Chapter 1 : Crumble Like Dried Leaf

Days passed quite slowly. And it all thanks to all the chaos that occurred every single day. If I reincarnated as a baby, at least let me be a baby in peace.

So far, I haven't learned anything about my whereabouts or my true identity. I've been wondering how come that there's an old man that's clearly not my father because I remembered him grumbling about, "Wish I had a kid to know more about babies,"

Then I'm curious about the three brats. They listened to the old man—Darcio—really well. To the point where I assumed they were his subordinates, but that would be absurd.

Why would a grown soldier take three snotty impudent brats as his subordinates? What's even weirder was why he's taking care of me?

I've been theorizing possible scenarios about my situation. This might be an orphanage, and Darcio was a veteran who decided to take in orphans in his shabby cabin to atone for his previous sins.

Or maybe he's a babysitter? Perhaps—he and the three children were trying to fill me up with food so they could eat me later?!

I let out a snort, shaking my head a little. It can't be.

Unless.

Frightened, I whipped my head around to find an escape route. I could crawl now, and the only exit was that door. Darcio didn't wrap me as tight as before with cloth, so I could break free easily and roll over.

Time to make a plan.

Let's carefully assess my surrounding by peeking through the door, making sure the coast is clear. If plan A didn't work, plan B would be to crawl as fast as possible until I'm out of this cabin.

Great. You're a genius baby. I crawled toward the door, wincing when I felt like my knees scraped the wood. A splinter? Really? Just how weak is this body?

Disregarding the stinging pain in my knees, I finally reached the door and tried to touch the door.

Until—

𝘽𝘼𝙈

The door suddenly whirled open, and the impact was so severe I let out an earsplitting scream. This was the worst pain I've ever endured in my entire life. It hurt so much.

"Waaa!"

Even though the cry came out of my mouth, I flinched at how heart-wrenching my cries sounded—high-pitched, packed with genuine distress. And I thought the pain couldn't increase by the second, but it did.

"Oh no!" I heard Darcio's voice amid my wailings. He scooped me up with one arm, shushed me hastily with apparent fright in his tone. "Hey, hey. It's okay, everything's okay. I'm sorry. Shh. I'm sorry, Prince Azriel. I'm so sorry,"

Contrary to his pleas, I screamed louder. I couldn't help it. It's not like I want to keep crying, but it hurts awfully much. Like every bone on my head just crushed into dust. Quickly, I clutched his shirt as hard as I could for purchase, planting my aching face on his chest.

"What happened?!" I heard Morfeo's scream. The kids' tiny feet pitter-pattering closer, their tiny pants were heard. I sniffled, attempting to swallow my cries, but fat tears kept trickling down, blurring my vision.

"Grab the medical tool," Darcio sternly ordered. I saw blurry shadows of Morfeo and Tyr scurried away, following Darcio's order. "Yeomra, hold his hand,"

Everything happened in a flurry. While I cried relentlessly, Darcio sat on the pile of blankets with his arms tightly wrapped around me. He was bouncing me gently, cradling me, whispering soothing words in my ear, albeit awkwardly. However, the pain overshadowed his attempts.

Morfeo and Tyr came back, handed Darcio the kit. He softly patted my face with soft cotton. I screamed louder because even if the gentlest feather touched my bruised face, It still hurt.

Yeomra held my hand tightly, obliged to Darcio's order. Tyr and Morfeo kneeled beside Darcio, watching Darcio cleaning up the blood on my face intently.

"This is bad," Darcio muttered. "The Prince could crumble like dried leaf,"

Sweat began to develop on his forehead.

"It's the curse," Morfeo mumbled.

"Supposed to be a blessing," Darcio countered reflexively. He shushed me again. My cries were muffled once I slowly pressed my face on his chest. He stroked the back of my hair. "The purpose is to make him cherished, protected by everyone. But the curse makes him easy to get hurt,"

Morfeo gasped. "T-That's why her Majesty hid him here?"

"We've talked about this numerous time, Morfeo," Tyr reprimanded, sounded stressed because of my loud screaming.

Those were the words I remembered before I blacked out from the excruciating pain.