Chapter 13
“Neighhh?”
Ignite tilted his head sharply, clearly baffled.
Oh—so I was wrong? If so, thank goodness.
‘Even if someone looks like they cherish an animal, you never know what’s going on inside. I thought maybe they were secretly abusing him since animals can’t speak…’
I breathed a sigh of relief, but my mind was still tangled.
Then what is it? Is it a “the animal’s happy, I don’t care about the humans” sort of mindset? I mean, I get that… kind of.
But still, trying to actually stomp someone to death over a misunderstanding? That kind of unhinged behavior was beyond comprehension.
What upset me even more was the reaction after realizing it had been a misunderstanding.
“Sorry?” That’s it? Just sorry?
And even that was thrown out like a soulless automated response before vanishing like the wind.
Any normal person—even a saint—would’ve been justified in swinging a wrench at that point.
“Hey, so… does your master do that often? I mean, like yesterday—tell you to trample people? Or try to do something like that himself?”
“Snort.”
“No? Are you sure? Think carefully. Not even once?”
I kept pressing, but Ignite only kept shaking his head.
Now the number of question marks in my brain had multiplied from a hundred to a thousand.
Ugh, my head. Always so vague—just like his father. At this point, I’m starting to think that vagueness is a Bastion family trait.
Groaning, I rested my forehead on Ignite’s muzzle.
‘Describe your emotions upon discovering that your journey to find a cure for a terminal illness has led you into the clutches of a psycho.’
The answer was: “I’m screwed.”
I thought I was used to relentless misfortune, but I learned today—there’s no bottom to this pit.
But I also realized something else: I’m not someone who gives up and crumbles easily.
“…I hereby declare.”
“Snort?”
“Watch closely.”
‘Watch what?’ asked three pairs of black eyes staring at me.
I grinned.
“You’ll see your master writhing in regret.”
Returning from a lively chat with the Queensbury family, I was hit with a blinding light in the mansion’s hall.
It was Vivi’s face.
Every time that face, lit up like a hundred fluorescent lights, dimmed the moment she saw me—it was always such a spectacle.
“What are you staring at?”
“You. You’re pretty.”
“Wha—what…?”
Vivi, who had been growling in irritation, flinched and backed away, her face turning red.
She gave me a sharp, suspicious glare, full of alarm and confusion.
‘What’s this sly little fox up to now?’—her eyes screamed.
I just shrugged.
I was simply stating a fact, nothing more.
She’s always been pretty, but now—with the glow of a girl in love for the first time—she sparkled even more.
As I stared at her face, overflowing with emotions that could only be felt in this fleeting moment, I suddenly apologized.
“Sorry, Vivi-unnie.”
“…What kind of nonsense are you spouting now?”
“But don’t be too sad. They say first loves never work out.”
Vivi froze for a second, buffering, then her face crumpled in realization.
“You…! I knew it! I knew you’d say something like that!”
Clever and quick-witted, Vivi began yelling and pointing at me furiously.
“Hmph.”
I simply crossed my arms and watched her fume.
Things are just things, I thought. She’s still young, but smart, and seems ambitious too.
‘If she could just curb that temper, she’d make a great friend.’
She was bossy, territorial, and prone to getting worked up—but channel that energy right, and she’d go far.
One thing’s for sure: she’s not cut out to be a maid.
I don’t like to use the word “submissive,” but realistically, maids are expected to be somewhat that way.
But Vivi? She was the commanding type, through and through.
‘You really chose the wrong job, Vivi. You’d be way better at something else.’
Pretty face, confident and ambitious personality, unfazed by criticism, and determined to walk her own path—
With a background like that, the perfect job would be…
“Vivi-unnie, Vivi-unnie.”
“What?”
“Big Young Master is passing by.”
With a shimmery sound effect, Vivi instantly transformed from a wild beast to a delicate damsel.
She practically had flowers blooming behind her.
‘Ah, she’s got the face of an actress!’
I was staring at her, half amused, half dumbfounded, when she realized I was lying and her face twisted again.
“You little…!”
“Vivi-unnie, Vivi-unnie.”
“I’m not falling for it again!”
“But why do you like Big Young Master?”
When I asked seriously, her cheeks turned pink. It seemed like true love.
I didn’t know Levi’s personality was trash, but Vivi liked him even knowing that?
‘Did something special happen? Like in a romance novel?’
I was hoping for a story, but Vivi just gave me a dreamy look and said—
“He’s handsome.”
She was just a typical face-chaser.
I mean, yeah. His face is… fine, I guess.
“But his personality is really something else, right? What about the Little Young Master?”
I gently nudged her, but Vivi firmly shook her head.
“The Little Young Master is more… cute than handsome. Not my type. And honestly, his personality isn’t exactly…”
She started rambling before abruptly cutting herself off with a gasp.
Ugh, I failed to make her give up.
Just as I smacked my lips in disappointment, a low voice fell from above.
“Truant.”
“Gah!”
Vivi and I screamed and clung to each other.
He came out of nowhere—no footsteps, no warning!
Wolfram—no, Wolf-gang—looked down at me disapprovingly.
“W-what do you mean, truant?!”
“Skipping your duties is playing truant.”
