Chapter 5

The child had never been outside the basement. Even so, he never complained.

Growl.

The child’s tummy growled. Startled, Nittens quickly clasped his stomach.

“No! Nitty is not hungry!”

“Starting tomorrow, we’ll be served regular meals. So eat this.”

“No, that’s your food,” the boy said firmly. The child was certain that Carinne had not eaten anything for breakfast.

A puzzled look appeared on Carinne’s face. Her child had picked up language at an astonishing rate. He was also quick on his feet.

Even without any formal assessment, it was evident the boy had high intelligence. Receiving a more comprehensive education would have enabled him to reach far greater heights than he currently could.

As the boy shook his head, Carinne put her food into his hand.

“Mommy’s fine.”

Every day, she repeated those words to her child with a weary voice.

***

Once the decision was reached, the process proceeded smoothly.

Carinne, upon realizing she could escape from the mansion, did not put up a fight and was subsequently transferred to a slightly bigger room on the second floor.

Nonetheless, the state of affairs for Carinne and Nittens mostly stayed the same.

Nittens remained trapped in the room, with Carinne being the sole person able to leave it.

However, her activities were limited to getting measured for her new outfit, washing herself, and tidying her unkempt hair.

Carinne’s back was riddled with cuts, scabs, and scars. But only the maid was privy to her condition, as she assisted with measuring and bathing, so her deformity was concealed.

As she did not voice any objections while the preparations were being made, she was provided with three meals a day, although there was still no food for Nittens.

However, the hearty meals were plentiful enough for both of them to share.

Carinne was known to smile frequently in the past, but now her expression was perpetually glum. She did her best to be kind to the child, but that was all she could do.

“Mom, are those clothes for Nitty?”

“Yes, these are for you.”

When the boy approached her quietly and looked up at her, Carinne presented the clothes to him.

Viscount Tyrian was extremely concerned with how he was perceived by the public. He purposely exploited his workers’ vulnerabilities to ensure that nothing leaked from the mansion.

She expected he would furnish Nittens with appropriate attire when he went out in public.

Carinne was assigned a room with a private bathroom, enabling her to clean Nittens multiple times for a tidy appearance.

Each time she caught a glimpse of her child’s sunken cheeks, it pained her deeply, especially since they contrasted with his fair complexion. She hadn’t been able to give him proper care after he was born. It just wasn’t possible.

“Wow, they’re amazing! Are these clothes really for me?” Nittens asked with an incredulous tone.

With a heavy heart, Carinne lowered her head in silence. She felt as though she didn’t even have the right to feel bad.

Her hand extended to gently stroke Nittens’ head.

“Yes, Nitty. They are all for you. Tomorrow, we will ride in a carriage and travel for about a month. Then we’ll arrive at our new house.”

“A new house? Is it just going to be you and me?”

“Um, no. There will be the lord of the house. But you’ll be allowed to go outside.”

Nittens’ eyes widened. He pursed his lips a few times, as if he couldn’t believe it, before finally wrapping his arms around Carinne’s legs.

Carinne lifted the boy and set him down on the bed.

“You mean I can see meester sun every day?”

The child spoke with such eagerness and excitement, his pronunciation was slurred.

Carinne nodded, wondering when was the last time she had seen her child’s eyes sparkle.

“Then can I see the moon too?”

“Umm... Maybe? If the lord of the house allows it.”

The youngster perched on the plush, noiseless mattress, tapping his toes, and his expression brimmed with excitement.

Nothing was for certain, but she felt that any place would be an improvement to there.

“I hope he’s a nice person.”

“Yes!”

She gently caressed her child’s hair as he answered with all his strength. The sight of her child’s joyful smile made her turn her face away.

“Mommy, does it hurt?”

“No, Mommy’s fine.”

Carinne struggled to respond before retreating under the blanket, cradling her child in her arms.

Though her back often caused her sharp discomfort, she had grown accustomed to it and could handle it without revealing any outward sign.

In contrast to the basement, where she lacked even a blanket for warmth, Carinne’s new room was close to heaven.

Not a trace of mold or a musty odor could be detected, and the bed was luxuriously soft and roomy. It was spacious enough for her to hold her child in her arms and sleep beside him.

“Good night, Mommy.”

