brother will have to let himself get caught.”

My sister and brother looked so delighted that I decided it didn’t matter.

To be honest, even though I was wearing swimming clothes, I’d assumed I’d be doing little more than dipping my legs in the water.

However…

“Now, my babies. Daddy will put you in the little boats we brought for you.”

I blinked as I looked at the small boats floating on the river.

‘Where did they waste all this talent and money this time…?’

Floating on the river were little boats that seemed to have been designed to match our swimming outfits.

They were exquisitely crafted boats shaped like an adorable rabbit, a deer, and a tiger.