Chapter 55: Santa’s Secret Helper

55. Santa’s Secret Helper

"I disliked it when those beautiful aunts touched me. Their hands made me feel so awful. But your hands felt different."

The little boy grinned at Lydia with an innocent smile. His black panther ears twitched, and his tail swayed gently behind him, making him look like a spoiled house cat enjoying his owner’s attention.

Lydia gasped at his words.

What had this child seen? The adult women outside were already acting strangely, but hearing a little boy talk about them so casually was even worse.

How could a kid at such a young age say those things?!

"Show me those evil aunts, little boy. This big sister will stab everyone with her horns!"

"Horns? Are you a devil? Satan? Lucifer?"

Lydia’s mouth twitched.

Despite his sweet appearance, this little boy sure was terrifying.

Those are not-so-cute words to say to a lady, little boy. I’ll give you a 1/10 for manners. You’re lucky your cute little ears and tail saved you.

With a helpless sigh, Lydia reached out and stroked his black hair.

The little boy immediately purred like a little kitty.

Goodness, he really did sound like a little black cat! Lydia continued stroking his fluffy hair, and his ears twitched happily beneath her fingers.

"This big sis isn’t a devil, but a deer!"

Lydia focused her mental power, making her antlers and deer tail pop out. She proudly showed them off to the little boy, turning her head from side to side to give him a good look at her antlers from every angle.

The boy’s green eyes widened like huge emeralds.

"Aahh! This is the very first time I ever see a white deer. Are you Rudolph’s best friend, big sis? Are you Santa’s secret helper?"

He clapped his hands and squealed excitedly, his black panther tail swishing much faster than before.

Yes. This was what little kids should be like. They should be happy and innocent. This was much, much better.

"Of course! I’m his best friend!"

The boy’s face brightened even further. He stepped closer, his little hands clasped together as he gazed up at her with such hope that Lydia felt her heart soften.

"Then, may I ask something? Can you say that I’ve been a good boy to the Santa? There’s something I really want for being a good boy!"

"Yes, of course. What is it?"

The little boy tugged at Lydia’s sleeve and looked at her with such an adorable pleading look that she couldn’t possibly refuse him.

"I want Mama to be healthy again. Some of my older relatives and Papa said that Mama won’t make it to the next year. But Santa can make anything happen, right?"

Lydia gasped.

"According to an old book I once read, Santa can make miracles happen."

How could she possibly tell a little boy that Santa might not be able to grant his wish?

She couldn’t bring herself to shatter his little heart, either. Not when he was looking at her as though she could make miracles happen.

"Yes, I’ll make sure to pass the message along. Let’s hope for the best for your Mama, okay?"

The boy’s expression immediately brightened.

"Then, can we play together? It’s been forever since I played with Mama. Big sis sure looks like Mama. Can we play?"

Lydia lowered her eyes.

She had to turn her face away and wipe the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief.

Lydia couldn’t let this little boy see her crying. He had already entrusted her with his wish, and the last thing she wanted was to make him feel that he had said something wrong.

How long had he been waiting for someone to play with him?

And how lonely had he been to treasure the simple experience of having someone who reminded him of his mother?

"Of course. Let’s play to our heart’s content."

Lydia put away her handkerchief and forced herself to smile. Then she followed the boy toward the far end of the room, where an impressive collection of toys had been arranged neatly.

There were stacks of books, colorful blocks, balls, a luxurious robot, and several action figures.

Some of the toys looked so expensive that Lydia couldn’t help staring at them for a moment.

They were the kinds of things young Lydia had once dreamed about having.

Before Duke Valendorf adopted her, even toys like these had belonged to a world she could only imagine in her dreams.

She had once wanted to play with beautiful dolls, build things with colorful blocks, and own a robot that could move and respond to her commands. Back then, those wishes had seemed impossibly extravagant.

Now, standing before a collection that could have fulfilled every one of those childhood dreams, Lydia found herself unable to feel envious.

The toys looked almost untouched. The robot’s polished surface gleamed beneath the lights, while the action figures stood neatly arranged, as though they had been collected for display rather than play.

Has this boy ever actually played with any of them?

Her gaze wandered across the shelves until she spotted something different.

A thick drawing book lay among the expensive toys. Its edges were worn, and several pages had bent corners.

Beside it rested a collection of used crayons, their paper wrappers peeling away and their tips worn down from repeated use.

Unlike the other toys, these had clearly been handled many times.

This must be his favorite.

"Yes. How about we draw together?" Lydia suggested.

The boy cheered up and quickly opened his drawing book. He sat beside Lydia, eager to show her his drawings.

Lydia leaned closer to take a look.

Most of the pages were filled with a woman with silver hair and bright green eyes. While others were filled with a man with black hair and golden eyes playing with a little boy.

But, a particular drawing caught her attention.

It showed a little boy holding hands with an older man with black hair and golden eyes. On his other side stood a woman with silver hair and bright green eyes.

The boy had drawn flowers and a bright sun around the three of them. The lines were uneven, and some of the colors went beyond their outlines, but it was clear that he had put a lot of effort into the picture.

They looked like a happy family.

Lydia drew with the little boy for a while. After they finished, he asked if he could ride a deer.

For real? I never thought I’d have to transform into my Spiritual Animal form. But oh well. Let’s try borrowing Priphea’s power.

Actually this was the very first time Lydia ever tried to shift into her white deer form.

Damn it. I can never say no to a kid.

After making sure he could hold on securely, she let him climb onto her back.

"Big sister, can you prance like a reindeer? I want to see how you help Santa deliver presents!"

Lydia almost groaned.

Seriously? You want proof that I work for Santa?! Brother Vincent would definitely laugh his ass off if he ever saw me doing this kind of forced labor.

And don’t even get me started on Ephraim. I’d never live it down if he found out!

Still, she couldn’t bring herself to disappoint him. With a deep sigh, Lydia began prancing around the room.

and his black hair had become slightly messy. Yet he seemed happier than when Lydia had first entered the room. a Ludenberg. That’s why."

What kind of answer was that supposed to be? Sure, Lydia loved money, but she wasn’t that low!

"That’s a mean thing to say, you brat!"

Then, without a second thought, Lydia pinched his cheek and bonked him on the head so hard that he saw stars.