Episode 4
“Still haven’t caught her?”
A sharp voice rang out from the Portier Barony. Baroness Sandra Portier, her face flushed with anger, gritted her teeth.
“How incompetent must you be to not even find a mere girl!”
Her eyes blazed with fury. Joseph, her long-time partner, tried in vain to calm her down, clearly uncomfortable.
“Sandra, calm down!”
“Do I look like I’m about to calm down, you incompetent fool!”
Sandra leapt from her seat and struck Joseph’s arm with a resentful hand. Joseph was part of the village constabulary. He had boasted he would catch Melis immediately, yet here he was, having brought no news at all.
Her prolonged hesitation in developing her relationship with Joseph had much to do with his incompetence.
“Haah, Melis…”
Feeling blood rushing to her head, Sandra stumbled and sank into her seat.
‘To think she would subject me to such humiliation! I am utterly disappointed in the Baroness!’
Earlier, upon belatedly hearing the news of Melis’ escape, Sir Gazette had unleashed all manner of verbal abuse and insults upon Sandra before leaving.
‘If you don’t bring the bride within three days, be aware that you will have to return twice the dowry!’
The most pressing problem, however, was the 1,000 nifs dowry Sandra had received from Sir Gazette.
In fact, after Baron Portier had passed away in an accident twelve years ago, the barony had been surviving largely on savings and survivor’s benefits without any real income.
Paying for the education of their son, who had been sent abroad, had already become a burden. Fortunately, a marriage proposal came for Melis, accompanied by the generous dowry of 1,000 nifs.
Sandra had been proud of herself for rejecting all mediocre marriage prospects and holding out. Although Melis had passed the ideal age for marriage, her striking appearance and reputedly gentle, obedient personality had clearly won Sir Gazette over.
1,000 nifs was more than enough to cover half a year of living expenses for the Portier household. Excited by the sudden fortune, Sandra had squandered it all on lavish spending and frivolous investments. Now, with Melis’ sudden betrayal threatening to double the dowry, the future looked bleak.
“Catch her at all costs! Hire mercenaries, block every path in the kingdom! Do whatever it takes to bring her back!”
Unable to restrain herself, Sandra rose again and shouted in fury.
“All right, all right!”
Intimidated by her outburst, Joseph mumbled an answer and left.
“If only it hadn’t been for Melis…”
As soon as Joseph left, Sandra’s wrath immediately turned toward Melis. She had finally found a use for her otherwise useless, food-gobbling daughter, and yet Melis had betrayed her so suddenly. Recalling Melis raising her middle finger at her only fueled Sandra’s rage.
Melis had always silently complied with marriage arrangements, but to think that behind her calm, obedient facade, she harbored such deceitful thoughts! Sandra’s fists clenched tightly. She wanted to drag Melis back and make her kneel before her immediately.
The next morning, Melis and Garulus were out in the backyard together. Far off, Garulus squatted on the ground, intently observing something. He had loved insects, and now he remained still for ten minutes without moving. Seeing his round back, Melis let out a small smile.
However, the smile faded slowly.
“Huuu…”
Unlike yesterday, when fear had been all-consuming, Melis’ thoughts gradually brought her reason to calmness.
‘Maybe this is actually better…’
Her top priority now was to avoid Sandra’s pursuit. She could not even imagine hiding within the Empire, and surely her mother would not come searching all the way to the Grand Duchy.
Vivian had arranged the clandestine passage to the Grand Duchy as promised. There were only three days left before departing for the Empire.
‘All right. I’ll just hide in the Grand Duchy until things settle down in the Kingdom of Kendal.’
It was a fairly reasonable plan, though a bit anxiety-inducing.
She had heard that all beastfolk in the Grand Duchy disliked humans. What if Garulus’ family hated humans? What if other beastfolk attacked him before she could deliver him? Even if unlikely, what if she encountered the Grand Duke immediately upon arrival?
Yet being caught by her mother and forced into marriage with an older man was not so different from being beaten to death by human-hating beastfolk. Melis tried to think positively in this unavoidable situation.
‘If I look carefully, maybe there’s at least one beastfolk in the Grand Duchy who’s friendly toward humans. Just one… If I cover myself in robes all day, they might not realize I’m human!’
Still, the thought of her wandering under a bridge in a black robe, sleeping rough, made her shoulders slump.
“I wish there were a better way…”
“Melis! Look at this!”
Just as she let out a sigh of worry, Garulus, with two leaves perched like ears on his head, came running. Melis guessed roughly what he wanted to say but played ignorant.
“Garulus, you have ears now?”
“Yes! How do I look? Don’t I look like a rabbit beastfolk?”
“Yes, so cute.”
As Melis scratched the top of his head, a broad smile spread across Garulus’ face. He especially loved being complimented for cuteness.
“I really like Melis! I want to go home quickly and live with Melis!”
“Really?”
Although she had decided to settle in the Grand Duchy, Melis had no intention of living at Garulus’ home. Vivian had suggested she rely on them only until she was settled, but Melis worried that their help might be misinterpreted as a selfish expectation of reward.
“Yes. I never lie!”
Still, Melis did not want to tell an overexcited Garulus that she was going to the Empire.
“If we go home, I’ll lend you all my favorite toys! There are spinning toys, huge dolls… Playing with dolls with Melis will be so fun. No, we should play hide-and-seek first!”
Excited by the thought of playing at home with Melis, Garulus even jumped up repeatedly. Melis appreciated someone liking her so much, though she was also worried.
“Garulus, but you shouldn’t bring someone you just met home, okay?”
“What do you mean? Of course I know that! I’m only bringing you because you’re a good person! I’m a baby monkey, not a stupid one!”
Garulus pouted, and Melis knelt to meet his eye level.
“Of course, you’re a genius monkey. I just worry because Garulus thinks I’m a good person after meeting me for the first time.”
“But Melis, you really are a good person.”
Garulus scratched his head, seemingly puzzled.
“Why? Because I saved you?”
“Yes, that too. And didn’t you speak politely to me even though you’d never met me before? I’m much younger than you. Kerman told me that using polite speech shows respect. You respected me, Melis.”
“Ah…”
“Anyway, I like you because you like me.”
Melis’ eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected seriousness. She hadn’t imagined he would feel that way.
Overcome with emotion, she playfully poked Garulus’ cheek with her finger.
“Geez, first you call me a strange human, and now you like me this much? That’s cheating!”
“Ah, sorry! I used to be a little afraid of humans, but if all humans were like Melis, none would be scary!”
“Me too! I wish all beastfolk were like Garulus!”
Melis shouted this with sincere emotion, hugging him tightly and rubbing her face against his.
Little did she know, only seconds later, a terrible situation awaited her.
