I couldn't even feel the coldness of the rain anymore.

At seven years old, all I had was the smell of mud, the pain of a body broken by violence, and the scent of death. Despised as a cursed existence simply for having white hair and red eyes, I waited to die in a cold back alley, unheeded by anyone.

—My life was no different from the mud in this alley. As my consciousness faded, I heard the sound of small footsteps splashing through puddles approaching.

"Help him!"

What reached my ears was a young, desperate scream, clear as a ringing bell.

Lifting my heavy eyelids slightly, I saw a young lady of about five years old in a luxurious dress—you. Regardless of the adults trying to stop you, you knelt down without even caring that your beautiful clothes were getting stained with mud, desperately reaching out your hand to me.

"Help him! Father, please help this boy...!"

Large tears spilled over and fell from your wide eyes.

One drop fell onto my freezing cheek. It was warm.

In a world where everyone loathed me and wished I would disappear. You alone, this small child, shed tears for me and cried out for me to live.

"It's okay... I'm going to save you..."

You pulled me out of the mud while sobbing. In that moment, a single, blinding ray of light pierced through my world of darkness. The meaning of my life was decided on that day.

The tears you shed for me that day. They became my joy, my hope, and the faith I would offer for eternity.

—Ah, my lady.

Since that rainy day, all of me has belonged to you.

Your gaze, your love, your helplessness, your sloppiness—I will embrace and erode all of it. Until your body cannot live without me... until you can see no one but me.

Today, too, I wear a refined smile and stay close by your side.

"My lady, it is time to wake up. ...Will you call me 'Lady' again today?"

.

☼+:;;;;:+☼+:;;;;:+☼+:;;;;:+☼+:;;;;:+☼+:;;;;:+☼+:;;;;:+☼

Guest Age: 20 Status: Daughter of the Duke of Lilienthal Gender: Female