Chapter 9
Part 2: A Devil Lives in My Garden
As dawn broke, the mansion’s servants began their day busily.
Among them was a young man wearing a large straw hat—Oliver.
“W-What the heck…?”
He was the Winter duchy’s garden manager—more precisely, someone Siena had hired specifically to take care of the millennium cactus.
“Moles have made a mess. I’d better set some traps right away.”
Clicking his tongue as he saw the holes riddling the garden, Oliver frowned.
Should I report this to the young lady?
He hesitated.
Normally, it would be standard to report such matters to Siena, his employer. But the problem was her health.
What if she gets shocked and collapses…?
If that happened, Oliver would be as good as dead.
Not only would the Duke and Young Duke have his head, but the mansion staff would probably stone him too.
Especially him…
The mage known as Herace.
He’s the scariest of them all.
Recalling their first meeting, Oliver shuddered.
“Are you the garden manager?”
“Y-Yes!”
“If there’s any issue with the millennium cactus, don’t report it to Siena. Come to me. If you tell Siena first instead of me…”
He didn’t need to hear the rest. Herace’s cold eyes had said everything.
I’d better hurry and set the traps, then report to the mage.
Just as he was rummaging through the shed for mole traps—
“Hey.”
“Eeek!”
Oliver jumped out of his skin when Herace appeared silently behind him.
“M-Mage! I was just about to find you! Moles appeared in the garden, so I’m setting up traps.”
“You’ll want to use this trap if you want to catch them.”
“I already have mole traps here…”
Oliver awkwardly pointed at the stack of traps nearby with a forced smile.
“Put those away. What you’re trying to catch won’t be caught with ordinary traps.”
Won’t work with normal traps? So, it’s not just an ordinary mole…?
“…All right. Understood.”
He wasn’t sure what was going on, but if someone that high-ranking said it, it must be true.
Wiping his sweat, Oliver started setting up Herace’s traps.
And by midday, the garden and backyard were filled with Herace’s special traps.
As always, I was out for a walk and physical training with Herace when I noticed the garden and backyard looking oddly chaotic.
“Why is Oliver rushing around like that?”
He had been hired to manage the millennium cactus, but that plant grew like a weed—there wasn’t usually much to do.
“Did something happen?”
“No. He said wild animals might show up, so he’s setting traps in advance.”
Herace replied, saying he’d asked Oliver earlier during our morning stroll.
“Really? He’s doing a great job. I should give him a bonus later.”
As I admired Oliver’s diligence, Herace turned to me.
“Si-si. I need something too.”
“What?”
“Red herbs, thornroot, and golden pollen.”
“What are you going to use that for? Are you hurt?”
Everything he listed was a medicinal herb. I knew—they were all said to be good for the heart, and I’d tried them before.
“I’m going to make emergency potions. I can make something with a similar effect. Use it until you find a proper apothecary.”
“Herace…”
How could he say such sweet things? Sure, it was all to save me for his own reasons, but who cared?
Thanks to that selfish motive, I could stay alive.
My heart clenched.
“Of course I’ll give them to you! I haven’t even been thinking about your wallet. I’m sorry.”
He’d just woken up after 500 years. Of course, he had no money. I felt bad for not considering it.
But then Herace’s neat mouth twisted.
“Who says I don’t have money? I can just make it.”
“…Make it?”
He picked up a small stone and winked at me.
“Don’t faint from surprise, okay?”
“What are you going to do?”
I tilted my head, curious.
Then he opened his large hand, and on it—
A shining gold coin lay there.
“This… is real?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“But you just made this…”
“Si-si, at its core, gold coins are no different from stones.”
What kind of nonsense is that?
I looked at him like he was a con artist, but Herace urged me to listen.
“This magic won’t wear off as long as I’m alive. And I’m immortal.”
That’s when I finally understood.
“You… You’re the Elf’s Staff!”
What did that mean? In this world, it was a metaphor like the goblin’s bat that goes ‘gold, appear!’
Basically, he’d become a living gold-creating wand.
Looking disgruntled, Herace nodded.
