Chapter 52
I didn’t understand the raven’s words, but they seemed to have shocked the young master. He flinched and pressed his hand against his forehead.
“Don’t tell me…”
“Young Master.”
I stepped between him and the raven and offered him some advice.
“Children resemble their parents. There’s nothing you can do about it. Just pretend you don’t know. I usually pretend I don’t know after breaking things in the mansion, and then I leave it to Head Butler Godora. You should do the same!”
“…”
“Leave it to me! Leave all the troublesome things to me! I’ll take care of them. I won’t let anything bother you. You can just sit here, sipping your tea and reading your books. See? It’s easy, isn’t it? Sounds relaxing, doesn’t it?”
I tried to sound cheerful, but I wasn’t sure if it was comforting. The young master, both physically and mentally fragile, just stared at me blankly.
“…Are you speechless because you’re so dumbfounded, or because you’re actually comforted? Honestly, I know I spoke out of turn. Give me some kind of reaction so it’s less awkward.”
“A bit of both.”
The raven, who had been watching us, led Castor down the stairs. He even said he would give us some alone time, how considerate. I had cursed him internally earlier, but now I was grateful.
It was getting dark outside. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed while I was unconscious, but it was already dusk. If the young master was actually planning to go to Dragon’s Waist, as the raven suggested, he would need a hearty meal.
I couldn’t trust the goblin cooks at the magic library. They made things like sautéed monster eyeballs. I had to go to the kitchen!
“Young Master, cheer up. Tell me you’re feeling better. Then I can go to the kitchen and prepare your meal.”
“Estella.”
He called my name softly and then asked something unexpected.
“What are you?”
It was a difficult question to answer.
“What kind of answer are you looking for? I’ll tell you exactly what you want to hear. Should I tell you what I think of myself, or my job and role, or what I like, or all of them in order?”
“…”
“Should I just keep quiet?”
He was such a complicated person. He seemed unsure of what he wanted to hear from me. Seeing his thick hair despite all his worries, it was clear that his father hadn’t just left him money. He should be more filial.
“Speaking of which, will you marry me?”
It was all for his parents. How happy would they be if he married a respectable woman? I might be lacking biologically, but I had many other advantages to compensate. And it didn’t matter if he rejected my proposal.
I would just keep proposing until he said yes. Even if I failed, I was his maid, so I could still stay by his side. There was nothing to lose by trying.
“I’ll make you happy for the rest of your life. I’ll change your clothes, organize your documents, manage your social life, chop wood, and even kiss you.”
Well, I was saying these ridiculous things to cheer him up. He would feel better if he could laugh and scold me like he usually did.
I waited for his usual reprimand, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he leaned closer, just like the raven had done earlier when he pretended to kiss me.
When we were so close that our noses almost touched, he closed his eyes. His eyelashes were so long and beautiful.
“What do I think you are?”
“I don’t know either.”
“Why do I feel so uneasy when strange people are around you?”
“Because they’re strange. And I’m a bit strange too…”
“I want to keep you by my side.”
“How can we be any closer? Young Master, if you come any closer, we’ll bump heads.”
I was complaining, but he didn’t seem to care. I was telling him to move his face because it was making me flustered, so why was he still doing this? What if I suddenly kissed him? Would he burst into tears?
I suppressed my urge to grab him by the collar and kiss him, maintaining a calm facade. He closed his eyes, his face too close for comfort, and then gently kissed my forehead.
That was enough to satisfy me. If he hadn’t kissed me, I would have tripped him and kissed him myself. It wasn’t fair for him to be so unguarded in front of someone who liked him.
“Better than bumping heads?”
“There are no words to describe it.”
I touched my forehead. His warmth, light as a feather, quickly faded. He should have had lips of steel, leaving a permanent mark on my forehead. Then I could have shown it off to everyone.
“Can you do it again, a little harder this time, so it leaves a mark?”
