CABTBP 07

Chapter 07

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At last, my favorite let out a sigh and lifted his head, his eyes drooping as he looked up at me.

“Are you really going to leave?”

“Seems like I have to…”

There was no way I could stay.

“Can’t you just live with me?”

Huh?

“If you go outside, you might get hurt again. What if mean people bully Helen again? Just live with me, okay? Please?”

In my heart, I was already saying YES.

“But the Duke…”

He’d absolutely never allow it.

Just then, the ears that had been drooping perked up a little.

“If it’s Uncle, then it’s fine! Because…!”

“Because?”

“Uncle always said, if I pick something up, I have to take responsibility for it!”

He pointed his little index finger straight at me.

“I picked up Helen! So, just like Uncle says, I have to take responsibility!”

Tears dangled under his wide-open eyes as he proudly declared:

“I’ll take care of Helen forever! Since I’m just doing what Uncle says, even he can’t complain!”

“……”

“Let’s live together. Okay?”

I clapped my hands over my mouth, staring at him without blinking.

Just now, my favorite had said…!

‘He’ll take responsibility for me forever.’

Mom, is this what they call being cat-adopted?

No… I’ve been human-adopted.

But my favorite was only four years old, a soft, squishy baby. I was a grown adult — it should be me protecting him, not the other way around.

Common sense said that was impossible…

“Well then, I’ll be in your care, my protector.”

“Okay!”

I decided not to be bound by boring common sense.

That was the historic moment when I gained a little guardian of my own.

---

That night, I slept together with my favorite.

My head still felt light, as if I were drifting through a dream.

‘I never imagined Faye would want to stay with me so much.’

Well, it is the age when separation feels unbearable.

It was lucky he was still young.

‘But I can’t help worrying.’

Faye said I didn’t have to worry about the Duke, but I couldn’t feel at ease.

‘If the Duke doesn’t allow it, then even my favorite can’t do anything.’

And the Duke already hated me.

I was pressing at my brow when Faye slipped into my room, wearing pastel sky-blue pajamas. He climbed onto the bed with effort.

He set down the bundle he’d been carrying — five colorful picture books.

“Are those storybooks?”

“Yeah! I brought them so we can read before bed!”

“They must’ve been heavy. You should’ve called me.”

“Nope! They weren’t heavy at all.”

“But still…”

I knew five thin children’s books weren’t much weight, and members of the Igalluk family were stronger than ordinary people anyway.

That was part of the canon I remembered clearly as a devoted fan.

But still, whenever I looked at his short, fragile little arms, I felt like I should even carry a glass of water for him.

“Hmm…”

He furrowed his brow as if deeply pondering which book to choose.

『Happy May』, 『The Candy House Thieves』, 『The Switched Child』, 『Hantae’s Adventure』, 『The Seven Dwarves』.

When I glanced over the stack, he finally made his choice and lifted one up.

“This one! I’ll read it out loud for you, Helen!”

He had chosen 『Happy May』.

“Wow! You’ll really read to me? I’d love that.”

“Hehe.”

Faye scratched his head shyly, grinning from ear to ear.

I tried to hide my own smile, savoring every bit of my adorable favorite with my eyes.

‘I could just eat him up.’

But if I did that, he’d think I was some weirdo pervert, so I suppressed the wicked urge.

Instead—

Smack.

“Since you’re reading me a story.”

I gave him a light kiss on the cheek, partly as thanks, partly for selfish reasons.

Just as I was about to settle down and listen quietly, his golden eyes followed me.

“You’re not gonna give me one here too?”

He poked his finger at his right cheek, tilting his head, lips pouting. My breath caught in my throat.

Smack. Smack.

After I kissed him twice, only then did his face bloom into a satisfied smile.

Everyone, look at this wickedly adorable child who’s making a fangirl’s heart go wild.

‘I want to post this on social media.’

I want to brag that I’ve become a fan living the dream.

I want to show the whole world how ridiculously cute my favorite is.

While I was swallowing back tears of joy, Faye opened the book.

“Now I’ll read for you!”

I lay beside him, listening intently to his voice.

“Once upon a time, there was a girl named May. She lived with her father, who was cold as ice. May loved her father, and he loved her too, but neither of them was good at showing it. Her father thought to himself: May needs a mother who can shower her with love. So he went to the neighboring villages to find her a mom.”

I peeked at the page. The illustration showed May’s father offering rings to various women.

