Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 295: Beggar Siblings – Katrina's Shackles
294. Beggar Siblings – Katrina's Shackles
"You only need to clean the hallway and the entrance once a month. If there's something that needs cleaning, passersby will pick it up and throw it away, so it's fine. The same goes for the guest rooms."
There was no welcome ceremony.
When Lena and Leo first joined the Rauno family, a banquet was prepared in their honor. However, for Lean and Lerialia, Ober merely introduced them to the maids out of personal goodwill, and they took over part of the maids' work.
Each person handled their own laundry, so only simple chores like cleaning were assigned to them, tasks that were not too difficult.
However, despite a certain executive’s words, "Honestly, it’s not really necessary," there was still a lot of work to be done.
Since they had new servants, the chores that the Rauno family members used to share now fell onto the siblings.
For example, cleaning the shared entrance, dining room, kitchen, hallways, storage rooms, bathrooms, children's playroom and study room, the elderly’s lounge, guest rooms, reception room, and the Rauno family executives' conference room.
There were so many places to clean that, in the end, the maids decided to take turns handling the dining room, kitchen, and bathrooms, just like before.
Swipe, swipe.
Lean began cleaning with his younger sister, who still didn’t know her way around the house well. He handed her a feather duster and took up a broom himself.
It was a trivial task.
But Lean planned to live like this for a while.
At least until Lerialia had someone she could call family, and until his sister, who had lived without parents, found stability in her life, he intended to stay here.
Flap, flap. As Lerialia was stretching on tiptoes to dust the cabinet in the hallway, she spoke.
“Oppa, I can't reach over there.”
“Give it to me.”
“No~ I’ll do it. Besides, you can’t reach it either.”
“...”
“Let’s bring the ladder from our room. I think that’ll work.”
“...Little sister. Then why didn’t you just say you wanted to get the ladder from the beginning?”
“Hehe. But I don’t know the way. Let’s go get it together.”
“Wait here. I’ll get it.”
Even though they had been cleaning for a while, the room wasn’t that far away, so there was no need to take her along.
There was a shortcut. If he went through the terrace in the second-floor library and down the stairs, he’d be there in no time.
He didn’t want to be asked unnecessary questions like, "How do you know there's a terrace and stairs here?" So, Lean quickened his pace, leaving his sister behind.
As he turned back before entering the library, Lerialia was sweeping the floor with a broom almost as tall as she was.
Shove, shove, she struggled, making it unclear whether she was using the broom or the broom was using her.
Lean found his sister adorable like that.
But he didn’t realize that, because of his short stature, he looked just the same to others. Lean soon returned with the ladder, but…
“Santian~ Why aren’t you coming?”
One of the boys from the group of Rauno family children huddled together down the hallway had stopped walking. The boy with curly brown hair stood still, staring blankly at Lerialia.
It was Santian Rauno.
Leaning against the library door, Lean watched, curious to see what would happen.
“What are you doing? We’re going to get scolded if we’re late. Huh? Who’s that?”
“Wow, she’s pretty.”
The children murmured among themselves after seeing Lerialia, then quickly entered the study room.
They couldn’t afford to be late or their teacher would scold them. Despite this, Santian remained frozen in place, as if rooted to the ground. Of course, his legs were perfectly fine.
Would he approach her?
Would he start following Lerialia around again like before?
But Santian hesitated, unable to take a step. When Lerialia looked up, their eyes met.
“?”
His face turned red, like the setting sun.
Even after Lerialia looked away, Santian stood there for a long while before disappearing with the teacher’s stern scolding, “Get in!”
The hallway, now bathed in sunlight, was left with only the siblings.
“Yeah, I’ve got it. Climb up, but be careful not to hurt your legs. You might scratch yourself.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not stupid.”
Climbing up the ladder, Lerialia skillfully dusted the cabinet. She wasn’t interested in that fool, Santian.
*
Lean diligently worked over the next few days, getting acquainted with the Rauno family members. Among them was a woman named Soirin, who ran a flower shop, but she showed no reaction when she saw him, unlike before.
