A Spoonful of Care and a Lingering Kiss

“Oh—Sister Elise, you’ve arrived…”

“Oh, South Creek,” Elise sighed, “I can’t count how many times I’ve told you not to speak while eating or drinking.”

Letting out a helpless sigh, Elise held a bowl of steaming soup in both hands. Observing South Creek, who was still coughing incessantly after choking on water, a wave of weariness washed over her.

“N-no, that’s not it, I mean…”

[What would South Creek say in this situation? It should, it should be…]

South Creek, her mind in an utter panic, desperately racked her brain for the next words to utter. Yet, for reasons unknown, her thoughts had frozen, rendering her utterly incapable of recalling what ‘South Creek’ would typically say in such a moment.

[It’s over; my cover’s blown.]

Despairing at her own foolishness, South Creek could only watch Elise approach in silence, her eyes wide with apprehension, awaiting the judgment the woman would surely pass upon this impostor.

“Why are you staring at me so blankly?” Elise asked, a gentle smile gracing her lips. “Don’t worry, your lecture can wait. Come, drink this soup first. You’ll recover much faster once you’ve eaten your fill.”

Smiling tenderly, Elise, seated by the bedside, carefully lifted a spoonful of the steaming broth. After gently blowing on it a couple of times to cool it, she brought it to South Creek’s lips.

“Come on, open wide—”

[Is she planning to execute me with poison?]

Utterly dazed and oblivious to Elise’s words, South Creek simply stared at the greenish liquid hovering before her lips. She glanced from the soup to Elise’s smiling face, unable to bring herself to open her mouth, remaining rooted in silent apprehension.

“Oh, this soup…”

Sensing South Creek’s unease, Elise chuckled softly and explained:

“I’ve added some medicinal herbs to it, bought from town. They’re all good for helping your body recover, so it might be a little bitter. Come on, open up.”

[Is this really soup…? Why is it green?]

Despite her lingering fear, South Creek finally allowed the soup to enter her mouth. The somewhat viscous liquid brought with it a peculiar sensation: an initial hint of spice and a mint-like coolness, followed by a choking bitterness, before, surprisingly, a faint sweetness emerged at the very end.

[It doesn’t… seem so terrifying after all…]

As the warm broth flowed into her stomach, a sense of fullness enveloped the girl. Only then did South Creek realize just how ravenously hungry she truly was.

“Um… is there more?”

Yielding to her newfound craving, South Creek whispered her question.

“Just as I thought… I knew you’d be a hungry little thing! I’ve made a whole big pot. Finish this bowl first, and be careful not to burn your mouth.”

Thus, South Creek continued to sip the broth in small mouthfuls, feeling the warmth steadily spread through her stomach. Gradually, the stiffness in her body began to ease.

“Eat slowly… I know you’re starving, but try to be patient.”

“Mm-hm…”

Her body slowly regaining its vitality, South Creek felt a sudden sense of rejuvenation after eating her fill. She lifted her head slightly, only to find Elise observing her with a thoughtful expression.

“I can’t shake the feeling… you seem a little different than before.”

[Again?!]

“Different…? Am I?”

Quickly feigning ignorance, a sated South Creek was now fully engaged in devising a counter-strategy.

“Hmm… lean in a little closer, and I’ll tell you a secret.”

[Lean in closer? Why would she tell me a secret?]

Her body instinctively leaned forward, but by the time South Creek registered that something was amiss, it was already too late.

Elise gently cupped South Creek’s face in her hands, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Her lips, curving into a slight smile, drew closer and closer…

“Mwah.”

[Eh?!]

“Look at you, all dazed and adorable, like a little Yida [a creature in this world similar to a hamster]. If only you were always this cute! Oh, Sister Elise just can’t resist that about you.”

A subtle dampness registered on her forehead. At that moment, South Creek’s thoughts seemed to freeze entirely, rendering her incapable of comprehending what had just transpired. Yet, she seemed, possibly, probably, to have been kissed.

“M-my… oh… I…”

Her cheeks steadily flushing crimson, South Creek felt her consciousness threaten to flutter away like a tiny bird.

“Ah, you’re shy now…”

The amusement in Elise’s eyes deepened further. She gently embraced South Creek, who was still in a state of bewilderment, and couldn’t resist holding her close and rubbing her cheek against hers.

“She didn’t even resist. You really have changed a little… Wait, I was supposed to be scolding you!”

A sudden realization struck Elise, who, still holding South Creek, awkwardly touched her own face. She found herself once again unable to resist doting on her ‘child.’ Taking a deep breath, she forced her expression into a semblance of sternness.

“South Creek, have you realized your mistake?”

“M-mistake…”

With shyness and unease swirling within her, South Creek, still lost in the lingering sensation of the kiss, murmured back blankly.

“You little rascal, how many times have I told you not to wander into the forest outside the village? You never listen! This time, you were lucky to just fall into the water. What if you’d been swept away? Who would have saved you then?”

“Ah… oh…”

The forest… falling into water… South Creek dimly recalled snippets of these events. Though her memory was hazy, she decided it was best to simply admit her mistake honestly.

“I-I was wrong… I’m sorry… I’ll never do it again.”

“You’re still arguing, you… what did you just say?”

“I said, I know I was wrong…”

Staring at South Creek with a hint of disbelief, Elise found the words of admonition caught in her throat. She blinked once, then again, her gaze falling upon the girl who obediently lowered her head. Elise was utterly stunned.

‘Has this child… been burned so badly she’s gone silly?’ she wondered.

Others might not grasp it, but Elise knew perfectly well that this little one had never, since birth, honestly admitted a mistake. No matter the transgression, she would always stubbornly argue first. Yet today…

“You… you truly understand your mistake?”

“I-I understand now. I shouldn’t have run into the forest carelessly… I swear, I’ll never dare to do it again.”

South Creek, diligently admitting her faults, completely missed the increasingly peculiar look in Elise’s eyes. Ultimately, Elise simply let out a a soft sigh, gently stroking the girl’s head as she spoke:

“It’s good that you understand. Sister Elise knows South Creek is a good child, and you’ll surely achieve great things when you grow up. But you’re still too young right now… you need more time. Listen to your sister, alright? Take better care of yourself.”

“Sister Elise…”

What depth of fervent warmth and tenderness truly lay within those eyes? South Creek found herself unable to meet Elise’s gaze directly; her heart suddenly ached with a sharp pang. Why? She had never witnessed such a look before, yet it felt strangely familiar, as if she had grown accustomed to it.

“What’s wrong, little South Creek? Are you tired? It makes sense; you’ve only just woken up, and your body must still be very weak.”

Gently, Elise pulled the blanket over the girl, then tenderly stroked her cheek. She watched South Creek in silence for a long moment before finally speaking, her voice soft.

“May the Goddess bless you, my child…”

South Creek lay quietly beneath the covers, longing to speak, yet finding herself utterly speechless. Perhaps she truly was exhausted.

With a soft, slightly grating creak, the door gently closed, and the room finally returned to its watery blue stillness.