Chapter 41

I was immersed in reading when I suddenly heard a whispering voice.

[Sister.]

[Hmm?]

[Mr. Dog is asleep! I can hear him snoring.]

Ruri’s cute words made me smile. With one finger, I gently patted her on the head.

[Is Ruri going to take a nap too?]

[Yes! Ruri is going to sleep next to Sister!]

I brought the cushion from the sofa and put it on the table. Ruri settled lightly on it, gathered her wings back, and position herself comfortably.

The room was very quiet. As I stayed still, I could really hear the sound of snoring quietly.

As I turned around, I saw a dog lying silently in the basket. He seemed to have fallen asleep after I gave him some medicine as soon as we get here.

The anger that I had forgotten for a while rose.

‘What a bitch. You probably have to go through the same thing to come to your senses.’

I sighed and flipped over the book again. It was almost dinner time, so I fed him a meal, chatted with him a little, and returned to the palace.

I wonder what’s for dinner tonight.

As I wondered while waiting, Linda approached and announced an unexpected news.

“His Royal Highness said that he will have dinner here.”

(t/n: lols that’s not an unexpected news anymore.) 

“Really?”

It was sudden but it’s good news. That’s because the menu gets grander whenever Ains eats here.

My prediction was not wrong. The chef presented his dishes with all his might. Some of them are even dishes I have never seen before.

What kind of meat is it? It tastes unique.

“I heard you’ve been to Winston’s.”

The taste of the meat completely disappeared from my mouth. I stopped the knife for a moment and answered Ains.

“Yes. She said her dog was sick so she asked me to come and take a look.”

“You could have refused.”

“I wanted to do that too, but I had a clear idea of what she’s planning.”

If I refused to come there, she’ll surely tell the whole neighborhood that I didn’t come because I wasn’t confident.

“Was the dog really sick?”

“Yes, I brought him here to heal.”

“You brought it here?”

“Yes. He’s in a bad condition.”

I was going to tell him the real cause but I held it back. It was neither a good thing nor a good thing to say at a meal.

“Anything else?”

“There’s none.”

“….”

His gaze that seems to say ‘That couldn’t be the case’ came flying towards me. I shrugged my shoulder once.

“Because I came out before I get caught in it.”

Maybe, as Ains’ thought, I dug another trap.

But I was very angry, that’s why I turned around coolly and left her an invitation to come to the palace next time.

“By the way, I received the gift you sent me. Thank you.”

Was it two days ago? When I came back from the walk, Linda was waiting for me with a happy face.

“His Royal Highness sent you a gift!”

When I entered the room, wondering what it was, there was really something on the table.

A lovely white bouquet, and a red box. When I carefully opened the lid, I found a large necklace and bracelet studded with gems.

I searched for any chance, but there was no note.

‘Why did he send it all of a sudden?’ I thought.

Nevertheless, a smile already hung on my mouth. I placed the bouquet of flowers beautifully in a vase, while I kept the set of accessories on my secret safe, as I hum at his surprise gift.

“Have you thought about what you want?”

“Yes.”

He looked at me as if he’s asking me to continue.

“May I ask for something else…not something I want to have?”

“Go ahead.”

“I want to go back to my hometown.”

“Your hometown?”

“Yes, it’s my mother’s birthday soon. I want to see Boraengie, too.”

When I tried to think of home, I remembered the face of Boraengie, who was happily tailing behind me. Just thinking about it made me miss him even more.

“…..Boraengie?”

“Yes, he’s my only friend, and he’ll be very happy to see me.”

“……are you very close?”

“Of course. I like him the most.”

A happy smile came out of my face. He’ll definitely be surprised once I get home, right?

But unlike me, Ains kept his mouth shut.

(t/n: HAHAHA he’s jelly jelly towards Boraeng-ie  BORAENG-IE IS DA REAL 2ND LEAD ALL ALONG!)

His face was expressionless. I’ve been seeing that expression since I get here, but for some reason, I could feel the subtle difference in it than his usual one. I don’t know why but I don’t feel good looking at him. After a while, Ain’s lips moved slowly.

“No. “

Ack!  Why?!

But before I could protest, Ains immediately added.

“Glick has been wanting to go out during the day these days. Besides, he always ignores the meals other attendants bring. He doesn’t even look at it. What if he stops eating again if you’re not the one bringing his meals?”

Wouldn’t he eat it if he gets hungry anyway?

I was going to ask back, but I held back. Somehow the atmosphere is telling me not to say that.

“Then, if you take care of him in the meantime…”

“I’m going to leave the palace soon for an inspection. It’s for quite a long time.”

He was as determined as if he’s saying that I should not even think about handing Glick over to him.

I was exhausted by his vague answer. It was all the more shocking because I thought I would be allowed to leave for a few days.

I’m sorry, Auntie. I’m sorry.

Choosing silence, I focused on poking the steak with a fork. Then there was a voice that asked calmly as if it were fanning the fire.

