AFRPR 13

Chapter 13

For some reason, the person smiled when they heard those words.

‘Do they like it when I say “oh my, oh my”?’

‘But I like it best when they call me “my baby.”’

Whenever someone said that, good things happened—like getting yummy food or being hugged tightly by Grandma.

“You’ve had many cute names. But from now on, you’ll have a new one—Duren.”

“Duren?”

“Yep. It means something like ‘pretty.’”

When someone called him “pretty puppy,” even better things happened than just “puppy.”

Somehow, Duren felt happy.

“Duren likes it!”

“Then Duren, do you want to go out and play today?”

“Go out and play?”

Walk! It meant a walk.

This place was strange.

There were lots of unfamiliar people.

But Duren was brave because he was with her.

‘She’s a nice and pretty person, so I’ll protect her!’

Duren made up his mind and bravely stretched out a “front paw.” It was his first bold step for a walk.

“Duren.”

“Yeah?”

But as soon as he stepped forward, she stopped him.

“How about we walk on two legs today?”

Two legs?

He tilted his head, confused. She gently held his sides and lifted him.

“Heave-ho. Like this.”

Duren stood up awkwardly.

He had walked on two legs before, trying to copy Grandma. But it felt weird, so he quickly went back to walking on all fours.

‘Huh?’

He carefully took a step back and was surprised.

Walking on two legs felt better this time!

Wobble wobble.

Even though it felt good, it was unfamiliar—like a baby learning to walk for the first time.

He wobbled a few times but didn’t fall.

“Let’s go this way instead.”

As Duren slowly followed Estelle, his eyes soon filled with betrayal.

‘Liar.’

She hadn’t taken him outside.

It was a huge bathtub.

“Let’s try going in here.”

Duren stared at her, then sat down and tightly shut his eyes.

Whenever Grandma made him do something he didn’t want to, he pretended to be asleep like this.

This time, he squeezed his eyes shut again… but then he heard her laughing.

And then—

Squeak, squeak.

A strange sound caught his ears.

His ears perked up. Duren peeked one eye open.

“Duren, don’t you want to play with the duck?”

She was holding a yellow rubber duck.

Squeak squeak squeak.

Duren was curious.

But he still didn’t want to touch the water.

“The water is warm too.”

While he hesitated, she dipped her hand, then even her foot, into the water.

‘Danger!’

Duren panicked and ran toward her.

He tried to pull her out of the tub, but he slipped and fell in!

The floor was extra slippery.

‘Ahhh!’

He almost hit the bottom of the tub—but she caught him just in time.

“Duren?”

“We have to run away!”

Deep water is dangerous!

Duren bit her clothes and tried to pull her out.

But she didn’t budge.

‘Why not?’

When he looked up, she was smiling gently and holding his hand.

“It’s okay. There’s no need to run.”

That’s when Duren realized—his feet touched the bottom of the tub.

As he blinked in surprise, she pulled their hands into the water.

“See? Nothing scary. You can just relax and have fun.”

It kind of felt like the shallow stream he used to visit.

He had lots of fun there—splashing and rolling around.

‘This looks fun!’

Realizing the tub was safe, Duren began playing with the toys.

Then something trickled down his cheek.

It was soap bubbles.

Yum.

He tried to lick it without thinking—

“Stop!”

She grabbed his shoulders in shock.

It was the first time she raised her voice. Duren flinched.

“Don’t eat the bubbles.”

“Okay…”

Realizing he got scared, she quickly offered him something else.

“Since you stayed in the tub so well, I’ll give you this.”

A treat!

He happily munched on the snack. But then bubbles tickled his neck.

Shake shake shake!

He shook his head hard—sending bubbles flying everywhere.

Some landed on her face.

‘Oops!’

Did he mess up again?

Duren got nervous.

But—

“Pfft, hahaha.”

She burst out laughing.

“It’s hard, right? We’re almost done. Try not to shake again, okay?”

She gently wiped the bubbles from Duren’s face.

She didn’t seem to care that bubbles got on her.

“Good boy. You’re doing so well. Just a little more.”

When Grandma bathed him, she scrubbed him so hard his fur nearly came off.

‘And the red-eyed giant! He scrubbed even harder!’

Recently, a huge red-eyed man washed him with rough hands.

Even in a half-asleep daze, Duren remembered it clearly.

So now, whenever someone said “bath,” he didn’t like it.

But today was different.

After the bath ended—not bad but not too long either—she wrapped him tightly in a giant towel like a burrito.

He couldn’t move his arms or legs.

But that actually made him feel safe.

‘Mmm…’

She held him in her arms and dried his fur.

His body relaxed, and his eyes felt heavy.

“Duren, are you sleepy?”

“Yeah…”

Duren blinked slowly and… fell asleep.

It had been so long since he didn’t have a bad dream.

He slept so deeply, he didn’t even know he was asleep.

* * *

“Madam!”

“There’s no one like you!”

After successfully bathing Duren, Estelle became a hero of Winterlen Castle.

“You must’ve been so tired! How did you manage with such thin arms?”

“Yes! Please let us help next time.”

The servants truly worried her arms might break trying to bathe Duren.

To the people of the North, Estelle looked like she could be blown over by a cold breeze.

“I’m tougher than I look.”

“…Huh?”

Her comment caused a stir.

“Was that a joke from the capital?”

“Were we supposed to laugh?”

Everyone was whispering.

They seriously wondered how to react.

Realizing how others saw her, Estelle quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, starting tomorrow, others can try getting closer to Duren too. Let’s slowly build trust.”

“Thank you, madam!”

“You’ve saved the child!”

Everyone who cared about Duren thanked Estelle.

That day, Estelle truly earned her place as the lady of the house.

But the next day…

Estelle faced an unexpected problem.

* * *

The next morning.

As usual, Estelle went to the main kitchen to prepare Duren’s food.

“Is that true?!”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“No, it’s not your fault… Sigh…”

But the atmosphere was strange.

The head chef was sighing, and the other cooks looked down in shame.

“Why is everyone like this so early? Did something happen?”

“Oh—madam!”

The chef quickly tried to smile, but Estelle had already heard their conversation.

There was no point hiding it.

The chef explained.

“Actually… some ingredients are missing. We’re trying to find the culprit.”

“Missing ingredients?”

“Yes. Last night, all the steamed sweet potatoes disappeared.”

“Just the sweet potatoes?”

“Yes. The raw ones are still here—but the cooked ones are gone.”

It was strange.

Why would anyone take only the steamed ones?

“We asked around, but no one touched them.”

“…”

“I don’t think it was a thief, but… it feels like a ghost stole them.”

Even though it was just sweet potatoes, it caused a big fuss.

Strangers weren’t allowed in the kitchen—what if someone poisoned the food?

That’s why even this small thing made everyone anxious.

“Let’s increase the guards for now,” Estelle said firmly. “Until we figure this out, take extra care with all ingredients.”

“Yes, madam.”

Estelle naturally took charge as the lady of the house.

But no one objected.

Because everyone now recognized her as the true mistress.