chapter 15
Something collapsed with a loud crash. After that, there was no more sound.
After moving for a long time, a dark forest appeared. The sky in the distance was burning red with fire, but the moon in the night sky shone brilliantly. The scenery was strangely beautiful despite everything.
“From now on, please listen to me carefully, Princess.”
It was night, so I couldn’t clearly see the woman who kept talking.
The silver badge on her chest reflected the moonlight and sparkled. My eyes were drawn to it.
Inside a sun-shaped border was a wing-shaped mark curved like a crescent moon. It also looked a bit like vines and leaves.
“No matter how shocked you are, get a hold of yourself! You’re the only one left now, Princess!”
She suddenly grabbed both my shoulders and shook me. I startled and looked up.
The moonlight shone brightly on the knight’s face.
I gasped.
The left side of her face had melted from fire. She kept saying something, but I couldn’t focus.
The grip on my shoulders grew tighter and tighter, until it felt like my whole body was being crushed.
* * *
‘L-let go…’
As I struggled, I suddenly heard Baron’s voice.
“Big sister, are you okay?”
At the same time, the stiffness in my body disappeared.
“Gasp!”
As I inhaled, a cool herbal scent filled my lungs, and Baron came into view.
“Are you okay? It looked like you were having a nightmare.”
“No, it’s just… Thanks for waking me up.”
I rolled my eyes and carefully sat up.
I must’ve had sleep paralysis after that short nap.
“How’s your body?”
At Baron’s words, I realized my right arm didn’t hurt at all. My left arm still hurt a little, but it felt much lighter.
“Huh? What? It feels completely better.”
I looked outside the window, wondering if I had slept too long, but it was still bright outside.
“How long did I sleep?”
“About two hours.”
I couldn’t believe it. I had only slept two hours and hadn’t moved, yet my muscle pain was almost gone.
“You need to loosen it a bit more. Lie down again.”
Baron grabbed my left arm.
“Huh?”
He began massaging it. His hands were slippery, as if he had applied something.
“Ow. That hurts.”
I couldn’t help but groan whenever he pressed, but after the pain came a strangely refreshing feeling.
“It hurts but feels good, right? Just endure it a little.”
With his small hands, Baron carefully kneaded the tight muscles in my arm. The more he did, the less it hurt.
His massage skills were amazing.
“Wow, Baron. Where did you learn that?”
He smiled proudly.
“I told you my family has been knights for generations. Getting sore muscles is normal, so we’re good at fixing them too.”
“Where did you get massage lotion?”
“I made it. While walking around, I was lucky to find some herbs nearby.”
He said it casually while continuing to massage.
“It’s only enough for one use, but it’s enough for you right now.”
After about five more minutes, he let go.
“There. How is it now? Just let what I applied absorb.”
I moved my arm. The muscle pain was completely gone, and I felt great.
“Wow, Baron, you’re really amazing. Thank you.”
Then something felt strange. I had never slept wearing sleeveless clothes. In fact, I didn’t even own any.
‘Then why… are my arms exposed?’
I looked down at my outfit and jumped in surprise. I was wearing the same dress as before I slept. But the sleeves had been completely removed.
Baron, watching my expression, pouted and pointed to one side.
“I put them over there.”
On the table were my two sleeves, neatly placed. I went over and examined them. He had carefully cut only the threads along the seam, so the sleeves themselves weren’t damaged.
“Puhahaha!”
I burst out laughing.
I imagined the tiny boy thinking hard about how to do it and carefully cutting the threads. I couldn’t help hugging him tightly, rubbing my cheek against his face, and giving him a kiss.
“Ah, you cute little thing. Thank you so much.”
“If you’re happy, I’m happy too.”
Baron giggled and hugged me back tightly.
“Alright. Shall we move around a bit?”
I took out a sewing kit and quickly pulled off my dress, sitting down at the table.
“I’ll fix this quickly, then let’s go out, buy groceries, and have lunch. Just wait a moment.”
I roughly sewed the sleeves back onto the dress.
“There, done!”
I shook out the dress and stood up. But Baron was nowhere to be seen.
“Baron? Where did you go already?”
When I called his name, the blanket wriggled. Baron peeked his head out, saw me, and immediately ducked back under the blanket.
“What’s wrong?”
“Y-you can’t just suddenly take off your clothes like that. You scared me.”
“Huh?”
Seeing how embarrassed he looked, I glanced at what I was wearing.
I was in a light-colored slip that reached my knees.
The straps were thick, the fabric wasn’t see-through, and it wasn’t tight either.
I let out a small laugh.
“Are you saying I’m in my underwear? Nothing’s showing except my arms and legs.”
“I don’t know! Still, you shouldn’t suddenly undress without warning.”
“We’re family. What’s the big deal?”
I put the dress back on since we had to go out, but the more I thought about it, the funnier it was.
He was only seven. What did he even know?
“Okay, I’m dressed.”
I couldn’t hold back my giggles, and Baron cautiously peeked out again.
“W-why are you laughing?”
“Baron.”
“Yeah?”
“Want to take a bath with your big sister?”
His face turned bright red like a tomato, and he quickly covered himself with the blanket again.
“Hey! Stop teasing me! Seriously!”
He curled up tightly under the blanket as if he would never come out.
“I’m going into town now.”
“……”
“Are you going to stay like that?”
“……”
I sat down on the bed.
“Should I go alone? Or at least give you a piggyback ride to the door?”
As I held my arms back, a small body soon jumped onto my back.
He still liked being carried, and I couldn’t stop smiling.
‘No matter what, he’s still a kid.’
* * *
We went into town and sold the flower crabs and sea snails we caught last night to Ben. Then we bought a set of pajamas for Baron at the general store.
Baron told me to buy clothes for myself instead, but I ignored him and looked at the clothes.
The designs were so simple that if they weren’t made of cloth, you’d think someone had just cut a hole in a flour sack for the head.
‘Well, cheap clothes can’t be helped…’
The decent ones were too expensive. I should earn money quickly, buy fabric, and sew something for him myself. Or maybe buy yarn and knit something.
After that, we bought rice, soybeans, eggs, and a few other ingredients. Then I noticed a children’s bookstore across the alley.
I took Baron inside.
According to the sign, they not only bought and sold used books but also rented them.
“What kind of book do you like? Something good to read when you’re bored. I thought I could read to you before bed.”
“When I’m bored? These are fairy tale picture books for little kids.”
Baron frowned slightly at the books on the shelf and cut me off as if annoyed. But then his eyes widened.
“Wait. I think I missed something. What did you say about before bed?”
“I thought it would be nice to read to you before you sleep…”
My voice trailed off.
I imagined lying side by side in bed, reading him a fairy tale and giving him a goodnight kiss. It seemed good for a child’s emotional growth.
But then I remembered that Baron was much smarter than other kids his age.
Wouldn’t fairy tale picture books feel childish to him?
“Sorry. I guess I didn’t think it through. It might be too easy for you.”
Baron’s face relaxed, and he smiled brightly.
“No, why would it be too easy? I like fairy tales.