The reason was unknown, but it didn’t matter. Lean was trying to figure out how to give his sister more free time.
He wished she could play while he did all the work…
After much thought, Lean put Lerialia to sleep (she would sleep anytime as long as she had a blanket) and wandered around the mansion entrance.
He was waiting for Ober to return from work. Whether managing the leather district or the theater, Ober always came and went around the same time.
So, he waited for Ober to return around his usual time, but Ober unexpectedly came back in a carriage.
“Is the prince coming? Then is there anything we should prepare?”
“There’s nothing for us to prepare. But there must be someone who can benefit from knowing this in advance. The nobles are spreading the word quietly among themselves, so the sooner they sell, the better.”
A hoarse voice.
The low voice coming from the carriage approached the mansion entrance, then the front door.
The person who got off with Ober was none other than Joseph Rauno, the head of the Rauno family, who managed commerce, information, and assassinations as their main businesses.
It was a perfect opportunity.
Lean bowed politely. Joseph, whose hair was tinged with gray, looked down at Lean for a moment before asking.
“Who is this boy?”
“Oh, that… This is Lean. I forgot to mention it earlier. He seemed to be in a tough situation, so I gave him a room. He’s been cleaning the mansion with his younger sister since yesterday.”
…Now that he thought about it, his daughter-in-law did mention that some kids had started working as servants. Joseph Rauno nodded silently.
Ober, who had been watching nervously, breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed like he had granted his permission… But suddenly, Lean spoke up.
“I came to ask for a favor.”
“Huh? Wh-what favor?”
Ober felt uneasy. He couldn’t cover the boy’s mouth in front of the boss, and, as expected, his ominous feeling didn’t miss the mark.
“Please let my sister study. I saw that a teacher comes here to teach the kids.”
“…Why don’t you ask for playtime too? Do you think just studying is enough?”
Ober finally lost his temper.
I’ve done all I can! Just feeding and sheltering them is already too much charity, and this kid doesn’t even realize how grateful he should be.
Ober quietly grabbed Lean’s arm.
“Ha ha… This boy just doesn’t know the ways of the world. Let me have a word with him,” he said to the boss, intending to scold Lean properly.
“Mr. Ober. I wasn’t asking you. I was talking to that old man.”
The overly bold boy had caused trouble.
Ober clenched his teeth and whispered fiercely.
“Damn it, shut up. You’ve only been here for three days.”
But the arrow had already been shot.
Ober shot him a warning glare, while Joseph Rauno smiled gently as he asked. Despite the kind wrinkles around his eyes, he had the air of a man who could shut down a conversation with a cruel set of his thick lips.
“You want your sister to be allowed into the study room?”
“Yes.”
“Then what can you do for our family? You know, there’s give and take in everything.”
“It’s the same for me. I need to receive something in order to give something back.”
“…”
“Give me just one month. I’ll handle all the cleaning. I promise... you won’t regret it.”
Lean spoke firmly, his golden eyes gleaming with determination. He had a plan up his sleeve.
[Achievement Unlocked: First Meeting with the Family Boss – The gangsters have weakly begun to trust your words.]
If he had the achievement “Long Live the Rauno Family,” things would have been easier, but this was enough.
He knew that, to Joseph, who valued trust, it didn’t matter who made the first move.
Joseph often sent gifts to small business owners first to establish relationships. Letting his sister into the study room was a small matter.
Joseph, as was his habit, took a moment to think without blinking or moving a muscle before he spoke softly.
“One month is too short. I’ll give you half a year. I understand your intentions, but I value promises. Please don’t disappoint me. Ober.”
“Yes.”
“Let this boy’s sister join the study room. Arrange her schedule with the other children.”
“...Understood.”
Without looking back, Joseph walked away.
Ober let out a sigh. When Lean looked up at him, he avoided his gaze and spoke.
“What are you trying to do here? You could’ve just waited a few months and then brought it up after observing the situation... I really don’t know what to do anymore.”
“Mr. Ober.”
“What?”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“….”
“I’m going out for a bit.”
“...Do as you please.”
