Chapter 34: Rewards for Good Children

Through Iluci’s halting recounting, Liang Lai finally pieced together the child’s harrowing experiences over the years.

Iluci was fifteen this year, and since the world’s legal age of majority was fourteen, she’d been hastily betrothed off as a bride for coin early on.

Had that unfortunate groom not met an untimely end on the very day she came of age, Iluci would likely be married to a fool by now.

It was around then that rumors began swirling—that Iluci was an “unblessed child, forsaken by God”—leaving her parents unable to sell her off no matter how they tried.

And once they realized she was useless, unable to bring in gold and instead freeloading off their table, her already neglectful father and mother turned downright vicious.

Before, they’d merely saddled her with every household chore; afterward, it became a barrage of beatings and curses at the slightest provocation.

It was only recently that Iluci had learned the root of her misery: she wasn’t their biological child, just one they’d picked up, which was why they doted so on the younger siblings born later.

Liang Lai stroked Iluci’s head with aching tenderness, and Iluci leaned into the softness of Liang Lai’s chest, feeling as if she were lost in some fragile dream.

“Don’t worry, Iluci—your life from here on out will only get better…”

Iluci nodded through a choked sob.

Liang Lai pressed on: “Now, you’re a bit older than Asteris and Delucia, but since I adopted them first, why don’t you call them ‘big sisters’? You’re only a year apart anyway—sound good?”

Iluci nodded obediently, though her fingers clamped down hard on Liang Lai’s arm.

She couldn’t help the worry creeping in—that Liang Lai might end up favoring the others, just like her old parents had.

Liang Lai felt the grip tighten on her arm and caught the flicker of anxiety in Iluci’s eyes, that mix of bliss and dread; she could guess well enough what troubled the child.

“It’s okay, Iluci—no need to fret so much. Sure, your big sister Duoluosa might not chat with you much—she’s just wired that way from a young age—but deep down, she’s a good kid. She won’t hold anything against you~ And if you ever clash with any of your three sisters, come straight to me; I’ll sort it out~”

Liang Lai was pulling out all the stops to be the picture-perfect mom.

After hearing that, Iluci’s expression eased considerably, her hold on Liang Lai’s arm slackening by degrees.

“O-Okay… Th-thank you…”

Iluci stole a covert glance at Liang Lai, teeth sinking into her lower lip, but the word “Mom” stuck fast in her throat.

She was still too bashful, after all—barely five hours into knowing this woman.

“It’s fine,” Liang Lai soothed once more. “I get it; you’re not used to this yet, so I won’t push you to call me ‘Mom.’ My eldest, Duoluosa, isn’t big on it either—maybe once or twice if that—and she usually just goes with ‘Liang Lai.’ You can do the same… Or hey, if you don’t see me as a mom at all, think of me as a friend instead!”

Hey, after all, those education gurus from her old world had preached becoming friends with your kids!

So mom or pal, whatever worked—as long as these children found some peace.

Iluci nodded again.

In her heart, she quietly psyched herself up: she couldn’t let the saintess down; she’d force the word “Mom” out within the week, and surely, that would light up the woman’s face!

With Iluci settled and calm, Liang Lai rose and eased the door open, intent on tracking down Duoluosa for a proper talk—couldn’t let the girl stew in her sulk alone.

She’d barely stepped out when she bumped into Asteris and Delucia, posted up in the hallway; the pair swarmed her the instant she emerged.

“Mom, how’s the new little sister’s mood holding up? What about her injuries?” Asteris asked.

Delucia latched onto Liang Lai’s hand, craning curiously toward the room.

Liang Lai glanced back inside as well.

“She’s doing alright, but her body’s taken a real beating—beyond the cuts and bruises, her left arm’s fractured, and there’s something off with her ankle too. Still, all fixable with time.”

Liang Lai swelled with quiet pride at how Asteris and Delucia fussed over the newcomer, showing no resentment toward the adoption—and even dubbing Iluci “little sister” unprompted.

As a reward, she dipped low and planted a soft kiss on each of their foreheads.

A glint of cunning flashed in Asteris and Delucia’s eyes.

‘That’s the perk for good kids, right?’ Asteris thought to Delucia.

Delucia grinned, fully on board with her sister’s take.

‘Idiots like Duoluosa wear every feeling on their sleeve—only by playing nice like us will Mom love us more.’

The ever-kind saintess remained blissfully oblivious to their scheming; she straightened up, ruffling the twins’ heads fondly.

“If you’d like, you could pop in and introduce yourselves to Iluci—er, your little sister—and chat with her, keep her company. But easy does it~ She’s shy, and don’t go touching her; those wounds are no joke.”

She let her hands drop from their heads.

“I’m off to see Duoluosa now—have a real heart-to-heart.”

Asteris and Delucia bobbed their heads with impeccable sweetness, pentagram and hexagram eyes alike sparkling with equal parts adoration and zeal.

“We know~ Go on, Mom—leave it to us; we’ll look after our little sister just fine… After all, we’re Mom’s good girls~”

That reply nearly brought tears of to Liang Lai’s eyes; she beamed at Asteris and Delucia with heartfelt relief, then headed upstairs to find Duoluosa with a lighter step.

Asteris and Delucia traded a knowing smile, released their clasped hands, and—one ahead, one behind—nudged the door open to Iluci’s room.

“Hello~”

Delucia greeted Iluci with bubbly warmth, while the more reserved Asteris trailed in her wake, offering a shy wave.

Iluci had been lost in a daze, staring out the window.

She marveled at the sheer opulence of the place—a world she’d never set foot in during her fifteen years, never even dreamed existed in such stunning beauty.

Delucia’s cheery hello shattered the quiet; Iluci jolted with a shiver, twisting stiffly to face two identical, cherubic faces.