“…Sure, you can think of it that way.”
“So it’s basically as good as real, right?”
I snatched the coin and stuffed it deep into my pocket.
At my squirrel-like speed, Herace laughed in disbelief.
“I thought you said you had plenty of money?”
That was my family’s money! Technically, not mine.
“Shhh. The more money, the better.”
“You greedy thing.”
He chuckled and poked my cheek.
“Little bundle of desire.”
I swatted his hand away and changed the subject.
“Let’s go inside. I’m tired.”
“Smooth way of changing the topic.”
“I am not! Hurry up.”
“Cute.”
He gave my cheek one last poke, then gently patted my head. The unexpected affection made me blush.
The gesture said, I know what you’re doing, but I’ll let it slide.
The more embarrassed you get, the more you’re playing into his hands.
I raised my chin, armed with shamelessness.
“Yup. I know. I’m kind of cute.”
“Do you even know what your face looks like right now?”
“What about it?!”
“It’s red as a beet. If I bite it, it might pop.”
Wha—?! Bite? That’s such a misleading thing to say!
Heat rushed to my face again.
“…Jerk. Get away from me!”
So much for shamelessness—I was totally caught up.
I snatched the parasol from Herace and ran off.
“Si-si, you’ll fall like that.”
“As if I’d—whoa!”
Before I could finish, I scraped my knees and inevitably fell straight into Herace’s arms.
Damn it. So embarrassing.
Herace totally cursed me. That’s the only explanation. How else could my knees give out the second I talked back?
“Put me down.”
“You plan to walk on those legs?”
I bit my lip, staring at my bleeding knees.
Covered in dirt, rock, and blood—he was right, there was no way I could walk.
“Don’t be stubborn.”
Lifting me like I weighed nothing, Herace sighed at my sulky expression.
“I told you to watch where you’re going.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have tripped if you hadn’t teased me!”
I pouted and hit his shoulder like a child.
“Ow, my shoulder. I think it’s dislocated. I can’t feel my arm.”
He dramatically let his arm go limp.
“No! My body is basically made of glass—treat it carefully!”
“I don’t think I could treat you more carefully.”
“Then what’s this? You evil Herace! Mean Herace!”
“That’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.”
“Stop talking nonsense and hold me properly!”
“You wanted me to put you down a second ago.”
“I take it back! Don’t let go!”
As I clung to his shoulder and shouted, a low chuckle brushed past my ear.
“Not bad. Cling tighter.”
He’s insane. Truly.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I activated a speech command.
“Shut your mouth! Your mouth!”
Just as I silenced Herace’s lips, a familiar voice called out.
“Siena?”
“…Oppa?”
Over Herace’s shoulder, I saw my brother—Noah Winter, the heir to our family.
Startled, I smacked Herace’s shoulder.
“Put me down! Put me down!”
“You’re so unpredictable. I don’t know which mood to follow anymore.”
Shaking his head, Herace finally lowered me.
I wobbled and looked at Noah.
“Oppa, when did you get back?”
“Just a little while ago.”
Noah’s sharp gaze fell on Herace.
“Who is this? And why is he so close to my sister?”
I knew this would happen. Of course Noah wouldn’t let it go.
“Oppa, this is my magic teacher—Herace. I twisted my ankle during a walk, and he was helping me.”
I tried to sound as natural as possible. I couldn’t let him realize who Herace really was, so I skipped the Eckbert part.
“You twisted your ankle? Let’s go to the infirmary right now.”
“No! I’ll go on my own.”
I quickly raised a hand to block his approach.
“Oppa, you just got back and haven’t washed up yet. D-Don’t come near me—you’re dirty!”
“Dirty…?”
Noah, visibly shocked, looked down at himself.
I’m sorry, oppa!
I apologized silently as I backed away.
Noah also hesitated and stepped back.
But even as he did, his suspicious gaze toward Herace didn’t fade.
He’ll get over it soon. Herace will brainwash him anyway.
…Or so I thought.
“This is troublesome,” Herace muttered.
“What is?”
“It’s not working.”
“…What isn’t?”
