At that, people around them kept their mouths shut. Nonetheless, there were still some who were stubborn.

“But…”

“Of course, it’s true that food was given without parental permission. Still, isn’t that more wrong than her asking for money under the pretext of a child who isn’t even sick?”

Only then did people start to step out one by one.

“…Oh, it’s already this late. I need to go water the fields now.”

“I’m going to go get my children breakfast, too.”

Soon, there were only three people left in front of the cafe—April, Asher, and Sarah. The next moment, Sarah hurriedly opened her ax eye and stared at Asher.

“You don’t even know what grace is. How did I raise you?!”

“Aunt…”

“Do you know what the villagers said when your mother gave birth to you? They said they couldn’t have a woman who gave birth to a child she didn’t know the father, so she should be kicked out. I was the one who persuaded them.”

“….”

“But, how are you doing this to me?! Forget it. If you like that girl so much,  go live with her! Don’t even think about coming home!”

“Auntie!”

Sarah vehemently shook off Asher, who took her hand. The child followed her with occasional steps, though she threatened him again. Eventually, the child stood and glanced at her back as she walked away until Sarah was completely gone.

April touched her forehead.

‘I didn’t know it would be like this…’

Although she knew that Sarah would say something to Asher, she never dreamed that she would leave the child behind like this. After brooding for a moment, April approached Asher.

“Asher…”

“Sister… Aunt must be very angry.”

Tears began to form in the child’s large eyes.

“…What should I do now?”

“Asher, do you have anywhere to go?”

Trying to hold back his tears, Asher bit his lips. Because of that, the tension created walnut-shaped wrinkles on the child’s chin.

“No, I don’t.”

“Do you have any other relatives?”

“….”

April clicked her tongue as though she knew it.

As Sarah said, Asher had no father, so it meant that no one knew who the father of her child was. While rumors circulated in the village that the child’s father might be a nobleman, the truth was only known to Asher’s deceased mother.

Regardless,  what was important now was that Asher had nowhere to go.

‘It’s my fault.’

If he had not taken her side, this would not have happened to him. With that thought, April decided that she would take care of Asher, at least until Sarah’s anger subsided.

“If you don’t mind, why don’t you stay with sister for now?”

At her question, Asher raised her head.

“Is that all right?”

Then, big tears fell from his pathetic eyes.

‘…How could I ignore such a child?’

“Yes, of course.”

Saying so, April took Asher’s hand and went inside the cafe. She didn’t even know what the consequences of that decision would be…

 ゚· : * ✧ * :· ゚

Sarah came back to her house in anger.

‘…Asher, like this foolish nephew.’

She admitted that she did not really care for him, but she also had her own problems as well.

As her husband died shortly after their marriage, her younger sister, who had left for the Capital a long time ago, returned pregnant. When she asked what kind of person the child’s father was, her sister only kept her mouth shut and refused to answer.

In the end, she took care of the two, barely persuading the villagers not to drive her sister out of town. However, three years ago, her younger sister died of an infectious disease. How difficult it was for her to raise a child alone as a woman. In addition, he was not even her own child…!

‘He should know that he’s lucky that I didn’t throw him away!’

Had she known who the child’s father was, she would not have taken on the child like this.

‘Damn it, Jane. At least tell me who the child’s father is before you die!’

Nonetheless, she had no time to be angry with Asher or with a man she did not even know his face. Sarah went to a lord’s castle today to earn her money. Still, with all this hard work to make money, her nephew, who did not even recognize her efforts, did not take her side!

While she was muttering and doing her laundry diligently as usual, the lord’s attendant suddenly ran up to her.

“Hey, did you say your name is Sarah?”

‘…Why is the Lord’s servant looking for me?’

Sarah wiped her soapy hands on her apron with a terrified face.

“Th-that’s right, but… What’s the matter?”

“The Lord is looking for you. Follow me.”

Sarah trembled as she followed her attendant. At the same time, a story she had heard before flashed through her mind. It was the story of a maid who was forced to spend the night because the Lord liked her…

‘No way!’

As she recalled the story, she was planning to get down on her knees and beg for mercy when she met the Lord. But, as soon as she saw him, what the Lord said surprised her even more.

“You have a nephew, don’t you?”

Sarah responded with a bewildered voice.

“…Yes. That’s right.”

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