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Chapter 11
Only when the sun had completely set did Esiel make her way back to her room.
Her exhausted body screamed at her to rest immediately and recharge her energy. Not only that, but her clothes and hair were covered in white flour, making it hard to find a single spot that still showed its original color.
Of course, it wasn’t surprising that baking for the first time in her life hadn’t been easy. Still, it was fun enough that she had promised Dopni she would keep learning whenever she had time.
Should I wash—no, wait, no, no.
Esiel stopped walking and looked down at her disheveled state before shaking her head firmly. The memory of that day when she had secretly wandered the hallway and run into Romford resurfaced.
Just imagining those ice-cold crimson eyes made her shiver.
Soon after, she opened her door.
“Hey! Where were yo—wait, what the heck? You look like a total beggar.”
An uninvited guest was already inside her room. Someone she was absolutely not happy to see at this moment.
Perudin, lounging lazily in a chair, suddenly straightened up. He greeted her with a faint smile, looking very pleased to see her—acting as if the room were his own. His hair at the back was flattened and sticking up in messy tufts, as though he had been sitting there for quite a while.
Don’t tell me he came here just to play… at this hour?!
Esiel instinctively tightened her grip on the doorknob. After spending all her energy learning baking, she had nothing left in her body. If Perudin tried to drag her into playing, she would have to run away immediately.
“Pfft! You ugly thing got even uglier. Why are you just standing there? Come in already.”
Perudin mocked her appearance, then tilted his head as she remained still. Soon after, a faint crease formed between his brows, and concern seemed to mix into his gaze as he looked at her messy clothes and still figure.
Then he stepped forward.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you?”
He grabbed Esiel’s wrist and pulled her into the room. His crimson eyes flicked over her face, inspecting her carefully.
“Huh? What?”
“Did someone bully you?”
“Bully me?”
Esiel tilted her head in confusion. Bullying? Out of nowhere?
“…No? Then it’s fine, it’s fine!”
Perudin suddenly shouted, his furrowed brows smoothing out as his mood seemed to brighten instantly. His lips curled upward again.
He dragged Esiel closer to the table and rummaged through his pocket.
“Damn it, where is it?”
He muttered in annoyance, pulling out a black object. He pressed part of it, and the small shape expanded and transformed into its original form—a slingshot.
It was clearly a magical item that could change shape.
Esiel silently watched him. On the table were two identical slingshots, which he had apparently tossed there carelessly.
A slingshot? He bought something like that as a toy? This family is seriously terrifying.
A chill ran down her spine. It suddenly hit her again—she was truly a hostage in a dangerous place. She shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts.
“Hey, hostage. Where were you wandering off to? Tch, it’s already evening!”
Perudin pouted, clearly annoyed that things hadn’t gone his way.
“Hehe… you waited a long time for me!”
Esiel forced a bright voice and smiled awkwardly. Then she pointed at his shining golden hair—more precisely, the messy strands sticking up at the back of his head.
“Huh? N-no way! You’re seeing things!”
Caught in embarrassment, Perudin’s cheeks turned faintly red. He quickly tried to fix his hair with his hands, but only made it messier in frustration.
“You came here to play together?”
“Hmph! I’m not playing with you. You don’t even understand how amazing this is, you idiot.”
He was talking about the two slingshots on the table.
Magical toys like these must have cost a fortune. Magic was considered one of the most valuable powers on the continent. A toy imbued with magic would easily be worth more than a horse.
“I’m sorry… Let’s play with it next time! Okay?”
“…Well, if you insist, I guess I have no choice.”
Perudin, acting like he was being generous, finally relented. Esiel quietly smiled to herself.
He then looked around the room before flopping onto the sofa, clearly showing no intention of leaving.
“Hey, how did you know this was my room?”
Esiel asked as she sat across from him, trying to avoid any unnecessary trouble. She was already exhausted.
“I know everything! Anyway, this room is big. Why would Father give a hostage a room like this…?”
He rolled on the sofa, staring at the ceiling and mumbling. He seemed curious, yet also slightly envious.
Esiel quietly watched him. His muttering lips looked almost sulky.
“Hmm. Then you take it! I’m fine with it.”
“What?! No way. My room is bigger.”
If that wasn’t the reason, then what was?
Confused, Esiel tilted her head.
“Instead, I’ll come here often.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll just play in your room from now on, Esiel. Because, um…”
Perudin trailed off, trying to find a reason. But he couldn’t clearly define it even for himself.
While he struggled, Esiel thought to herself.
Is he planning to bully me? What is he even thinking?
“Because! I don’t like my room getting messy.”
He finally blurted out the reason as if it made perfect sense.
Satisfied with his explanation, he looked pleased—until Esiel responded.
“Don’t servants clean it anyway?”
“…W-well, I might get scolded if I mess it up too much!”
Silence followed.
Perudin glanced at her sideways, then met her eyes by accident. Startled, he shouted immediately.
“Y-you idiot! That’s just how it is!”
Esiel slowly nodded.
Somehow, she felt like her room would no longer be peaceful from now on.
Perudin sat up and pointed toward the door.
“Hey! You said you weren’t bullied. Are you just going to stay looking like a beggar?”
“Ah… okay.”
It was a pleasant afternoon.
Esiel leaned against the windowsill, enjoying the breeze flowing through the slightly open window. The weather was so gentle that it felt like it was embracing her skin.
If she closed her eyes, the fresh scent of grass would normally have made her forget all her worries.
But suddenly, a sweet fragrance stronger than the grass filled the air.
“Something delicious! Where is that coming from?”
Esiel sniffed vigorously with her small, pointed nose. The smell grew stronger as time passed. It was definitely coming from somewhere near her room.
“Hngh…”
With a soft groan, she opened her eyes. Her lips tightened unconsciously. A child’s instincts were impossible to resist. Even though she wasn’t hungry, the sweet smell seeped deep into her senses and became unbearable.
She opened her door as if enchanted. The fragrance lingered faintly in the hallway.
Her bright green eyes sparkled as she stepped outside.
Without realizing it, her feet began to move on their own. Her mind was no longer telling her to stop—it was telling her to find the source.
It wasn’t hard to follow the scent.
After passing several closed doors, she found one slightly open.
Esiel stood in front of it and sniffed again through the gap.
Here!
She was sure. Something delicious was inside.
She opened the door without hesitation.
The first thing she saw was a bed—so large she could probably roll on it ten times.
Next, she saw black curtains fluttering over a slightly open window, and a table in the center of the room. The rest of the room was clean and neatly arranged.
And on the table was the source of the sweet smell she had been searching for.
Pancakes.
Topped with strawberries, blueberries, and kiwi, drenched generously in syrup. The aroma was sweeter than caramel itself.
Esiel walked closer, still entranced. The stronger scent made her swallow unconsciously.
“I want to eat it…”
She murmured softly.
Now that she saw it directly, her curiosity grew—how delicious would it be?
She had never eaten anything like it in the royal palace.
Her eyes landed on the fork and knife neatly placed beside the plate. Her childlike instincts urged her to taste it immediately.
Slowly, she reached her hand toward it.
