Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World as a Skeleton Chapter 214: The Doll

The next morning, Hilde was the first to rise, as was her custom. After a quick

wash, she imdiately set to work preparing the morning al. Today's nu was

simple but hearty: fresh rye bread and milk.

The bread had been baked only yesterday afternoon and remained soft to the

touch. The milk had been delivered by the nearby Aegis Legion—cold, fresh, and

brimming with the vitality of the Empire's well-managed livestock. Hilde sliced

the bread into manageable pieces and poured a glass of milk for every child.

Slowly, the orphans began to stir. They rubbed the sleep from their eyes and

wandered into the dining hall, yawning rhythmically.

"Good morning, Sister Hilde."

"Good morning, little ones."

Hilde greeted each child with a practiced smile. Once every chair was filled and

every bottom settled, she clapped her hands.

"What do we do before we partake?"

"Glory to the Sovereign of Evernight! We thank him for his providence!" the

children shouted in unison, their voices ringing with sincerity.

During breakfast, the hall transford into a chaotic marketplace. Between

mouthfuls of bread, the children debated their afternoon gas with such fervor

that breadcrumbs flew like tiny projectiles. Hilde sat among them, acting as the

anchor in the storm.

"Mia, slow down. You'll choke if you keep talking while chewing."

"Thomas, keep the milk in the glass, not on the table."

"Emily, the crust is the best part. No wasting food in the Sovereign's house."

Just then, Anna descended from the upper floor. She had swapped her work habit

for a set of finer robes, looking more like an official than a caretaker.

"Good morning, children."

"Good morning, Sister Anna!"

Anna walked over to Hilde, lowering her voice. "I'm heading out. The procurent

list is on the table—three pages, don't lose it. If an inspector arrives, just

show them the logs. If anything goes wrong, send a runner to the Cathedral. If

I'm not there, wait at the gate until I appear."

"Understood. Travel safely," Hilde replied.

Anna nodded, grabbed her basket by the door, and stepped out into the crisp

morning air. Hilde returned her focus to the children. Once the al was

finished, she began the daily assignnt of ranks and duties.

"Listen up! Here is the plan for today."

"Mia, Thomas, Emily—you're on courtyard duty. Keep the stones clear of leaves."

"Lily, Anton—organize the toy chest. I want every block accounted for."

"The rest of you? You're with . We have a mountain of laundry to defeat."

The children gave a half-hearted groan of obedience and dispersed to their

stations. Hilde hauled a massive basin of soiled linens into the courtyard. The

autumn sun was kind, bathing her back in a gentle warmth as she worked the

Mana-soap into a lather. Laughter bubbled up from the yard as the children

worked and played in equal asure.

Watching them, Hilde felt a profound sense of peace.

Ti slipped through her fingers. Before she knew it, the sun was directly

overhead. She prepared a lunch of potato stew and more rye bread, which the

children devoured with gusto. Afterward, she herded them into their rooms for a

mandatory nap.

In the silence of the afternoon, Hilde scrubbed the kitchen until it sparkled

and sat in the hall to balance the ledger. As the shadows began to stretch long

across the floor, the children woke and resud their play. Hilde stood in the

doorway, watching them chase one another, a silent sentry for their happiness.

By dusk, Anna returned. She was laden with heavy bundles, her face etched with

the exhaustion of a day spent haggling in the city.

"Hilde, help! These get heavier with every step!"

Hilde hurried over to relieve her of the largest packages. "You bought the whole

market?"

"Winter is coming," Anna panted, wiping sweat from her brow. "The coats were

expensive, but the quality is Imperial-grade. I also found so bolts of sturdy

fabric—I thought we could sew so new dresses and trousers for the little

ones."

They hauled the supplies inside. When the children saw the new clothes, they

erupted into a frenzy of excitent.

"Whoa! New gear!"

"Look at the color! It's so bright!"

"I want the blue one! It matches my Od!"

Hilde and Anna laughed as they watched the children scramble over the piles of

wool and silk. For dinner, Hilde prepared a feast: roasted chicken, vegetable

soup, and soft white bread to celebrate the new arrivals.

