SBHD 3

Episode 3

Behind the men’s heated conversation, something small and black flickered among the low shrubs.

A child—perhaps five or six years old.

A small, round, black head popped up, then quickly disappeared, only to peek up again a moment later.

The child, watching the men in front of the stables with anxious eyes, seemed to realize that they were far too absorbed in their conversation to notice him.

After hesitating several times, he finally took advantage of the moment when both men turned away and darted into the stable.

A few moments later, a sound came from inside.

Neigh—!

“Yes, just like that—it cried like a demon and kicked poor Hans—!”

The half-bald man, who had been spitting wildly as he spoke, turned toward the stable—
and his button-sized eyes bulged to the size of saucers.

“Y-Young Master!”

The man screamed, flailing his arms as he rushed into the stable.

“Wait! It’s dangerous! That horse is vicious!”

Startled by the loud, booming voice, the horse suddenly reared up.

NEIGH—!

With a sharp, furious cry, its hooves struck down, splintering the thick wooden stall.

The man screamed and bolted outside.

“G-Guards! Guards! The young master is in danger! The horse is rampaging!”

The horse burst out of the stable, foaming at the mouth, thrashing and kicking in panic.

But the boy’s wide eyes weren’t on the horse—they were locked on the guards charging across the garden toward him.

The moment I saw his face go pale, I knew something was wrong.

I leapt down from the wall.

Thud!

Landing atop the roof of a small building, I rolled to absorb the impact, then sprinted straight toward the horse.

The guards’ sharp spears were already poised to strike.

“Don’t!”

I dove, wrapping my arms around the boy beneath the horse’s raised hooves, and rolled across the ground.

Thump, clatter—

A pouch slipped from the boy’s hand, scattering sugar cubes across the grass.

Between the horse’s panicked cries and the guards’ frantic shouts, chaos filled the air.

“Seize the beast!”

“Wait, wait—!”

I tried to block the guards as they lunged forward, but one of their spear shafts struck my head.

Thunk!

Stars exploded before my eyes.

The startled guards froze and shouted in alarm.

“Step aside!”

“J-Just a moment…”

Clutching the child to my chest, I staggered to my feet.

“The horse… it wasn’t trying to hurt the boy, it just—”

Huh?

My vision blurred. Something warm trickled down my forehead.

“…Ah.”

I must have hit my head.

“Oh dear, oh dear!”

The half-bald man who had been watching us screamed, his face pale.

‘What a loud voice…’

He sounded just like old Mr. Reben back in my village, who used to shout the noon bell every day.

That familiar memory fluttered through my mind as my eyelids grew heavy.

‘Ah, that’s right…’

I was supposed to look after Mother…

Thud.

My body went limp, and darkness swept over me.

“Mmm…”

When I slowly opened my eyes, the world was hazy.

Something small and black hovered above me.

‘A… kitten?’

I blinked several times, and the blur cleared—revealing a small boy staring down at me.

The moment our eyes met, the tears welling in his large eyes spilled over.

Plop, plop.

The droplets fell, soaking the blanket that covered me.

Still dazed, I asked softly,

“Were you worried I wouldn’t wake up?”

The boy, rubbing his eyes, gave a tiny nod.

Oh, my heart.

Overcome with affection, I pulled him into a hug.

“-!”

The boy froze stiff, his ten fingers splaying like a startled kitten’s claws.

Ah—oops.

I quickly released him and apologized.

“Sorry! I startled you, didn’t I?”

“……”

The boy blinked up at me with wide eyes—and then burst into tears.

Startled, I flailed my hands.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! You must’ve been scared.”

Even as tears streamed down his cheeks, he shook his head vigorously.

The short tufts of hair on his head quivered like a kitten’s tail.

“Does that mean you’re okay?”

He nodded.

Phew. I finally relaxed, pressing a hand to my chest.

Just then, a sharp pain throbbed on my forehead.

“Ow.”

There was a bandage wrapped there—someone must have tended to me. When I pressed it, the boy looked up in alarm, eyes brimming again.

I waved my hand quickly and smiled sheepishly.

“No, no, I’m fine! Really!”

And I meant it.

If I’d fainted from one hit, it must have been hard—but if this little sting was all that was left, then I was fine indeed.

Still, the boy’s watery gaze made me wave my hands even faster.

“Truly! I’m okay!”

To reassure him, I lifted the bandage slightly and touched underneath.

A rough little scab—healing nicely.

And there was a faint herbal scent—this was no ordinary salve. Someone had used a high-grade potion.

‘Oh my goodness.’

Such kind people!

To use something so precious on a stranger—they must be truly generous.

As I was feeling grateful, the memory of what happened before I fainted flashed back.

I looked at the boy, who still watched me anxiously, and asked gently,

“By the way, were you trying to feed that horse sugar cubes earlier?”

The boy hesitated, then nodded.

I smiled softly.

“You must really like horses.”

Nod, nod.

This time, he nodded twice, a little quicker.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Ow—’

The motion made my forehead sting, but I bit back the sound and continued,

“Then shall we go feed the horse together next time?”

“……!”

The boy’s eyes went round—then filled with tears again.

Ah.

I quickly caught on and asked,

“Are people trying to hurt that horse? Is it in danger?”

He nodded furiously, eyes glistening.

“They haven’t hurt it yet, have they?”

I asked quickly, and he shook his head.

Thank goodness.

I sighed in relief and smiled at him.

“Don’t worry. I’ll talk to them—”

“My lady!”

The door burst open with a deafening slam.

Demius stood there—covered in blood from head to toe—striding toward the bed.

Alarmed, I asked,

“Are you hurt?”

“It’s not my blood.”

His answer was curt. He shoved the trembling boy aside and came close to me.

When he saw the bandage on my forehead, his eyes twisted with fury. His gaze swept over the rest of me, and then—gritting his teeth—he turned sharply on his heel.

“I’ll go behead the horse.”

“Wait!”

I reached out and grabbed the hem of his coat.

But his voice, cold and precise—one I hadn’t heard in a long time—cut through the air.

“A beast that harms a person is executed on the spot.”

I flinched slightly, then hurried to explain.

“But it didn’t hurt anyone!”

“No one?”

Demius turned, voice rising in anger.

“You were injured!”

“No, that’s—”

I almost blurted out that I was struck by a guard’s spear instead, but bit my tongue at the last second.

The sting didn’t matter—what mattered was stopping him.

Because the fire in his eyes had already gone deadly cold.

“Who.”

His voice was low, but filled with killing intent, each word like a blade.

“Who hurt you?”