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~Chapter 09~
“Grandfather.”
“So, after all that effort of leaving them in my care, you’re dragging me along just to watch those pitiful fools suffer more?”
Edmund widened his eyes briefly, then quickly adopted a sullen expression.
Perhaps it was because he was in front of his grandfather.
It was the first childlike expression he had shown since meeting him.
“I was simply following the procedure.”
“There won’t be anyone left alive to gossip anyway, so why bother?”
At those words, Edmund let out a visible sigh.
“Grandfather, times are different now.”
“What’s that?”
“Even if your despicable intentions are clear, if you bury someone without due process, the palace will send an investigation team.”
“You’re blaming me?”
“Of course. This is all thanks to the peace treaty you established.”
The duke clicked his tongue and playfully grabbed his grandson by the head.
“You little rascal.”
“Ah! Grandfather!”
“These modern kids, all soft and obsessed with laws and rules. Shall I turn things upside down again? Start a war or something?”
“Don’t say such horrible things!”
The Count of Bluwood shivered as he listened to the conversation between grandfather and grandson.
His trembling gradually intensified until it reached an uncontrollable state.
The reason was that Duke Valkyrisen had risen from his seat and was approaching him.
“You see, that’s why you’re still young. Laws and rules are mere wordplay to us.”
Above the law stands Valkyrisen.
These were the words of a man who had dominated his era as a hero and was destined to be remembered as a historical figure.
Far from sounding arrogant, his overwhelming presence crushed anyone who faced him.
“Count Bluwood.”
The face, only visible if you craned your neck fully, bore a cruel smile.
It looked more joyful than any expression seen before.
“My soft, weak grandson insisted on asking me a favor. He said I should consider the possibility that you were falsely accused.”
So, as you can see, I waited patiently.
The duke spoke slowly, as if drawing out the count’s blood.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“M-My lord! You’ve got the wrong idea, it’s a misunderstanding!”
“A misunderstanding?”
“I-I don’t know anything! All of this—everything—was the steward acting on his own…!”
The duke tore off the earring he had been wearing in one ear and threw it at the count.
“Ugh!”
The count looked down at the earring that had fallen on his cheek.
When worn in one ear, it allowed him to hear the conversation of the person across from him—a magical earring.
He wiped the cold sweat from his brow and glanced at the young noble, Edmund.
Then he noticed a matching blue earring on Edmund’s ear and squeezed his eyes shut.
It was enough for the duke to see clearly.
After all, he held the power to decide their fate.
But the duke had only intended to punish them from the start, and it was actually the young noble who had shown leniency.
That one chance was now gone.
They had thrown it away themselves.
It was over.
“What will you do?”
The duke suddenly placed a hand on his other ear and asked.
On that ear was a shining golden ear cuff, decorated in a delicate, lily-of-the-valley-like design with small pearls—almost too gentle for someone like Valkyrisen.
―Squeak, squeak.
A squeaking sound came from beyond the earring.
Even after checking, it was clearly the sound of a mouse.
Yet the duke continued speaking calmly.
“I will handle it as you instructed.”
―Squeak!
Even using the utmost formal language.
Who was he showing such respect to?
Even in the Kingdom of Silveria, few could command such honor—only the king and queen, perhaps.
A field mouse held that level of authority?
Count Bluwood couldn’t believe it.
‘So… what’s with the squeaking?’
What was going to happen?
“Miss Lattson.”
“Yes?”
“Come here.”
Elodie hesitated for a moment at the duke’s call, then spread her arms as if asking to be picked up.
Duke Valkyrisen took the child from Sera and asked,
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Up close, he was even more terrifying.
A handsome face in his youth, yet so vicious now.
It felt like looking at a lion’s open mouth from mere inches away.
Elodie rubbed the goosebumps rising on her neck and replied,
“Not now.”
“Not now?”
One of the duke’s eyebrows arched.
“So there had been an injury before?”
No need to hide it.
Elodie spoke honestly, without exaggeration.
“It disappeared miraculously just before I died.”
“I see… miraculously survived just before death.”
The duke placed his hand over the ear cuff and relayed the child’s words.
―Squeak, squeak, squee…
A menacing sound came through, impossible to believe could have come from a mouse.
Could a mouse growl so threateningly?
“Really?”
―Squeeeak!
“Nothing is impossible.”
The duke gave a faint smile as he slowly scanned the Bluwood family.
“You’d better not think of running away. Wherever the eyes and ears of animals can reach, they can find you.”
A place beyond the reach of animals’ senses.
Such a place did not exist on this earth.
No one could evade Valkyrisen’s tracking.
“They’ll come soon enough.”
Wait—he needs to explain what the squeaking meant!
Count Bluwood sank to his knees in despair.
He had no idea what kind of irresistible terror awaited him, leaving him utterly stunned.
Eisenhart Valkyrisen.
The current Duke Valkyrisen and war hero who brought about an era of peace.
Though called a bloodthirsty warmonger at the time, no one could dispute that he had accomplished feats no one else could.
Such a great man…
‘He understands mice.’
Did he learn it somehow?
Of course, if a mouse-person taught him directly, it seemed possible.
‘Then… why?’
Elodie deeply understood how humans treated mice.
To humans, mice were pests, carriers of disease, symbols of cowardice, living disasters.
The most hated mammal by humans.
‘I get it. It’s survival instinct.’
Mice had a massive impact on spreading disease.
Those who cared for mice without concern were truly altruistic.
‘Like Sera.’
But Duke Valkyrisen was no altruist.
So he must have considered learning the mouse language worthwhile.
‘Mom, Dad… are you saying it’s an amazing mouse?’
Just one word from him condemned Count Bluwood to punishment.
Elodie sneaked a curious glance at Duke Valkyrisen.
“Do you want me to change it?”
The duke adjusted how he held Elodie, then placed the ear cuff to her ear.
‘So suddenly?’
Not ready yet…
Startled, Elodie hesitated, then cautiously spoke,
“R-right?”
―Squeak, squeak! (Oh my, little one!)
“M-Mom? Dad?”
Could these really be her parents?
Contextually, there was no other possibility.
“R-really… mom and dad?”
―Squeak… squeak, squeak. (Yes… it’s true, little one.)
How could they recognize her as their daughter just by her voice?
‘Scary.’
She barely remembered their voices or faces, let alone shared memories.
What if she never remembers?
Without memories, she wouldn’t really be the daughter they searched for.
They would be disappointed.
The affection she felt even through the ear cuff almost suffocated her.
“……”
―Squeak? (Little one?)
Fear surged uncontrollably beyond rational judgment.
Watching silently, Duke Eisen removed the ear cuff and spoke naturally.
“The young lady finds everything unfamiliar. She just broke the curse and is encountering the real world for the first time, so it’s understandable.”
―Squeak… squeak, squeak. (I see… hadn’t thought of that.)
“She will adapt soon. I will ensure her safety personally.”
Elodie felt strangely embarrassed.
Just because her body was that of a child didn’t mean she was truly a child.
Instead of freezing in fear, she could have handled it more flexibly.
Fidgeting silently with her fingers, she listened as Eisen ended the call and said,
“You went missing when you were three.”
