5. Father and I

Now that I've learned how to pull myself up to a standing position, my bed has been replaced with a much lower one so that I won't be hurt if I fall out. While it's common to raise the height of the railings, they decided to just let me climb in and out freely since I move around so much.

Since the chair and table my brother used, as well as the picture books and toys he brought me, have been left right where they are, I no longer get bored even when he isn't around. Besides, Hannah is always by my side with such a serious expression; she's a bit annoying, but I don't feel lonely anymore.

I have my brother read the books he read to me over and over again, and I am gradually learning my letters. Even though I have been reincarnated, this doesn't seem to be a world with magic, and I don't think the knowledge of an ordinary person will be of much use in this world. The only thing I can do is build up my body and accumulate knowledge.

However, now that I've become able to move around by pulling myself up and crawling, staying in just my own room was starting to feel a bit insufficient. I wanted to move around in a wider space. Just as I was wishing for that, an opportunity arrived.

One day, when I woke up from my nap, there was no one in the room. Usually, Hannah is around, but it seemed she had gone somewhere on an errand. The window was open because of the heat, but the breeze brushing against my cheeks felt different than usual. Thinking it might be my chance, I looked at the door and saw it was slightly ajar. Opportunity knocks!

I shook off the last bits of sleepiness, carefully climbed down from my low bed, and got myself ready on the floor.

I crawled toward the door, poked my head through the gap, and forced my way out. This is dangerous, so good children shouldn't try this at home, but I successfully made it out of the room. I sat up for a moment to take in my surroundings. It was just a hallway, yet it was wide enough for a maid pushing a cart to pass through with ease. The path to the right seemed to lead to a dead end, so I decided to head toward the left. Still, it's incredibly spacious.

I learned later that my room was at the far end of the East Wing, right near Mother's room. It seemed that since Mother passed away, the area had become a lonely place, kept tidy but rarely visited by anyone.

So, why had Sebas, Brother, or Father come by? Sebas had been coming by frequently because he was curious about me; Brother had only become interested once he had finally composed himself enough to visit Mother's room; and Father apparently came quietly when no one was around, to reminisce about Mother.

Honestly, couldn't they have at least spared a glance at the baby?

It seems I had been crawling toward the center of the house; even as I paused to sit up and rest from time to time, I kept on moving until a pair of expensive-looking leather shoes entered my field of vision. I must have crawled all the way to someone's feet while I was lost in my own little world.

However, the owner of those leather shoes said nothing.

Fine, I'll just pretend I didn't see anything.

I shifted my direction slightly and continued on, crawling past the person in the leather shoes.

"Wait."

I was finally spoken to, and I accidentally paused for a moment, but since I'm a baby, I don't know what "wait" means. Yeah. I have a feeling it's something like Father, but I'll just ignore it. I resumed my high-speed crawling.

"I said, wait."

I'm a baby, so I can't hear you. I'll just pretend I didn't and keep going. Oh, isn't that a staircase over there? If I approach it the same way I'd climb down from a low bed, I should be able to manage the stairs soon.

"Wait!"

This time, the voice came from above my head. At the same time, something gave my back a sudden tug.

"Nuh-uh!"

"I told you to wait. Are you deaf or something?

It seems someone has grabbed a handful of the clothes on my back. Just to be sure, I tried wiggling my arms and legs. I'm not moving.

"Nuh-uh!"

I want to be let go, but I don't want to get on my father's bad side either.

"Dah... dah... ee... ah!"

I'll just vent my frustrations.

"Just what on earth are you trying to do?"

"Eee!"

It's a walk, so could you please leave me alone? Then, while still clutching the clothes on my back, I was hoisted up with a sudden jerk. As if I were a kitten. Huh? This is uncomfortable.

"Daai!"

"You..."

It might have been the first time we had made eye contact at such close range. As I thought, that person had long blonde hair tied back, and had sharp, pale violet eyes. I quickly looked away, relaxed my body, and let out a sigh.

"Claire..."

Does this have something to do Mother?

"It's just that... You always look at me like Claire always used to do, as if there's nothing I can do..."

Maybe it's because you really are someone who's hopeless, huh?

"Daai"

I gave him a response, for what it's worth. Father suddenly realized what was happening, gently set me down on the ground, and tucked me between his legs so I wouldn't run away. Honestly, if you want to keep someone from running, shouldn't you try picking them up or something?

"Someone!"

At the sound of his voice, servants appeared from everywhere, swarming in from wherever they had been.

"This... this thing is..."

Shouldn't you just say Lilia?

As Father lowered his gaze to look at me, the servants' eyes followed, all turning toward me at once.

"Ah, she looked like she was about to fall down the stairs, so I captured—no, I caught her—I mean, I'm holding her, so please take her back to her room."

Just then, Hannah came rushing over, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Lady Lilia!"

"Why did you take your eyes off her?"

"I am so sorry. The young lady is usually napping, so I was helping out in the kitchen."

Hannah turned pale and bowed her head. I don't know what he's so angry about. After all, until just the other day, I spent me days with almost no one around besides Martha.

Feeling a bit annoyed, I began to pat my father's leg repeatedly.

"Dai, daii, ma!"

"Thank you, Lady Lilia."

"What do you mean, 'thank you'?

When Father looked puzzled by Hannah's words, Sebas stepped closer and explained.

“She is saying, please do not be angry with Hannah.”

“She only said 'da'.”

“One can always tell by her expression and tone, sir. Now, Lady Lilia, over here please.”

Sebas picked me up. Goodness me.

A murmur rippled through the gathered servants. The head of the house stood atop the stairs. Beside him, an infant with the exact same hair and eye color was gazing up at him. There was no mistaking it; they were clearly father and child.

"Dah-dah! Dah!"

I wanted to play outside a little longer. To me, who was thinking such things, Father said,

"Take her back to her room."

he said coldly.

"Daa..."

With that, I looked away and let out a soft sigh. You really are a hopeless adult.

"Claire..."

"Truly, Lady Lilia, even if your coloring belongs to the Marquis house, your features are the spitting image of Lady Claire."

Sebas answered my father's murmur as he lifted me up. I know that this is what Sebas has wanted to tell my father all along.

“Heh, da-da, ay!”

I glanced at Father from the corner of my eye and gave a little laugh, shaking my head.

“Claire, too, is just like that...”

Father really was a handful, wasn't he?

“Return her to her room.”

In the end, I was the one sent back to my room.

====== Author's Note ======

Updates will be paused on the 6th; I plan to update "Two Saints' Isekai Stroll" instead. "Reincarnated Toddler" will return on the 7th!

If you want to read longer stories! In those cases...

"I want to protect what is in these hands." A story about a reincarnated orphan girl doing her best.

"Summer Wars of Crimson and Madder." A story about twin girls doing their best.

“A Story of Reincarnating Because I’m Neither Poison Nor Medicine.” A story about living a carefree life after being reincarnated.

“A Wandering Journey Through Another World with Two Saintesses.” A story about two close female friends getting swept up in an adventure.