Chapter 8
“Possessiveness” — it started from the most basic depths of a simple emotion.
So, Jeff should only stay friends with me.
And no, it’s not because I’m afraid someone else might be better than me, or that he might be stolen away from me.
I hope no one misunderstands.
It’s just—what if Jeff suddenly became famous and no longer had time to be my muse?
Just then, he lifted his head and our eyes met.
Jeff’s lips moved, like he was about to say something.
It looked like he was about to tell me he was leaving again, so I cut him off first.
“Stay still.”
I patted the seat beside me, and Jeff, as if under some kind of spell, sat down next to me.
Normally, he wasn’t the type to listen so obediently…
But until I found the first-aid kit full of medicine, Jeff didn’t move an inch—just like a well-trained puppy.
With a small sigh, I dabbed some ointment on my fingertip.
“Your face.”
Jeff hesitated, then leaned in just a little.
The wound wasn’t as deep as I thought.
When I gently spread the ointment on it, Jeff avoided my eyes, looking flustered.
“Your arm.”
This time, without hesitation, the injured arm came into view.
It was different from the pale arms I had always seen—this one was darker, tanned, and smeared with blood.
Seeing it made my chest ache.
It was so unlike the smooth white arms of pampered young nobles, and that difference tugged at my heart.
Looking closely, I could see faint, faded scars scattered along his arm.
…Has this happened to him often?
I steadied my unsettled feelings and pretended not to notice as I carefully applied the ointment.
“We can’t have it leaving a scar.”
It must have hurt a lot…
But Jeff didn’t flinch at all—like a docile cat.
You should feel honored, Jeff. You’re getting treated by Frill.
As I packed the medicine back into the box, Jeff started to rise, thinking we were done.
I caught him and turned his face toward the wound I hadn’t treated yet.
He flinched for the first time but, caught in my grip, couldn’t move.
The whole time, his gaze stayed fixed on me, as if in surprise—until I blew softly on the wound at the end, so it wouldn’t hurt.
Right then, all my focus was on Jeff’s injuries.
There won’t be any scars, right?
When I lifted my head, my eyes met his trembling blue ones.
There was so much I wanted to say to that startled face…
But I swallowed it all down and said just one thing:
“I’m sorry.”
I wanted to ask—has this happened to you many times before? Who did this to you?
But I kept it to myself.
“I’ll make sure those guys never come near you again.”
Not that I’d stop at just keeping them away… but I left that part unsaid.
Jeff only looked at me quietly.
There was an indescribable expression on his face.
“Blond hair, sharp eyes… those guys who bothered you last time. Right?”
Since he didn’t answer, he must have been afraid of them.
I clenched my fist, my fighting spirit igniting.
“Don’t worry. They’ll never show their faces around you again.”
With my hands on my hips, letting out a determined “huff” of breath, I heard a low voice.
“You…?”
He was looking at me like I was the last person he’d trust with something like that.
“You saw them last time, right? How they couldn’t even look me in the eye, much less talk, when I was there.”
I thumped my chest.
“I’m that kind of person.”
When Jeff finally looked straight at me, there was an expression I had never seen before.
He’s… smiling?!
Jeff was smiling.
The smile, drawn across a face I thought could never hold one, shone brilliantly.
But—why was he smiling now of all times?!
“Why are you smiling?”
Jeff’s face instantly hardened, and he turned away.
“I’m not. I didn’t smile. When did I?!”
Wow… unbelievable. This guy could give child actors a run for their money.
Honestly, no one had ever treated me like this before.
Regardless of age or gender, no one dared to act casually toward the daughter of a high-ranking noble family.
Especially not here, in this small southern town—where I stood far above everyone else.
At any event, there was always a line of people waiting to approach me.
Of course, not one of them had sincere intentions.
That’s why my interest in social gatherings had long since faded.
Social halls were mostly places where quick-witted people calculated relationships and approached others based on mutual benefit.
Adapting to the way social attitudes shifted with status—this was nothing new to me.
It wasn’t so different from my past life; only the era had changed.
Back then, I’d bridged the gap with effort and talent. This time, I’d just been lucky.
Or so I thought.
But then Jeff—the unexpected stone—was dropped into my calm, stable lake.
The only one who treated me without hesitation.
Jeff was entirely different from anyone I’d ever met before.
“By the way, how old are you?”
He looked younger than me, yet had been speaking informally from the start.
I’d been in the Carotia Empire for quite a while now, but my previous life had been much longer.
So yes… I was an age-sensitive old-timer.
“Ten.”
What?! We’re the same age?
Well, that meant I couldn’t complain about the informal speech.
“When’s your birthday?”
“In winter.”
“All of winter is your birthday?”
As soon as I said it, I realized—oops.
For commoners, birthdays weren’t considered special.
For people living day to day, a birthday was meaningless.
What if he doesn’t even know his birthday?
That would be awkward…
But then his voice reached my ears.
“…December 10.”
Thank goodness. I let out a breath in relief.
December 10? He’s still a little kid compared to me.
Sure, part of me wanted to tease him, but I also genuinely wanted to know.
“So you’re younger. Call me ‘Noona’ from now on.”
I turned my head, feeling a bit guilty… but Jeff wasn’t going to let it go so easily.
“How old are you?”