After the al, Hilde and Anna perford the nightly ritual of tucking the

children into bed. The younger ones succumbed to sleep almost instantly, but the

older ones whispered into the dark, their voices buzzing with the news Anna had

brought back.

When the house finally fell silent, Hilde found Anna in the hall, spreading out

the new fabric.

"Still working?"

"Just organizing," Anna said, looking up with a tired smile. "We start sewing

tomorrow. I need a plan before the sun cos up."

Hilde sat beside her, reaching for a pair of shears. "Need a hand?"

"No, I'm nearly through. But... I heard sothing in the street today." Anna's

voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.

"What?"

"The Big Shot I ntioned? They say the inspection is imminent. Likely

tomorrow."

Hilde's hand paused on the silk. "That soon?"

"Mmh. So we have to be perfect," Anna said seriously. "We represent the

Sunflower legacy. We must leave a flawless impression."

Hilde nodded. "I understand."

They spoke for a few minutes more before retreating to their rooms. Hilde lay in

the dark, her heart thumping with a low-level anxiety. Who is this official? A

General? A Minister? It took a long ti for sleep to claim her.

The next morning, Hilde was up earlier than usual. She scrubbed every corner of

the Sunflower House until the wood shone. She prepared a breakfast that would

have satisfied a minor noble. As the children woke, she gave them their final

instructions.

"We have a guest today. Be polite. Be quiet. Be the children the Sovereign would

be proud of. Understood?"

"Yes, Sister Hilde!" they chirped, looking adorable in their new, albeit

slightly oversized, clothes.

They waited.

The sun climbed to the center of the sky.

No one arrived.

By noon, the tension had turned into a dull ache of anticipation.

"Could the information have been wrong?" Hilde whispered.

"Unlikely," Anna frowned. "The rchant at the fabric stall was quite certain.

He said a carriage of the highest rank was seen heading this way."

Another hour passed in silence. Hilde sighed. "Perhaps the schedule changed. The

children are hungry; let's prepare the midday al."

They retreated to the kitchen. Just as the first pot began to boil, a sharp,

rhythmic tapping echoed from the front door.

Hilde and Anna exchanged a look.

"I'll get it," Hilde said, wiping her hands on her apron. She walked to the

heavy oak doors and pulled them open.

The street was empty.

No carriage. No guards. No official.

But there, lying perfectly centered on the doorstep, was an object.

Hilde blinked, stooping down to pick it up. It was a rag doll. The fabric was

yellowed with age, and one black button eye hung precariously by a single

thread. The stitching was crooked and crude, clearly the work of an amateur.

"Hilde? Who was it?" Anna called from the hall.

Anna walked over, her eyes landing on the object in Hilde's hands. She froze.

She lunged forward, snatching the doll from Hilde's grip. "Wait... I know

this..."

Anna turned the doll over, her fingers trembling as they traced the faded

fabric. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"This... this is my doll."

Hilde looked at her, confused. "Your doll?"

"Yes!" Anna nodded frantically. "I rember it perfectly! My father gave this to

on my fifth birthday. But... it got so old and tattered that he told he

was going to buy a new one. He threw this one away over ten years ago."

Anna's voice trailed off into a whisper. She stared at the doll as if it were a

ghost. "It's been gone for a decade. How is it on our doorstep today?"

Hilde felt a chill that had nothing to do with the autumn breeze. "Are you sure

it's the sa one? Not just a similar make?"

"Look here," Anna said, pointing to a small, clumsy patch on the doll's blue

dress. "I ripped this when I was six. My mother sewed this patch on for . And

the loose eye... I did that, too. It's identical. It's mine."

Hilde remained silent. If this was indeed Anna's childhood toy, why had it

returned now? And why today, of all days?

"Wait..." Anna murmured, her expression shifting. "My father ntioned a

'strange big shot' visiting his shop a few days ago. He said the person was

asking about old debts and lost things."

She looked at the empty street, then back at the doll. "Could it... could it be connected?"

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