He recalled when that woman showed up two days ago, claiming to have a child of the Russell Family and ruthlessly extorting a sum from their Marshal. Of course, the Marshal was no fool to blindly believe whatever he was told. He had spent a whole day investigating and confirming the truth before handing over the money. But the Marshal's money was not so easily taken. The only thing waiting for that woman in the end was prison. Daring to steal the Marshal's genetics was simply courting death! Then there was this pitiful child. If their people had not arrived in time, she probably would have starved to death in that tiny rented room. Thinking of this, the old butler felt even more pity for the pale-faced child on the bed.
After waking up, Ruby Rowland felt very out of place in this massive, luxurious house. She did not dare to wander around, spending most of her time quietly staying in her room. The old butler had told her that she had a father and three older brothers, but they were currently away from home, making her the only girl in the household.
She harbored a tiny bit of hope in her heart, but mostly, she felt anxious. She was terrified that her father and brothers would dislike her as well. But wasn't that a given? No one would ever like her. She was just an unwanted burden. As long as they gave her a few nutrient pills so she could grow up safely, that would be enough. Her demands were not high.
"Ms. Rowland."
When the old butler knocked on the bedroom door, little Ruby was knitting gloves with yarn. Hearing his voice, she panicked and hid the ball of yarn along with the half-finished glove under the blanket. She wore beautiful, clean clothes. Her snow-white hair was incredibly soft, and her skin was so pale it looked almost translucent, like a fragile glass doll. Stepping into her soft slippers, she hurried to open the door.
"Mr. Butler."
Her soft, sticky voice carried a quiet obedience. Those blue eyes, the exact same shade as the Family Head's, lacked his sharp intensity. Instead, they were a tranquil lake blue, resembling a gentle, clear ocean under the sunlight.
The old butler half-squatted to pat the little girl's hair, handing her a high-quality spherical object. "This is a nanny robot prepared for you by the Family Head. You may give it a name, Ms. Rowland."
It was as if she had only heard the words "Family Head." Her bright, beautiful blue eyes lit up like shooting stars falling into the sea.
"Did Dad give this to me?" Her milky voice was filled with anticipation.
The old butler paused, then nodded. "Yes, the Family Head prepared it for you."
In truth, the Marshal had only left a cold instruction without another word. But looking at the little one's hopeful expression, he simply could not bring himself to reveal the truth.
Ruby hugged the small spherical robot and gently rubbed her cheek against it, her eyes curving into a highly satisfied smile. She was truly an easily contented child who never asked for much, even if it was just a tiny crumb of affection slipping from her parents. Unfortunately, even such a minuscule wish seemed to be an extravagant luxury.
"Mila. I want to call it Mila."
Mila was the only companion she had ever kept in her past life, a very gentle golden retriever. But because her younger brother liked the dog, her mother had demanded she hand Mila over, claiming that as the older sister, she had to yield. That was the only time she had firmly rejected her mother, which thoroughly enraged the woman. Her mother had slapped her, called her ungrateful, and then sent her away to live with her father.
In the end, she still failed to protect Mila. Her only companion was gone, and as she grew up, she never dared to keep another pet. She knew she couldn't protect them. The feeling of having what rightfully belonged to her ripped away was etched so deeply into her memory that she could never forget it.
"Your name is Mila, okay?"
The robot twitched, unfolding its body in her hands. A pair of eyes and a mouth appeared on its black holographic screen. "Mila is very happy to meet you, Master."
Ruby widened her round eyes before they curved into lovely little crescents. Holding Mila, she looked up at the old butler with a beaming smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Butler. And... and thank you, Dad." Even though she had yet to actually see her father.
The old butler affectionately stroked the little girl's soft hair. She was simply too quiet and well-behaved, completely different from the young masters he had taken care of in the past. In fact, she was different from any cub in the entire Starbeast Clan. But it was precisely because of this that she was exceptionally endearing. He could only hope that the Family Head and the young masters would get along well with her in the future.
Having received her new little robot, Ruby happily bid the old butler farewell and returned to her room to continue knitting. She put immense care and focus into every single stitch, as this was meant to be a gift for her father.
"Mila, when is Dad coming back?"
"I am sorry, Master. Mila does not know."
Mila's voice was set to a cute, childlike tone, making it very easy for her to chat with the robot.
"That is okay. I was just asking." She paused, hugging a small pillow as she laid on the bed with half of her face pressed against it. Her fan-like eyelashes fluttered uneasily. "Mila, do you think Dad will hate me? They all seem to dislike me so much. Am I really that detestable?"
Mila hovered in circles around her. "Not at all! Master is the most well-behaved and beautiful cub!"
Ruby's eyes curved gently. She assumed Mila was just trying to cheer her up, but the robot was actually telling the truth.
Starbeast cubs were notoriously resilient and highly destructive, even right after birth. Since they would transform into their animal forms within a few months, their mobility and energy levels far exceeded those of human infants. As soon as they could walk, they would wreck the house in completely unpredictable ways. If one searched online, they would easily find endless complaints from Starbeast parents about their children's terrifying demolition skills.
Since coming to this world, she had spent most of her time locked in that tiny rented room by Elena Spencer. She had no time to learn about this new universe, so she was completely clueless.
Her beast form was a very weak and tiny kitten. Specifically, it looked exactly like the Ragdoll Cat she had encountered during the fatal car crash in her previous life. But Elena had never allowed her to turn into a Kitty. When she was younger and could not control her transformations, Elena would scream every time she saw the kitten, calling her a deformed monster. She claimed the Starbeast Clan had never produced such a pathetic creature, one that was even inferior to a cosmic hamster.
Because of Elena's utter disgust, Ruby had never shifted into her Ragdoll Cat form again once she learned to control it. She was terrified. She feared that if others saw her true form, they would despise her just as much as Elena did.
"Ms. Rowland, it is time to come down for dinner."
Hearing the old butler's voice, Ruby obediently responded, hurriedly put down her knitting, slipped on her slippers, and left the room with Mila.