The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella-Chapter 35

"I want to become stronger."

Sera spoke with a bright smile.

She looked genuinely happy—like someone drinking a cool beverage after suffering through a scorching summer day.

"Strong enough that you won’t have to worry about me. Strong enough to help you when you’re in trouble."

"No..."

"Just saying it a hundred times doesn’t mean anything. I should’ve waited until I became strong and reliable enough for you to lean on before saying it, right?"

"No, that’s really not necessary—"

"I got the order wrong. I must’ve been in too much of a hurry."

No, seriously, that thought has never even crossed my mind.

What Elodie wanted was for Sera to avoid hardship as much as possible.

But no matter how much she denied it, Sera had already made up her mind. She only let out a soft, self-deprecating chuckle.

"Just imagining it makes me happy, Elodie."

"......."

"I’ll try harder, okay?"

There were times when Sera felt like effort wouldn’t change anything.

But when that happened, she always recalled the moment Elodie told her, You’re not weak. You’re brave and strong.

"I want to be someone worthy of your expectations."

Elodie found herself at a loss for words in the face of that angelic smile.

Of course, she had also thought that Sera needed power.

The prince wasn’t an ordinary opponent.

He had the kind of face and silver tongue that could be used as weapons, making both men and women fall for him before they even realized what was happening.

You could call it charm.

Which was why he had so many connections—

Though, only the superficial kind.

He couldn’t maintain deep relationships because every word out of his mouth was a lie.

But even when he showed his true colors, Sera hadn’t been able to escape from him.

She had no one backing her.

More than that, no one had even reached out to help her.

Elodie had only been a mere harvest mouse.

A powerful backer...

Unfortunately, adopting Sera into the Ratson family wasn’t an option.

By the kingdom’s laws, beastfolk and humans weren’t even allowed to associate with each other.

Even if they made her an adopted daughter, it wouldn’t be legally recognized, and she wouldn’t be protected.

And asking Duke Valkyrisen to adopt her isn’t an option either.

He wasn’t a fool.

The fact that he was already treating her as an honored guest was an immense favor in itself.

As she mulled over the problem, Eisen, who had been quietly watching them with interest, suddenly spoke.

"Then, how about becoming a Valkyrisen?"

Elodie momentarily thought she had misheard.

Was the duke... a fool?

Even though he had said it casually, he didn’t seem to be joking.

"Are you serious?"

"This isn’t the first time."

Not the first time?

"Valkyrisen is a sanctuary."

As if sensing that a longer explanation was needed, Eagles, who had been silently looming in the corner, spoke up.

"Every year, Animallia sees countless children abandoned for various reasons. Some are born weak and left to die, others possess abilities outside the norm that make them a threat to their pack, and some are simply cast out after losing in a power struggle..."

"That’s..."

Elodie’s face twisted in disgust.

So they were abandoned for being weak, abandoned for being strong, abandoned just for not fitting in?

That’s just an excuse.

A flimsy reason used to justify the monstrous act of discarding one’s own child.

Unbidden, memories of what Sera had endured flashed through her mind, sending chills down her spine.

"Valkyrisen takes in such children when we find them. We protect and care for them until they can stand on their own."

I was one of those children myself, Eagles added with a faint smile.

"When I was a child, I lost my parents in the war. His Grace took pity on me and took me in."

"Yes, I saw a young boy weeping tears of blood as he tore apart the enemy who had killed his parents. It piqued my interest, so I took him."

...Excuse me, but your memories seem very different from each other.

Elodie recalled how Valkyrisen had an unusually high number of beastfolk servants.

Even though they were a neutral faction, they were still a noble human family in Terranolia. So why were there so many beastfolk?

So that was the reason.

They were doing something genuinely good.

Elodie suddenly saw Eisen in a new light.

No wonder he was called the symbol of peace.

Eagles, who had been reminiscing with a faint smile, suddenly lowered his voice.

