When I can remember, I was in the Imperial City orphanage.
There were children in the orphanage who, like me, never knew their parents.
Only they didn't have ears and tails like me.
When I was little, I was very concerned about being different from them.
And I hated my ears and my tail because I was so different from them.
Why was I different from everyone else?
Am I different from everyone else and did my mom and dad abandon me?
Every time I looked at myself in the mirror, I thought about such things.
But the people at the orphanage never bullied me because I was different and they treated me as family.
Even though we look different, we are still a family that has lived together since we were little. .......
I loved them all.
When I was eight years old, an orphanage lady taught me what a beastman is for the first time.
The orphanage lady was kind to everyone and was like our mother.
She taught me many things every day, such as reading, writing, calculation, and magic, so that I would not have a hard time when I got outside.
At one time during the class, she taught us
Today I would like to teach a lesson on species.
「「「「 yes 」」」」
While everyone was replying, the always cheerful boy asked Auntie a question.
Auntie! What species? A demon?
'Wait till I explain it to you now, I want to teach you about the human race today.
'What? Do people have a race, like demons?
Yes, I have. For example, Belle. Bells are beastmen, and they have ears and tails that look like animals.
Huh? I'm a beastman?
'What? Is Belle different from us?
I was freaked out by what the boy said: .......
I'm still different from other people. .......
'Not different . There are other elves with long ears and small dwarves with small stature, but they are not different from us. They're the same person, just a little different in appearance, nothing like us.
I get it, and so does Belle.
'Yes . I'm glad you guys are honest. ...... I was worried because some people discriminate against beastmen, elves and dwarves by calling them subhuman. ......
Belle is family!
Yes, Belle is family.
Belle is my family.
They all said that to Auntie's explanation.
'Everybody go to .......'
'Hmmm, looks like I didn't have to worry about that: ...... Okay? In another year or two you'll be out of here and working in different places. And when that happens, don't ever discriminate against anyone just because of their looks!
「「「「 Yes! 」」」」
And, Belle.
What?
I know you're going to be out there and there's going to be a lot of unreasonableness ...... but you should never hate yourself, okay?
Ummm, yeah, .......
"If times ever get tough, remember everybody in this room. There will always be someone who needs you.
Okay, okay.
Two years later, I'm ten years old.
At the orphanage, at ten years old, you have to go out and work.
So I'm going to leave the orphanage now.
Kids the same age at the orphanage have gone their own way, becoming adventurers and apprentices of craftsmen.
After much deliberation, I decided to become a maid because I could do all the housework in the orphanage.
Then, an auntie brought me a piece of paper that said a nobleman was looking for a maid.
"Come here, Belle, if you want to be a maid.
The Forsters? That brave?
That's right. The brave man's grandson has been knighted as a baron, and he's looking for a new house maid. You should apply here.
"You're of a brave family. ...... Okay. I'll apply!