Episode 2
By the time I welcomed my third morning in this strange place, I finally understood that “Aril” was the name they were calling me.
And the girl who had taken me in and fed me was called Mamella.
Mamella gave me delicious food every day, and when I lay down to sleep, she would slowly pat my back.
“This warm feeling… it’s so unfamiliar.”
Before I knew it, the walls of caution I had built up had completely crumbled in front of her kindness.
One afternoon, while I was dozing off on the sofa, I woke up at the sound of footsteps. Mamella was standing in front of me, holding something.
She sighed and sat down beside me.
“Can I really do this? Maybe I shouldn’t have said I would…”
She mumbled, her face full of regret, then looked at me. When I tilted my head curiously, she said:
“Aril, if it hurts, you have to tell me, okay?”
Mamella began to unwrap the bandages around my stomach.
“Now that I think about it… why was I wrapped up so tightly?”
As the used bandages piled up, I leaned forward to look. My eyes widened. Underneath, there was a terrible wound.
But… I didn’t remember getting hurt. Why was there a wound like that on my body?
I looked at Mamella in shock, and she looked just as surprised.
“A stab wound…”
Her hands trembled slightly. She looked frightened, but when our eyes met, her expression softened.
As she treated me, Mamella spoke in a shaky but gentle voice:
“Aril, the veterinarian who treated you last time said it would take months for you to heal completely.”
Her calm, round voice continued.
“I wish I could call him again… but it’s difficult. My brother mustn’t find out.”
A shadow passed over Mamella’s face. Even though it was a small change, I noticed it immediately.
“My brother hates animals. I don’t know why. Just being near one makes him panic. He used to keep a dog when he was younger, though…”
Mamella sighed, then looked straight into my eyes.
“That’s why I’m going to hide you for now. At least until you get better.”
“Meow?”
“You’re the one I brought home, Aril. Once I introduce you later, he’ll definitely like you.”
She smiled softly. I tried to understand what she was saying.
“Her face keeps changing expressions… She must be talking about something tasty.”
As I squinted lazily, Mamella poked my nose, making me snap out of my thoughts.
Then she squished my cheeks with both hands and laughed.
“Get well soon, Aril.”
“Milady.”
A knock came at the door, followed by a voice. Mamella blinked her big eyes and answered:
“What is it?”
“Sir Arveng is here. You should come out.”
Mamella glanced at me, hesitated, then said:
“Alright. I’ll be right there.”
She gently stroked my back before standing up.
“Aril, I have to go now.”
I had already memorized her daily routine in this house. She always left at this time, and returned hours later.
“I don’t want Mamella to leave…”
I wanted to follow her, but my body was still weak. All I could do was wait in this room until she came back.
“I’ll be back.”
The door clicked shut. The air in the room instantly felt heavier, as if I had been left alone in the dark.
“Meow…”
Even though I was slowly getting used to this place, whenever Mamella left, everything still felt so strange.
I buried my head into the stuffed fish doll.
“…Guess I’ll sleep again until she comes back.”
Every time I woke up, Mamella was there.
“If I fall asleep quickly, I’ll see her again quickly.”
Hugging the fish doll tightly, I closed my eyes, wishing that when I opened them again, Mamella would already be by my side.
* * *
The Duke of Kadellarote — the man who controlled the empire’s entire commercial world.
Among his many businesses was Ejyullarote, a company that dealt only in the finest lumber and crafted the highest-quality furniture.
Clang.
The shop bell rang as a tall, handsome man stepped out.
His polished shoes, perfectly pressed suit, and neatly arranged golden hair — not a speck of dust dared land on him.
“Hold on, Duke Kadellarote!”
A voice from behind stopped him. The duke sighed lightly, annoyed, and turned. A man with heavy footsteps approached — Marquis Serpen, who had just closed a deal with Ejyullarote. Beside him was a young noblewoman.
Duke Kadellarote — Idilos — asked curtly:
“What else do you want?”
His golden eyes showed irritation and fatigue. Anyone could tell he hadn’t slept in days. Even the marquis flinched.
Serpen clicked his tongue inwardly.
“What a spoiled brat… Just because he lost his parents, he acts like the world belongs to him.”
The marquis disliked Idilos, but he smiled and spoke warmly anyway.
