Chapter 13
In the middle of spring, light green leaves were growing fresh and bright. During noon, the weather was warm enough that you didn’t need an outer coat.
For about three weeks now, I had been coming to the duke’s mansion every three or four days and teaching Kyle various board games and card games.
“Hi, Kyle! I’m here.”
I peeked my head out from the entrance of the outdoor training ground and shouted.
Kyle, who was concentrating on training as usual, tilted his head toward me and let out a faint sigh. Then he put down the wooden training sword he was swinging.
Kyle seemed to have slowly accepted that I was coming now. He still showed that he was annoyed, but he didn’t tell me to go away.
“This is already great progress.”
At first, he was like an angry wildcat. Now he was more like a hedgehog with its spikes raised.
The only disappointing thing was that his obsession with training hadn’t changed at all. After playing for two or three hours, he would always tell me to go home and pick up his wooden sword again.
So today, I prepared a special move to pull Kyle out of this boring training ground.
“Kyle, let’s go to the glass greenhouse! The Duchess said she prepared snacks there.”
I wanted to drag him outside the mansion if possible, but I thought that was still too much. So this was a compromise. First, I had to take him to a peaceful place without weapons.
As expected, when he heard about his mother, Kyle’s eyes widened.
“…Mother said that?”
His voice sounded confused, and his expression looked innocent, which surprised me.
“Hmm, the Duchess is outside today, so it will be just the two of us. I asked her for permission.”
I brushed my hair awkwardly.
The hope that was shining in Kyle’s eyes slowly faded.
Poor kid. He must want to spend time with his mother.
“Next time, should we invite Kyle to our tea time too?”
I had talked about butterflies with the Duchess the last time we met and casually suggested it.
“That child has no interest in butterflies, flowers, or tea. Training is his only hobby. He will probably feel annoyed.”
The Duchess shook her head firmly.
No! Kyle is desperately craving your affection! He doesn’t train hard because he likes suffering!
I swallowed the words I almost said. I was not close enough to interfere in their mother–son relationship.
In the end, I only got permission for the two of us to play in the glass greenhouse.
Anyway, Kyle followed quietly when I said his mother prepared snacks.
It was also the first time he accepted a new suggestion without arguing.
Sunlight scattered through the glass ceiling, spreading rainbow-like light inside the greenhouse.
While walking along the winding gravel road, Kyle looked around the flowers and trees.
When we passed the fountain where colorful butterflies were flying in groups, he almost looked dazed.
“Kyle, is this your first time in the glass greenhouse?”
I asked carefully.
Kyle shot me a sharp look.
“Of course not.”
“Okay. I just wondered.”
He didn’t seem familiar with the place, so I walked in front.
We arrived at the patio near the fountain.
The patio was decorated like a beautiful painting, covered with colorful climbing roses.
This was the place where I had tea with Simon, Darius, and the Duchess before.
I sat in front of the table where the three-layer dessert tray and milk tea were prepared. The main dessert was peach jam tart with real peach pulp inside.
The duke family’s desserts were all amazing, but peach desserts were the best. I mentioned it in front of the Duchess, so she probably prepared it specially today.
“Peach tart! Come to think of it, peaches from our territory orchard are said to be sweet and delicious too. I’ll ask them to send some to your house during the next harvest.”
I lifted my fork and took a big bite of the peach tart.
Sweet and sour fruit, soft cream, and crispy tart crust mixed in my mouth like paradise.
“Mmm!”
I pushed the plate toward Kyle to let him try too.
Kyle sat still with a stiff face.
Why does he look unhappy? Did he think there was none for him? I checked the table, but there were two sets of utensils and cups.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
“I hate peaches.”
“Eh? They are soft, fragrant, and just sweet enough. It’s heavenly. Oh, are you the ‘hard peach’ type?”
Kyle’s eyebrows rose.
I meant whether he strongly supported hard peaches.
“Anyway, try one bite. Don’t be a picky eater.”
“Take it away.”
Kyle pushed away the tart I offered with his fork. Before I could stop it, the fork and tart fell to the floor.
!!
Even I, who had gotten used to Kyle’s bad behavior, couldn’t stand this.
“Hey! You’ve done this before too! Don’t throw food carelessly! Don’t you know the old ancestors said to cherish food?! It’s the work mixed with farmers’ and cooks’ sweat and tears!”
“I wouldn’t have done it if you didn’t force me to eat.”
This rude brat!
I glared at Kyle, and he glared back at me.
“My freedom includes what I eat. Don’t interfere.”
After saying those mean words, Kyle picked up a nut cookie and chewed it loudly.
Fine. Let’s stop talking. If he doesn’t eat delicious food, he only loses. I don’t have to fix this bad kid’s eating habit too.
Suddenly, I thought Kyle’s education might be harder than my past babysitting part-time job. Back then I was an adult who could scold the child, but now I was in an equal friendship position.
Watching quietly afterward, I noticed Kyle ate everything except the peach tart. Even the raisin scone disguised as chocolate chip.
So he wasn’t a very picky eater. Did he really hate only peaches?
After silently eating, the dessert tray became empty.
“…Want to look around the greenhouse?”
I spoke first to ease the awkward mood. The sweetness had also calmed my anger.
“No. I saw everything earlier.”
He sighed and leaned on the cushion, looking around the quiet greenhouse that was just for the two of us.
Suddenly, a good idea came to me.
“Let’s play hide and seek! This place is big like a botanical garden, so it will be fun!”
“Are you a child? And what hide and seek with only two people?”
Kyle complained as if it was ridiculous.
I already knew how to handle him in situations like this.
After living with him for more than a month, I learned how to tempt this naughty boy skillfully.
“Whoever hides better and avoids being found longer wins. The current record is 15 to 15, right?”
I mentioned our tied game record from playing many board and card games.
“I even learned how to flick forehead punishment very painfully. If you get hit by me today, you’ll cry like a baby.”
I snapped my fingers in the air.
Kyle’s eyes turned sharp like a leopard.
“…Do it.”
Seriously, it always works.
I volunteered to be the seeker first. After counting to one hundred, I stood up to find Kyle.
Because I had explored the greenhouse several times before, I knew the inside layout.
I passed the wisteria flower arch and went to the area filled with tall trees.
I searched between the trees, around the stone statues, and through the thick bushes.
Not a single hair was visible.
I thought since he was a child, his hiding place would be obvious, but he hid surprisingly well.
After walking around the entire greenhouse twice without finding him, my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
‘Did he go back to the training ground and leave me?’
That kind of trick is often used when someone wants to isolate a person.
‘If that’s the case, I won’t forgive him.’
I clenched my fist and was about to leave the greenhouse, but suddenly I remembered one last place to check.
‘The honey spot I marked… Surely he didn’t hide there, right?’
