Chapter 37
It happened in an instant.
Levi ran straight into the mansion while a startled Betty and the servants kept pouring lukewarm water over my leg.
“Oh wow. It’s still not coming off…?”
Even then, the metal plate remained firmly stuck to my skin. That’s when I finally realized how serious this was.
Not that it mattered now, but apparently this is how people get frostbite in colder regions.
The mansion’s physician—someone I recognized from the bump on my head incident—tried to remove it as gently as possible, but in the end, a bit of skin had to be sacrificed.
“Ow!”
“Please bear with it. It’ll be over soon.”
Ah, when the disinfectant touched the exposed flesh, I almost fainted. There’s a difference between a cut and a torn wound—this one stung like hell.
For a second, I almost shouted, “I won’t get infected!” like a survivor in a zombie movie.
Even if I didn’t need to worry about infection, I still had to care about necrosis and healing, so after receiving meticulous treatment, I was completely drained.
“First my hand, now my leg… I’m becoming like DoraXmon.”
I muttered seriously to myself as I looked down at my swollen, bandaged calf.
“Ugh, is this the curse of nine?”
Maybe it is. Asha is exactly nine years old, after all.
Surely the rest of this year won’t be filled with bad luck too… right?
While I was steeped in ominous thoughts, Betty, sighing deeply, glared at the soaked fur boots.
“I told you to be careful. Goodness, how much fun were you having for snow to get inside boots like these…?”
“Huh?” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
She flipped the tall boots back and forth, inspecting them carefully, then poured a cup of water over the outer layer.
“What are you doing?”
“Why is the inside getting wet…?”
“Because you poured water on them?”
“Still, winter boots usually have waterproofing. Either melted candle wax is applied or beeswax is sewn between the lining.”
“…So you’re saying someone deliberately melted that waterproofing and sent them to me?”
When I said “someone,” I think we were all picturing the same face.
The original owner of those boots.
Levi looked ready to storm off and confront the prime suspect, but I grabbed his arm firmly.
“Hold it, Levi. Wait.”
“But—”
“No, I’m not letting them off the hook.”
Because they really crossed a line. Just because he’s a kid doesn’t mean I’ll put up with brain trauma and frostbite threats.
I smiled coldly and drew my finger across my neck.
“I’ll be the one to kill him.”
Dinner time finally arrived.
With Wolfgang absent and Benjamin overwhelmed with security measures, the usual dinner guests were only Levi and me.
But tonight, I’d invited a special guest.
Because food always tastes better when shared.
“The young master has arrived.”
As Franz entered the dining hall, his expression was already twisted into a scowl. I greeted him cheerfully with one arm raised high.
“Hey there, young master! Lovely evening, isn’t it?”
The moment Franz saw me, his expression darkened to a rotting grimace.
Well, can you blame him? My other hand was wrapped around Levi’s neck!
We were practically stuck together like that damned garter belt had been to my calf earlier—pressed tightly like one body.
Every time I gripped tighter, Levi flinched, but as we’d discussed, he didn’t shake me off.
Suck it up. Your brother needs a serious lesson.
I flashed a grin and gestured to the seat across from me, where Franz hesitated.
“Come on, let’s eat. A cozy family meal.”
Franz’s pretty face twisted like a crumpled paper.
Wow, look at that. He really doesn’t want to be part of this family. Well, in that case…
“One family set for the family!”
“Yes~! Family set coming up!”
Sanche cheerfully rolled in the trolley.
Franz tried to leave immediately, but—
“Franz.”
“…”
“Sit.”
At Levi’s cold command, Franz clenched his fists and collapsed into his seat like a sulky child.
Sheesh. So you’re scared of big bro, huh?
I almost got petty and wondered if he only sees me as a pushover.
But, well… with an older brother like Levi, I guess it’s hard to feel any warmth. More like distance… or intimidation?
“This looks good. Levi, you first!”
To me, he’s just a broken tin can pretending to be a psychopath, but I still had to waggle my eyebrows and gesture before he reacted.
Come on, open wide. Say “ah~.”
Only when I practically growled at him did he finally open his mouth and eat.
“Ugh.”
As expected, I heard a groan from the other side.
That’s right.
This was my revenge, my punishment for that wicked brat.
Behold—Trial of Front-Row Lovebird Torture™!