What duties? Oh… right.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“…”
“Ohh, you’re sulking because I didn’t come feed you cookies. You were lonely, weren’t you~”
I poked his side teasingly, and he scrunched his brow as if regretting saying anything at all.
As I giggled sneakily, even Vivi groaned and pulled away from me like I was some disease.
These people and their dishonesty. They already can’t resist me.
Wolfram and Vivi quickly scattered in opposite directions.
I was debating which one to follow and cling to when I felt a sharp tingling at the crown of my head.
Don’t tell me…
I looked up toward the stairs and—yep—met those crimson eyes.
“…Hello.”
Levi was there.
And now he wasn’t.
I flinched and bowed slightly, but by the time I looked up, he had vanished from the second floor.
Sigh. I didn’t expect him to return my greeting, but still…
‘Now I’m just getting pissed.’
Sure, he’s scary—but I’m mad.
He almost killed someone and can’t even make eye contact afterward?
Same trash personality as ever.
‘Gotta get him married off to someone like Queensbury so she can keep him in check.’
Suddenly, I remembered Benjamin’s words: “You should ask Hugo about that.”
Right. I shouldn’t be chasing after Wolfram or Vivi right now.
I turned with renewed determination toward the butler’s office.
Knock knock.
As soon as I was granted entry, I swung the door wide open.
“Young miss? What brings you here…?”
“I wanted to ask something.”
Despite my sudden visit, Hugo welcomed me and offered a seat.
Such a nice man. Too bad his master’s the worst.
While trying to calm my see-sawing temper, Hugo asked kindly,
“So, what would you like to know?”
“Well, I was talking to Benjamin. Actually, before that… this morning, at dawn…”
As I explained, it started to sound like I was tattling, but I laid everything out.
Hugo, seemingly unaware of the dawn incident, was shocked to hear I was almost trampled to death.
“This can’t be… I thought it was just a minor commotion because the Young Master returned early… Are you truly alright? No injuries?”
“Yeah. Except for my feelings.”
I sniffled dramatically, and Hugo’s gentle hand patting my shoulder nearly made me cry for real.
A whiff of normalcy! It had been so long!
In this house of madness, Hugo was my only lifeline.
“So anyway, I started trying to learn more about the Young Master… Benjamin mentioned something about the Duke’s childhood, but said it was just a rumor and I should ask you.”
After my long preamble, Hugo nodded and stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“I don’t know exactly what rumor Lord Cooper heard, but as for the Master’s childhood… it was ordinary.”
“…Really? How so?”
“He was similar to the Young Master.”
Excuse me?! You said ordinary! Since when is being a psycho ordinary?!
Sensing my horrified expression, Hugo chuckled.
“Ah. I mean ordinary… by Bastion standards.”
So, by “Duke of Demons” standards, that is.
There really is such a thing as a family legacy of psychopathy here.
I let out a hollow laugh. It wasn’t funny—but at least Hugo’s next words were somewhat hopeful.
“But the Duke turned out alright, didn’t he? Right? Please tell me he did?”
Clasping my hands, I looked at Hugo with pleading eyes.
He nodded reassuringly.
“Of course. In the past, he would have dismembered someone—but now he lets them off with just an arm. That’s tremendous growth.”
…We’re doomed.
There’s no hope. And no sanity.
I seriously began to consider running away with my belongings.
Then Hugo added, with a wistful and proud smile,
“It’s all thanks to Lady Kathrin.”
“Lady Kathrin…?”
“The late madam. That’s her name.”
As Hugo recalled fond memories, the wrinkles around his eyes deepened with warmth.
“She was brought here by the Master one day, just like you.”
“Eh?”
He quickly corrected himself, but I’d heard it clearly.
He picked her up. Just like me!
Stunned by the unexpected info, I blurted out,
“Wh-where from?”
“That… I’m afraid I cannot say.”
Ah, another “next time” mystery.
Like some damn roulette wheel, these people keep spinning away from answers.
But I guess it’s not something you should casually say about someone’s wife.
I nodded understandingly at Hugo’s apologetic look.
Still, Wolfram really is…
“Seems like picking up strays is his hobby.”
First a wife, now a daughter-in-law. How does he keep doing this?
He doesn’t even seem like the nurturing type.
As I frowned, Hugo smiled.
“Perhaps it’s fate. The noble destiny of the Bastion family.”
Picking up people is destiny?
It sounded way too grand, but I let it slide.
Well, even picking up stray cats can be destiny—so why not wives and daughters-in-law?
I sensed Hugo’s words had a deeper meaning, but he wasn’t ready to share it yet.
“That said… I think I found the answer I was ultimately looking for.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
“It was love.”
I placed a hand over my heart, as if deeply moved.
Yes—I’d briefly forgotten the essence of this world.
This is, after all, a romance novel!
And here I was acting like some violent thug, wanting to punch everyone.
‘How uncouth of me.’
I had just been emotionally overwhelmed after nearly dying, that’s all.
Dabbing at my moist eyes, I reaffirmed the grand revelation.
“The Duke was redeemed… by the destined love of his wife!”
“She beat it into him, actually.”
“…What?”
“She said even without emotions, pain can still be felt. She always…”
Smack! Hugo mimicked hitting Wolfram’s back.
I stood in awe of the legendary matriarch.
