TLFP 3

Chapter 3

“Gasp!”

I shot upright in bed, eyes flying open.

I quickly pulled the blanket into my arms and hugged it tightly. The soft, fluffy feeling calmed me a little.

“…It’s not a dream, right?”

I hurriedly looked around.

Then I looked down at my hands.

Still small. Still delicate.

There was ink on them—I must have fallen asleep while writing last night.

I checked under my pillow and found the notebook I had hidden with the last thread of my rationality.

Turning my head, I saw a bowl of porridge on a nearby table, now completely cold.

The maid must have come early and left it there.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

The fireplace, which had crackled brightly through the night, had long since gone out, leaving only a biting chill behind.

I hopped down from the bed, stuffed some of the firewood stacked nearby into the hearth, then tore up the messy notes I had scribbled yesterday and used them as kindling.

I had already organized my thoughts. There was no need to leave evidence behind.

“Where are the matches?”

Brr, it’s freezing.

Shivering, I spotted the matchbox on the mantle above the fireplace and stood on my tiptoes to reach for it.

“Unngh…”

Short.

Way too short.

With a deep sigh, I dragged a chair over from the desk.

Climbing up with some effort and stretching on my toes, I barely managed to grab the matches.

So small…

Even to myself, my shrunken hands looked ridiculously tiny.

Clutching the match firmly, I struck it against the rough side of the box—scratch, scratch—and it flared to life.

I lit the paper and tossed it into the fireplace. The flames quickly caught onto the dry logs.

After pushing the chair aside, I crouched in front of the hearth, blowing warm air onto my hands and body as I thawed.

Father usually came at night.

Right before I fell asleep, or after I already had.

So the fireplace in my room was only lit late in the afternoon, around the time dinner was brought in.

Honestly, the maids are so calculating.

Well, I was used to it. It wasn’t the first time I’d dealt with this kind of neglect.

They never openly bullied me or laid a hand on me, so I never felt the urge to retaliate.

If I were a commoner, lighting the fireplace myself wouldn’t even be unusual.

And having meals brought to me at all was something to be grateful for.

Rather than completely ignoring the granddaughter who only drained money on medicine, they had at least assigned me a maid.

I pulled my warmed body back onto the bed.

I gulped down the cold porridge and set the empty bowl aside.

First, I should get today’s newspaper.

I hadn’t been reading newspapers at this age yet, but if I asked the butler, he’d probably give me the copy Grandfather had already read.

The butler was one of the few people in this house who didn’t look at me with prejudice.

I climbed down from the bed and changed into a dress from the wardrobe, wrapping a shawl around my shoulders.

It was a bit crooked since I had to wrestle with it using my tiny hands, but as long as it was warm, that was fine.

The residence where Father and I lived was a detached annex, separate from the main estate.

Apparently, when Father brought me home, Grandfather told him to get out if he didn’t want to see us and had us sent away.

…He looked terrifying.

I remembered seeing him a few times in the past.

Unlike Father’s refined, handsome features, Grandfather had a rugged, harsh appearance—and whenever he looked at me, his face was twisted in displeasure.

So I was afraid of Grandfather—

No, of the family head.

I wrapped the shawl tightly around myself and stepped outside.

It was winter, and the cold bit through me. One shawl wasn’t nearly enough.

Ahead stood a statue of a four-legged beast with long fangs.

A black tiger—the symbol of the family.

The Ducal House of Tigreto.

One of the great pillars of the Empire, ruling vast southern territories.

Legend said that a black tiger who once protected a golden dragon was their ancestor, which made the black tiger their emblem.

The current duke and family head—my grandfather, Magnum Tigreto—was hailed as a hero of the Empire for eradicating countless barbarians in the southern lands and bringing peace.

I’d heard something about his ability… but all I knew was that wherever he went, there was only the acrid smell of burning left behind.

I had once tried to gather all kinds of information in hopes of earning a bit of affection, so I knew quite a lot.

What he hated most was insubordination and bloodlines of unknown origin.

And Father had committed both.

That was why we’d been exiled to the annex.

Lost in thought, I toddled along for nearly an hour before finally reaching the main estate.

When Father carried me, it used to take less than twenty minutes.

“Phew, it’s cold.”

I’ll just deliver the message and leave quickly.

As I approached the main entrance, the guards looked down at me with puzzled expressions before frowning.

“…Who are you? The servants’ quarters are over there.”

Of course. I hadn’t expected them to recognize me. At this age, I’d only come to the main house two or three times.

“Um… no. I came to see the butler.”

“The butler? Were you sent on an errand? We weren’t told anything. Hey, do you know whose kid this is?”

“What are you talking about? With the master’s temper, who’d send a child on errands?”

One of the soldiers knelt down and pulled something from his pocket.

A piece of candy.

“Little one, I’m sorry, but not just anyone can enter here—”

“What’s all this commotion?”

At the sound of the voice, the soldier stiffened and quickly stood.

Ah. Younger than I remembered, but familiar.

“Butler Bell. There was a servant’s child who got lost. We were just explaining and sending her back.”

“A lost child…?”

A tall, middle-aged man in a neat tailcoat leaned between the two guards.

“Ah! Butler!”

I beamed brightly.

“I’m sorry for coming so suddenly!”

In case he couldn’t see me, I hopped up and down, waving one hand high.

“You said before that if I needed anything, I could come to you… Do you remember me?”

The butler stared down at me for a moment before his eyes widened.

“…Lady Redeia?”

“Yes! It’s me!”

“My goodness. You came all this way alone in this weather? What brings you here—no, come inside at once.”

“Um…”

Am I allowed in there?

I tilted my head slightly.

I vaguely remembered Grandfather saying I was never to set foot in the main estate.

If I go in, the butler might get in trouble.

I smiled brightly and shook my head.

“No, I have to go back soon! It’s about the newspaper!”

“…The newspaper?”

“Yes! Could you send me Grandfather’s newspaper with dinner, after he’s finished reading it?”

The butler blinked in surprise, then nodded slowly.

“That’s not difficult… but at least come in and warm yourself. I’ll have a carriage prepared—”

“It’s okay! I can manage on my own!”

I clenched my tiny fist.

It was my way of showing I wasn’t troublesome—that I was useful.

But for some reason, the butler’s brow furrowed faintly.

Oops. Was I too eager? I should leave before I lose points.

Besides, it was freezing.

“Thank you! Please don’t forget! I’ll be going now!”

I bowed and hurried down the few steps.

“Lady! At least take a scarf—wait a moment—”

The butler called out urgently, but I waved him off.

Success!

My heart pounded wildly as I placed a hand over my chest. Thankfully, I hadn’t stuttered.

My body may be younger, but it’s sturdier than before.

I’d walked for an hour and could still keep going.

Children’s stamina really was impressive.

Thinking that, I started back the way I came, moving my legs diligently.

My cheeks felt frozen, and I shivered.

My legs were starting to ache a little too.

“Ugh.”

Maybe I should rest for a moment?

Looking around, I spotted a cluster of cats huddled together beneath a tree, nestled among some bushes.

…They look warm.

I glanced around, then crouched low and approached them quietly.

The cats meowed in complaint at my intrusion.

I slipped a hand between their bundled bodies—and it was warm.

“Let me join you for just a bit.”

I gently pulled a large one into my arms. It let out an annoyed cry before settling down.

Soon, the other cats seemed to approve of my body heat and began pressing close to me.

Warmth surrounded me.

My eyelids grew heavy.

I’ll just rest for a little…

With that thought, my head drooped forward.

“…Hey. What exactly is this?”

I didn’t even notice the harsh, incredulous voice that sounded above my head.