🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 23
What should I do?
Actually, I hadn’t grown particularly attached to Pepe.
But since Pepe seemed connected to the World Tree and knew a lot about powers, it didn’t seem bad to keep him nearby, so I had brought him along without much thought.
However, if the Duke demanded that I send Pepe away immediately…
“Is this yours to raise?”
“Ah… it just happened that way.”
“You didn’t bring it yourself?”
“Um… it followed me.”
Herald’s eyes narrowed at my awkward answer.
“The squirrel followed you? It’s not a dog…”
Yeah, in other words, he thought what I said made no sense.
But it was true. I chose to stop explaining and stayed silent.
“Anyway, send it out immediately. That kind of thing shouldn’t be kept inside.”
Herald waved his hand sharply.
At that moment, Pepe and I made eye contact.
There was no choice. I had to let him go.
Maybe reading my thoughts, Pepe’s body twitched for a moment.
“Then… I guess there’s no choice…”
“Brrrk!”
My attempt to give up Pepe was drowned out by the sharp sound from beside me.
Pepe lifted his little body and made a loud squeak, protesting.
Trying to act like a squirrel to avoid being abandoned looked so desperate it made me weak inside.
And why did his eyes look so moist…?
“Ugh…”
“Brrrk! Brryaaah…?”
The little rising sound felt like he was really asking if I would leave him.
I couldn’t resist that gaze, so I cautiously asked Herald.
“Could I keep him quietly? I’ll make sure the Duke doesn’t see.”
“…….”
Herald frowned sharply at my question, then relaxed and thought deeply.
I didn’t want to speak first, so I waited quietly. Suddenly, Pepe squeaked “Brrrk!” and jumped onto my lap.
“…….”
“……”
And the invisible standoff between Herald and Pepe began.
I could only see Pepe’s back, but seeing Herald’s increasingly furrowed eyes told me this wasn’t going well.
“You want to raise this?”
“Brrrk!”
“This… no, this creature’s expression is strange… can a squirrel really make that face?”
“Brryaaah!”
Ah, really… stop challenging him.
I carefully held Pepe’s body to calm him.
If I left him like this, convincing Herald could take days.
I hadn’t even heard why he came yet, and I couldn’t waste time like this.
I had to give a performance with no real emotion.
“Please! Pepe and I can’t be apart now. If you let me stay with him, I’ll do anything!”
Of course, I didn’t plan to actually do anything, but I had to show action for Herald to believe me.
“I promise! I’ll train hard and study too… I’ll try my best.”
“……”
Hadn’t I said I’d do well?
Herald’s expression, full of doubt, became hard to read.
What on earth is he thinking?
“You’ll do anything…?”
“Yes? Y-yes……”
Why did that seem to impress him?
I nodded nervously.
“Alright. If you complete the task I give you, I’ll allow you to raise this… squirrel, no, this creature.”
Wait, did he just call Pepe a “squirrel” to insult him?
And a “task”… anyone would think he was giving orders to his knight.
“What… task?”
“I plan to ask Adeline to have dinner together tomorrow.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly? But before that…
“Has Mom forgiven you?”
Herald paused, then shook his head.
Right, he’s not the type to obey just because I apologize.
“Then she’ll say no…”
“If you go with her, she will come.”
Herald said confidently.
I wondered why he sounded so sure, but thinking about Mom, it made sense, and I nodded slightly.
“You’ll apologize while having dinner?”
“Yes.”
Then I just need to apologize. What else do I have to do…?
“You just need to act as if you’re really enjoying yourself there.”
“Huh?”
What does “enjoying” mean here?
I tilted my head, confused. Herald cleared his throat a couple of times and continued.
“Mm, ahem! Say that you’re really happy to be here, and you never want to return to your old place.”
“……”
“You can also say other things you liked about this place… just say you want to keep living here.”
He seemed aware of how embarrassing it sounded, because he didn’t even look at me, just babbling with his mouth.
Ah, so he’s making me act so Mom can’t leave. He’s holding Pepe as leverage.
Now I understood why his face brightened when I said I’d do anything.
I pouted and stared at the back of Pepe’s head.
Do I really have to act in front of Mom just to keep him?
Herald seemed to notice my cold glare and hurriedly added,
“And! Once this is settled, I’ll give you extra allowance.”
“How much?”
“…….”
When my eyes lit up, Herald leaned back and silently showed two fingers.
“Two months’ allowance.”
“Whaaaat!”
Two months at once… not bad.
This was a good deal for me.
After all, staying here was safer until I could control my powers properly to protect Mom.
And I already had a contract with him.
But he said this would be separate from that contract.
Even leaving Pepe aside, this was beneficial for me.
I didn’t think long.
“Okay! But you have to keep your promise! Got it?”
“Yes, I understand.”
Herald slowly nodded.
And now, I was here to keep that promise.
As expected, the dinner atmosphere wasn’t good even in empty words.
“Chloe, eat the broccoli too. It’s small, so dip it in the sauce and try. Okay?”
“Ugh…”
“Close your eyes and try. It’s tastier than you think.”
Mom was serving me food as usual, but didn’t even glance toward Herald.
He slowly cut his food, keeping an eye on Mom.
Probably waiting for the right moment to speak.
Should I start first?
I usually made excuses to avoid broccoli, but today I opened my mouth obediently, hiding my frown.
“Oh, eating well, my daughter!”
The bumpy texture in my mouth felt terrible… but I swallowed it all.
“Oh! It’s good! Mom, this broccoli is really tasty.”
“Really?”
“Yes! It’s… spicy, but tasty.”
Forcing the bad broccoli to sound good, this was the only way.
Yet Mom didn’t notice and smiled, clearly pleased.
She seemed genuinely happy that I, who always complained about food, was eating quietly and even complimented it.
Good. With my tongue sacrificed, Mom’s mood improved. Just a little more effort.
I could almost see the money floating in front of me.
Excited, I made a hasty decision.
“Ah, I’m so happy to be here, Mom. The food is so good, Ellie treats me well, and my dress is pretty!”
“Hmm?”
Mom raised her eyebrows, surprised by my sudden praise for Eraiten.
Oh no, too fast?
I rolled my eyes toward Herald.
He had put down his utensils and was staring at me seriously, hands clasped over his mouth.
