Chapter 11
***
All the bad maids are gone!
As I thought, my plan worked!
“Hey, Mouse. I’ll tell you where I hid my toy. When my sister is around, put the ball there!”
“Oh? You want me to show myself to a human? That’s a very bold thing to ask…”
“Mmhm! The bigger the risk, the better it is!”
“But will that scary master of yours really fall for a trick with a toy?”
“Yes, for sure! My sister really wants my toys. She always tried to take them away before! I think she also wants to play with them.”
So I’ll tempt my sister by secretly showing her my toys.
Then, while she tries to find my hidden toy in the annex, she’ll “accidentally” find the secret account book I left there!
After that, I’ll show her the ledger, and she’ll drive out the bad maids.
Then her dress will shine bright again.
I crouched down in the mansion hallway, covering my mouth, giggling to myself.
But suddenly, a knight appeared and picked me up.
“You must be the young master.”
“Huh? Wh-who are you?”
“I’m a knight guarding Lady Chloe’s mansion. She said it’s late, so you can stay the night.”
The maids are gone, so a knight comes now… Wait, no!
I wiggled my tiny legs, but—
“That tickles, haha.”
…The muscular knight didn’t even budge.
Dangling in his arms as we walked down the hall, I grinned.
My sister’s torn dress sleeves and dusty hem would soon shine again.
Tonight, I’ll stretch out my round little arms and sleep well!
‘Even if there’s no sweet potato or praise, it’s fine—I defeated all the bad people!’
I tried hard to keep my cheerful smile.
But for some reason, my face kept wanting to droop.
I think I know why.
Still… still, just a little bit…
“Um.”
“Yes?”
“Lady Chloe… isn’t she coming to see me?”
“Ah…”
The knight trailed off.
“…It seems she won’t be coming.”
But I wanted head pats and sweet potatoes as a reward for my “maid-hunting game.”
Still, I forced my lips into a brave smile.
‘It’s fine. I’ll just ask one of the maids for a sweet potato instead!’
Yesterday I even slept alone like a brave kid.
Sleeping alone isn’t so bad.
Just then, the knight pulled a golden bottle from his pocket.
“Actually, Lady Chloe came up the hallway earlier and… well, she gave me this.”
“Wow! It’s a sweet potato color! Must be super valuable!”
“Yes. This is a rare golden potion. She told me to spray it on your back and neck.”
I tilted my head in confusion, then went “Ah!”
Now that I think of it, the maids had picked me up roughly and even shoved me against the wall.
I must’ve gotten small scratches, and my sister must have noticed.
I obediently closed my eyes tight.
“Please put it on now!”
The knight carefully sprayed the potion all over my body.
It stung a little at first, then I felt the wounds healing.
I touched my soft shoulders and laughed, “Hee!”
‘Even if my sister doesn’t recognize me yet, it’s okay.’
She’s still the same.
She’s the kind of warm, gentle person who can’t stand seeing me hurt.
Someday, she’ll say, “Coco, I love you more than anything in the world.”
As I dangled in the knight’s arms, I thought that.
There’s still a small ache in my heart.
But today feels a little better than yesterday.
Tonight, I think I’ll sleep without tossing and turning so much.
Chapter 4. A Puppy Doesn’t Know How Scary a Tiger Is
The next morning, Ruth headed toward Coco’s annex.
He was thinking back to last night’s talk with the old men of the Senate.
“Once Father returns, let’s disown Coco right away,” they had said.
Most of them seemed sure that even if Coco was tested again, the results would be the same.
That kid, Coco.
He was probably already crying after being scolded by Chloe. And if he heard he’d be disowned too, wouldn’t he be even more heartbroken?
“Are these my feelings as an uncle? Or as an older brother?”
Stealing himself, Ruth stopped in front of Coco’s annex.
“Well, since he’s about to be disowned, he’s not really my sibling.”
He was only excited at the thought of hiring Coco as a personal vet for Thunder.
“Still… seeing that round little head wandering my annex would be cute.”
He even thought about calling a tailor.
He wanted to dress the youngest sibling—even if not officially his—in a proper outfit.
What if he braided that curly silver hair?
She might really look like a little princess.
“Anyway, she’s not really my sibling.”
As Ruth wavered back and forth in his thoughts, he finally opened the annex door—
“Wait, you mean Coco hasn’t returned from Chloe’s mansion since yesterday?”
…Unbelievable.
Seeing the maid’s tired, shadowed eyes, Ruth frowned.
“Surely Chloe didn’t kill her…”
So, Ruth went past the annex and straight to Chloe’s mansion.
There, at the front steps, he saw a small child with soot on her face, dozing off while sitting on the cold stairs.
It was a familiar face—Coco.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Right at the front entrance, where people came and went all the time.
A small child, lying on the freezing ground.
The wind was sharp and chilly, but she seemed not to notice. She just kept nodding off.
Ruth’s expression twisted in disbelief.
“Wow… Chloe Ardos. This is unbelievable.”
She really left a child outside in this weather?
“Coco, wake up.”
“Mmuuung…”
“Why are you so light? And always so sleepy.”
He slung the dazed child over his shoulder. From her lips came little smacking sounds, like a puppy dreaming of food.
She looked completely worn out.
“Seriously… just one day without care and you’re already filthy.”
“Muuu… mung…”
“I’d better say something and take you with me. This can’t go on.”
Carrying Coco on his shoulder, Ruth walked toward the dining room.
Chloe usually ate breakfast there.
He was about to casually greet the chef when he noticed something odd.
It was like the whole staff had been swapped overnight—the annex had been in chaos.
“What is this? No head maid? This place is a mess.”
He sighed, realizing he might have to send some of his own people over.
Dropping himself heavily into a chair at the round dining table, he naturally sat Coco right across from him.
“Hm, until Chloe arrives, maybe I’ll play with Coco a bit.”
Resting his chin on his hand, he stared at Coco.
She still hadn’t fully woken up.
Her head kept thumping against the table, thunk, thunk…
“Huuuuung…”
Like a puppy nodding off.
“How should I wake her?”
Amused, Ruth tilted his head as he watched.
“Coco, walk.”
“…Huuuung.”
Oh? That got a reaction.
Still smirking, he tried another playful call.
“Coco, snack.”
“Hhhuh…”
Coco opened her eyes a little more, but she was still half-asleep, nodding off again.
Soon, bonk, bonk—she hit her head on the table once more.
“Let’s see… what does she like the most…”
…Could it be?
“Coco, Chloe.”
“Mung!”
Like a cheat code had been activated, Coco’s eyes snapped open instantly.