"Of course, because of that, Valkyrisen is known as The Paradise of the Outcasts."

The Paradise of the Outcasts?

They took in children who couldn’t protect themselves, raised them, and looked after them—yet people mocked them for it?

Because those children should’ve just died?

No matter how much they inherited animal instincts, they were still people.

What kind of shameless bastards had the audacity to call it that?

"They’re probably just mad that Valkyrisen took in beastfolk they had discarded."

"They abandoned them, and now they’re mad?"

"But when those children grew up, they turned out stronger than expected—strong enough to be a valuable asset. And that must’ve pissed them off."

Elodie was so dumbfounded she couldn’t even speak.

Now that I think about it, Valkyrisen is called the King of Beasts in Terranolia.

It was clear now.

They were given that title because they openly accepted beastfolk, whom others looked down on.

And yet, thanks to Valkyrisen, those very same people got to enjoy peace instead of war.

No wonder they had so many names and titles, most of them insults.

"In short, there are already plenty of abandoned children in Valkyrisen. One more wouldn’t make a difference."

But adoption was an entirely different matter.

Up until now, all Valkyrisen had done was act as an orphanage—providing protection and resources until the children reached adulthood.

Actually taking someone in as a child was a completely separate issue.

But Eisen didn’t seem to think it was a big deal.

It was an incredibly generous offer, but...

Wouldn’t that make Sera Edmund’s aunt?

What kind of messed-up family tree would that create?

And more importantly, Valkyrisen is going to be wiped out soon...

Even if she somehow managed to prevent their downfall, the odds of them keeping their current level of influence were slim.

After thinking it over, Elodie decided it wasn’t a good idea and shook her head.

Sera also seemed uncomfortable with the idea. She politely expressed her gratitude but said she couldn’t accept.

Eisen nodded, as if he understood.

"Well, marriage isn’t something that should be decided hastily."

...Wait, what?

Elodie had assumed he meant adoption and nearly choked on air.

Was this a marriage proposal?!

Thinking about it, marrying Edmund would also technically make her a Valkyrisen.

Elodie’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"W-Wait! M-Marriage?!"

Ack!

For a moment, she almost collapsed like the Ratson High Priest had.

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"Power is power, no matter how you gain it."

But Elodie had seen firsthand just how useless political marriages were in the long run.

"There are already rumors that the two of you are engaged. Just maintain the engagement until the right moment, then break it off."

Oh. So it was just a fake engagement.

Hearing that, Elodie calmed down a little.

No lunatic would dare propose to someone engaged to the Valkyrisen heir.

The prince wasn’t the only threat.

Sera was so beautiful that she had shaken high society with a single appearance.

If she hadn’t immediately fallen for the prince, countless others would’ve tried their tricks on her.

She would’ve been bombarded with dance requests and marriage proposals.

Just imagining it made Elodie’s blood boil.

For someone without protection, that kind of attention was practically violence.

Considering that, a fake engagement might actually be the best option...

Edmund doesn’t seem like he’d ever develop feelings for Sera.

It was obvious just by looking at them.

They respected each other as people, but romantically, they viewed each other like... well, garbage.

And I know for a fact Edmund will never turn out like the prince. I’ve seen the future.

But still...

Sera had said she wanted to be strong.

Could this really be considered strength?

Sera was still young—of course, she needed help and protection.

But relying on a fake engagement as her only shield?

It was frustrating.

In the end, she would just be putting herself under someone else’s protection again.

Just like when she had been nothing more than the prince’s puppet queen.

Just like when she had been a lowly servant, scorned and abused in the Bluewood household.

Then—

"A fake engagement is fine."

Sera interrupted, her eyes shining.

Her sky-blue gaze held firm resolve—like the clear sky itself.

Even after all she had suffered, she was still standing.

Still fighting.

"But in return, I ask that you support me. I’ll repay the favor."

"Support?"

"I want to prove that I’m Count Bluewood’s true daughter. I want my name on the Bluewood family registry."