the buttons and cuffs of his shirt, revealing his thin and fair upper body.
The boys in the village that Edith usually saw all had tanned and sturdy bodies, making this young master appear particularly unique. She couldn''t help but take a few extra glances.
Raphael noticed Edith''s gaze, blushing and crossing his slender arms in front of his chest.
"But seriously, why are you so afraid of getting scolded by your pa?" After Raphael sat back down, Edith mumbled as she nibbled on a cleaned fruit, "He won''t really do anything to you anyhow. Every time I come home covered in mud, my pa also glares at me and says if I get this dirty again, he won''t let me eat. But I''m not afraid at all. In the end, he can''t do anything to me! Much less, I have mama to defend me."
"Sounds like they really love you," commented Raphael.
"Don''t your mama and papa love you?" Edith asked in return.
Raphael lowered his eyes. "I don''t have a mother. She passed away when Charlene was born. My memory started late. What Mother looked like, how she treated me, I can''t quite recall now. But I know my lord father doesn''t love me."
The way the siblings referred to their papa and mama was both weird, thought Edith.
"No parent would not love their own child," she said firmly.
Raphael shook his head. "You''re so lucky to think that way."
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During the tail of summer and throughout the entire autumn, the three children were inseparable.
Charlene always felt that it didn''t matter whether she could stand up again, but now, for the first time, she longed so much to regain her ability to walk.
When winter arrived, Father was to take Charlene to a southern spa for her therapy. She made up her mind to work twice as hard during the time apart from her best friend, cooperating fully with the doctor''s training. She was willing to endure any hardship. She only looked forward to giving Edith a big surprise when she returned to the countryside, spending every day together climbing trees and swimming with her.
But determination alone was no use. In the spa, they tried all kinds of methods, but Charlene''s legs still had no sensation at all.
After all these days, sh