# Chapter 4
Until now, she hadn’t gone near the study because it fell within Kahel’s range of movement.
> *‘They said the Dragon isn’t there right now, so it should be fine, right?’*
Excited, Hiashel followed Albert, hopping along as she walked. Seeing Hiashel so excited, Albert felt a bit guilty, but he deliberately looked away and clutched the paper he was holding.
> 「You probably haven’t approached the child even once yet, have you? Given your personality, I don’t intend to say anything more about leaving her be…… but just this once, you all should take action.
> That bastard definitely won’t make the first move, even out of shyness.
> If Kahel goes on a rampage, tell him it was by my order.」
It was a letter sent by Ciel via messenger bird.
—
Upon entering the study, Lisa was waiting there. Yuri was nowhere to be seen.
> *“There we go, comfortable, isn’t it?”*
Lisa smiled brightly as she sat Hiashel down on a large cushion.
> *“Yes.”*
Buried in the fluffy, enormous cushion, Hiashel thought she might fall asleep just sitting there.
> *“Here, these are for you.”*
Albert, who had in the meantime brought picture books to show her, set them down beside the cushion. Then he picked up the top book and handed it to Hiashel.
> *“Start with this one. We’re purchasing more books for children, so there will be more soon.”*
> *‘They’re buying more?’*
Hiashel looked up at Albert with a puzzled face, then glanced at the books beside her.
> *‘This many is already plenty……’*
She had never had the opportunity to read this many books before, so she was grateful even for just these. It seemed there were more books here than she had read across all three of her lives combined.
> *“Thank you.”*
Taking the book, Hiashel smiled brightly and greeted Albert. The butler, looking deeply moved, lightly covered his mouth and chuckled.
> *“Then, I’ll take my leave now.”*
> *“Yes.”*
> *“Oh my, look at me. Young lady, I’ll bring you a snack, so please wait here just a moment.”*
> *“Yes.”*
Exchanging glances with Albert, Lisa quickly followed the butler out.
The two, who seemed somewhat urgent, didn’t even check whether she could read. It seemed that thought hadn’t crossed their minds.
Left alone, Hiashel sat for a moment and looked around the study. Tall bookshelves lined the walls, filled to the brim with books. Being in that space, full of the scent of books, made her feel at ease. Taking a deep breath, Hiashel opened the book Albert had given her.
The colorful picture book didn’t have many letters.
> *‘……At what age do children usually learn to read?’*
Having never received a proper education, there were many things she didn’t know.
Hiashel roughly skimmed the pictures and turned the pages. The rustling sound of paper turning made her feel good. She didn’t know nothing at all, so it wasn’t difficult to understand the content. Having lived three times, it was amusing that her reading ability was only at this level, but still—
> *‘This is fun.’*
She had been absorbed in reading, going through several books, when—
*Click.*
A small noise was heard, followed by the sound of someone approaching with heavy steps.
Hiashel, frozen with book in hand, sat still and only moved her eyes. The footsteps paused, then walked, then paused again, gradually getting closer.
> *‘Who is it?’*
Hiding her face behind the book, Hiashel only peeked out with wide, round eyes and held her breath. If it were Lisa returning with a snack, she would have walked straight over.
The footsteps, which had been weaving between the bookshelves as they approached, stopped only after emerging from the shelves and revealing themselves.
His long hair was roughly tied back, with many strands falling loose. Yet, perhaps due to his unique aura, he didn’t look messy at all—on the contrary, he looked noble.
Kahel looked at Hiashel with wide, round red eyes, as if startled for a moment. It was because he hadn’t expected her to be there at all.
> *“……What is this……”*
She had never been in the study even once before, so this situation caught him off guard.
Kahel was frozen in surprise for only a moment, then frowned, clicked his tongue lightly, and turned around.
But at the same time, the bookshelf at the very front tilted forward.
Kahel immediately noticed the bookshelf shaking. And also the dark energy causing it.
Just as Kahel, his expression hardening grimly, reached his hand toward the dark energy—it succeeded in pushing the bookshelf over.
From somewhere, the sound of someone inhaling sharply was heard.
Hiashel, who had been quietly watching Kahel, sat frozen, unable to move. She could only stare with startled eyes at the massive bookshelf slowly toppling toward her.
> *“Hey……!”*
Kahel reflexively caught the bookshelf that was about to fall on Hiashel, instead of going after the dark energy.
Meanwhile, the dark energy that had been shaking the bookshelf vanished.
As he tried to set the bookshelf upright with a grimly hardened expression, the books that had been on it came showering down toward the child.
Pushing the bookshelf in the opposite direction and setting it upright, he approached Hiashel in an instant.
*Thud, thud, thud, thud.*
Then he knocked away all the books falling toward her.
His movements, like a martial artist, left Hiashel staring up at him in a daze. Not a single one of the books that had fallen from the shelf touched the child, all landing on the floor.
> *“Hoo……”*
Confirming that she had no injuries, Kahel let out a sigh.
> *“…….”*
Then, as his eyes met Hiashel’s, he finally realized how close he was to the child.
