Mahina crouched on the ground and took a small step forward, but she did not get too close, keeping a distance that would not make Merlin feel pressured. Little Merlin’s small mouth pouted again, and Mary stuffed another piece of chocolate inside.
“I promise you, I will never hurt you again, okay?”
Mahina watched this scene with a heart that felt as if it were being pierced by needles, yet she felt more clear-headed than ever before. She smiled at Merlin, still wearing that same gentle, water-like expression from before.
“Just as I promised, I will only smile for you from now on, and I will only be good to you. Can you give me a chance?”
Little Merlin looked at that smile and hesitated for a moment. However, the pain in her bodily memory seemed more lasting than the sweetness of the chocolate.
“No…” She shook her head, her long blue hair swaying. “I already told you that Little Merlin is a very fragile child! I don’t want to be bullied by you, waah!! I hate Mahina! I hate you the most!”
“I won’t! I like Little Merlin the most! I like you whether you are big or small! I won’t bully my favorite Merlin ever again!”
“Waah, waah, waah — ” Little Merlin threw herself into Mary’s arms once more.
The wind blew across the lawn, but it could not disperse the awkwardness and bitterness here. This time, however, Mahina did not cry. She slowly withdrew her hand, braced herself against her knees, and stood up from the ground. Her legs were a bit numb, and her figure swayed slightly, but the smile on her face did not crumble.
Because she had promised; Merlin liked to see her smile and hoped she would only smile for her. Even if she was rejected, she had to accept it with a smile. This was what she owed Merlin.
“It’s okay,” Mahina whispered, as if to herself and to the small back hiding in Mary’s arms. “I will wait until… the day you don’t hate me anymore.”
Mahina turned to leave. Only at the moment she turned did her trembling shoulders betray her current sadness.
‘Yes, how could the hurt I caused Merlin be wiped away just like that? Trying to beg for forgiveness while she has become Little Merlin is probably the most cunning behavior of all.’
‘No… when I saw Little Merlin today, I simply thought she was so cute. I wanted to stay with her, play with her, and be her friend. I wanted to see more of Little Merlin’s smiles and spend time with her.’
Her Highness Ophelia had also mentioned that the current Merlin could not understand things that were too complex, and it was impossible to explain the past or beg for forgiveness. That was why Ophelia kept the letter herself. Mahina felt that even if she were not forgiven, as long as she could be by Merlin’s side, it was enough.
Mahina walked toward Ruby and looked into the distance. Outside the shadow of the oak tree, the red-haired Ruby was watching with a worried expression. The moment their eyes met, Mahina shook her head gently, signaling that she was okay.
She really was okay. To be able to speak with Little Merlin today and see her smile made Mahina feel very satisfied. Although it was unavoidable, Mahina had also seen Little Merlin’s crying face, learned that she liked chocolate, and saw the blissful expression on her face while eating it. To be able to speak with Merlin without resentment, to learn about a side of Merlin she never knew, and to see her looking happy — this was the greatest happiness for the current Mahina.
Behind her, an ethereal yet childish, milky voice pierced through the afternoon breeze, ringing out clearly. Mahina’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
“You can come tomorrow, too… But no sunbathing. Sunbathing is so boring. Just come to the house. Don’t wait outside for nothing, okay?” the awkward little figure shouted in response.
“Bye-bye.” Little Merlin turned her head away.
“Bye-bye.” Mahina cheered up and looked back to wave goodbye to Little Merlin.
Mahina was already very satisfied today; she was happy just to have spoken with Merlin. When she decided to find her, she had even prepared herself to be scolded severely by Ophelia.
Behind her, the sounds of Little Merlin and Mary bickering and playing continued to drift over. Mary’s voice remained calm. “Why no sunbathing? Did Her Highness Ophelia agree to this?”
“What’s the point? It’s not interesting at all.”
“You don’t like exercise anyway. What’s wrong with getting some sun to help with calcium absorption? Don’t always think about cooping yourself up in a dark room to read all day.”
Little Merlin seemed to bristle. “What! You won’t let me touch the equipment! And you won’t let me read books!”
“A little baby should do what a little baby is supposed to do. You need to eat more, sleep more, and play more, or you won’t grow tall.”
“What! This is only temporary! Don’t make it sound like it’ll affect me for the rest of my life! I hate this! How annoying! I’m going to tell on you to Mama!”
Listening to the energetic playfulness behind her, Mahina felt as if even the wind blowing past her ears had become light and airy.
“Mahina, are you alright?”
She tried her best to show Ruby that she had cheered up. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m very satisfied today just being able to see Little Merlin and talk to her.”
At this point, Mahina’s eyes grew incredibly soft. “Even though I couldn’t get her to fully accept me, she invited me to meet her tomorrow. She even said she likes my smile.”
‘She’s completely changed after just one meeting. As expected, I can’t beat Merlin,’ Ruby lamented in her heart. Although she could help Mahina cheer up, she ultimately fell short compared to Merlin. Even when she forced her to cheer up, she had used Merlin as an excuse.
‘But… as long as Mahina can cheer up, it’s fine. Ophelia is willing to give me one last chance, and I absolutely cannot make another mistake.’
‘Still, Baby Merlin is really so cute.’ Mahina recalled Little Merlin’s round face in her mind. Her waist-length hair made her body look even more petite. Through their interaction, she could feel that Merlin did indeed retain her past memories, but her mind and behavior had turned into those of a child.
“Ruby, let’s go buy some chocolate.”
“Chocolate?”
“Yes, I’ll bring some for Little Merlin tomorrow.”
‘I’ll buy a lot of it.’ Mahina remembered Little Merlin’s soft, happy face when she ate the chocolate today, and her own heart felt warm. She wanted to see her smile more; she wanted to see her look happy.
‘Don’t rush for success.’ The two had been apart for so long; the distance could not be shortened by just a few words. Although she wasn’t sure about Merlin’s relationship with other women, Mahina believed she still held a place in her heart.
‘If I don’t even have the most basic confidence, I won’t be able to stand by her side. Only then can I stay with her, love her strongly, and believe in her no matter what happens.’
Bit by bit, one step at a time.