LIGHTNOVELWORLD Volume 3 Chapter 15
15. Dad, You Died So Tragically!
Seeing Martha standing at the kitchen door, Xia Yi was dumbfounded.
Just as she was thinking about what excuse to use to gloss over it, Martha took the initiative to speak and uttered a name.
“Axiu?”
“…”
Xia Yi froze in place.
She had different names during different periods, each with different meanings.
For example, her current name was Xia Yi · Christie, which was the name Xia Lulu had given her, the Silver Dragon Princess.
And before that, it was Wright Schubert, the name bestowed upon her by the Schubert family, representing her time as the Human Sword Saint.
When she was a wandering orphan, she had no name. Her memories were hazy at that time, and she didn’t even know who her parents were. Later, she was taken in by the Spring Breeze Orphanage.
If the Spring Breeze Orphanage took in a child without a name, they would give the child a nickname for convenience. When the child grew up or was adopted, the child would no longer use the nickname.
Xia Yi’s former nickname was Axiu.
She was a bit flustered now.
Teacher Martha used to take care of her. Could it be… she had seen through that she was Axiu?!
“Pardon me, Miss Xia Yi. You… remind me of someone,” Martha said seriously. “He was once my student, and in some ways, like his fondness for osmanthus cakes, he resembled you.”
“Osmanthus cakes, I, I don’t… like them that much!”
Xia Yi activated her stubbornness!
Unfortunately, it didn’t work well.
Her performance couldn’t convince Martha at all.
“Besides that, your attitude towards our Spring Breeze Orphanage is also quite noteworthy. You are very close to those children, and you even knew the way around the Spring Breeze Orphanage without anyone’s help,” Martha gazed at Xia Yi. “His habits and hobbies overlap with yours. He was my former student, and after being adopted by a noble family, he disappeared without a trace.”
Xia Yi became more and more anxious, with beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Think, think, think faster!
Teacher Martha was only suspecting her identity and had no concrete evidence… After all, based on human rational thinking, who would ever think that a male acquaintance would suddenly turn into a loli one day…
That’s it!
Suddenly, Xia Yi had a flash of inspiration.
Now, there were a few choices before her.
For example, I’m Axiu’s wife!
That doesn’t sound right!
If she said that, the teacher would definitely think she was a hopeless lolicon, and her reputation would be ruined.
Axiu’s long-lost mother?
No, no, what mother is a loli!
Oh, right!!
Xia Yi thought of a great excuse.
“Sister Martha, since you’ve discovered it, I won’t pretend anymore.”
“Miss Xia Yi, so you do have some connection with Axiu!”
“Mm, yes!” Xia Yi nodded. “Axiu is my father, and I’m his daughter!”
“Is it… daughter?”
“I came to the Spring Breeze Orphanage because of my father.”
She had inexplicably become a father, but it was more plausible than explaining that she was Axiu.
Actually, come to think of it, she had left the Spring Breeze Orphanage for more than ten years… If she had gotten married early, then having a daughter would match her current appearance.
So—
I am my own daughter.
It sounded very strange, but upon careful thought, it wasn’t an impossible explanation.
“Sister Martha, I often heard my father talk about his stories from when he was at the Spring Breeze Orphanage… So I’m quite familiar with this place. Even though I’ve never been here, it already feels as warm as home.” Xia Yi explained.
“Miss Xia Yi, so you’re… Axiu’s daughter?”
“Mm, mmhmm, yes, I’m here on behalf of my father.”
“How is Axiu doing now?”
“My father… he’s dead.”
“…” Martha was stunned.
“I didn’t really want to say it. Actually, after leaving the Spring Breeze Orphanage, Dad was adopted by a noble family. Later, he married my mom, who was a distant relative of the Lawrence family head, Keith’s uncle. Because Dad’s family was far inferior to Mom’s, he married into her family. In order to improve his status, Dad kept working hard to prove himself.”
As Xia Yi spoke, she became very immersed. She secretly pinched her thigh and squeezed out some tears.
“Later, in order to improve his swordsmanship, Dad went to challenge powerful magic beasts and never returned…”
The entire Spring Breeze Orphanage didn’t know about Wright’s identity as the Human Sword Saint.
They only knew that Axiu had been adopted by a noble.
Xia Yi didn’t want the people at the Spring Breeze Orphanage to know either.
The Schubert family needed a powerful hero to embellish the honor of the family bloodline, and Wright Schubert was very suitable. But an orphan without parents would instead tarnish it.
Therefore, knowing too much would instead bring danger. In order to protect the family’s honor, the Schubert family might resort to any means necessary.
“Wuuuuu… Dad, you died so tragically!”
When she got to the emotional part, Xia Yi’s eyes were already brimming with tears, and she tried her best to cry.
“No wonder I saw Axiu’s shadow in you.”
Seeing this side of Xia Yi, Martha felt sorry for her.
She was also saddened by her student’s departure.
“I never thought Axiu would just… Sigh, life is unpredictable.”
“Dad used to always take me to eat osmanthus cakes and tell me stories about the Spring Breeze Orphanage. He felt very guilty for never being able to come back.”
Xia Yi wiped her tears.
“Sorry, I got a bit carried away just now, Sister Martha.”
“No, I’m sorry, Miss Xia Yi. It was my fault for bringing up your painful memories.” Martha bowed in apology to Xia Yi.
Phew.
Xia Yi breathed a sigh of relief, having managed to bluff her way through.
But Teacher Martha is really amazing. Despite having cared for so many orphans, she still had such a deep impression of me and even noticed something was off.
“By the way, Miss Xia Yi, did you not eat enough tonight?” Martha asked.
“Umm…”
Xia Yi’s cheeks started to redden.
It seemed that sneaking into the kitchen in the middle of the night to rummage for food was something she had done before and had been caught and reprimanded for it.
Who would have thought that she would do such a thing again at the Spring Breeze Orphanage one day?
“A, a little bit.”
“It’s our fault for not being able to host you well.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I just supplemented a bit just now, and it’s fine now!” Xia Yi quickly changed the subject. “It’s quite late now. Sister Martha, you should go to sleep!”
“Mm, alright.”
Martha escorted Xia Yi back to the guest room.
Before parting, Martha asked a question.
“Miss Xia Yi, what do you… think of the Spring Breeze Orphanage?”
Upon hearing this, Xia Yi revealed a heartfelt smile. “I really like this place, just like my father!”
…
The next day.
At the entrance of the Spring Breeze Orphanage.
Today was the Spring Breeze Orphanage’s open day, where outsiders would come to visit. It would be livelier than usual, including some nobles.
Suddenly, a carriage drawn by magical beasts stopped at the gates of the Spring Breeze Orphanage.
A young girl stepped down from the carriage.
The commoners were a bit confused, but through the young girl’s attire and appearance, they immediately realized that she was no ordinary person.
Some nobles with status immediately changed expressions and were even unbelievably shocked… Regardless of their own status, they all took the initiative to make way to show respect.
“Miss, we’ve arrived.” The attendant said.
“Spring Breeze Orphanage… The place where he used to stay.”