~Chapter 8~
“By the way, why don’t you have any maids here?”
“We’re just guests staying in the annex. Of course there aren’t any maids! But food still gets delivered.”
I said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Balux froze for a second, then nodded as if that made sense.
Dad didn’t say much, just set cups down in front of me and Balux, then added some cookies before sitting at the table.
We sat around the round table, blowing on our cocoa before sipping it.
It was so sweet it felt like my whole head was melting.
Balux, who had been sneaking glances at me, finally tilted his cup for a taste. His eyes went wide immediately.
“Brother, isn’t it so good?”
He nodded.
“Uncle, which brand is this?”
“There’s no brand. I just bought it at the market. 10 gold per 100 grams.”
Cocoa beans were imported, so the price was pretty much whatever sellers asked for.
Even the cheap ones started around 10 gold.
For reference, a commoner’s monthly wage was about 100 gold.
“This is only 10 gold?”
“Heh, see? My dad’s cocoa is special! Amazing, right?”
“It just tastes better because you had it after running around. That’s all.”
Dad added that in, looking a little embarrassed.
Hey, that just makes me embarrassed!
“…So… if you didn’t make it, would it still taste this good?”
“…Well, I did put effort into it.”
Dad caught my eyes and added softly.
“Anyway, why do you call him ‘brother’ when I’m your father?”
“…Huh?”
Oh—did he want me to call him differently? But… didn’t he used to hate it?
“But before… when I called you ‘Dad’ your face got stiff. I thought you didn’t like it…”
“…It just felt awkward.”
He added in a quieter voice, asking if I didn’t feel embarrassed suddenly calling him ‘Dad.’
So… it was a misunderstanding?
“…C-can I call you that?”
“Of course.”
“…Hehe, Dad!”
Flinch—Dad’s face stiffened slightly.
He stood frozen for a while, then slowly nodded.
“Alright, sweetheart.”
Hearing that voice, my eyes flew wide.
“Yes!”
When I grinned, Dad patted my head roughly.
The corners of his usually expressionless mouth curved up just a little.
‘Ah… maybe dying wasn’t so bad after all. God was kind enough to give me another chance.’
“It’s gotten late. If you’re done eating, let’s head out.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll get going.”
When Balux stood, Dad stood as well.
“Reddy, I’ll walk Balux home. Stay here for a while.”
Balux looked surprised.
“I can go by myself.”
“It’s too late to send a child alone. I’ll see you back.”
Balux blinked, then his cheeks reddened as he nodded slowly.
“Um… can I come play again next time?”
“Uh, sure. There’s not much to play with… but yeah, see you! Dad, you be careful too!”
I waved my arms wildly as the two left the annex.
Then I finished my cocoa and cookies, cleaned up, and slipped back into my room.
***
In the Tigreto family, mornings always began with everyone gathering for breakfast.
Unless something unusual was happening, every direct family member was required to attend.
Balux, who had come home late the night before, dragged his tired body down to the dining hall.
“Good morning.”
He bowed politely, but only his grandfather was there as always.
“Ah, you’re early.”
“Yes. I woke up early today.”
Balux realized he was the second to arrive and nodded casually.
Actually, he had pushed all his lessons earlier today so he could finish fast.
His plan was to get homework done quickly and then go play at the annex in the afternoon.
“I heard you came back quite late yesterday…”
“Ah, yes. I was playing at Uncle’s place with Reddy.”
“…Playing? What did you do?”
Magnum Tigreto’s question made Balux flinch.
‘Oh right. Grandpa hates Uncle…’
But honestly, Uncle didn’t seem like a bad person or a fool.
“…Sorry.”
“No, I’m not scolding you. I’m just curious—what did you play?”
“We made a snowman. Reddy suggested it…”
“A snowman?”
Balux nodded.
Normally, his grandfather was always stern and scary, but hearing this, Balux’s cheeks flushed and he began describing everything.
How they had to roll the snow without using magic, which was hard but fun.
How afterwards, since it was cold, they had cocoa and cookies.
“Uncle made the cocoa himself—it was amazing.”
“…He made it himself?”
“Yes. He said there are no maids at the annex because they’re guests. But meals still get delivered.”
Even if he acted mature, Balux was still just a kid, so his words came out cheerful and innocent.
But that innocence made Magnum Tigreto’s brow crease faintly.
‘I thought I had assigned a maid to him.’
He stroked his chin and nodded.
“I see.”
“Yes. And when I was leaving, Uncle said it was too late for kids to go home alone, so he walked me to the main house.”
“I could’ve gone alone though.”
Balux muttered with a little pout, though his lips curled into a grin—it seemed like he actually liked being treated like a child.
“…That man did that?”
“Yes. And he held my hand too, since it was dark.”
Balux opened and closed his hand as he said it.
Noble children usually didn’t grow up like “ordinary kids.” Especially not in the Tigreto duchy.
From a young age, they were drilled in manners and education, leaving no time to actually be children.
Magnum always demanded results and cared deeply about the family’s honor and reputation.
Balux had never thought that strange—it was just how nobles lived.
“Anyway, I want to finish my classes quickly today so I can go play again. Reddy said I can come.”
“…Did she.”
The old man nodded slowly.
“Then let’s go to the annex together later.”
“…Huh? You too, Grandpa?”
“Why? Can’t I go wherever I want in my own house?”
“No, of course not.”
Balux quickly shook his head.
But then he remembered how Reddy was terrified of his grandfather, just hearing about him. Still, he couldn’t tell the family head “no,” so he nodded reluctantly.
“…Okay.”
Soon, more family members trickled in, filling the long dining table, and the meal began in its usual silence.
So different from the small, warm round table of last night.
***
“Nooo, you can’t use these! These olives are the buttons for the snowman!”
“Meooww~!”
“I said no! I’ll get you something else. I’ll bring you your favorite food, okay?”
Hearing the squabbling from the yard, Magnum Tigreto stopped outside instead of going in. He looked into the garden.
There was a little girl, wrestling with a big cat over a handful of olives.
No matter how much the child waved her tiny arms, the sturdy cat was skilled.
It crouched low, wagging its tail, and in the end stole the pouch of olives, burying its face inside to eat.
“Hey! That’s so mean!”
The girl pouted.
“Huh? You’re hurt?”
“Meooow…”
“Hm. I don’t understand you at all.”
She tugged lightly at the cat’s tail, then placed her little palm on its side.
It looked like the cat had gotten into a fight—the wound on its side was nasty, like it had been bitten.
The girl glanced around, then pressed her small hand right over the wound.
And then—something incredible happened.
Fwoooosh—!
A pure white light burst out of her palm, wrapping around the cat’s body.
In an instant, the ugly wound was gone.
“There, doesn’t hurt now, right?”
The girl giggled, pressing a finger to her lips.
“Don’t tell Dad, okay? It’s our secret.”
Shhh!
She picked up the little pouch from the ground and stood up.
Magnum Tigreto and Balux, who had seen the whole thing, both widened their eyes in shock.
