Chapter 07
He took a long, deep breath, calming his nerves. Then, with a more composed voice, he came to a conclusion.
“Well, anyway. Looks like you’re going to need a special cleansing.”
“Cleansing?! I don’t know what that is, but it’s not scary, right? Right?”
Startled by the unfamiliar word and Titi’s suddenly serious expression, Miela instinctively grew nervous.
“It means washing. Very thoroughly. Until every bit of grime is gone and only soft skin is left.”
“Ugh… I don’t like anything painful…”
“Don’t worry. As it happens, I know someone who’s especially skilled in cleansing humans. It won’t hurt at all. If anything, it’ll be refreshing, like all your old grime just melts away.”
As Istin spoke, he snapped his fingers. As if on cue, someone stepped forward from nearby.
“Greetings. I’m Amilize, head maid.”
She welcomed Miela gracefully. She had already heard the details from the guard, Asichel, and understood the situation.
“Ah!”
Miela flinched at the sudden appearance, but relaxed when Amilize smiled warmly and introduced herself. Then, a bit shyly, Miela gave her own name.
“Ah, I’m Miela.”
“Yes, Lady Miela. Would you follow me, please? I’ll escort you to the bath.”
“Alright, go on, Miela. I’ll be waiting here.”
With one hand tucked casually in his pocket, Titi lightly waved with the other as he saw her off.
* * *
A short while later, Miela emerged from the bath with the head maid—and she was completely transformed.
The layer of grime that had once covered her was now gone, revealing her naturally fair skin.
It was the first proper bath she’d had since her mother passed away.
‘It wasn’t like the soap they sell at the neighborhood store. It was shaped like a flower, and it even smelled like real roses!’
Miela’s cheeks blushed pink.
The experience she’d just had felt like something from one of the stories her mother used to tell—soapsuds overflowing from a cute little bathtub fit for a princess.
‘It wasn’t a dream, was it? I thought stuff like this only happened when you met a fairy in a storybook…’
As she mused, Titi’s face popped into her mind—jet-black hair, green eyes like leaves, and a tiny, delicate body.
‘Yeah, maybe Titi really is a fairy. He even looks like one!’
Well, except for the attitude. His eyes and personality were much sharper than the kind, gentle fairies in stories.
Still caught up in her fantasy, Miela was startled once again when the head maid brought out a change of clothes.
“Wow, this is so soft! Like baby chick fluff!”
“Hoho, is that so?”
Amilize smiled at her honest reaction—like a grandmother admiring her granddaughter.
Now freshly bathed and properly dressed, Miela looked not just clean but absolutely adorable.
“Let’s go. Lord Titi is waiting for you.”
With much lighter steps than before, Miela walked down the hall with Amilize.
Following the maid’s instructions, she opened a door and stepped inside, where a small figure sat neatly on a sofa, reading a book.
Scratching her cheek a little shyly, Miela called out.
“Titi, did you wait long?”
Noticing her presence, Istin turned around—and his eyes widened slowly as he took in her transformed appearance.
“……!”
He said nothing for a long moment, staring in shock, making Miela feel awkward.
“Um, I don’t look dirty anymore, right? Thanks to Miss Amilize’s hard scrubbing, all the grime’s gone! And look—I’m wearing these super clean, super soft new clothes!”
Beaming, she twirled in place to show him.
It wasn’t an elegant noble’s gown or anything, but the way she moved made it look like she was dancing.
“Pfft—what even is that.”
“How do I look? Pretty okay?”
Her face sparkled like sunlit sand. And that wasn’t a metaphor—she actually seemed to glow.
‘Okay? She looks so pretty!’
Istin felt a small jolt of surprise in his chest.
Compared to how timid and scruffy she’d looked earlier, this open and cheerful version of her was even more adorable.
Earlier, she’d looked like a bedraggled squirrel—now she looked freshly fluffed, like one that had just shed its winter coat.
“Well, not bad.”
But of course, he couldn’t say all that out loud. Istin was terrible at compliments.
So instead, a gruff, unenthusiastic answer slipped out.
“Really? That’s a relief. Anyway, thanks so much. It’s all thanks to you, Titi.”
Fortunately, Miela was the kind of person who didn’t get hurt easily by words.
To her, even a lukewarm “not bad” felt like praise—especially coming from someone like Titi, who usually wasn’t the complimenting type.
Istin shrugged, fighting the urge to correct himself with, “Actually, you’re super pretty.”
“You’re exaggerating, Miela.”
“I’m not! This is really the first time I’ve ever worn clothes like this. And a bubble bath? That too!”
Grinning at her excitement, Istin called over the waiting butler.
“Mister Butler.”
“Yes, Lord Titi.”
“Please ask the head chef to send up a meal. Not to the dining room—here.”
“Understood. Shall I prepare a meal for the young lady as well? And what would you like for the menu?”
Istin thought for a moment, then gestured the butler closer and whispered in his ear.
“…That.”
“Understood. I’ll have it prepared.”
Soon after, a parade of maids entered, carrying trays of food.
The previously empty table was suddenly filled with warm, luxurious dishes that seemed almost magical.
Miela was so overwhelmed she didn’t even know what to ask. All she could do was gape and mutter things like “wow” and “oh my gosh.”
Gulp.
Istin saw it—Miela swallowing hard.
He dismissed the servants.
“You may leave now.”
“Yes, enjoy your meal. Please ring if you need anything.”
Once the room was empty and just the two of them remained, Miela hesitantly spoke.
“T-Titi! W-what is all this…?!”
“You must be hungry. I figured you should eat before leaving. Consider it a thank-you for helping me earlier.”
But Miela still looked suspicious.
“You’re telling me… all of this is food? Seriously? There’s even meat… and cake?”
“Everything on that table—except the plates, cutlery, and napkins—is food.”
Normally, she would’ve asked, “What’s cutlery? What’s a napkin?” but she was too distracted by the delicious smells to care.
Even so, she still didn’t reach for anything, glancing around nervously.
“C-Can I really eat this? For real?”
Istin found her hesitation a little frustrating, but it also gave him a glimpse of how she must’ve lived.
Hadn’t she just been happy eating dry, rock-hard bread earlier?
“Yes. It’s really for you. So eat whatever you want—it’s all been approved by the young master.”
“Oh my gosh!”
Still unsure, Miela cautiously picked up a spoon.
The cream soup in front of her was still steaming, packed with chunks of chicken and broccoli. There was even a sprinkle of pepper—something she thought of as a luxury.
To her, it looked like gold dust.
Her hand trembled slightly as she took a large spoonful and brought it to her mouth.
“It’s delicious—so delicious… sniff!”
Moments later, her eyes filled with tears of joy.
Istin looked at her with an incredulous expression.
“If it’s good, why are you crying?”
“Because it’s so delicious… But, Titi, aren’t you eating?”
Miela asked while stuffing a piece of freshly baked warm bread into her mouth.
As the child of a duke’s household, Istin normally would’ve corrected her eating posture, or the way she held her spoon—but this time, he let it go.
Because her tearful, grateful expression was more than enough to make up for it.
“I’ll eat later. For now, I’m enjoying watching you eat. Anyway, take your time.”
That old saying—watching someone eat is satisfying enough—fit perfectly.
Just watching Miela made him feel full and happy.