Startled, Kahel quickly backed away, distancing himself from Hiashel.
> *‘……I’ve felt this since last time, but why does he always seem to run away from me……’*
The child blankly stared at him.
> *‘Ah, I should say thank you.’*
After all, he had protected her from being hit by the falling books.
> *“Um……”*
But as if he didn’t even hear her, Kahel, who had been glaring at the bookshelf now missing books here and there, abruptly turned his back. Hiashel pouted and closed her mouth.
Just as he was about to leave, Kahel seemed to remember something he had forgotten and turned back, reaching his hand toward Hiashel.
Something transparent glistened for a moment and wrapped around the child.
> *“…….”*
Then, without a single word, Kahel turned his back again and left the study.
> *‘What was that?’*
Unable to identify what had glistened for a moment, Hiashel looked around and tilted her head.
Outside the study, Kahel let out another long sigh. Because he had gotten too close to Hiashel.
> *‘Damn.’*
He felt as if he shouldn’t get close to that small living thing. He felt that even approaching that white, small, pure being would contaminate it. Because he had encountered countless sinners and seen too much.
> *“…….”*
But even though the distance had closed, nothing had happened to Hiashel. The idea that getting close would taint one with sin—he knew it was a foolish thought himself.
> *‘That child. It is the god’s will, so you must protect her well. Think of her as your daughter and care for her.’*
Kahel recalled what Ciel had said and frowned. Especially the part about ‘thinking of her as your daughter’ struck him as absurd. What did that relationship, which only arose among humans, have to do with him?
> *“Damn.”*
Shaking his head to shake off the voice, Kahel soon stepped forward. Before long, he spotted Albert, and his gaze cooled.
> *“……Albert.”*
The butler, who had been standing nervously in a corner, flinched at his master’s low call.
> *“Yes, Master.”*
Albert quickly stepped forward, and Kahel stared at him coldly.
> *“There was a child in the study.”*
> *“…….”*
Seeing that an answer didn’t come immediately, it seemed he had already known. There was no way they would have acted on their own to defy his mood.
> *‘Probably that white-headed bastard’s doing.’*
Letting out a deep sigh, Kahel placed his hand on Albert’s trembling shoulder.
> *“Take the child to her room. Then report back to me. From now on, if any books are needed, bring them to the child’s room.”*
> *“……Yes, Master.”*
Albert answered with drooping eyebrows. Hearing the answer, Kahel walked past the butler.
> *‘What would you do if I told you that those sinful humans you so despise are tormenting that innocent child?’*
Recalling Ciel’s words, Kahel’s gaze cooled.
—
> *“……Lisa-nim, I don’t think this can be resolved with a bonus.”*
After the matter was settled, Yuri, who had slipped out of the study while the maids organized the bookshelves, spoke with a dazed face.
> *“What happened?”*
Albert and Lisa had been unable to leave Hiashel alone in the study, so they had taken Yuri aside and hidden her inside. She was the most skilled among the maids at concealing her presence.
> *“Suddenly, a perfectly fine bookshelf fell toward the young lady, and books started pouring out……”*
> *“What?”*
Lisa asked back in shock.
> *“But the Master caught the bookshelf, and then knocked away all the falling books…… I’ve never seen the Master move that much before.”*
> *“Oh my, really?”*
At Yuri’s following words, Lisa smiled warmly.
Her expression, as she lightly touched her lips, seemed quite satisfied.
> *“Good. Then there’s no problem.”*
> *“There is a problem.”*
> *“What problem?”*
> *“I might have been caught for being in the study.”*
> *“What? Why?”*
> *“Because when the bookshelf was falling, I was startled and unconsciously made a sound……”*
> *“Ah……”*
Lisa, looking at her with pity, lightly patted Yuri’s shoulder, telling her not to worry.
> *“Don’t worry. When the Master gets angry, we were told to say everything was by Lord Ciel’s order.”*
> *“Lord Ciel said that?”*
> *“Of course.”*
At Lisa’s answer as she nodded, Yuri let out a sigh of relief.
> *“Now, then, let’s hurry and bring these books to the young lady.”*
> *“Yes, Lisa-nim.”*
They gathered the books Albert had placed beside Hiashel in the study, along with a few extra. Carrying them in their arms, the two headed toward Hiashel’s room with excited steps.
—
Hiashel, wearing a bright yellow dress, wandered around inside the palace.
Normally, she would have chosen only places where Kahel seemed unlikely to pass and walked there.
But today was different.
> *‘Since he helped me, I should thank him. I’m a lady who knows manners.’*
Nodding as if convincing herself, Hiashel looked up at Yuri, who had been walking beside her all along.
> *“Where should I go to meet the master?”*
In her small, fern-like hand was a smooth-surfaced pebble she had found in the garden.
Yuri, who had been watching Hiashel with a warm smile, opened her eyes wide.
> *“The master? You’re going to the master right now?”*
> *“Yes!”*
At Hiashel’s energetic answer, Yuri made a subtle face.
