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chapter 03
Did I mishear?
“Then what is this?”
But the current topic of conversation was toys, and asking about it directly now felt inappropriate. After all, I had just managed to calm the situation by shifting the focus to toys.
Still… Arthea even ran away. She’s a child, so maybe she exaggerated, but… I want to check anything suspicious, just in case.
But asking her if she had come here alone had made her break down crying not long ago. I could still feel the shallow rhythm of her breathing.
Don’t rush. Ask slowly so the child isn’t scared. Now is not the time!
If she cried again, she might completely shut herself off. I didn’t know much about handling children, but I had learned something from what had just happened.
After all, I never intended to send her back to the ducal house immediately.
I didn’t plan to contact anyone until I had a better grasp of the situation. My mind was already busy worrying whether she was being abused or neglected.
I suppressed the urge to interrogate Arthea about what all this meant and smiled brightly instead. I wanted to make it clear that I didn’t dislike her.
“This is a magic wand that makes soap bubbles.”
“Soap bubbles?”
“Yes. When you press this… ta-da!”
Pyororong!
From the tip of the wand, a bubble shimmered in rainbow-like brilliance.
“Oh?”
At that moment, Arthea’s wet eyes began to shine with wonder. I pressed the button again, and dozens of bubbles shot out at once. The glowing spheres filled the space around her. It was truly a world of light.
“Waaaah!”
She let out a gasp of delight, stretching her hands to touch the bubbles. They popped as soon as she touched them, but I quickly created more.
“Do more! More!”
Arthea dashed down the hallway chasing the bubbles. Her steps were light and airy, as if she had never cried.
“All right, then, shall we play with even more bubbles?”
“Yes, yes!”
I guided Arthea to the bathroom. At first, I hadn’t noticed, but her appearance was filthy. Dust stuck everywhere, and her black shoes were caked with mud.
“What is this again?”
“Bubbles.”
“Ah! Bubbles! This is amazing! Fun! Do more!”
Thankfully, the quick-thinking staff had prepared water beforehand. As I dissolved some colorful bath salts in the tub, Arthea’s eyes lit up with wonder once more.
“It feels like I’m in a rainbow world! So pretty, cute, and amazing! You’re the best in the world, Auntie!”
Full of joy and excitement, she looked up at me, her eyes sparkling. Seeing her reaction, I relaxed and let out a soft laugh.
“Auntie, are you a magician?”
Magicians are magicians, after all. Strictly speaking, bubbles aren’t exactly magic, but…
“This is magic just for you, Arthea.”
Arthea smiled as if she owned the world, spreading her arms wide.
“Do you like the bubbles?”
“Yes! Very, very much!”
“You can make bubbles too. Press this.”
“Waaah!”
Excited, she squealed like a dolphin.
“I’ve never been this happy in my life!”
I nearly laughed at her words and quickly turned my head.
She’s only six years old, and she’s talking about life like this.
The child, half the height of an adult, talking about life—it was amusing, almost trivial. But even that triviality felt unexpectedly pleasant. Arthea looked so happy among the floating bubbles that I didn’t correct her.
I liked bubbles when I was little too. She likes them just like I did. That’s a relief.
The bubble wand also helped with bath time, making it easier to lead her to the bathroom. But that was just the beginning. I still had to remove her clothes and properly wash her, including the sticky residue in her hair.
“I’m a magician too!”
The wand fit perfectly in her hands. While Arthea excitedly played with bubbles, I called in the head maid and another maid who had experience caring for children.
“All right, come here.”
“No!”
Arthea, still focused on the bubbles, lifted her chin stubbornly.
“Don’t touch me!”
“Miss Arthea, but your hair is dirty…”
“I’m not saying I won’t wash!”
She said this firmly, her small beak-like mouth set with determination.
“I want to wash with Auntie!”
“I’m not very good at it…”
“It’s okay. I don’t want anyone else but you, Auntie.”
She had never been washed by anyone before. Especially now, she was dirtier than usual… I was nervous, but while playing with the wand, I noticed she still tightly held her stuffed cat. She hadn’t let go once.
“All right, Arthea, it might be a bit uncomfortable, but let’s do our best together.”
“Okay!”
The maid looked concerned, but I nodded firmly. I didn’t like that a shadow of unease had crossed her face, even though she was excited about the bubbles.
I don’t like washing myself either…
“Heehee!”
Splash!
Each time she splashed the water, bubbles flew into the air, and Arthea giggled with delight.
“What’s this bubbling thing?”
“It’s bath salt. When it hits the water, it dissolves and makes bubbles.”
Because Arthea liked the bubbles, she didn’t fuss or feel annoyed despite my slow and deliberate washing.
Phew, if she were any younger, I couldn’t have washed her.
I gently combed through Arthea’s hair. She seemed more relaxed than before, letting me touch her tangled hair with a smile.
Looks like she’s starting to feel comfortable.
Even though I had suddenly appeared and caused a commotion, demanding I raise her, Arthea was still just a child.
“…Ugh.”
“Arthea?”
Having just bathed, she moved and spoke more slowly than before. She didn’t seem upset, but it still worried me.
“Small children are sensitive when sleepy, tend to whine, and may speak less.”
“So she’s not sick.”
Thanks to the calm approach of the head maid, my worry eased. I scratched my cheek and approached Arthea, exhausted from doing something I wasn’t used to.
“Arthea, aren’t you sleepy?”
“Mm. I’m fine.”
Fine? She could barely keep her eyes open.
“Auntie, I want to stay with you.”
Her tone carried a hint of childish clinginess. Did anyone else feel uncomfortable with her except me?
It’s cute how she grabs my sleeve with her tiny hands, trying to hold on.
I gently enveloped her small hand in mine. My waist ached a little because of the height difference, but it was nothing.
“I was going to take a nap too.”
She must be tired. Even though she boldly said she ran away, she must have been tense getting here.
For now, she needs a proper nap.
Since it was still daylight, I drew the curtains and lay down beside her. The sunlight was warm, but it would disturb her nap.
Wrapped in a soft blanket, Arthea’s tiny mouth was slightly open.
“Auntie.”
Her eyes flickered open and closed repeatedly. I filled her purple eyes with my gaze.
“Thank you for making bubbles for me… the wand, the bath… for washing me…”
She should go to sleep soon. Was she keeping herself awake because I wasn’t there? As I cautiously lay down beside her, she continued speaking.
“And, and…”
But her next words didn’t come immediately. Thinking she might finally sleep, I gently stroked her hair.
Arthea just needed a little time. She buried her face in the pillow and murmured softly.
“Thank you for saying you like me…”
Her last words were so soft I almost missed them.
“….”
I felt I should respond but could only move my lips slightly. Still, the redness of her ears and her small fidgeting hands gave me courage.
“Yes, Auntie was happy that you came to see me too.”
I stayed by her side until her breathing steadied. My niece seemed to fall into a deep sleep not long after.
Of course—after traveling all the way from the ducal house, she had every reason to be exhausted.
Erios Killiet.
Although I lay beside her, I didn’t nap as I had told her. I was tired too, but seeing her angelic face asleep made my anger rise.
That brat… saying she’ll raise Arthea well, yet letting her run away?
I needed to find out what was happening at the Killiet Ducal House, how things were going, and what that brat was doing while my niece had gone missing.
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What happened at the Killiet Ducal House
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Whether they know Arthea disappeared
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The current atmosphere there
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Arthea’s reputation
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Information about Duke Killiet
I wrote down my thoughts on a note by the desk and silently sent it outside via a magically created bird. The first round was for basic information; the second round for more detailed reports.
