My body suddenly lifted, and before I knew it, my face was pressed against Uncle’s neck. I was hugging him.
“Are you crazy?!”
“U-Uncle…”
“Damn it! Do you not realize how dangerous that was?! You wanna get stomped to death by a horse?!”
Uncle’s voice boomed like thunder. Still in his arms, I quickly shook my head.
“N-No! I was just scared the horse was hurt… and you might get hurt too…”
Honestly, I was so shocked I thought my heart would explode. I was sweating like crazy.
And even though I was hugging the scariest person in the world—Uncle—I somehow felt safe. That surprised me most of all.
“….”
I finally came to my senses and looked up at Uncle again.
His face looked even scarier now, like he was about to yell at me again.
“S-Sorry, Uncle…”
I really didn’t think the horse would get that mad.
It felt like I got scolded by both the horse and Uncle… I almost started crying.
“Put Gunter away and check him.”
Uncle gave the order to the stablehand, then turned sharply while still holding me.
“Yes, Master. Oh dear, the young miss looks really shaken.”
Over Uncle’s shoulder, I saw the stablehand’s kind face.
I gave him a small, hidden nod, so Uncle wouldn’t notice.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t even properly greeted the stablehand.
I’ll thank him next time for sure.
I stayed quiet, watching Uncle as he walked quickly with long strides.
Then I finally spoke in a soft voice.
“Uncle… I’m sorry.”
Uncle stopped walking.
Worried I might get yelled at again, I bit my bottom lip.
“Let me see.”
He suddenly reached out, grabbed my chin, and turned my face left and right.
“….”
My head jerked side to side with his hand.
Ugh, I feel dizzy…
“You’re not hurt?”
“No…”
“This is exactly why I said I wouldn’t take care of you…!”
Uncle started shouting but stopped himself, letting out a frustrated grunt as he pushed his hair back.
His golden eyes looked so sharp I quickly looked down, sensing his mood.
Then he started walking again, fast.
Still, at least he didn’t toss me aside or anything.
I stayed quiet and held on tightly, trying to be invisible.
My heart was still pounding like crazy.
‘I almost got stomped by a horse… but at least I saved Uncle!’
He’s driving me crazy.
Cassel carried Aika, thinking to himself.
She was scared, yet still held onto his shirt like her life depended on it.
She kept looking for him all the time, every day.
It felt like her heartbeat was pounding right into him whenever he held her.
She wouldn’t stop talking, either.
It was irritating. Exhausting. Annoying.
Honestly… he was afraid.
To him, Aika looked like a candle about to go out at any moment.
So small, so fragile—like the tiniest ripple could knock her over.
Cassel was always brutally honest with himself.
He wasn’t someone who could handle something like this.
He had too many enemies.
He wasn’t like his sister, who would sacrifice herself for others.
Even she couldn’t protect Aika to the end.
If Aika stayed with him, she’d only get hurt more. Nothing good would come of it.
“Uncle… I’m sorry.”
The way she said it—her tiny mouth barely moving—made him feel sick to his stomach.
“Let me see.”
He scowled and checked her cheeks for any cuts.
Her pale, soft cheeks looked like fluffy white bread—thankfully, there wasn’t a scratch.
Still, anger rose again.
She should’ve stayed in that safe greenhouse. Why come here?
Her legs weren’t even longer than a horse’s—what was she thinking, reaching out like that?
Cassel sighed and tried to calm himself down.
This is why I can’t keep her here.
If he let her stay, trouble was guaranteed.
There was already one wild brat in the family—he couldn’t let there be two.
‘Not happening!’
That’s why he wouldn’t get attached.
Cassel planned to get Aika out of his sight as soon as possible.
She’d throw a tantrum a few more times and go back on her own.
He walked straight to Aika’s room and tossed her onto the bed.
“Oof!”
Aika flopped like a doll onto the bed, but quickly sat up and grabbed his sleeve tight.
“…Unbelievable.”
The first time he threw her on the bed, she was shocked and flailed around.
Now she just popped back up like a weeble toy.
If he left again, she’d definitely follow him like a shadow.
So stubborn. Just like her mother.
Actually, maybe even worse.
Cassel sighed in defeat, grabbed the back of Aika’s shirt, and scooted her to the edge of the bed—
then flopped down beside her with a thud.
“U-Uncle…?”
She sounded confused, but he didn’t answer.
He just threw an arm over his eyes.
From beside him came constant whispers:
“Uncle, are you sleeping?”
“Are you really sleeping?”
“Can I lie next to you?”
“Is it okay if I sleep beside you?”
Cassel ignored it all and shut his eyes tight.
Uncle must be asleep.
The bed was so big, even ten of me could fit on it.
But with Uncle lying diagonally across it, it looked full.
Is he really asleep?
I wanted to poke him and check,
but I was scared I’d get yelled at, so I just sat quietly nearby.
I turned my back to Uncle, let out a sigh, and whispered to myself.
I know… I did something wrong.
But I couldn’t help it.
I just wanted to protect him.
Today had been exhausting. I hoped I wouldn’t see any weird visions.
I didn’t even want to nap—I didn’t want to dream.
“Huff…”
But there was a problem.
I wanted to keep watch so Uncle wouldn’t leave,
but it was so boring sitting still alone.
When Mom used to work, I was alone all the time—so why was it so lonely now?
At Grandpa’s house, I could stay by his side even when he worked.
He even said I could wake him anytime, day or night, if I got bored.
Maybe because I got so scared earlier…
my eyes kept trying to close.
Should I just sleep?
If I slept right next to Uncle, I’d know when he moved.
I glanced around the room and suddenly had an idea.
I quietly climbed down from the bed and started opening drawers.
Eventually, I found a string.
Success!
I climbed back onto the bed and tried to tie my wrist to Uncle’s.
“…So hard…”
Tying knots with one hand was harder than I thought.
So I tied it around my ankle instead,
made sure it was secure,
and curled up next to Uncle.
“Just a short nap…”
I fell asleep instantly.
The next day, nothing between us really changed.
“Don’t you have anywhere else to play?”
“Nope! I like it here.”
He wasn’t nicer, but he wasn’t worse, either.
“There are better rooms, you know.”
“But I like this carpet, Uncle.”
I didn’t look up.
If I did, I was sure I’d see a vein popping on Uncle’s forehead.
He wasn’t even working anyway.
“You were always playing outside at the old man’s place.”
I was sitting right in the middle of Uncle’s office.
I held the paper down with one hand and drew a big tree with a crayon in the other.
Then I looked up brightly.
“How’d you know that?”
“You don’t need to know, kid.”
“Pssh.”
I lowered my head and kept drawing.
The soft brown crayon dragged across the paper with a thick stroke.
I pressed hard, trying to color the tree trunk evenly—
but I could still feel someone staring at me.