“But in the end, he couldn’t find May’s mom, so he came home alone. Then he saw a widow who was close to May. He asked the widow to become May’s mother. He promised he’d give her anything in return.”

The next picture showed May and the widow happily playing together, and beside it, the father proposing.

“Helen, can two people who don’t love each other get married and still be happy?”

“Hmm.”

In reality, that usually wasn’t the case.

In fact, in Secret Nights, there were characters who married for status without love, all the while keeping lovers on the side. That was common among nobles.

‘But this is a children’s book — no way it’ll say that.’

I must protect my favorite’s innocence at all costs.

“Maybe they were destined to fall in love eventually. Even if the order is a little off, they’ll come to love each other and live happily.”

“Ah, I see!”

He clapped loudly, eyes widening.

“So if they’re going to love each other in the end, the order doesn’t matter!”

His eyes sparkled as though he’d just discovered a great truth. I chuckled softly, watching him.

…One day, he’d learn the truth.

‘What if, in his teenage years, he yells at me, Helen, you liar!?’

Just imagining it left a scar across my heart.

‘Please, God, let him forget about this by then.’

As I silently prayed, he turned the page and continued.

Just as I expected, the story ended sweetly.

The two who hadn’t loved each other at first eventually grew to love as a married couple. The father learned how to express affection from the widow, and May thrived in their love, happy and cherished.

“Hehe. So May’s mom and dad must’ve been destined to love each other after all!”

“Do you like the story?”

“Yeah! I love it!”

Faye hugged the book tightly to his chest, smiling wide.

Even when we turned off the lights, he fell asleep still clutching the book.

‘That book is lucky.’

For the first time in my life, I felt jealous of an inanimate object.

“Helen.”

I thought he’d caught me glaring at the book, but then his next words made me look at him.

“Thank you for saying you won’t leave.”

“……”

“I was scared you’d leave me once you got better.”

He reached out and grasped my fingers in his tiny hand.

I wrapped his hand gently in both of mine.

“I won’t go anywhere. Don’t worry.”

At least not until I’ve blocked the misfortunes meant for you.

Finally reassured, dimples formed on his cheeks.

“Okay. Good night, Helen.”

“Good night, Faye.”

After our bedtime exchange, I closed my eyes.

But sometime in the night, I drowsily saw him climb out of bed. Sleepiness swallowed me before I could ask where he was going.

---

The next day, I stood once more before the Duke’s office.

‘Honestly, I’m scared.’

That was the first time in my life I’d faced killing intent.

The image of those golden eyes from that day was burned into my memory, making my steps feel heavy.

‘But for my favorite’s sake!’

My resolve to protect his happiness was far heavier than my fear.

I clenched my fists, bracing myself.

“The Duke says you may enter.”

The servant politely opened the door.

As I stepped inside, the Duke set down his papers and rose to his feet.

‘What’s this? Yesterday he didn’t even bother to stand.’

A stab of worry crossed my mind.

‘When people suddenly act differently, doesn’t that mean they’re about to die? He’s not sick, is he?’

I narrowed my eyes, studying his complexion. Just then, his gaze met mine.

“Good morning, Your Grace.”

I reflexively greeted him. His brow furrowed, and he sharply turned his head away.

As if he couldn’t stand to look at me for even a second.

‘Good. He’s still healthy.’

Relieved that he hadn’t changed, I let go of the worry.

Then he sat on the sofa, arms crossed.

“You must have some business here.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then sit down.”

I took the seat he indicated with a jerk of his chin.

He crossed his legs, frowning as usual. In a curt voice, he said just one word:

“Speak.”

“Yesterday, when I was about to leave, Faye asked me to stay and live with him.”

“…You’ve certainly managed to win him over.”

Actually, he won me over first.

“As I said yesterday, I’d also like to stay with Faye. I know you dislike me, but I’d be grateful if you’d show mercy and let me remain by his side.”

“What kind of mercy are you asking for?”

He was being noticeably more flexible than before.

“For example, allowing me to stay on as a guest. If that’s not possible long-term, I thought perhaps I could work as a maid.”

“As a maid… hmm.”

He muttered quietly, running a hand through his dark hair. Long, well-formed fingers slipped through like flowing ink.

“No. You can’t be a maid. Not a guest, either.”

…So he was rejecting me?

I swallowed nervously — but then realized maybe not.

If he wanted to reject me outright, he’d have said so immediately.

“Then… what do you suggest?”

I clasped my hands together, eyes fixed on his lips.

His reddish lips parted, letting out a long sigh.

 

“Marry me.”