I asked, even though I knew he wouldn’t. He finally burst into laughter. He hadn’t laughed at any of my other attempts to cheer him up, but he laughed at my sincerity. He was so mean.
“Don’t laugh. I’m serious. I want to record every time our bodies touch. I’ll even write a book about it. ‘On this day, the young master kissed me,’ ‘On this day, our hands touched.’”
His laughter didn’t stop. Excited, I continued,
“That’s my true identity. Your stalker. The being that’s inseparably attached to you. How’s that for an answer?”
“It’s a bit unsatisfactory, but it’ll do.”
Perhaps growing bolder, he leaned closer, as if to rest his head on my shoulder. But he was too tall, so he couldn’t quite reach, and his nose just brushed against my ear.
It was too ticklish for a doll with sensitive senses.
“Young Master?”
His fingertips traced my chest, then pressed gently below my collarbone.
“Here. I placed your heart while you were asleep.”
“Wow! So my structure is closer to a human’s now?”
“Once you receive another type of magic, it’ll be complete. And at that moment, you’ll be out of my control. It was a difficult decision.”
As if trying to act pitiful, he slid down and sat in front of the large painting, patting the spot next to him. I quickly knelt beside him. He stared at me, then gently turned my knees.
“You don’t have to kneel. Just lean against me. You must have used up a lot of magic too.”
“I didn’t really feel it.”
“That’s because you’re dense. Idiot.”
Embarrassed, I glared at him. How could he look so handsome even when I glared at him? The young master who created me must have cast a love spell on my eyes.
“Promise me you’ll stay by my side even without my magic.”
“It goes without saying. I’m working on it.”
“Why didn’t you push the raven away when he tried to kiss you?”
“I wanted to assess the situation first. He’s Miss Baba’s guest, I couldn’t just push him away.”
“Hit him next time.”
“What?”
He frowned and rested his chin on his arm.
“Hit him. If he comes near you. Especially if it’s a human. Or a man.”
“Young Master…”
He seemed oblivious. I cautiously placed my hand on his.
“I’m the type of person who actually hits people when told to. Who’s going to clean up the mess? Head Butler Godora is at the mansion.”
“You can leave that to me. You told me to leave the troublesome things to you. It’s the same for me.”
“Yes!”
“And tell me the same thing.”
He looked as pitiful as a rained-on puppy. He was tall and seemed mature, but he was actually quite fragile. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like the Countess position should go to someone strong like me.
“Where should I start?”
“The hitting part.”
“Yes! Young Master, if a human man approaches you, hit him! And then come running to me.”
“…”
I did as he asked, but he suddenly sighed. Then he asked abruptly,
“Do you really like me?”
“Of course! There’s no doubt about it.”
“Really?”
“I would show you if I could.”
“I’m suspicious because I can’t see it. Right?”
“Yes…”
His eyes seemed to change for a moment. A sharp, almost predatory glint flashed through them. It was a darker, more intense gaze than the raven’s playful one.
But after that fleeting moment, his expression softened again. Was it my imagination? Our fragile and innocent young master couldn’t possibly make such a scary face.
“I trust you’ll understand me.”
“Even if I don’t understand, I’m ready to obey.”
We leaned against each other. I seized the opportunity and subtly took his hand. I had a feeling he would accept it this time. And I was right.
He held my hand tightly, leaned his head against mine, and said,
“If you were to wander around without me, for example, travel to another continent, I would be very worried. You know I’m weak, don’t you?”
I suddenly pictured him bashing zombies with his staff and then incinerating them with real magic. Well, he was strong in that sense, but he seemed emotionally fragile…
“That’s right. You’re too delicate to be left alone.”
“You must understand why I have to follow you everywhere.”
“Of course, of course.”
“That’s why I mixed my magic into your heart when I created it.”
He nuzzled his face against my shoulder and collarbone, acting spoiled. He was so big that it felt like hugging a wolf. I patted his back, worried that he might be upset, but he said casually,
“I’ll know where you are, no matter where you go.”