CH 5

I was so surprised that I dropped the chicken from my hand. My whole face was red with shame.

I sit there, squeezing a piece of cake in my other hand, and blushed deeply as I stare at Jade.

How did it look in his eyes?

“Uh, uh.”

“You are sitting in my chair.”

Jade threw this at me.

Now my cheeks are on fire. I took someone else’s place.

“Sorry!”

I immediately wanted to get up. However, the chair was too high. I almost fell to the floor.

Oooh…

Jade grabbed my waist and held me.

He lifted me up so easily that I felt like a little doll.

“My place is here, and this is my father’s place. And now your place will be opposite mine.”

“Yes…” I managed to squeeze out.

“You smell like soap.”

Jade inhaled deeply. I got a little nervous.

“That was my strawberry pie.”

My mind went blank.

Did I steal food made especially for Jade? I don’t want to be the kind of person who steals other people’s food…

In the bathroom, after listening to Zion’s words, I decided that I should definitely be friends with Jade. But here I was in this situation.

Tears came to my eyes.

“What’s up with you?” Jade asked.

“I ate the whole lunch.”

I burst into tears.

‘Even the master’s food.’

“I was waiting for you to eat together. But…”

In those days when I was lucky with alms, I shared with other children even the last piece of stale bread.

This is how the beggars survived without theft. If you go to steal, you will be immediately caught and dragged away from where they do not return.

“I’ve always shared food with friends.”

“I wanted to be friends with you, but now I’m only guessing if you’ll eat me alive.”

Jade leaned closer to me and looked me over.

“You reminded me of someone.”

“Who?”

“My pet.”

I almost coughed.

“Yes? It must have been your favorite pet.” I answered.

“Yes. And he died because my experiment failed.”

Experiment? What kind of experiment? My hands trembled without my knowledge.

“Let’s not talk about it.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” I forced out a smile.

“Compliment?”

“Yes, you said it was your favorite pet.”

Judging by his appearance, Jade thought I was strange.

What’s the matter? This look of his…

I remembered everything I knew about Jade.

He had an eerie aura, he was strong, and he was as interesting as his father.

Jade leaned closer to me and spoke to me in an even softer voice.

“Call me Jade. I’ll pretend I didn’t see you stuffing your mouth.”

I nodded my head.

“But have you seen?”

“I was very curious. I’ve never seen a child eat so much in one sit.”

“…”

“I have a question. Did you say you only eat once a day?”

This is what I said the Duke. I tried to show myself tough enough, to show that I can work all day.

“Yes.”

“Why do you only eat once a day, and why so much at once?”

“…”

My face flushed even more.

…Maybe because I didn’t have enough food to eat three times a day? Does that sound strange to such a person?

He slipped a piece of cake directly into my palm.

“Eat more,” Jade whispered. “I just enjoy watching you eat. I fed Popo to make it as thick as a ball. Oh yes, Popo is a cat.”

“I think he’s a very cute cat.”

“Show you his stuffed animal?”

Popo… it’s a stuffed animal.

Suddenly my throat went dry. I lifted fruit juice to my lips.

“You have this red flower.”

He noticed my flower.

“Where did you get it?”

“Yes, well?”

I remembered Collen’s surprised expression when he saw these flowers.

What’s wrong with that?

“I didn’t steal it.”

“Huh…” Jade pulled back and lifted his chin. “But why did my father suddenly want to adopt you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Have you ever killed?”

I shook my head hastily.

“No.”

“Even by mistake?”

“No. I’m still small. I don’t have enough strength.”

Jade nodded. Apparently, my words were convincing.

“Wasn’t even an accomplice?”

“No.”

“…Have you ever committed even the smallest sin?”

I ran through my memories. I hesitated and decided to confess.

“…Once I was accused of pickpocketing. I picked up the wallet of a passing person and wanted to return it, but they noticed me and considered me a thief… But… Oh, I really didn’t steal anything.”

Jade was surprised, and his cheeks were flushed.

“Were you often beaten?”

“…I got a slap in the face somehow.”

I received a very hard blow and fell to the ground. Then they beated me. Then I almost died.

“I thought you were just my father’s new toy. Which he sheltered in order to eventually kill.”

It was only then that I realized what Jade’s questions were driving at.

Collen takes and kills only those who have sinned.

“But why do you want to be friends with me?”

“…I’m thankful to you.”

“Thankful?”

“Yes. You are the reason they keep me here.”

“It was my father’s decision.”

“But he must have taken care of your desires before deciding to adopt me? For Duke you are his precious son. If you had objected, I would have been kicked out right there.”

“…”

” Because the Duke will take your opinion very seriously… that’s why I’m grateful.”

An odd smile spread across Jade’s face.

“Brother and sister can’t be friends.”

“…Yes.”

“But we can be closer. I like to watch you eat.”

“This was only today. I usually don’t eat that much…”

Ah, he doesn’t hate me, I’m very lucky.

“But who hit you on the cheek? Bad guy?”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember his face?”

“No.”

It was so long ago. Also, I deliberately tried to get it out of my head. At the time, I was even scared to think about it.

“Please tell me if you remember. I’ll find him and fix it.”

I blinked.

“Do you play croquet?”

“No.”

I didn’t even know what it was.

“How about a ball game?”

“I like it.”

When I was very young, my friends and I played with a ball made of braided rice straw.

Jade smiled at my reply.

“I’ll let you play ball with that guy’s head.”

At that moment, although I remembered the face of that person, I decided that I had to hide the truth.

“I have a souvenir for you.”

“Souvenir? Is this an expression of benevolence.”

An alarm siren sounded in my head.

“It will be surprise.”

“Thank you, young master.”

“Call me Jade.”

“Okay. I am Lee.”

Jade nodded as if satisfied with my reaction.

“But after what experiment Popo died?”

When we become friends, won’t I become the subject of his next experiment?

“I experimented with his environment because he was sick. Well, like put him in a warm place, change the bedding and change his food. But the disease was incurable. Originally, it wasn’t a type that had a long lifespan.”

Ah, after all, he cared about Popo.

“Popo will appreciate the experiment.”

I was glad that his nature didn’t differ from his character in the novel.

Everything was in its place.

Jade wasn’t a bad guy. He’s just that kind of person. He is from Duke’s family.