Ober didn’t look at Lean, as if he was trying not to get attached.
Maybe, in half a year, he would have to be the one to strangle this boy with his own hands.
Lean found Ober’s behavior rather endearing and left the mansion.
In fact, in a month, he’d have enough strength in his limbs to annihilate the entire Rauno family on his own.
But half a year...
Ha, how generous.
Thinking that his sister would have time to study and he would have some freedom as well, Lean followed his tracking skill at a leisurely pace.
He was heading to find Jenia. The tracking skill pointed northeast.
He couldn’t guess the exact distance, but she wouldn’t be outside Orville.
It was just that the direction she should be in was different from before, so Lean stopped by the sixth alley of the southern street on the way. It was where the Orange Theater should have been…
“Kid, this isn’t a place for children.”
The Orange Theater had turned into a brothel. It was covered in red lanterns, and there was an acrid, indistinguishable smell in the air. Lean thought of Cassia, but the tracking skill couldn’t find her.
‘...I should have asked Ober about Cassia earlier.’
He should have checked while Ober was still managing the leather district instead of the theater. Clicking his tongue, Lean turned around.
Right now, it was urgent to find Jenia. Since Katrina didn’t show up on the tracking skill either, Jenia was the only person Lean could seek out.
Jenia was farther away than expected.
By the time Lean crossed the upscale shopping district, which was closing down as dusk approached, and passed through Elarin Boulevard, lined with noble estates, he realized he had been down this road before.
It was the path to the Arillei Theater, the same one he’d walked back with Soyrin before.
Realizing where Jenia might be, he soon arrived at the historic theater.
The theater, with the play finished, looked desolate with pamphlets scattered around haphazardly.
Jenia was still inside. Not wanting to go in, Lean waited outside, idly stepping on the pamphlets.
After a while, the tracking skill slowly turned, and Jenia came out. She wasn’t alone; there were several actors with her, but thankfully, Katrina wasn’t there.
“Oh?”
Jenia recognized Lean at once.
This was the ragged boy who had spilled a lot of water on her two days ago. Immediately afterward, the boy had said something absurd.
– “I think I’m in love with you. So, please help me.”
– “Who are you? Get out of the way! Do you know who this person is?”
Katrina had stood in front of her, but his eyes were sincere.
– “He’s crazy. Don’t worry about him, My Lady.”
But how could she not worry?
The ragged boy who had fallen with a thud from Katrina’s kick, looked back at her with desperate eyes as she reluctantly turned away.
“I’ll be right back.”
Breaking away from her fellow actors, Jenia approached the ragged boy.
He was wearing clean clothes now, which was a pity, but Jenia felt her heart pounding. And the boy didn’t disappoint her.
“I’m here for your answer.”
Thump. Jenia clasped her hands and asked politely.
“What answer?”
“Your promise to help and love me.”
This man was serious.
Unable to hold back anymore, Jenia burst into laughter. Barely managing to speak between giggles, she replied,
“Th-this… Hehe. Come with me. Let’s go to my place and talk.”
Then she turned around.
She led Lean to a small house with a garden.
There, to Lean’s shock, stood Katrina, looking at her reckless young mistress in disbelief. She stared at Lean, who had followed them, in confusion...
But Lean was just as bewildered.
It wasn’t because of Jenia’s reaction, but because of Katrina’s appearance.
Katrina was wrapped in a sling. She had a child, about 20 months old, on her back and was gently rocking a newborn in her arms.
This was Katrina, freed from her ‘shackles.’ Lean was speechless with shock.
He understood how Katrina had freed herself from the shackles.
In the previous episode with the beggar siblings, she had asked to learn swordsmanship... She had shown interest in Noel’s swordsmanship, which hid his ability to “spare one move,” and she had trained in it. Then, after a year, the message had appeared that she had broken free from the shackles.
Katrina had given birth.
That was her wish, with her fierce red hair and eyebrows.
Like the portrait of Ellen’s mother, Katrina wanted to become a caring mother.
Chapter 295: Beggar Siblings – Katrina's Shackles
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