Chapter 15
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Volume 3 + Chapter 15: Dad, What A Miserable Death You Had!
Seeing Martha standing at the kitchen door, Xia Yi was dumbfounded.
Just as she was trying to think of an excuse to bluff her way out, Martha took the initiative to speak and softly said a name:
“Ash?”
“…”
Xia Yi froze on the spot.
At different points in her life, she had gone by different names—each with its own significance.
For example, her current name was Xia Yi · Christie, a name given to her by Xia Lulu—the Silver Dragon Princess.
Before that, she had been Wright Schubert, the name bestowed upon her by the Schubert family, representing her time as a human Sword Saint.
Back when she was just a wandering orphan, she had no name at all. Her memories were hazy, and she didn’t even know who her parents were. Later, she was taken in by Spring Breeze Orphanage.
Whenever the orphanage adopted a child with no name, the staff would give them a nickname for ease of reference. Once the child grew up or was adopted, they usually stopped using that nickname.
Xia Yi’s old nickname was “Ash.”
Now she was starting to panic.
Martha had taken care of her back then. Could it be… she’s figured out that I’m Ash?!
“Sorry, Miss Xia Yi. You… remind me of someone. He was once my student,” Martha said seriously. “He was like you in some ways. For instance, he really loved osmanthus cake.”
“Osmanthus cake? I-I don’t even like it that much!”
Xia Yi deployed her strongest move: denial!
Unfortunately, the effect was weak.
Her reaction failed to convince Martha.
“Besides that, your attitude toward our Spring Breeze Orphanage is also unusual. You’re very close with the children, and you knew how to find your way around the place without any help,” Martha said, watching Xia Yi closely. “His behavior and habits overlap with yours in many ways. He was once my student, but after being adopted by a noble, we never heard from him again.”
Xia Yi grew increasingly nervous—tiny beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.
Think… think… Think faster!
Martha was merely suspecting her identity. She didn’t have any concrete proof. After all, using normal human reasoning, who would ever think that a boy they once knew suddenly turned into a loli one day?
Got it!
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit Xia Yi.
She now had a few options.
For example: I’m Ash’s wife!
…Yeah, nope.
If she said that out loud, Martha would definitely assume she was a hopeless lolicon. Her entire reputation would be ruined.
How about: Ash’s long-lost mother?
Nope again. When have you ever seen a loli mom?!
Oh! That’s it!!
Xia Yi came up with a brilliant cover story.
“Sister Martha, since you figured it out… I won’t pretend anymore.”
“Miss Xia Yi, so you really are connected to Ash!”
“Yes, I am!” Xia Yi nodded. “Ash is my father. I’m his daughter!”
“Daughter…? You’re his daughter?”
“I came to Spring Breeze Orphanage because of my father.”
She’d been randomly assigned the role of Dad, but hey—better that than explaining she was Ash.
Thinking about it, it had already been over ten years since she left the orphanage. If Ash had gotten married early, having a daughter Xia Yi’s apparent age wouldn’t be strange at all.
So—
I am my own daughter.
Sounds bizarre, but when you think about it… not impossible.
“Sister Martha, my father used to tell me stories about the time he spent at Spring Breeze Orphanage, so even though I’ve never been here, it all feels very familiar—almost like home.” Xia Yi explained sincerely.
“Miss Xia Yi… you’re actually Ash’s daughter?”
“Mhm, yes! I came here in his place.”
“How is Ash now?”
“Father… he’s dead.”
“…!” Martha was stunned.
“I didn’t want to bring it up, but… after he left the orphanage, he was adopted by a noble family. He later married my mother—she’s a distant relative of Uncle Keith, head of the Lawrence family. Because Father’s status was far lower than Mother’s, he married into her family. In order to raise his standing, he trained hard to prove himself.”
Xia Yi said all this with great emotion. She even pinched her thigh to force out a few tears.
“Later, Father set out to challenge powerful magical beasts in order to improve his swordsmanship… and never returned.”
The people at Spring Breeze Orphanage had no idea that the human Sword Saint Wright was actually Ash.
They only knew that Ash had been adopted by a noble family.
Xia Yi didn’t want anyone at the orphanage to find out the truth either.
The Schubert family needed a strong hero to help glorify their noble bloodline. Wright Schubert fit that image perfectly. But if people found out he was actually a parentless orphan, it could tarnish that image.
In fact, knowing too much might even be dangerous. To protect their reputation, the Schubert family wouldn’t hesitate to use any means necessary.
“Waaah… Dad, you died such a miserable death!”
As her “story” became more emotional, Xia Yi’s eyes were brimming with tears. She even started crying out loud.
“No wonder… I saw Ash’s shadow in you,” Martha said, her heart aching.
She had been deeply saddened by the disappearance of her student.
“To think… Ash would end up like that. Sigh… life is unpredictable.”
“Father used to take me to eat osmanthus cake all the time. He also told me many stories about this orphanage. He always felt guilty that he could never return.”
Xia Yi wiped her eyes.
“Sorry about that. I lost my composure a bit, Sister Martha.”
“No, it’s me who should apologize, Miss Xia Yi. I brought up such a painful memory. Please forgive me.” Martha bowed slightly in apology.
Phew.
Xia Yi let out a sigh of relief. She had finally talked her way out of it.
But seriously—Martha was amazing. She had taken care of so many orphans, yet still remembered Xia Yi so clearly—and even sensed something was off.
“By the way, Miss Xia Yi… were you not full after dinner?” Martha asked.
“Uh…”
Xia Yi’s cheeks turned red.
Back then, she used to sneak into the kitchen in the middle of the night to look for food—and got caught and publicly scolded for it.
Who would’ve thought… she’d be doing the same thing again at Spring Breeze Orphanage?
“A-a little, maybe…”
“We didn’t host you properly. That’s our fault.”
“No, no, it’s fine! I just needed a little extra—I’m all good now!” Xia Yi quickly changed the subject. “It’s getting late, Sister Martha. You should get some sleep!”
“Mm, alright.”
Martha walked Xia Yi back to the guest room.
Before they parted, Martha asked:
“Miss Xia Yi, what do you think of Spring Breeze Orphanage?”
Upon hearing that, Xia Yi gave a heartfelt smile.
“I really am like my father. I love this place.”
—
The next day.
At the front gate of Spring Breeze Orphanage.
Today was Open House Day, when visitors were allowed to come and tour the orphanage. It was much livelier than usual. Some of the visitors were nobles.
Suddenly, a carriage drawn by magical beasts pulled up in front of the orphanage gates.
A young girl stepped down from the carriage.
Some commoners looked confused. But from the girl’s clothing and appearance, they quickly realized—this was no ordinary person.
Several nobles present turned pale. Some were even stunned in disbelief. Regardless of their own status, they quickly stepped aside to show respect.
“Young Lady, we’ve arrived,” the attendant said.
“Spring Breeze Orphanage… the place he once lived.”
