Chapter 19
“I’ll put a bandage on it too, just in case the wound gets worse.”
Since it had healed so perfectly without a trace, Miela would have definitely found it suspicious. So Istin made an excuse and discreetly covered the area where the wound had been.
“Wow, that’s amazing. It doesn’t hurt at all!”
Miela’s voice was filled with excitement. Istin couldn’t help but feel proud.
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“Yeah. Thanks for putting medicine on it, Titi.”
“It’s nothing, really.”
Istin gave a small chuckle.
After that, they spent a peaceful lunch as if nothing had happened. They ate the lunchboxes they had packed in the morning and chatted casually in the shade. Then, out of nowhere, Miela asked a question.
“Hey, Titi, that book you’re reading… is it a novel by any chance?”
Since she couldn’t read, she had no way of knowing the content even if she peeked over his shoulder.
Miela’s expression was filled with obvious curiosity. Istin shrugged.
“Well, something like that.”
“Wow, really? What’s it about?”
Her eyes sparkled upon hearing it was a novel—almost overwhelmingly so.
“It’s about a power struggle for the throne in a kingdom. It’s supposedly based on a true story.”
“Whoa, that’s a lot more complicated than I thought. What kind of novels do you usually read? Maybe…”
Was Miela always this persistent? In any case, Istin answered sincerely.
“Let’s see… I don’t really stick to a particular type. But if I had to say, I usually read about adventures or the exploits of brave knights.”
“Aha, I see! That sounds fun just hearing about it.”
At that point, Istin grew curious too. It might be a rude question, but he couldn’t stop himself from asking.
“Miela, you said you can’t read, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“But you seem really interested in books, especially novels. Has someone read them to you before?”
A sharp question. Miela hesitated for a moment, then answered.
“Yeah. My mom loved novels, so she used to tell me lots of stories.”
“Aha, that explains it.”
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as when your deduction turns out to be right.
With a cheerful smile, Istin asked another question.
“Then let me ask you this—what kind of stories do you like, Miela?”
“Well, um…”
Her eyes sparkled again, clearly thrilled to be talking about a topic she loved.
“My mom mostly told me romance fantasy stories.”
“I know what romance is, but… fantasy? What’s that?”
Surprisingly, Istin knew what romance novels were. During his time living in the duke’s estate, he’d once stumbled across a book that the maids were secretly passing around. Though it hadn’t particularly interested him.
“How do I explain this? Oh, I know! Fantasy means things that don’t exist in this world—made up from imagination. That’s how my mom explained it to me.”
“Oh, stories set in imaginary worlds? That sounds pretty cool.”
Istin raised an eyebrow.
Until now, all the novels he had read, even if fictional, were always grounded in things that could plausibly happen in real life.
The feeling of having his preconceived notions shattered was strangely unfamiliar—like a curtain in his heart that had always been closed had finally been pulled open.
“Right? I thought it was cool too. Every time Mom told me a fantasy story, I’d close my eyes and imagine what kind of world it must be.”
When Istin nodded in agreement, Miela continued to chatter excitedly. She was livelier than usual, like a squirrel delighted to share an acorn with a friend.
And her words didn’t stop there.
“Hey, do you know what a ‘childcare story’ is?”
Miela asked in a gentle voice. Istin blinked, puzzled.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a genre where the main character is a kid, and the story is about the people around them raising that kid.”
“Hmm… I’ve never heard of it.”
Up until recently, Istin had thought Miela didn’t know much compared to him. But he’d been completely wrong. They just had different areas of knowledge. In fact, Miela knew things that no one else in the world might know.
“To put it simply, it’s just like you and me. This big sister is taking good care of you, right?”
Miela tried to make it easier to understand by giving an example.
“…”
Was she serious? Istin was speechless.
‘No matter how I look at it, I’m the one doing the caretaking here.’
He helped her when she was being picked on, gave her delicious food, even treated her injured hand!
Not that he was trying to brag or anything… but facts were facts.
‘Well, I guess technically, she did save my life when we first met. So I suppose she’s not completely wrong.’
But there was one critical flaw in her claim—Miela was actually two years younger than him.
Maybe it was time to reveal his real age. But it felt just as daunting as revealing his true identity. He knew it would be a huge shock for Miela.
‘Then again, it’s not like she really treats me like a little kid anyway.’
Istin pondered. His outward appearance might be that of a child, but his behavior and speech were far from it.
Maybe that’s why Miela treated him like a peer.
“Well, sure. Let’s go with that.”
Whether it was a childcare story or whatever, Istin decided to just let Miela think whatever she wanted.
* * *
Meanwhile, Miela was struggling with the urge to squish Titi’s chubby cheeks.
‘I bet they’re super soft! Just like that bread I had on the first day at the villa!’
But she held herself back. If she gave in, Titi would definitely give her a horrified look.
She had a vague feeling he didn’t like being treated as cute.
‘Mom always said this kind of story was a “dark romance,” but… I don’t think so.’
She couldn’t say more because of her promise to her mother, but in truth, Miela was dying to reveal that this world came from a novel.
‘Yeah. I’m pretty sure this story is a childcare one!’
She was certain. After all, she was the one looking after adorable little Titi.
She’d even given him a haircut—though it was a disaster. And she’d picked raspberries for him—though she got hurt doing it. Still, it all counted!
‘Mom said you could turn even a dark story into another genre if you tried.’
So to Miela, this world was now a wholesome childcare story where she was raising Titi.
Sure, he was technically just a servant to the male lead—a background character. But that didn’t matter. Why?
‘Mom said that you don’t have to be a beautiful princess or noble lady to be the main character. Even a maid or shop clerk can be the star!’
Recalling the lessons her reincarnated mother had taught her, Miela made a firm resolution.
‘So Titi, I’m going to make you the main character of a childcare story!’
It was a bold declaration—one only possible because she didn’t know his true identity.
Miela had always loved the novel stories her mother told. Her favorite genre, by far, was romantic fantasy childcare. Just imagining a little kid like herself being showered with love and growing up happy made her heart flutter.
‘I don’t have a mom to love me anymore, but it’s okay. I’ll be a reliable big sister for Titi instead. Love grows when you share it, after all.’
Istin, however, found Miela’s sparkling gaze a bit overwhelming.
“Why are you looking at me like that again…?”
“Just… I suddenly felt really sorry for you, Titi.”
“For me?”
When Istin opened his mouth in disbelief, Miela added,
“I don’t know if I should say this, but… the young master you serve is really too much, don’t you think?”
