Chapter 55
If I think about it, Jack was a child who had lost many things.
‘He lost his parents the moment he was born, and he never got to enjoy the things he rightfully should have had.’
Maybe that’s why he’s so anxious.
Afraid that even I might be taken away from him.
It might also be because Seid is royalty. After all, Seid’s father is the enemy who killed Jack’s parents.
‘But is Seid really okay?’
Worry suddenly arose.
Jack is changing, and Hoyeon is staying alert, but is it really fine to just leave Seid as he is?
Seid is the emperor’s eyes. The emperor, knowing that Seid comes here, still condones it, using him to grasp the situation inside.
The duke said it would be fine if we were careful.
‘No, I need to be even more careful.’
For now, Seid only seems interested in playing with the children. But if—just in case—he ever proves to be a dangerous presence, then…
‘I’ll have to cut him off.’
Even though I couldn’t shake off the image of Seid bursting into tears, saying the palace was too lonely and desolate, I hardened my resolve.
A month passed in the blink of an eye. The season that had been on the border between autumn and winter now leaned completely toward winter.
Thankfully, before winter came, Hoyeon had stocked up on firewood, so we didn’t have to shiver in the cold.
‘It’s already the year’s end.’
I thought so as I glanced at the frost-covered window while working.
‘At last, the festival.’
Time flew by, and now the festival was only a day away.
‘I’ll enjoy the festival with the children for a bit, and when the time comes, I’ll prepare for the masquerade ball.’
When I had asked what I should prepare for the masquerade, Duke Kraiman had said he would take care of it, so I didn’t need to worry.
‘So I’ve been leaving it in his hands, but still…’
As the festival day drew near, an inexplicable uneasiness crept in.
“Tch, it’ll be fine.”
I shook my head. No point in worrying over nothing.
‘But still, why are the kids so quiet?’
Usually around this time, I’d hear Clouan running through the halls and the children chattering, but today, strangely, it was silent.
Finding it odd, I stepped out of the director’s office. The hallway was empty.
Thinking maybe they were in the dining hall, I went to check, but it was empty too.
Just then, Hoyeon came in after putting more wood in the stove, and I asked her,
“Hoyeon, have you seen the children?”
For some reason, she looked visibly flustered and shook her head.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Really? Then maybe they’re in their rooms… I should check.”
I couldn’t risk them having gone outside.
But as I headed toward the stairs, Hoyeon quickly blocked my way. I stared at her in confusion.
“I—I did see them.”
“Hm?”
“The children, I mean. They went to their rooms, saying they were going to nap.”
“Hmm, really?”
“Y-yes…”
This was definitely suspicious.
When I narrowed my eyes at her, sweat began trickling down her face. Anyone could see she was hiding something.
Still, as long as the children weren’t outside, that was enough. I nodded.
I glanced at the room under the stairs where Hoyeon usually stayed. The door was firmly shut. She watched me nervously.
I gave her a bright smile.
“The children must really like you.”
“…Pardon?”
“Never mind. Just make sure they’re not late for dinner.”
“Yes. …Huh?”
She nodded but then looked back at me in confusion. I, however, returned to the office.
“Oh, snow.”
By then, snow had begun to fall. I stood at the window, watching the flakes drift down.
‘This winter will be warm.’
I felt unexpectedly sentimental.
Just last year, I had been wandering outside in the freezing cold, desperately searching for work.
This warm shelter and sense of ease still felt unreal to me.
‘If things stay like this…’
Then I’d be able to spend many winters just as warmly.
‘But still, what exactly are the kids up to?’
It was clear they had dragged Hoyeon into some scheme.
But I had no idea what it was.
‘Well, I’ll find out soon enough.’
I shrugged and returned to my desk. There was still plenty of work left to do.
“It’s the festival!”
As soon as he jumped off the carriage, Clouan shouted excitedly. Seeing how hyped up he was, I warned him,
“It snowed all night, so the ground’s slippery. Be careful.”
“Yep! Of course!”
He answered confidently, though his feet were already bouncing in excitement.
While Hoyeon helped the rest of the children down, I handed the coachman his pay.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Not at all! Please enjoy the festival!”
After the carriage departed, I gathered the children and gave them a few instructions.
“There’ll be a lot of people here, so don’t ever let go of my hand or wander off alone. If you get lost, stay where you are until Hoyeon finds you. And if a stranger offers to buy you something tasty, what do you say?”
“I don’t need it!”
“…Good, well done.”
“Then let’s go in already!”
Clouan was in such a rush to enter the festival grounds that he urged us on.
Though my worry grew, I decided to leave it at that. I’d already warned them before we left.
I held out my hand, and both Clouan and Edi grabbed it right away. Compared to our first trip to the market, this was huge progress—especially for Clouan.
We lined up in order, with Hoyeon following a step behind to make sure no one strayed.
Even in the morning, the festival was bustling with people.
If it was this crowded now, in a little while, it would probably be impossible to even get through.
Still, only the entrance was packed. Once we moved further in, it was less crowded.
“Wow, look! A circus!”
When a circus troupe passed by in a parade, I led the children back a bit. Their eyes sparkled as they watched—Jack’s too, surprisingly.
Honestly, I was just as amazed. It was my first time seeing a circus.
After the parade ended, we browsed through the stalls. Many were selling special goods to commemorate the festival.
‘Oh, that’s cute.’
I spotted some headbands shaped like animal ears. I called over Len, who was standing beside me.
“Len, come here a sec.”
“Yes, Director.”
He trotted over, and I immediately placed a pair of rabbit-ear headbands on his head. His eyes widened.
“So cute.”
And I meant it—Len looked perfect with the rabbit ears, his delicate features already resembling a rabbit.
“Len, what’s that…?”
“Oh, Clouan.”
Clouan, who had just walked up, froze when he saw Len.
“What’s that on your head?”
“This? The Director put it on me. Does it look weird?”
Len tilted his head, and Clouan, staring blankly, shook his head quickly.
“N-no! It doesn’t look weird. In fact…”
He ducked his head, fiddling with his fingers. His ears, peeking out from his black hair, had turned bright red.
He couldn’t bring himself to look up. When Len asked worriedly, “Are you sick?” he just shook his head in silence.
Watching them fondly, I quietly picked up a raccoon-ear headband and snuck up on Clouan.
When Len looked over, I pressed a finger to my lips.
Len caught on and stepped back with a nod.
“Gotcha.”
I plopped the raccoon-ear headband onto Clouan’s head. He looked at me in shock.
“W-what are you doing?!”
He tried to yank it off right away, but then Len said,
“Clouan, you look so cute.”
“….”
At those words, Clouan’s hand slowly dropped from the headband.
“C-cute?”
“Yeah, really cute.”
“Hmm….”
Hearing that, his mood shifted instantly, and he started fiddling with the headband.
And it wasn’t just words—Clouan really did look adorable with it on.
Taking the chance, I gathered all the children and gave them headbands too.
Edi got bear ears, Rodi got sheep horns, and Jack got fennec fox ears.
Edi and Rodi were thrilled, while Jack looked embarrassed but didn’t take his off.
‘Now that I think about it…’
I noticed many people at the festival were also wearing headbands. It was a special day, so they could do things they normally wouldn’t.
I glanced at Hoyeon.
Except when sleeping, she always covered her cat ears with a hood.
Her being a beastkin wasn’t the problem, but it could lead to misunderstandings, and she was uncomfortable with people staring.
‘But today, maybe…’
