Episode 13
When I returned to the Grand Ducal House, a wave of fatigue hit me. I put off dinner and changed into my nightclothes.
Grunting, I dragged Hayang—as big as my own body—over and laid it on the bed.
Because its ears were so large and long, Hayang’s big ears drooped forward.
Hmm, it looked a bit dejected.
I set the doll’s head on the pillow and let its ears fall behind the pillow. After pulling the covers up over it, it was perfect.
“Hayang, let’s sleep now.”
I stroked the rabbit doll I’d named Hayang and lay down beside it.
Touching it felt so warm and cozy.
As I stroked its soft fur, memories of going out came back—the moment I loosed the last arrow.
I aimed higher than I had with the second shot. At last, the arrow flew powerfully toward the target.
“Oh my!”
Beside me, even Basha seemed surprised enough to let out a sound.
Contrary to my expectations, the arrow missed the target and stuck in the wall. Meaning to raise my aim just a little had ended up making me overshoot.
Maybe I’d expected too much. The strength left my body and my shoulders slumped. Then I even dropped the bow I was holding.
As the bow hit the ground, my legs seemed to give out too; I wobbled.
“Rob! Are you all right?”
“My lady!”
Strong arms caught me on both sides.
It was Grandfather and Johann.
Where they’d come from, I didn’t know, but they acted like people genuinely intent on checking me over.
“What happened?”
At my question, Johann started to look guilty.
“Ah, well… Rob, the thing is—actually… Grandfather! Now Rob’s mad.”
Johann barked it out. Though the outburst startled me, I was more desperate to know what had happened.
I looked at Grandfather. He turned his head and avoided my eyes. All I heard was a pointed little cough.
I knocked Johann’s hand away from where he was holding me. It came off more easily than I expected.
“Grandfather! Don’t tell me you followed me this whole time?”
“Ahem, that is… I was worried, you see. My dear, I’m truly sorry.”
The instant I realized they’d been tailing me, anger surged up inside.
But when I looked down that anger, I saw Grandfather’s and Johann’s worried eyes. Like snow melting, the anger that had settled in my heart ebbed away.
If they were worried about me, how could I be angry?
Grandfather and Johann looked utterly at a loss, full of remorse.
“Little sister, I’m sorry. It was your first outing. Could you forgive us, just this once?”
“I’m not angry.”
At those words, the two of them lit up at once.
“Truly?”
“Really?”
They spoke in unison, glanced at each other, then snapped their heads away. Sometimes they seemed to get along; other times, not at all.
If they followed me in secret every time I went out, that would be a problem. I needed a firm promise from them.
“But only this once. You’re not going to follow me every time I go out, are you?”
At my question, both their faces darkened. Seeing them grow dejected made my heart waver for a moment, but I resolved to be firm.
“Then… are you going to keep following me from now on?”
This time Johann, clearly intent on persuading me first, spoke with an even more woebegone face.
“Little sister, you really don’t know yourself. A child as cute and lovable as you—it’s obvious you’ll get kidnapped. Of course you might not notice. But the world is far more dangerous than you think. Do you know how much I suffered today because of all those lecherous bast—no, those men staring at you?”
“Well, well.”
As Johann went on, he grew angrier toward the end, though I couldn’t tell at whom. Grandfather nodded along to what Johann said.
If I backed down here, I’d never be allowed to go out alone. I had to steel myself, but I kept finding their arguments persuasive.
“I followed the permission you gave me precisely. I went out with Sir Derrick and the knights. And that, too, was with your consent. I’m truly disappointed in you both.”
I deliberately put weight on the word disappointed. Johann, poised to persuade me, opened and closed his mouth in shock.
Grandfather, too, seemed dizzy and swayed. Sir Derrick stepped forward to support him.
But Grandfather brushed off Sir Derrick’s hand, went down on one knee, and met my eyes at my level.
“My dear, I am truly sorry. We did it because we were worried about you. Will you forgive us? I promise you. This will never happen again.”
Grandfather’s large hand approached carefully. He held out his little finger. I hooked my little finger with his and made a promise.
