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Episode 4
Young Master’s face, which had been staring blankly at me, suddenly scrunched up. His thick eyebrows shot up, and his eyes glared with full force.
“Is breakfast really that important?”
“Yes, it’s important. You have to eat breakfast. It helps you grow tall and stay healthy.”
At the mention of height, the Young Master flinched.
“Who said I’m short! You’re small too, you know.”
“I never said you’re short. I am a bit small myself, but that’s because I didn’t eat well when I was younger.”
This was a trick I often used with the children I looked after in the village. If you tell them they’ll grow taller by eating well, they gobble up their food without complaint.
“…Then hurry up and bring it.”
Of course.
I moved the chairs piled up in front of the door and unlocked the latch.
He really went all out to keep me out, huh.
I set the food from the trolley on the table, and the Young Master shot me a scowling glare. I set everything carefully under his watchful eyes.
“Enjoy your meal, Young Master.”
But instead of saying “thank you” or anything polite, the Young Master blurted out something else entirely.
“Tell me the truth. You’re an assassin, right?”
Again with the assassin thing? Why does he keep saying that to me?
He must have been reading too many novels with assassins lately.
“I’m not an assassin, Young Master. I’m your maid.”
“Don’t lie. What kind of maid sneaks in through a window?”
“That’s only because you didn’t open the door. You still have to eat, right?”
“…Why are you so obsessed with food? Did someone poison it?”
“Why would I do something like that?”
Not the answer he wanted, apparently. His mischievous little face twisted into a frown.
“I’m not eating.”
He had crossed his arms firmly. There was no way he’d eat like this.
If he refuses this way…
I quickly scooped a big spoonful of soup.
“What are you—!”
I used the chance when his mouth opened to quickly feed him the soup. His green eyes went wide in surprise.
“Why would you shove that food into my mouth that I’ve already seen?!”
“See? Nothing’s wrong. No poison.”
“What… huh…”
“Since you don’t trust me, I wanted to show you it’s safe. If you want, I can try the next one first, too. Fried egg? Sausage?”
I reached for the fork, and the Young Master snatched it away.
“Enough! Go away.”
“Can you eat by yourself?”
“Of course I can! You think I’m some kid who can’t eat on my own?”
Ah… right.
I said exactly what I was thinking without thinking. At ten years old, he really is just a child.
I had imagined all noble children would be polite and refined, but he’s just a regular ten-year-old.
At first, I was nervous, but now he feels just like the cute little kids I used to take care of in the village.
There were kids like him in the village who acted stubborn and rude at first. Eventually, they opened up to me.
How cute they were, always calling me “big sister” and following me around.
Maybe the Young Master will start calling me by my name once we get closer…
“Why are you smirking? Are you mocking me?”
Snapping out of my thoughts, I quickly changed the subject.
“I’ll go change your bed sheets, so eat comfortably.”
I dashed to the bed. I felt his piercing eyes on me, but I didn’t look back. I didn’t want another rude comment.
Luckily, the Young Master ate quietly while I prepared the bed sheets.
Now, onto the next step…
I peeked and cautiously approached the table.
“What now?”
He squinted his eyes sharply, his shoulders stiff like a tense cat.
He looks like a gentle puppy, but his personality is a fierce little tiger.
“You finished eating?” I asked.
“Can’t you tell? I already did.”
Why do they always have to be so rude in their tone? I thought nobles would be refined.
“Since you’ve eaten, it’s time for your medicine.”
I took the medicine out of my apron pocket and set it on the table. The Young Master shivered and sat rigidly, like a cat seeing a needle.
“You…?”
And then he shouted with a twisted expression:
“I’m not taking it!”
I expected this. A young master who won’t eat willingly wouldn’t take medicine either.
I had already thought of three ways to get him to take it.
Threaten him.
“Take this or no dessert.”
Failed.
Beg sincerely.
“Please, Young Master… It’s for your own good.”
Failed.
The final plan…
“Don’t touch me. If you try to force me, I won’t forgive you.”
Even before trying, I failed.
He was not easy at all.
In the village, I could lure kids with candy, but he refused dessert. How could I trick him now?
Then an idea popped into my head.
“Alright.”
I pretended to put the medicine back into my pocket and secretly slid it into the right sleeve of my oversized maid uniform. It was big enough to hide the bottle.
I also slipped some candy into the other sleeve, just in case.
“Look, Young Master!”
I spread both hands wide. The Young Master glanced at my empty hands.
“What are you showing me? There’s nothing there.”
“Exactly. There’s nothing.”
“Hmm.”
“Now, the most hated medicine of yours will appear in my hand!”
“…What?”
His green eyes sparkled with interest. Just as I thought.
I flipped my hand to reveal the medicine and waved it with a dramatic flourish.
“Haap!”
I clenched my fist around the bottle inside my sleeve and waved my empty back-of-hand toward him.
The Young Master stared at my hand, eyes wide.
“Magic words, Abra-cadabra, yup!”
I pretended to chant a spell and held my fist out. When I opened it, the medicine was in my palm. His eyes widened like saucers.
“What… how?!”
He opened his mouth in surprise, and I laughed at how cute he looked.
“It’s magic! I moved the medicine from my pocket.”
“No way! There’s no magic in the world!”
Of course, it wasn’t real magic, just sleight of hand. But for a ten-year-old, it worked perfectly.
“…You’re not faking, are you?”
The Young Master inspected the bottle suspiciously, turning it around.
Meanwhile, I carefully placed the candy on top of the chair back where he was sitting. It was high enough that he couldn’t see it unless he turned around.
Now, all I needed was a little shake of the chair to make the candy appear. Magic complete!
“It’s not fake. If you don’t believe me, you can check by taking it yourself.”
“…No. You’re trying to make me take the medicine, right?”
Ah, he caught me.
“Ah, fine. This is the medicine hidden in my sleeve, yes.”
Cheeky kid. Quick-witted.
I smiled casually and prepared my next move.
“If you really don’t trust me, I can show another magic trick.”
“What are you planning now?”
“This time, I’ll make your favorite dessert appear.”
“…I won’t be fooled. Roll up your sleeves.”
I quickly rolled up my sleeves to show they were empty.
“All checked?”
The Young Master examined it carefully, frowning.
Hands empty, sleeves empty. Now he should fall for it, right?
“Alright then…”
I stepped closer to him.
“Hey! Get away!”
Why not?
Because I was about to gently drop the candy from the chair right above his head.
