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Is this a childcare story? Chapter : 03
“W-what?”
Iestin was startled. How did she know that? Seeing his expression, the girl gave an awkward, shy smile.
“Actually, you’ve got an unfamiliar face I’ve never seen before. And I heard that some really important nobles from far away recently moved into a villa beyond the hill. So I just thought I’d ask.”
“Ahh.”
After hearing her words, Iestin quietly accepted it. Her face looked a little naive, but her deduction was sharper than it seemed.
‘Mother said it before. She built a villa in the quietest, most peaceful village in the Empire.’
It was an interesting situation. Normally, just hearing the name Valoir in the duchy would make people tremble.
But this girl, even after guessing he was a noble, acted so casually—as if she were talking to a neighborhood friend. The unfamiliar contrast made Iestin smirk inwardly.
“This is… interesting.”
Normally in a situation like this, he would have snapped something like, “Yes, I am the duke’s heir. Show some respect.” But strangely, he didn’t feel like doing that at all.
The girl’s rare innocence somehow made Iestin softer than usual.
‘This isn’t like me.’
In truth, he had always been known for having a bad temper. The reason was the curse that constantly caused his body pain. Or maybe that was just his nature.
Either way, in both the ducal territory and the capital, Iestin’s reputation was infamous. It seemed the rumors hadn’t reached this place yet.
‘They don’t know me… is that actually a good thing?’
Iestin thought for a moment. His father—the Duke of Valoir—had sent him here for recovery and strictly ordered him to keep a low profile to avoid trouble.
Of course, that also included not revealing which noble family he belonged to.
‘Yeah. It’s better to hide my family and name.’
After thinking it over, Iestin gave her a half-truth.
“Yeah. I’m staying at the villa. But I’m not really someone important, so don’t misunderstand.”
“O-oh! I won’t misunderstand!”
The girl, Mielia, waved her hands frantically, eyes wide in surprise. Seeing her, Iestin thought without meaning to:
‘What is she? She looks like a squirrel.’
Her plump cheeks and brown hair suited the image. Overlapping her with the small squirrel he had seen in the villa garden yesterday felt strangely natural.
Just then, the girl spoke again.
“Hey, are you hungry? Want something to eat?”
As she said that, Mielia opened a small bundle on the table.
Inside were several pieces of bread that looked hard as if they were made a long time ago, and a single sausage smeared messily with mixed sauces.
Just looking at it killed any appetite. Iestin replied instinctively.
“I’m fine. I’m not really hungry.”
At that exact moment, his stomach growled loudly.
Grrr.
“D-damn it!”
His mouth and stomach were completely out of sync. His face turned bright red.
‘Why now of all times?!’
It sounded like he was being picky about food. And if there was one thing he hated, it was acting pretentious about eating habits.
Iestin felt deeply embarrassed.
“Oh, sorry. Thinking about it, this probably isn’t your taste. Then do you want some fruit? I picked some apples from the mountain behind yesterday.”
Mielia smiled awkwardly and went into the kitchen.
A moment later, she returned with two apples—and Iestin narrowed his eyes.
‘Those look… pretty bad.’
The apples were bruised and rotten-looking in places. No matter how you looked at them, they didn’t seem freshly picked.
Seeing his expression, Mielia hurriedly explained.
“N-no, it’s just… they’re not spoiled! I climbed the tree to pick them, but the basket slipped and they rolled on the ground. I washed them in the stream, so it’s fine! You can eat them.”
“Hm.”
In Iestin’s mind, he pictured her picking apples. How did she even climb such a tall tree with those thin arms?
His gaze drifted to her arms—and he saw bruises scattered all over them.
The basket slipped? It didn’t look like only the basket had fallen.
“Your arms… you got hurt like that?”
“Huh? A-ahaha, you noticed.”
Mielia scratched her cheek awkwardly, smiling.
“It just happened. I’m actually really good at climbing trees… Even monkeys fall sometimes, right?”
Hiding her bruised arm behind her back, Iestin tilted his head. He had learned many proverbs from his tutor, but he didn’t remember anything like that.
“I’ve never heard that saying.”
“Well, um… my late mother used to say it…”
Oops. He almost touched a sensitive topic. Iestin quickly apologized.
“I see. Sorry.”
“N-no, it’s fine. Anyway, you don’t want to eat anything right now, right?”
“Yeah.”
Iestin nodded. Seeing his mood, Mielia cautiously asked:
“Then… is it okay if I eat alone?”
“Do whatever you want.”
“Okay!”
Without hesitation, she started eating the bread.
Watching her, Iestin almost laughed. She looked like a squirrel happily holding a big acorn.
‘She eats well… even that terrible bread.’
It looked hard enough to be stone, yet she chewed it without hesitation.
For some reason, Iestin thought he wanted to replace that awful bread with soft, fluffy white bread.
If she could eat stone-like bread so happily, how much would she smile eating something truly delicious?
‘I could give her better food just by taking her to the villa. Not as good as the ducal estate, but still.’
It was almost impulsive.
‘Well, she did save me when I collapsed by the roadside. I can repay her that much.’
Finding a good excuse, Iestin decided to take her to his villa.
“I think I’ll head back to the villa soon.”
“Huh? Already? Are you feeling better?”
She quickly came over, looking him over worriedly.
It didn’t feel bad to be cared for. Iestin lightly touched his forehead and replied.
“Not really, but there’s a doctor at the villa.”
“A doctor?”
Mielia tilted her head at the unfamiliar word. Iestin quickly explained.
“A doctor is someone who treats only me.”
“Oh, I see. Then it probably is better for you to go back there than stay here.”
She nodded in understanding. Seeing that, Iestin naturally tried to suggest they go together.
“Yeah. Then let’s go toget—”
“Then I’ll go to the villa and call someone! Someone strong who can carry you!”
“…What?”
This wasn’t going according to plan.
Iestin had intended to subtly persuade her to go with him, but things weren’t working out as expected.
After thinking for a moment, he spoke slowly.
“But if you go alone, the gate guard at the villa probably won’t let you in.”
“R-really?”
Her eyes widened in shock. Iestin’s lips curled slightly.
“Of course. We don’t let strangers in. And what if I collapse again while you’re gone?”
It was almost a threat disguised using his condition, but surprisingly, it worked.
Mielia panicked and looked like she might cry.
“T-then what should I do…?”
“What do you mean? You just support me and take me there.”
Iestin extended his hand.
Mielia hesitantly grabbed it—and only then realized what she had done.
“…!”
Her hand was rough from helping villagers with work, unlike his soft palm.
She worried he might find her hands unpleasant.
But contrary to her worry, the boy firmly held her hand and didn’t let go.
“What are you doing? Let’s go.”
The boy, a head shorter than her, naturally led Mielia forward.
