Episode 4
“No one!”
I shook my head vigorously as I met Demius’ blazing gaze.
“No, really. It was just a series of misunderstandings.”
It was true.
Not a lie to protect anyone—this was the truth.
The boy had simply wanted to give the horse some sugar cubes, and the horse, frustrated from being trapped, had only become excited at the sight of the sugar.
The loud, bald man had only called for help to make sure the boy wouldn’t get hurt, and the guards had rushed over at his alarm.
And I had stepped in only to clarify the misunderstanding.
“Everything happened because of a misunderstanding. No one is at fault.”
I spoke firmly, but Demius’ frown deepened.
“You were injured.”
“I’m fine.”
I shook my head insistently, and in Demius’ eyes, for a brief moment, a curious mix of pity and stubbornness appeared.
“…Very well.”
He blinked once, then opened his mouth.
“Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that this was a minor misunderstanding.”
“Yes?”
I felt relief creeping over me—but Demius’ voice that followed was ice-cold.
“However, punishment is still necessary. Without punishing at least one, discipline will break down.”
“That’s true.”
“…!”
His eyes widened slightly, as if surprised by my agreement.
But then he added:
“Not right now.”
“Why…?”
“There are times when discipline is necessary. But there are also urgent situations that require swift decision-making.”
“You mean your injury isn’t urgent?”
“Demius.”
“…!”
For a moment, his eyes widened and the back of his neck flushed red.
Did I say something wrong?
I blinked and noticed his gaze softening slightly.
“Calm down, and look at me.”
I felt his ears warm as he looked down at me.
Was he angry?
But the tight line of his mouth was relaxing, so perhaps his anger had subsided.
I continued carefully, despite my confusion at his ambiguous expression.
“Thank you for worrying. I appreciate it. But I really am okay. Above all, if we keep holding everyone accountable for every single action, only those unable to defend themselves will remain.”
Those who cannot defend themselves.
The weak.
“Horses can’t defend themselves.”
Demius let out a sigh as he looked at me.
“…I’ve never seen anyone care more about a horse than a person.”
“I really am okay. Look. It’s already healed.”
I gently pressed the bandage—now dry and scabbed. It didn’t hurt at all.
“Thanks to the high-grade potion used to treat me.”
“….”
Demius’ eyes, which had been silently observing me, softened slightly, as if contorting downward.
“Why do you always…”
He bit his lip lightly and swallowed the rest of his words, then abruptly turned his gaze.
“Why did you go into the stable?”
The sudden question made the boy take a deep breath.
“Hic!”
Startled, he hiccuped repeatedly. He tried to control it, but the hiccups didn’t stop.
Embarrassed by his uncontrollable body, tears began welling in his large eyes again.
I quickly stretched out my hand to block Demius’ gaze.
“He likes horses and wanted to see them. He wanted to give sugar cubes to the new horse.”
“He knew he shouldn’t approach the horse carelessly, didn’t he?”
Even as I defended the boy, Demius continued sharply.
“Why did you put yourself in danger?”
“He’s just a child.”
I continued explaining, shielding the boy from Demius’ reproachful gaze.
“Of course, he should be warned about dangerous actions. But when you’re young, you don’t know everything, right? You grow by making mistakes and learning what’s safe. I did too.”
I spoke quickly, without pausing for breath.
“Once, there was that cliff around the village. I almost died the first time I climbed it—when I was five.”
“…Five years old?”
Demius’ expression showed shock, but I kept speaking, glancing at the boy who seemed on the verge of tears.
“Thanks to that, I learned a lot. I learned to be careful when climbing cliffs.”
“Wasn’t there an option not to climb the cliff?”
“If I hadn’t climbed, I wouldn’t have been able to save you from the bottom.”
“…!”
For a moment, realization lit up Demius’ eyes.
He exhaled and his angry energy slowly softened.
I looked at him and continued.
“I think both you and I tried many things as children. And through that, we learned important lessons about what we can and cannot do.”
I smiled faintly.
“We all grow through our mistakes.”
So.
I gently asked the boy beside me.
“You learned a lot today too, didn’t you?”
The little boy clenched his fists until they turned white, then quickly nodded.
His hiccups hadn’t stopped, but his eyes shone with a desperate ‘I’m sorry.’
After a brief silence, Demius rubbed his forehead and let out a small sigh.
“…Don’t ever do that again.”
The boy nodded vigorously, trying to stop another hiccup.
Watching the two of them anxiously, I suddenly remembered something important.
I clenched my fists and nodded.
I had to go check on Mother!
“You’re awake!”
A bright voice pierced my ears, one I hadn’t often heard.
Grand Duke Seres frowned and turned toward the source of the unfamiliar voice.
The girl with the bandaged head was smiling brightly, as if nothing could be better.
“Thank goodness!”
“…Why is that child here?”
Before that, Seres asked, hiding his discomfort.
“What exactly happened?”
Linburton, standing by the bed, quickly leaned over and whispered.
After I had collapsed, a monster appeared.
Demius, his son, had gone out with the knights to deal with it.
In the meantime, Linburton had sent Melissa away.
According to Linburton, he personally confirmed that Melissa was chased out of the main gate—but somehow, she ended up in the garden.
Right in front of the stable.
“…She climbed over the wall?”
How?
The Duke looked at Melissa in disbelief.
In that outfit?
