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Chapter 21
“Really? Now that I think about it, didn’t you say you know who As is, Harnen? Just what kind of young master is he that you won’t tell me?”
I puffed out my cheeks and glared at Harnen.
He looked at me with a soft smile, as if to soothe me.
“There’s nothing good that’ll come from you knowing.”
“But still…”
I drooped my head, sulking.
Harnen added kindly, as if to comfort me.
“Anyway, when I go back to the capital, I’ll take that little young master with me. So you don’t need to worry too much. I’ll deliver him home safe and sound.”
At those words, my heart gave an uneasy jolt.
As going back home was, of course, a good thing. But for some reason, it left me feeling hollow inside, as if part of my chest had gone empty.
“…Yeah.”
I answered briefly, fidgeting with the warm teacup.
It seemed I had grown quite attached to him in this short time.
‘But since we’ve gotten close now, I should at least ask for his contact before he leaves, right?’
For the smooth execution of my plan—“bridging the gap with Akes through As”—it would be necessary to keep in touch with him.
If I could stay in contact with As, that emptiness in my chest felt a little less heavy.
How should I bring it up? I was mulling over the thought when—
“Um, Einra.”
A soft, delicate voice called to me.
I turned around, and at some point, As had come out of the study and was shuffling toward me.
“Could you read me a book…?”
His cheeks reddened as he looked up at me, shy.
Seeing the child’s flushed face, I was overcome by a strange emotion.
‘When I first met him, he was so distant…’
When had he grown close enough to me to blush like this?
“Einra?”
Noticing me spacing out, the boy tilted his head and called my name again.
I snapped out of it, smiled warmly, and set down my teacup.
Since I was facing away, I didn’t notice Harnen glaring daggers at As.
“As, do you want me to read to you?”
“Yes.”
He blinked adorably and added, “A book that you read for me.”
The childlike innocence of his request made me smile fondly. I thought about which book might be good but quickly became troubled.
Most of the books in the study were either theses or technical works—not suitable for a child.
There were a few storybooks, but they were all horror anthologies rated for mature readers. Absolutely not.
“As, I don’t think we have any books here that you’d like. Maybe we should go to a bookstore…”
“It’s okay, Einra. I’d like this one.”
As beamed as he revealed the book he’d been hiding behind his back.
My face froze when I saw it.
“…‘A Study on Current International Political Trends: Focusing on the Elberk Empire’?”
The little boy nodded.
Suspiciously, I asked, “You really want to read this?”
“Yes. It looks interesting.”
His eyes sparkled with genuine enthusiasm.
Beside me, Harnen’s shoulders trembled as he stifled laughter.
I stared blankly at the boy who claimed a thesis looked fun, then forced a smile.
“I-I see… Still, As, I’m sure there are much more fun books at the bookstore. Let’s go have a look, shall we?”
Children should grow up as children.
What kind of kid spent their precious childhood reading research papers crammed with technical jargon?
“If that’s what you prefer, Einra, then let’s do that.”
As nodded readily.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I jumped to my feet before he could change his mind.
“Alright! Let’s go right away!”
The bookstore wasn’t far from the clothing shop we’d been to last time.
Ding.
The bell chimed as we stepped inside, and the owner, Uncle Charles, greeted us.
“Einra! Long time no see!”
“Yes, hello, Uncle Charles.”
“Oh? And this young lad beside you must be the boy you’re living with, right? But the tall gentleman next to you—first time I’ve seen him. Is he your brother?”
Uncle Charles smiled warmly as he asked.
Before I could deny it, Harnen answered with a bright smile.
“Nice to meet you, sir. I’m not her brother, I’m her friend.”
“…Friend?”
Uncle Charles, who firmly believed men and women couldn’t be “just friends,” frowned faintly and gave Harnen a once-over.
Most of the townsfolk, especially the elders, wanted me to end up with Millen. It was no surprise that Uncle Charles didn’t look kindly on Harnen.
Laughing awkwardly, I quickly cut in before the old man could start pushing Millen at me again.
“Uncle! We’re here to buy a book As can read. Which way should we go?”
“Oh, I see. Children’s books, then?”
Charles, who had still been eyeing Harnen suspiciously, snapped back to himself.
“Let’s see… over in that corner to the right.”
“Thank you.”
With As and Harnen, I hurried toward the children’s book section.
“As, go ahead! Pick whatever you like.”
If he had trouble choosing, I could always use my ultimate skill from the clothing store—“from here to there.”
I sat down on a chair nearby and watched him browse.
As scanned the books with a cloudy gaze.
Suddenly, Harnen plucked one from the shelf and handed it to him with a dazzling smile.
“Our little As, how about this one? Seems just right for your age.”
Without thinking, As accepted it—then his face instantly went cold.
I glanced at the cover and bit my lip to keep from laughing.
The title read: Whose Poop Is This?
“Kids your age really love stories about poop, you know.”
“….”
“It’s fine. You’re not the only one who likes poop. Don’t be embarrassed—children at your age are all like that.”
Harnen’s tone was unbearably gentle.
I was sorry for As, but I couldn’t hold back my laughter. I quickly turned my back.
“…I don’t… need it.”
As ground his teeth as he muttered, his voice dripping with murderous intent.
Shrugging, Harnen put the book back on the shelf.
“I only recommended it because I was thinking of you. It hurts when kindness isn’t appreciated.”
“If it displeases the recipient, then it isn’t kindness.”
“Oh my, so my sincerity didn’t reach you, little one?”
Harnen’s sky-blue eyes and As’s crimson ones clashed fiercely.
Sensing the air grow tense, I hastily grabbed a book nearby.
“Here, As! What about this one?”
I showed him a book titled My Little Angel.
As looked at it, then reached out and took it. After flipping through a few pages, he smiled faintly and nodded.
“…I like it. I’ll take this one.”
“I’m glad you found something you like.”
Breathing in relief, I led them back to Charles for checkout.
The old man, still casting wary glances at Harnen, rang up the purchase.
Before he could bring up Millen, I hurried us out of the store.
Outside, finally able to relax, Harnen asked casually,
“Einra, about that Charles fellow… He seemed to dislike me. Did I do something wrong?”
So he had noticed Uncle Charles’s displeasure. Well, of course he did—someone who had once been an emperor wouldn’t miss such things.
Swallowing back tears inside, I shook my head.
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. He’s just like that…”
“Einra, what a coincidence to meet you here.”
Before I could finish, an unwelcome voice cut in.
That all-too-familiar sense of discomfort crept up my chest. But no matter how unpleasant, I couldn’t just ignore someone who had greeted me.
Forcing a polite smile, I turned to the voice’s owner.
“Hello, Millen.”
“Yes, it’s been such a long time.”
Millen strode toward me, smiling brightly as though he’d just run into a dear old friend.