“Anything else you want?””

Grrr.

I answered, forcing up the corners of my mouth.

“No, there isn’t.”

It was a late night. The palace was shrouded in thick darkness.

Ains has been laying on his bed for quite some time now and he still can’t seem to fall asleep.

He looked up at the ceiling with his hand clasped on his head. He kept thinking about what happened during dinner. Maria looked very happy at the start of their meal.

As usual, she told him about her visit to Winston House today, while eating happily.

Fortunately, there seemed to be nothing serious on her face.

When he first heard the report that Maria had gone to the Winston Estate, he was very worried.

It is easy to find out anything that happened in the palace, but there were limitations in other places.

He could not help but be more concerned because Roselia had already hurt Maria. That’s why even though he was busy, he still went to the Detached Palace and had dinner with her.

Then he heard her thanking him for the gift, he scolded himself for almost trying to get up without realizing it.

It was worth asking Tyr in the face of embarrassment. He was determined to send gifts with a reason from time to time, that’s why he suddenly asked.

“Have you thought about what you want?”

“Yes.”

Ains suddenly choked on what he’s eating and coughed loudly when Maria responded with a bright smile. His heart seemed to be beating a little bit too much than normal.

“May I ask for something else…not something I want to have?”

“Go ahead.”

“I want to go back to my hometown.”

My fingertips flinched at her unexpected wish. I was willing to listen to any of her requests even if she asked for something unreasonable, but he never thought she would ask him to give her permission to go back to her hometown.

The following words shocked him even more.

Maria’s face was full of smiles as if just thinking about it makes her very happy. Her eyes are even shining.

“I want to see Boraengie, too.”

“….Boraengie?”

“Yes, he’s my only friend, and he’ll be very happy to see me.”

On the other hand, Ain’s expression gradually hardened.

“……are you very close?”

“Of course. I like him the most.”

“No. “

A surprisingly low voice came out of his mouth. In fact, he was also surprised when he said it, but he thought it was better that way.

Fortunately, he had a good excuse called Glick, and Maria nodded convincingly.

But her expression was bleak.

Even though she didn’t say a word, it was obvious that she’s disappointed. Ains, who sees it, was also not comfortable.

Actually, her request wasn’t really impossible. He’s indeed going on an inspection, but a specific schedule has not been decided yet, that’s why he can provide Glick’s meals for a few days.

But he couldn’t care less about what Maria said with a smile.

“I like him the most.”

From the beginning, Maria came up to Hardel only to treat Glick. He was the one who stopped her from going back after completing her mission.

The people were not aware of the contract, and no one knew.

That’s why no one will know even if Maria decided to break the contract and say she doesn’t know anything about it.

She may not want to come back if she goes home. Especially if she has someone she likes waiting for her back home.

Since then, the atmosphere of the meal has been a mess, needless to say. He asked if there was anything else she wanted, but Maria replied there’s none immediately.

“Haaa… “

Ains closed his eyes with a long sigh.

‘Is it alright if I let her go? It’s her mother’s birthday after all. But what if she really doesn’t want to come back, how about Glick…’

‘Hold on.’ 

Ains stood up in a flash. An idea popped-up across his mind.

‘Where was Maria’s hometown again?’

The memory of quickly scrutinizing her past stopped somewhere. He also thought of the topography of the empire.

A smile bloomed on his face.

‘If I remember correctly, the area where the problem occurred and Maria’s hometown were quite close, even though it’s in different places.’

‘What a coincidence.’

And it was a pleasant coincidence.

When the problem was resolved, he felt relieved as if something heavy was lifted from his mind.

Ains closed his eyes instantly fell asleep.

Whether the palace pharmacist brought such good medicine, Helena’s companion, Coco, made surprisingly fast progress.

He kept sleeping on the first day, and by the next day, he emptied the soup plate and went around the room to smell it.

And today he looked completely refreshed. He kept asking me to play, that’s why I took Coco to the grass on the promenade.

Coco was a very active dog. It was heartbreaking to think that such a fellow was drooping in pain. On the other hand, it was fortunate that he got healthy quickly.

“Fetch!”

I threw a wooden ball forward. Coco who ran excitedly on the grass, jumped and took the ball with his mouth, and then returned to where I was.

He raised his head to the fullest, seemingly in high spirits. I gave Coco a big smile and patted him on the head.

“Good job, Coco.”

“Arf!”

“Are you having fun?”

“Arf!”

“Okay, one more time!”

I threw the ball with all my might, but for some reason, Coco didn’t move.

“Arrrf-!”

Come to think of it, his gaze is strangely not on me.

What’s wrong?

As soon as I looked back, I screamed in surprise.

“Mommy!”

Ains was standing up like Jangseung*. I stood up from the bench, calming my surprised heart.

(t/n: a Korean totem pole use to ward off evil spirits lololol. They look like this.) 

Sksksks Ains is surprisingly pure. Lols He will be surprised once he met Boraengi, his biggest rival.