“Why so stiff between us? We don’t need a reason to talk.”
Us?
Idilos almost laughed.
They were only business partners, nothing more. Yet Serpen acted as if they were close friends.
Idilos despised such people — friendly on the outside, but full of scorn on the inside.
Still, he forced a polite smile. It was a purely businesslike gesture.
“You may be right, Marquis Serpen.”
When Idilos smiled, his intimidating aura softened. Encouraged, Serpen went on eagerly.
“Good, good. You still listen to your elders. Now, before you head back to the capital, I’d like to introduce someone.”
Serpen gestured to the young lady beside him.
“My daughter, Revoné.”
Idilos’ gaze shifted to her.
Revoné curtsied politely.
“I am Revoné Serpen, the marquis’s eldest daughter.”
When she glanced up at him, his sharp jawline caught her eye. A faint smile tugged at her lips.
Six years had passed since Idilos inherited the dukedom. Now twenty-three, he still had no fiancée.
As the empire’s only heir-apparent of the imperial family’s closest ally, he was the most desirable match. True, there was a “flaw” about him that had once driven people away, but now that he was back in the empress’s favor, he was worth the risk.
“If I marry him, the gain is far greater than the risk.”
Not to mention, his breathtaking looks more than made up for any flaw.
Then came his calm, steady voice.
“Pleased to meet you, Lady Serpen.”
Revoné blushed.
“It’s an honor to meet the famous Duke.”
She carefully brought up her prepared topic.
“My lord, you may have heard that our estate garden has rare northern flowers blooming beautifully. If you’d allow me, I’d love to…”
“Marquis Serpen.”
He cut her off.
Revoné froze, lips still parted. His gaze had already moved away.
Still smiling politely, Idilos asked bluntly:
“The introduction is done. May I go now? I don’t have time to waste.”
“Y-your Grace…!”
His aide, Ansel, almost fainted. Watching a lady show interest was awkward enough, but now cleaning up this mess would be worse.
Quickly, Ansel stepped forward with a friendly grin.
“Haha, please don’t take offense. The Duke has urgent matters. Marquis, Lady — travel safely. We look forward to seeing you again.”
With that, he shoved Idilos into the carriage before he could say more.
As the carriage rolled away, Ansel saw the shocked marquis and his daughter’s humiliated expression fade into the distance.
Inside, he sighed heavily.
“Your Grace, why are you always so cold?”
“Am I?”
“Yes! Do you know your reputation is already at rock bottom?”
“….”
Idilos gave no answer, closing his eyes as if to block out the world.
Ansel scowled. His master was antisocial, blunt, and had no talent for human relationships. And since Idilos didn’t care, Ansel was the one left to suffer.
After holding back a sigh, Ansel tried again carefully:
“Your Grace… have you thought about what I suggested last time?”
“Last time?”
Idilos opened his eyes. Golden irises glinted under his long lashes. Seeing his chance, Ansel hurried to speak.
“Yes — about finding Lady Mamella a friend!”
“No.”
The sharp refusal made Ansel flinch.
“…Did you even think it over?”
“There’s nothing to think about.”
“But Your Grace, the lady is always alone. Surely she must be lonely, especially since you’re away so often.”
Idilos’ expression hardened.
He spoke in a calm but chilling voice:
“Even so, how could I trust anyone with her? What if they take advantage of her? Should I regret it only after she’s hurt?”
It was the answer Ansel had expected, but still frustrating. He opened his mouth to insist:
“I would choose someone trustworthy…”
But Idilos’ sharp glare made the words die in his throat. Maybe silence was best.
As Ansel went quiet, Idilos turned to the window.
He watched the scenery blur past, lost in thought.
“Mamella must be lonely…”
He knew it, deep down. His little sister, spending every day shut inside with no family near her — of course she felt lonely.
He had considered giving her a friend before.
“If there were someone I could truly trust, maybe…”
But in a world where the imperial family still stood strong, who could truly be trusted?
At best, perhaps… an animal. People were too dangerous.
But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, Idilos shuddered.
“No… that would be absurd. A beast as her companion? Impossible.”
He let out a soft sigh.
All he could feel was guilt — guilt for being such a useless brother who couldn’t even give his sister a single friend.