“Yes. Good night, Nitty.”

“Yay.”

She gently patted his back several times, and the child soon drifted off to sleep. Softly tapping her child’s back, she clenched her jaw.

Carinne’s body was marred by blue bruises covering every inch. Her back was the worst, but other parts were just as bad.

A week had passed without her being whipped with lashes, causing some of her wounds to finally show some signs of healing. But many of her scars were so old that they couldn’t be healed in a short time.

In order to hide her scars from her child, she always wore long clothes.

“I’m sorry, Nittens,” she muttered softly. Whenever she caught a glimpse of her little one’s sparkling eyes, she was overwhelmed with guilt.

With Nittens in her arms, Carinne fell asleep.

***

Carinne and Nittens embarked on the journey in the carriage, accompanied by guards and maids.

Naturally, Viscount Tyrian did not see her off, and her departure took place discreetly, unknown to the social world.

Viscount Tyrian deliberately chose guards and maids who were not aware of Carinne’s true situation. It was likely that he was anxious about his secret becoming exposed, but it worked in Carinne’s favor.

Without knowledge of her circumstances, they extended courtesy and hospitality to Carinne and her little boy. The guards and maids only saw Nittens as a sweet, young boy when he approached them and spoke to them.

Nittens was adored by all.

In contrast, Carinne spoke very little. She remained silent, hardly ever stepping out of the carriage, and never revealing her emotions. The uncomfortable atmosphere caused the servants to limit their words to only the necessary.

However, Nittens was in awe of everything.

The stars rising in the night sky, the fog in the morning, the water droplets on the leaves when he opened his eyes, the ants crawling in a line, and the flying beetles were all things he was seeing for the first time.

No one in the mansion had ever spoken to the boy except for Carinne, so he was grateful for the opportunity to talk to anyone, and everyone showed kindness in their responses.

“Mom, I got you some flowers!”

Nittens plucked a bouquet of wildflowers and presented it to Carinne with both hands.

Looking at his clothes and hands covered in dirt, she accepted the bouquet with a faint smile.

“Thank you. But why do they still have roots?”

“Mom, I wanted you to feel better... Uh, um. And when you feel better, I’ll pat them again!”

“Pat them?”

“Yes! If I don’t pat them, the flowers will die!”

Was he saying he would replant them again?

Carinne tilted her head for a second and then gave the flowers back to her little one. In contrast to her jaded mind, Nittens had a pure view of the world.

“Yes, I feel better now. You can go replant them if you want. We have to get going soon.”

“Alright!”

Nittens, who was now 26 months old, tentatively moved forward before losing his balance and falling.

Carinne watched quietly as the boy clumsily dug into the soil and replanted the roots.

His hands, resembling tiny ferns, were still in their early stages and lacked dexterity. It seemed as though he was having trouble planting them correctly, as he pulled them out, buried them, and then pulled them out again.

Carinne squatted down behind the boy, unable to resist helping him. With a gentle gesture, she extended her arm and placed her hand on her child’s, holding the flowers.

Nittens’ crimson eyes grew big in surprise. The combination of his silver-white hair and round red eyes gave him a rabbit-like appearance.

Carinne chuckled softly. The child’s eyes grew even bigger.

“You laughed! Are you in a good mood?” the child asked with a bright smile.

“Yes. I love how Nittens has such a beautiful mind.”

With care, Carinne guided her child’s hand to straighten the roots and dug a slightly deeper hole with her other hand.

Placing the flowers upright, she then covered their roots with soil.

“Wow, you’re amazing, Mommy.”

“Let’s quickly wash our hands and get in the carriage.”

“Alright.”

She grabbed her child’s hand and headed to the carriage.

The driver swung open the carriage door, and the maids immediately scurried to wipe their hands with handkerchiefs.

When she picked up her child and placed him in the carriage, Nittens sat down quietly. As Carinne sat down across from him, the carriage door closed behind her.

“Mommy,” the child whispered softly.

“Yes?”

“I... have a secret to tell you.”

The little child moved his hand up and down, signaling to her.

In spite of Carinne’s confusion at the gesture, which appeared to instruct her to lower her head, she dutifully leaned in closer.

“Yes?”

“Um... I think you look prettiest when you smile.”

The boy was giving her an absolutely radiant smile.