Collapse, I became Duck's daughter at the start?

"Asleep?"

Quietly entering Rosia's room, Bronya gently pulled the blanket up a bit further for the girl whose breathing had already evened out.

Even though Rosia didn't toss and turn at night, Bronya still did it subconsciously.

"Hoo..."

Even when Rosia slept, she had a soft snore, but it was very faint, and her breathing sounded pleasant in the quiet room.

The moonlight outside was beautiful, and the specks of light that faintly spilled into the room were like twinkling stars playing a symphony of the starry sky around the girl.

"What's this..."

Bronya saw the notebook on Rosia's desk, tied with a blue ribbon.

Just as she hesitated whether to pick it up and read it, a soft whisper interrupted Bronya's thoughts.

"Bronya Mama... I'm sorry..."

Seeing Rosia's brow furrowed as if she were having a nightmare, Bronya gently stroked her head.

"It's okay, it's okay, Mama's here..."

After a long while, seeing Rosia's expression relax, Bronya breathed a sigh of relief.

"Goodnight, Rosia, have sweet dreams."

After a while, Bronya gently kissed her cheek, then left the room with a relieved expression.

"What did my little dummy dream about?"

Not long after Bronya left, "Rosia" perched beside Rosia, shaking her little legs in confusion.

"I always feel like you, my little dummy, are hiding something from me."

"Rosia" had had a vague feeling lately, as if she had overlooked something.

"Never mind, you're always so carefree, and you stutter whenever you lie, so you can't hide anything from me."

"Rosia" poked her soft cheek and puffed out her lips.

"Sigh, I wonder if that dummy in the Sea of Quanta can keep your Seele Mama safe and sound..."

The paw given to Black Seele was of no importance to "Rosia"; she still had one left, which was enough.

"Uncle, you should find a partner soon. Don't be old and still have no children..."

Looking at the game dialogue box from "Genius Gamer Girl Bronie," the golden-haired youth turned off the computer with a hint of melancholy.

"This girl, she always knows how to hit where it hurts."

There wasn't much to do lately, so Otto decided to stay in the Far East a while longer.

After all, there were quite a few interesting people here.

"Amber, do you like this child?"

Otto and Amber were sharing various images and videos leaked from St. Freya Academy, and these pictures and videos all had the same protagonist.

"Bishop Otto... she's very cute... um..."

Hearing Amber's hesitant tone, Otto chuckled softly.

"If you had seen her in person..."

"No, Bishop, I like her very much, it's just... my heart rate just jumped a bit."

Amber said softly.

"Ha... that's not bad."

Otto found it quite normal. If she weren't special, he wouldn't have noticed her at first glance.

Of course, what Otto and they saw might be slightly different.

He just felt that the light in the girl's eyes was too brilliant, too pure.

He liked that kind of gaze, but people with such gazes invariably ended up on the opposite side of him.

"Good morning..."

Rosia sat up like a kitten, rubbing her eyes and making a cute sound, slightly drowsy.

"It's not early anymore."

"Rosia" sat beside her with her legs crossed.

She didn't need much rest each day, so she was almost always there when Rosia was awake.

"Ah... did you, did you peek?"

Seeing the notebook on the desk, Rosia realized she had forgotten to put it in the drawer last night, her small face turning a little red.

If "Rosia" had seen it while she was writing, it wouldn't have been as embarrassing, but after finishing it, especially a day later, being discovered by someone else would bring a strange sense of shame.

"Ugh... who wants to read a little girl's diary? It's so boring."

"Rosia" gave her a rare eye-roll, then stuck out her tongue.

"Without even thinking, I bet it's just you reciting 'Mommy Bronya' over and over again."

"Rosia" quipped.

"Well, it's nothing much."

Although "Rosia's" teasing was strange, there wasn't much difference. Rosia could only nod helplessly.

"So, have you thought about how you'll say goodbye later?"

"Rosia" asked casually.

"Time flies, and before you know it, it'll be the New Year..."

"You probably won't get to see your Mommy Seele."

"I know..."

Listening to "Rosia's" words, Rosia simply smiled faintly.

Gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Rosia carefully put on the hair accessory, then broke into a happy smile.

"So silly."

"Rosia" couldn't help but rub her cheek, but Rosia caught her hand.

"I'm very happy because Mommy Bronya and the others are so good to me. They are all kind and gentle..."

"I feel like every day is fulfilling."

Rosia met her own gaze in the mirror.

For her, every day during this time was worth recording, every day held its own meaning.

It would be woven into a painting, a painting that was gradually taking shape under the constant immersion of ink and the interweaving of threads.

"Six months feels like a long time to me, but..."

If Rosia was currently painting a picture, then "Rosia" was putting that picture away.

When the scroll is finished...

"What about you?"

Chapter 30: The Letter With the Wrong Date

After the New Year, February

The morning was as fresh as dew, and soft light descended from the sky, clear and ethereal.

The blue-haired girl sat on a long bench in the academy, a storybook in her hand, humming a lullaby.

The lullaby was simple, with a slow, gentle melody.

But the girl's cheeks were a little rosy in the cold wind.

"Hoo..."

Loosening her tightly wrapped scarf a little, the girl revealed a bit of fair skin on her neck and let out a slight sigh of relief.

Occasionally, passing Valkyries would greet the girl, and the girl would smile and respond to each one.

When someone asked what she was doing, the girl simply shook her head gently.

Until the people she was waiting for arrived.

The girl handed the letters and the carefully folded and flattened change to the other person, then a happy smile bloomed on her face.

"Is it necessary?"

"Rosia" stood behind her, her wine-red eyes flickering.

"You don't have much to begin with, and you still spend it on this every month?"

"Ha... it's enough. I'll just eat a little less cake and snacks this month."

Rosia let out a breath, warming her slightly cold hands, and then smiled faintly.

"I hope... they all get delivered."

A few days ago

"Rosia, Bronya and Mei are going shopping today. Do you want to come with us?"

Kiana, who had overslept, stretched and glanced at the note Mei had left. She ran to Rosia's room and asked.

"Sister Kiana, no thank you..."

Rosia sat at her desk, shaking her head gently.

"Oh, okay then. Rosia, are you doing homework? Want to come play some games?"

Kiana seemed a little surprised. Usually, Rosia would have loved to go out with Bronya.

"Wait for me a moment, Kiana."

Rosia pursed her lips, raising her pen, her gaze hesitant, as if troubled.

"Mmm..."

Rejected, Kiana could only dejectedly play games by herself. It wasn't until noon that she received a call from Mei.

"What? You can only come back tonight?"

Upon hearing Mei's words, for some reason, Kiana felt a little happy.

This meant she had the entire afternoon to herself with Rosia.

"Rosia, are you still busy?"

Kiana peeked into Rosia's room and asked again.

"Yes, Kiana, sit here with me for a bit. I'll be done soon."

Rosia nodded.

"Okay."

Sitting on Rosia's bed, Kiana watched the girl's focused expression.

Unlike her own room, Rosia's room looked even cleaner and tidier than Mei's.

Aside from the two plushie pillows she and Bronya had given her, there was basically nothing else, which made Kiana feel a bit empty.

There was a unique scent in the room, Rosia's scent, which was very pleasant. One of the reasons Kiana liked hugging Rosia was because of this sweet smell.

This scent was especially noticeable after Rosia bathed, and just looking at Rosia felt alluring.

Lost in thought, Kiana gradually grew sleepy and slowly drifted off on Rosia's bed.

"Huh?"