IDVM 32

Chapter 32

“This is the scenario His Majesty desires… Now, here’s the question.”

Margaret’s startled eyes met those of the inspector.

With a smile tinged with anticipation, he asked:

“In this scenario, what must the traitor who hid the son of a traitor do in order to survive?”

The nearly mad grin on his face already revealed the answer he wanted.

The festival was only a few days away now.

Unlike the other shops, which were busy preparing for the summer festival, our bakery had a clear sign hanging on the door that read “Closed.”

That’s because, once a season, Dad would take a day to visit his friend Uncle Max in the neighboring village.

I’d heard that when Mom passed away and Dad was struggling, Uncle Max had really taken care of him.

Though I’ve never met him once.

Or rather, I should say I don’t remember meeting him.

I was far too young at the time to retain any memory of it.

So once, I asked Dad to take me along…

But he gave all kinds of excuses—like the road being too rough, that they raised a bear(?) in that house so it was dangerous, or that since I was the “chief” of our neighborhood, someone needed to stay behind to guard the village.

In the end, he left me behind here.

Well, maybe sometimes even a single dad worn down by childrearing wants to spend time with his friend alone.

As a mature nine-year-old who sympathized with my overworked father, I was generous enough to understand him up to that point.

But why! Of all times! Does he have to go now?!

Right in the middle of one of the few busiest seasons of the year!

When we should be raking in piles of money!

But then…

[My friend’s father’s cousin’s wife passed away, so I really have to go. He was there for me during hard times, so I need to be there to comfort him.]

…Isn’t that basically a complete stranger?

Before I could protest, Dad had already finished packing.

Still, he did promise he’d be back by the last day of the festival.

It was disappointing to miss out on the sales opportunity, but spending the final night of the festival together with Dad would be enough.

“Princess, Daddy will be back soon.”

Walking me to the general store, Dad crouched down to my level and nagged:

“Don’t skip meals just because it’s a hassle. Wash your hands first when you come home from playing. And don’t forget to brush your teeth before bed.”

I placed my hands on my hips and fired back with nagging of my own:

“You better not drink too much, don’t fool around too much, and don’t you dare go near scary-looking men, okay?”

There was one time when Dad came back with a scratch on his face.

He said it was from a branch while drunk, but…

What if he actually got dragged into some fight between thugs and got hurt?!

I didn’t know what it felt like to be a parent since in my past life I never had one and never became one.

But maybe this was what it felt like to send a child out into dangerous waters?

Every time Dad left the house, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

At my worried scolding, Dad chuckled in disbelief.

“Really, who’s the father here and who’s the daughter?”

“Ahem. Answer me.”

“Yes, my daughter. I’ll behave and come back safe and sound. Listen well to your aunt while I’m gone.”

“Ughhh.”

He pinched my chubby cheeks as a farewell, then turned to Aunt Lauren with an apologetic look.

“Sorry for imposing on you during such a busy time, Lauren.”

“Oh, don’t be. That’s what neighbors are for. Don’t worry and just go.”

“Then… shameless as it is, I’ll leave her in your care again.”

After saying goodbye to Aunt Lauren, Dad waved to us as he walked off.

He even stumbled over a rock while looking back and nearly fell.

Sigh… he’ll be fine, right?

He wasn’t good at fighting and was clumsy in many ways… but at least he was sturdy.

With worried eyes, I waved at him.

I kept waving until I couldn’t see him anymore.

It was then—

ʧʤɓɡɤɦɨɫɯʉ……

I froze at the sensation, as though something was buzzing toward me.

That aura again. The one I’ve been feeling lately.

And as I expected, the direction it came from was the western forest.

Why do I keep feeling this way?

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to shake it off.

What pulled me back to reality was Aunt Lauren’s voice.

“Vivian, wasn’t today the day you go to the villa?”

“Uh… there’s still some time left. I’ll help organize the goods until then!”

“Oh no, you don’t need to. Peter and I can handle it.”

“It’ll be faster if three of us do it! Besides, I don’t have anything else to do right now.”

“Aigoo, I swear. Girls really are better than boys. Peter! Are you still sleeping up there?”

While Aunt Lauren went upstairs to wake Peter, I began tidying the goods in the shop.

So I wouldn’t feel the pull of that forest aura.

“So you’ll be staying at the general store for now?”

That day, when Rachel heard about my temporary lodging, her delicate brows furrowed.

Why does my lady suddenly seem upset?

She’d been fine when we were talking about the festival just earlier.

As I tilted my head in confusion, Rachel asked again in a tense voice:

“Then… you’ll be staying with that boy too?”

“That boy?”

“The one we saw at the general store last time.”

“Oh, Peter?”

The moment I said his name, something cold flickered across Rachel’s blue eyes.

Not knowing why, I simply kept munching on my cookie and answered casually:

“Well, of course. It’s his house, after all.”

“That won’t do.”

Her unexpected rejection made me blink.

“Huh? Why not?”

“Because…”

She seemed to have no ready reason, her lips only moving slightly before she finally added:

“…I heard boys and girls shouldn’t sleep under the same roof once they’re past eight.”

“But we won’t be sleeping together? He has his own room, and I’ll be in the guest room.”

“Still no. That boy is…”

Puzzled by her strong objection, I recalled the time I visited the general store and then smirked mischievously.

“I get it! You’re worried I’ll get too close with Peter and you’re jealous, huh?”

Rachel flinched.

She’s adorable at times like this.

For someone who usually hid her feelings so well, the little emotions that slipped out were impossible not to notice.

Unable to hide my grin, I murmured:

“Don’t worry, Rachel. You’re still my favorite. Hehe.”

Rachel blinked blankly at me.

Her blue eyes trembled faintly before she turned away.

Then, as if something occurred to her, she returned to the topic.

“Why not just stay here instead?”

“Here? At the villa?”

“Yes. There are plenty of guest rooms.”

…Now that she mentioned it, that was true.

No need for carriage rides, safer, and most of all, I’d have a friend around.

It really was the perfect place to leave a child.

“Hm… should I?”

When I gave a positive response after some thought, a faint smile seemed to pass Rachel’s lips.

That evening, when I returned to the general store, I told Aunt Lauren I wanted to stay at the duke’s villa.

At first, she was reluctant, saying it felt like she was dumping her responsibility onto the duchy.

But after the butler who accompanied me added his persuasion, she finally agreed.

And so, while Dad was away, I ended up staying at the duke’s villa.

But then…

Rachel had just finished a chess game when she noticed me yawning. She got up.

“I’m going to my room now.”

I tilted my head.

“Huh? You’re not sleeping here?”

“This is your room.”

“Can’t we sleep together? That’s what friends do when they visit each other’s houses.”

“Sharing a bed before marriage is against propriety—”

“Marriage?”

Why was she suddenly talking about marriage?