How’s that, huh? Feels like death, doesn’t it? Psychological capital punishment! That’ll teach you to mess with me.
As I fed Levi with a devilish smile—
“You too.”
“…Huh?”
Levi suddenly held out a bite-sized piece of meat to me.
Oh, he’s feeding me now?
Surely he’s not playing along with this punishment plan. Most likely, he noticed I hadn’t really been eating since I was focused on feeding him.
What a thoughtful guy.
“Thanks.”
My smile turned genuine.
As I chewed the meat, I peeked over and saw Franz staring into his plate, silently stabbing with his fork.
His quick, mechanical movements clearly said: Eat fast, escape faster.
‘You think you’re getting away that easy?’
I watched him closely, looking for something to nitpick.
But to my surprise, he was rather… admirable?
For every bite of meat, he ate two or three of vegetables. Perfect balance.
Without thinking, I blurted out,
“You eat your vegetables well, Franz.”
Both brothers flinched at the same time.
Levi, I get. He’s guilty.
But Franz? Why are you glaring at me? I was complimenting you.
Seriously, what’s up with that nasty attitude?
Shaking my head, I jabbed Levi in the side.
“You should eat more veggies too. You and your dad are both picky eaters.”
I respect preferences, but health comes first. I don’t want a husband with high cholesterol.
I shoved a celery stick into his mouth along with my nagging.
He slowly began chewing.
“Are you a cow?”
“…”
“Swallow it or I’m giving you another.”
Gulp.
The reluctant swallowing echoed in the air.
I patted Levi’s shoulder like he’d done something noble.
And then—
Clang!
Franz dropped his fork.
What the—why’s he spacing out now?
“You wouldn’t touch veggies before…”
He muttered quietly, then turned his head away the moment our eyes met.
‘…I didn’t expect an apology, but.’
Not even a hint of remorse? That’s frustrating.
We may have avoided a disaster, but Franz’s pranks—if he was indeed the culprit—were actually quite dangerous.
That’s assault. This wasn’t something you just scold and forgive.
Still, I let it go. Because I felt sorry for him.
To nine-year-old Franz, left alone in the estate, I must have been a sudden alien invader.
‘So this is your last chance.’
A chance to reconcile and get along.
If you sincerely apologize—or else…
Smiling sweetly, I opened my mouth.
“Oh right, I forgot to say—thanks.”
“…What?”
“For lending me your shoes.”
Yeah, thanks a lot. Look what happened to me, jerk.
I proudly placed my bandaged leg on the table.
Levi quickly nudged it back down, but Franz had already seen it. Good.
“Be careful with your blanket tonight.”
At my cryptic warning, Franz slowly lowered his fork.
Seeing his hand and face stiffen, I too sobered up and began—
“Franz, you—”
Chomp.
“…That’s good.”
Wait, no. That’s not what I meant to say.
While I was distracted chewing the food suddenly shoved into my mouth, Franz stormed out of the dining hall with a disgusted look on his face.
No, wait! I wanted to talk!
But every time I opened my mouth, more food was shoved in.
It’s delicious! But stop! I need to talk to my brother-in-law!
“Hey—!”
“Eat this too.”
Chomp chomp.
Damn it. I raised a monster. Levi knows my tastes way too well.
I finally escaped the feast after I cleared every plate and scraped down the dessert.
My reward for all this? A belly about to burst and a small wave of self-loathing.
Ever since my body got younger, it feels like my mind’s regressing too. I’m too weak to good food.
“Get on.”
“Ugh, no thanks. I’ll walk. I ate too much…”
I refused Levi’s offer to carry me like he did before dinner and hobbled outside the hall, where someone I had been curious about was waiting.
“Milady.”
“Eva?”
“I’m truly sorry. I should’ve been more attentive…”
“No, this isn’t your fault.”
She only wanted to create a signal for reconciliation between us.
As the head maid, a caretaker like a nanny, and a trusted adult, she was trying to bridge the gap.
Even though she always seemed to be at the center of incidents, she was never suspected. And rightly so.
“Oh, right. I have something for you. Got it from the doctor earlier.”
I fished it out of my pocket.
A small, round metal tin.
Maybe because she didn’t know what it was—or maybe because she did—Eva didn’t immediately reach for it.
“It’s an ointment.”
“…”
“Good for frostbite and burns.”
Put it to good use.