“Ten.”
With that confident answer, Jeff looked utterly dumbfounded.
“And you want me to call you ‘Noona’ when we’re the same age?”
“My birthday’s March 10!”
“…?”
“That means I’ve eaten 810 more meals than you.”
“…?”
“That’s plenty of time to be your older sister, don’t you think?”
At my bizarre logic, Jeff gave me a sharp, narrow-eyed glare.
I ignored it.
Could he possibly outtalk the experience of 810 extra meals?
Well, if he didn’t like “Noona,” I could be generous.
“Fine. If you don’t like ‘Noona,’ then call me ‘Fairy.’”
His face filled with shock.
“…What?”
In my previous life, I’d been an attention-seeker, so putting on a bold face came naturally.
“I’m the Spring Fairy.”
“Hah. So everyone born in spring is a fairy?”
“Of course not. Look at me.”
Jeff stared at me with eyes as blue as the sea behind him.
And reflected in them was me, cupping my chin in my hands like flower petals.
“Pretty, right?”
“…!”
“I’ll give you a choice. You can call me whichever you like—Fairy or Noona.”
Jeff rolled his eyes, thought for a while, then closed them slowly.
“Noona.”
Tch. A little disappointing, but “Noona” wasn’t bad either.
After all, I’d just gotten myself a very cute younger “brother.”
While I was smiling wickedly, Jeff stayed silent, like he couldn’t believe this situation.
I decided to stop here—greed often leads to trouble.
“Noona” was a good enough win for today.
Time to start the ceremony.
Just as I was fingering the small case hidden deep in my pouch, Jeff spoke in a stiff voice.
“You’re… bleeding.”
Huh. Talking like we’re equals now, huh?
I was about to put my hands on my hips and show my “Noona” authority—when I noticed my dress.
It was completely torn and dirty, just as Jeff said, and from running in heels, my heels were bleeding.
“Oh, this?”
I’d been so focused on Jeff’s injuries, I hadn’t thought about my own.
I’d felt a faint sting earlier… but yep, I was bleeding.
Embarrassed, I tried to hide my foot, but Jeff knelt down and pulled it toward him.
He carefully removed my shoe and set my foot on his knee.
With practiced ease, he opened the medicine box, poured some white powder, and gently dabbed it on the wound.
His hands were so sure—it was clear he’d done this before.
It made my whole body feel ticklish.
It didn’t even hurt anymore.
A warm, pink breeze seemed to brush my cheek.
After sticking on a bandage, Jeff lowered my foot carefully. Feeling flustered, I hurried to put my shoe back on.
While putting the medicine away, Jeff finally looked around La Vie en Rose.
“…Where is this?”
Saying “It’s the house I got as a birthday gift when I was five” seemed too ridiculous, so I went with a simpler answer.
“My hideout. La Vie en Rose.”
“…!”
Yes, that’s the right reaction.
Makes you want to be friends with me, doesn’t it?
Jeff stared around La Vie en Rose with his mouth slightly open.
His gaze lingered so long it almost made me jealous of the building.
Still, he looked more like a child in that moment, so I let him be.
Come to think of it, I still didn’t know where Jeff lived.
Should I ask now?
Would it make him uncomfortable?
I hesitated for a moment… but decided to just get it over with.
“Where do you live?”
I almost blurted out The address on your employment record wasn’t there but stopped myself just in time—otherwise it’d be too obvious I’d gone looking for him.
Jeff turned from the ornate terrace, a slightly bitter look on his face.
“By the cliffs near the Kaelhoff Mountains.”
The Kaelhoff Mountains were at the far edge of Eustis territory—a steep, remote region.
I’d heard hardly anyone lived there… and he lived on a cliff?
I’d suspected his circumstances weren’t ordinary, but this confirmed it.
An awkward silence fell.
I quickly decided to change the topic.
“Come here.”
When I patted the seat across from me, Jeff sat down.
I narrowed my eyes and pulled something from deep in my pouch.
“At sunset, this is the time when…”
From the corner of his eye, Jeff looked like he was thinking, What now?
“…we must perform the ritual.”
My sudden change in tone made him chuckle.
“Since we’ve become friends, we need to hold a friendship ritual.”
He nodded, remembering what I’d said before.
I unfolded a sheet of paper and handed him a pen, my eyes sparkling with seriousness.
“Here, write this down.”
Somehow holding the pen, Jeff waited quietly for my words.
“‘Friendship Pledge of Frill and Jeff.’”
—Also known as the Gospel of Frill.
Overjoyed at recruiting my first “follower,” I began reciting the creed I’d thought about all day.
“First—before eating three meals a day, pray for your friend.”
The pen scratching across the paper stopped at the word “pray.”
“I’ve never prayed before.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll teach you.”
“…?”
“First, put your hands together in front of your chest, like this.”
Jeff looked a bit doubtful, but nodded at my serious act.
Soon, the obedient “cat” was back, and he placed his hands neatly as instructed.
“Now, close your eyes.”
When he shut them tightly, I pinched my thigh to stop from laughing.
When he opened his eyes, I quickly closed mine in solemnity, pretending nothing happened.
“Now, repeat after me. Keep your eyes closed.”
Startled, Jeff shut them again.
“Dear God, thank you for sending me Frill as my friend.”
