Chapter 13
Only then, as if he had just remembered, Baron rolled his eyes and pouted.
“Th–that time, I didn’t speak at all. They didn’t let me talk.”
“…Ah.”
I hadn’t thought of that. A sigh slipped out of me without realizing it.
Still, not being able to read the room and being rude are two different things.
Besides, if I kept spoiling him and defending him no matter what, saying, “That’s my precious boy,” he would grow up to be a handsome troublemaker.
And the person in front of us clearly had a higher social status than we did.
I had no identity guarantee, and Baron was an orphan.
That meant if this man got angry at Baron’s rudeness, we would be in serious trouble.
So before things escalated, I had to correct Baron’s behavior and make him apologize.
“Baron, it might be hard to understand, but I’m trying to raise you properly. You know that, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Then from now on, use polite speech with adults you meet for the first time. Okay?”
“You didn’t say anything when I spoke casually to you.”
“I’m fine with it. But our new neighbor might not be. He could feel uncomfortable if you suddenly speak casually.”
“No, he’ll be fine.”
“You don’t get to decide how someone else feels. How would you feel if someone decided your feelings for you?”
“How dare they?”
His immediate reply made the corners of my lips tremble. At the same time, I felt in my bones that he had been born a noble.
“See? That’s exactly my point. Other people feel the same way.”
“Then I’ll just ask.”
Baron lifted his chin confidently and asked Raven,
“Raven, are you upset that I’m speaking casually? Should I use polite speech like noona says?”
“Ah! You can’t say it like that!”
His tone sounded even more arrogant, and I panicked. I quickly crouched down and pulled Baron tightly into my arms, covering his mouth.
He put his hands on my arms as if to resist, but soon went still.
Cold sweat ran down my back. I hurriedly glanced at Raven and apologized.
“I–I’m really sorry! I’ll teach him better!”
Raven cleared his throat a few times and smiled kindly.
“It’s all right. I don’t mind at all. Please let the young friend speak casually as he likes.”
“…Pardon?”
“In fact, I liked him very much at first sight. His casual speech makes him feel closer to me.”
“…What?”
“I quite like dignified and handsome children, so please don’t worry.”
I studied his expression carefully. He truly did not look offended.
“And if you wouldn’t mind, please don’t scold the young friend you’re holding.”
Only then did I realize I was still hugging Baron tightly.
“Oh! Sorry. You must’ve had trouble breathing.”
I quickly let him go. Baron immediately stepped back and covered his face with his arm.
“See? I–I was right.”
He stammered, his face and even the tips of his ears bright red. It seemed he really had been short of breath.
“Y–Yeah.”
Feeling awkward, I rubbed the back of my neck and nodded.
Things had worked out this time, but that was just luck. What if Raven had been a bad-tempered adult?
And it was true that speaking casually to someone you just met was impolite.
I held Baron’s hand and greeted Raven properly.
“I’m Hayley. This is Baron. Thank you for being understanding. I hope the construction goes well. See you next time.”
“Yes, Baron-nim. Hayley-nim. I look forward to seeing you again.”
His attitude was extremely respectful.
It made me wonder.
Was he simply used to speaking politely even to children? But calling us Baron-nim and Hayley-nim?
“We’re much younger than you. Please just call us Hayley and Baron.”
He quickly waved his hands.
“Oh no. Regardless of age, this is more comfortable for me.”
“Then I’ll call you Raven-nim.”
“It’s a habit for me, but you don’t have to do that, Hayley-nim. Raven or Mr. Raven is perfectly fine. Please feel at ease. Now, I should return to overseeing the construction.”
Raven bowed politely and went back to where he had been standing.
“He says he doesn’t mind casual speech, but insists on using polite speech himself and lowering himself while raising others…”
I muttered to myself, tilting my head, then asked Baron,
“He’s quite unusual, but kind. Don’t you think?”
Baron grinned.
“Yeah. I think we got a good neighbor.”
“Seems like it. That’s a relief.”
After bringing Baron inside and putting down our things, I said,
“Rest for a bit, Baron. I just remembered somewhere I need to go.”
“Huh? Where?”
“The government office.”
“Why there?”
“Raven said he bought the land. So I want to check if the house and land we’re living on have an owner.”
“Oh, right. You said this wasn’t where we originally lived.”
Baron continued casually,
“Why not just ask Raven? If he bought land, he probably knows which land belongs to whom.”
“…Well, it would be bothersome to ask.”
“He’s a good neighbor. He’d probably answer right away.”
Baron strode outside. Soon his voice rang out loudly.
“Raven!”
Startled, I rushed outside to see Baron raising his hand and beckoning Raven over with his finger.
Hey! You little—
Raven had been talking with the contractor while holding the blueprints, but now he turned toward us.
“Baron! You can’t call someone like that!”
“Why? Raven said to treat him comfortably.”
“He said you could speak casually. That doesn’t mean you can call him over anytime like that.”
“….”
“You can’t call an adult like you’re calling a neighborhood puppy!”
My heart pounded with tension, and I sighed deeply. It felt like I’d be apologizing to Raven nonstop for a while.
But then Baron pointed.
“He’s coming just fine.”
He was right. Raven handed the blueprints to the contractor and hurried—no, ran—toward us.
Watching him, I became suspicious.
“He looks capable on the outside, but is he actually foolish? Or just too soft?”
I grew confused.
“No, that can’t be. He said he’s a merchant. If he were foolish, he’d only suffer losses. How could he be a merchant?”
While I was muttering to myself, Raven arrived. He kindly lowered himself to Baron’s eye level.
“Yes, Baron-nim. What did you call me for?”
There was not the slightest hint of displeasure in his eyes.
No matter how I looked at it, Raven seemed like an easygoing person. Or perhaps he just really liked children.
“When you bought the land, did you happen to see who owns the land we’re living on?”
“Ah. Yes, I know.”
Raven stood up and looked around.
“This is the territory of Snoril, but the sea belongs to the Empire. So this entire area is national land.”
He gestured as he explained.
“The mountain over there and the stream behind us are also included as national land.”
A question immediately came to mind.
“You can buy national land?”
“Technically, you buy the right to use it. I purchased the usage rights for the area I’ve prepared for construction.”
He explained that when someone holds usage rights, the land is marked as being occupied under their name. If not, it is simply listed as national land.
In other words, the place where we lived was entirely national land.
Suddenly, I grew worried.
“Then… would it be better for us to move out of this house?”
“No.”
Raven answered immediately and smiled at our cabin.
“I bought the usage rights because I need to build properly. As for national land, anyone can live on it modestly without formal registration. If someone later purchases the usage rights, you would have to move, but local lords rarely interfere. Realistically, it’s impossible to monitor everything. Usually, people without identity guarantees, who live day to day, stay in places like this…”
His voice trailed off as his eyes suddenly widened while looking at me.
“Now that I think of it. Please forgive my rudeness, but are you perhaps without an identity guarantee…?”
