Chapter 4
“Madam, you really are like a lucky charm for our family. I never find a single coin even though I look at the ground every day, but you picked up a jewel the very first day you came here!”
Bella chattered beside me, her breath still white in the cold.
When I earn enough, the first thing I’ll do is heat this castle so much that it’s warm all the time.
“So, Madam, are you planning on picking up another jewel soon?”
“Bella, that was just luck,” I said calmly. Then I asked, “Don’t you have work to do?”
“My work is following you around, Madam.”
“I mean apart from that.”
A poor duke’s household wouldn’t assign a maid just for me.
“This really is my job. I prepare meals for the Duke and you, clean, wash clothes. I used to do other things, but since the maid who served the Duke ran away, I was reassigned as your maid.”
So she had been working as a nanny for the children before.
I ignored Bella’s sparkling eyes—waiting to see if I’d find another jewel—and changed the subject.
“By the way, isn’t it almost lunchtime?”
“Oh! It’s already that late! Madam, do you want anything special?”
“I’m fine. But isn’t there still some meat left from before? Please cook something that restores energy.”
I still hadn’t recovered from the shock of being malnourished.
I had grown up poor, but I had never actually suffered from malnutrition before.
“You always think of the Duke first, Madam. Don’t worry, I’ll cook with care!”
After sending Bella off, I was finally able to think alone.
I had to get back the money that Frugg had stolen, but I wasn’t sure when to tell Rus about it.
Maybe it would be better to first see how much Rus trusted Frugg.
Just then, Rus appeared in the distance.
“Rus!”
I waved cheerfully.
His cold eyes—like winter stars—softened into spring breezes when he saw me.
So cute.
I had once decided to keep my distance from him, back when I stamped my hand on the marriage papers, but I tossed that idea far away and waved even more.
How could I stay away from a boy this sweet? That would be like ignoring a baby kitten.
Since I nursed him, Rus had grown attached to me.
He ran up, stopped just a step away, spread his arms, and asked:
“Can I hug you?”
“Of course!”
I opened my arms first and hugged him tight. His warm childlike body felt so nice.
“You could hug me without asking, you know?”
“But if I ran and hugged you right away, you might get hurt.”
“What?”
Wait… he was worried I’d get hurt?
How is this boy so kind and cute?
And to think that one day he’ll grow up into the cold, ruthless duke who says, “Hmph. How trivial,” and never smiles until the heroine appears…
Maybe puberty really is scary.
I felt a little sad.
“Are you sad, Sister?”
“No… not really.”
I shook the thought off. Dwelling on it would only lead me to obsession—and to death flags!
Sure, he’ll marry the heroine one day. But she’ll never see this adorable side of him. That was my small comfort.
“Rus, is there anything you want?”
“Something I want?”
“Yes, anything at all! Tell me.”
Kids his age always want something. And I wanted to win his favor anyway. Besides, I did have money left from selling that jewel.
Really, I just wanted to buy him something.
He hesitated, then whispered in my ear:
“Then… can I buy you?”
“What? Me?”
I couldn’t laugh. If I laughed, I’d hurt his feelings. So I held it in and answered seriously:
“People can’t be bought or sold, Rus. Is there something else you want?”
“No…” he said sadly, shaking his head.
“Why would you want to buy me?”
“Because then I can stay with you forever.”
“But we’re already together all the time.”
I had been nursing him for days—basically with him from morning till night.
Still, he stubbornly shook his head.
“Not anymore. Lately we’re apart sometimes.”
Oh my god, so cute.
I had to bite my lip not to squeeze him too hard and crush him in my arms.
No friends his age, and adults always busy with work—of course he must be lonely here.
I was busy adoring him when a hateful face showed up.
prugg.
With a crooked smile, he approached.
“So, the young master is all better now? Didn’t I tell you? No need to waste money calling a doctor.”
Wow. He hadn’t even visited while Rus was sick, yet he dared say that.
He still hadn’t realized I secretly paid the doctor myself.
I stepped forward, shielding Rus behind me.
prugg sneered at us like a cat mocking a kitten, then left.
I turned back to Rus.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
From his reaction, it was clear they weren’t close. So I asked:
“Rus, are you friendly with that man?”
“…Not really. Father liked him, but I don’t.”
His sharp voice told me enough.
Good. Then it’s fine to move against him.
“Rus, would it be okay if I drove that man away?”
I wanted to add that he had stolen Rus’s inheritance and secretly embezzled money.
But before I could, Rus nodded.
“If you want to, then do it.”
His eyes were warm and trusting.
He completely relied on me. I couldn’t help but hug him tighter than ever.
And I decided to give him a gift.
***
After Rus got better, I wasn’t able to be with him all the time. I needed to adapt to this world, reread the original story, and spend time in the library.
But today, I decided to dedicate the whole day to him.
“Really? Really?”
His flushed cheeks showed his excitement.
His thin face had filled out a little lately, making him look even cuter.
“Yes, really!”
He bounced around in joy.
What should I play with him?
Since the snowstorm had ended, maybe outside?
I bundled him up in a thick coat, gloves, scarf, and a fluffy hat, then took him outside.
With all the layers, the once frail boy looked like a round snowball.
Hand in hand, we stepped into the snowy garden. Normally it looked gloomy, but today the blanket of snow made it charming.
Crunch, crunch—the snow squeaked under our feet.
Of course, this called for sledding!
I found a wooden board to use, carried it to a slope, and sat down with Rus in front of me.
His small body fit snugly in my arms.
“Hold the rope tight, Rus. And lift your legs, or we’ll slow down.”
I adjusted his position on the sled.
“Ready?”
“Yes…!”
“Okay, I’ll count down. Three, two…”
He looked back at me, and I smiled playfully.
“One!”
The sled shot down like an arrow.
“Waaaah!”
“Aaaaah!”
We both screamed in joy.
But—
Too fast!
We were about to crash into a tree.
I dragged my feet on the ground, slowing us down, but we toppled over anyway.
“Ow! Rus!”
My nose hurt from hitting his back, but I cared more about him.
He popped his head out of the snow with a “Pwah!” face covered in snow, eyes sparkling.
“Rus! Are you hurt?”
“No!”
His thick clothes had kept him safe.
Then he tugged my hand, eager for another ride.
He rarely asked for things like this, so his excitement warmed me.
This time, we chose a smaller slope and sledded safely several times until Rus grew tired.
He was still weak from being sick.
“Let’s play again next time, okay?”
When I tried to take him inside, he held my hand tightly.
“…You’ll be with me then too, right?”
“Of course.”
At that, Rus’s smile bloomed—like a flower on white snow.
***
The next morning, Bella came to wake Rus.
But she stopped in surprise.
On the wide bed lay two children.
Pelia, stretched out.
And Rus, curled up against her like a puppy.
It was an adorable sight.
Bella reached to wake Pelia—
But suddenly Rus’s red eyes snapped open. He grabbed her hand.
“….”
That piercing gaze made Bella shiver.
She had forgotten for a while, but Rus was still intimidating.
This cold, ghostlike boy in the vast, freezing castle.
Sometimes he didn’t feel human.
But since Pelia arrived, he had changed.
In front of her, he acted like a tame puppy.
Before, he was impossible to approach. Now, he almost looked like a normal child.
Thanks to Madam, I forgot my fear.
Bella looked at him nervously.
He released her hand and whispered:
“She went to bed late. Let her sleep.”
Then he lay back down beside Pelia, like a loyal guard dog.
Thank goodness Madam came.
Alone, Rus was frightening. But by Pelia’s side, he wasn’t scary at all.
