Chapter 12: Atonement and a Contract
On the night I revealed my memory loss, the fairy appeared before me again after a long absence.
“Long time no see, Rachel.”
The fairy called my name as she perched on my lap.
“Um, long time no see… Why haven’t you shown up these past few days? And since you know my name, does that mean we were acquaintances? I’ve lost my memories… I’m sorry.”
I apologized to the fairy for not having any memories of her.
“So, Rachel, you’ve lost your memories. But don’t worry; the time we met was the first time for both of us. The reason I haven’t appeared until now is because you’ve been constantly watched.”
Someone has been watching me? Oh, I see, someone must have been keeping an eye on me to make sure I didn’t try to hang myself again. But if that encounter was the first time the fairy and I met, why did she save me? And why does she continue to care about me?
“So, why did you save me and continue to care about me?”
I asked the fairy that question.
“Because that tree is a part of me. I am the spirit that dwells within that tree. I didn’t want anyone to die using my body.”
“I’m… I’m sorry…”
I apologized sincerely. It must be unbearable to have someone try to take their life using your body.
“In the end, Rachel was saved, so that’s fine. But more importantly, you still seem tired, so you should rest. I only came to say hello today.”
Indeed, I was mentally exhausted and my body felt heavy after I had boldly confessed my memory loss.
“Yes, I will.”
“Well, see you later.”
The fairy said this and flew away cheerfully. After she flew away, I realized that I had forgotten to ask her name.
And after breakfast the next day, Maya began my re-education. According to Maya’s re-education, my full name is “Rachel Rall Stave”, the 13-year-old eldest daughter of this family, and the name of the lord is “Falce Lopiar Stave”, a nobleman with the title of Viscount in the Empire, and he is definitely my father. Other members of my family include my mother, Lucille, a younger brother, Rotalle, and a younger sister, Lotte. They are apparently twins.
I was also told what kind of family this was and what kind of person I was, but Maya never told me the reason why the real Rachel committed suicide, perhaps because she was not planning on talking about it. However, seeing as how my mother and siblings, other than my father, had not shown up even though I had regained consciousness, it seemed like there must be a reason for that.
After receiving all this information in the morning, I had lunch and was taking a break when, despite it being daytime, the fairy suddenly flew in to see me.
“Rachel! Rachel, help!!”
“What on earth is going on?!”
“My tree… my tree is being cut down!!”
The fairy’s words jolted me awake. Last night, the fairy had mentioned that my surveillance had been lifted. I had thought that the reason was because I had lost my memory and, along with it, the reason to commit suicide, so there was no need for surveillance anymore. But I was wrong. They had removed the surveillance because they intended to cut down the tree.
I hastily slid out of bed, barefoot, and dashed towards the door. Throwing the door open, I stepped outside but, without my memories, I didn’t know which way to go.
“Which way?!”
“T-that way, I think…”
The fairy weakly answered, probably because the axe had already been swung into the tree. I had to stop them immediately!
Following the fairy’s directions, I dashed through the mansion. Along the way, I passed by Maya-san and other maids.
“Rachel-ojousama!!”
Maya-san, flustered by the sight of me running in my nightgown, chased after me, but I ignored her and kept running.
Bursting out of the mansion, I reached the garden where the fairy’s tree was located, but it was already too late—the tree had been cut down.
Around the fallen tree, several servants were wiping their sweat, using their axes as makeshift canes, and watching over them was the figure of the head of the house.
“Rachel-ojousama!!”
Maya-san’s voice echoed behind me as she caught up, and Lord Stave turned around. He looked surprised to see me, barefoot and in my nightgown, breathing heavily from running.
“Rachel! Why are you here?”
At some point, the fairy had disappeared, and tears began to flow naturally from my eyes. They wouldn’t stop.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry that I ruined your precious tree…”
“It’s fine, Rachel, you don’t have to worry about it.”
The Master looked down at me with a grumpy expression.
“Now, Rachel-ojousama, let’s go back to the mansion.”
Saying this, Maya-san put her hand on my shoulder. At that moment, a voice echoed in my head.
‘A branch… Take a branch…’
It’s the fairy, it’s the fairy’s voice.
I silently pushed away Maya-san’s hand and walked towards the fallen tree, breaking off a small branch.
‘Rachel… Give me a name… And share your strength…’
I look at the branch in my hand. Then I gently grasp it, putting strength into it as if praying.
‘I’m sorry… it’s all my fault… I’ll do anything I can… Your name… Your name is Leaf… Leaf’
I speak to the fairy in my mind.
‘Leaf… I’m Leaf… Thank you for the beautiful name… I’m going to sleep for a while… Thank you…’
The voice fades away into me. The voice has disappeared, but the fairy… No, Leaf’s presence is still there in the small twig in my palm. I turn to Maya-san with determination.
“Maya-san, this tree was cut down because of me. I intend to grow this branch to atone for that sin. Can I have a flowerpot to put in my room?”
Maya looks at the master, wondering if it’s okay to give permission. The master nods, as if to say, “Do as you like.”
And so, Leaf came to live with me.