“Grandfather, thank you for not misunderstanding my intentions.”
He suddenly lifted me up in his arms. Startled, I flailed.
“Grandfather, I’m heavy now.”
Grandfather’s hearty laugh rang out across the street.
“You’re lighter than down—don’t worry. I’m still sturdy.”
Holding me with one arm, he flexed the other, showing off a bulging bicep. The muscle was so impressive I found myself nodding without thinking.
Now that he’d come to his senses, Johann—who had only been mouthing soundlessly—raised both arms and showed off his own.
“Look at mine too. Cool muscles, right?”
“What half-grown muscles are you waving about? Go over there and train. My dear, don’t look. It’ll hurt your eyes.”
Grandfather scolded Johann for no real reason. With the sudden change in mood, even the knights waiting nearby relaxed their expressions. Only Johann kept huffing and puffing.
While Johann was still grumbling, my gaze fixed on the big rabbit doll. Grandfather must have noticed; he smiled kindly.
“Is it that rabbit doll you want?”
Johann butted in abruptly. He thumped his chest with a fist and declared confidently:
“Rob, just trust this big brother. I’ll win the rabbit doll for you.”
Basha quickly slipped the owner some money, reading the mood. The shopkeeper brought out a bow much larger than the little one I’d been given.
Of the three arrows, Johann picked up only one and handed the other two back.
“I don’t need three. For that rabbit doll—hitting dead center is all it takes, right?”
The shopkeeper answered Johann’s question with a trembling voice.
“Y-yes, that’s right.”
Johann seemed used to situations like this; he didn’t bat an eye. Then his brow knit, and he issued a warning.
“Shopkeeper, listen carefully. If you change your tune later, it won’t be fun. Understand?”
The man’s voice shook even worse.
“O-of course. H-how could t-there be any question!”
Johann muttered under his breath—deliberately keeping it low:
“Tch. Don’t even dream of rigging it.”
Rigging?
Johann wouldn’t say such a thing for nothing. The shopkeeper must have done something to the target. Otherwise, why would he be shaking like that?
Sir Derrick strode over to the target himself.
“There was someone behind the target board.”
Sir Derrick hauled out a small boy and set him on the ground. The shopkeeper collapsed in shock.
“P-please forgive me. Just this once. It was my fault.”
The small boy also threw himself down and began to cry.
Grandfather’s powerful voice boomed:
“If you’ve done wrong, you should receive your due punishment. Begging me doesn’t erase your sin. Declare your own penalty.”
The shopkeeper crawled to Grandfather’s feet, clutching at him and pleading.
“Then—at least spare my son. He knows nothing.”
As expected, the little boy was the shopkeeper’s son. Hearing the child’s sobs tugged at my heart.
“Father! Hic Please, save my father!”
The boy begged through tears and snot. Feeling sorry for him, I tugged at Grandfather’s sleeve.
“Grandfather, that child is so pitiful.”
Thankfully, Grandfather’s heart softened.
“Enough noise. Did I say I would have him killed? I said he should be punished in proportion to his wrongdoing. As for the child—he likely did as his father told him. Captain, soothe the boy and take him home.”
Sir Derrick picked up the boy, who was lying on the ground crying, and carried him away. The shopkeeper at last seemed a little calmer.
Johann, who had been watching idly, came over, digging at his ear. He spoke with bored indifference.
“Now let’s shoot. I’ve got to give my little sister her doll!”
At Johann’s words, the shopkeeper struggled to stand on trembling legs.
“Y-you may shoot. There’s n-no trickery now, so p-please shoot without worry.”
Johann blew on the fingertip he’d been digging with for so long, as if his ear itched, then began stepping backward, one pace at a time.
Thinking he didn’t know where to shoot from, I tried to tell him—but he only winked at me.
Johann backed up until there was nowhere left to go. Then he raised the bow high.
Drawn taut, the bow curved as if it would snap. With a sound slicing the air, the arrow flew.
The shopkeeper waved a flag and called out in a thin voice:
“H—hit!”
