PFLWPL 09

CHAPTER 09…………………………….

“Ah, right. Indirect experience!”

Just like how someone who’s read many books tends to think more maturely than their peers—

Lynn had indirectly experienced years’ worth of time, so her mental age must have risen tremendously.

Satisfied with her flawless reasoning, Lynn puffed out her chest proudly, unable to contain her smugness.

“I understand Uncle. I’m a mature child, after all.”

“Mature? …Hmm, my young lady really is so dignified.”

Yubara tilted her head and spoke softly, patting Lynn’s back as gently as ever.

Heehee.

Pleased by the compliment of being “dignified,” Lynn’s shoulders lifted in delight, and she lightly stomped her feet.

Watching her fondly, Yubara continued.

“It must have been quite painful, though. For your great power to go unrecognized like that.”

“Nanny, do you believe what I said?”

“Of course. I believe everything my young lady says. You said you saw the future — the return of the Lord and Young Lord, didn’t you? That’s truly incredible.”

Lynn, overjoyed by Yubara’s wholehearted faith in her, didn’t notice it —

That though Yubara’s eyes curved into a smiling crescent, hiding her pupils, the corners of her mouth twitched, unable to completely conceal her sneer.

Maybe it was because even ridicule is still a kind of “smile” — the joyful air between them didn’t fade.

“For the acting lord to treat such an admirable young lady so poorly… My poor little lady must have been so hurt.”

Feeling reassured by Yubara’s patting hand, Lynn suddenly sensed something off and looked up.

“Poorly? Uncle Theo doesn’t treat me like that.”

“My lady…”

At Lynn’s trusting tone, Yubara looked down at her with a pitiful expression.

“You’re still too young to understand. Do you know what the Acting Lord did when you collapsed in the lobby?”

A faint look of disgust twisted Yubara’s face.

“You suddenly transformed into your beast form and fainted — and he just stood there watching!”

So what about it?

Lynn blinked her big eyes, not understanding what Yubara was getting at.

“There were so many people staring! Of course, I immediately covered you up. It wouldn’t do for people to see you like that, would it?”

“…”

“But then — oh, heavens — Lord Theodore ripped off the cloth I covered you with! So everyone passing by could see your ‘other’ form.”

Yubara kept referring to Lynn’s beast form as though it were something shameful, taboo.

As if even saying the word “mutant” might cause trouble.

Lynn’s mouth, which had been open as she relaxed into the calming pheromones unique to capybara beastfolk, shut tight at those words.

“My poor lady. You must be careful. There’s a reason the Acting Lord deliberately exposes your weaknesses to others.”

The warmth and safety Lynn had just been feeling turned to cold dread.

She blinked slowly, trying to process it all, then spoke.

“Nanny, are you… ashamed of how I look?”

“What? Good heavens, no, my lady! How could you misunderstand me so? I love you, no matter what you look like.”

“Hmm. So you’re fine with it, but you’d rather no one else saw?”

“Oh, my, my poor little lady.”

Yubara gazed down at her as if she were the most pitiful child in the world and hugged her tightly.

Then, while stroking Lynn’s hair, she whispered—

“I don’t mind even if you’re a mutant. But other people… there are many bad folks out there. They all mock mutant beastfolk behind their backs.”

Her touch as she smoothed Lynn’s hair was as gentle as always.

Her voice sounded as kind as ever.

Yet despite all those soothing signs—

“I’ll never treat you that way. Even if mutants truly bring misfortune to those around them, I’ll never leave you. Unlike those dangerous others.”

Thinking over her words, Lynn lifted her head at Yubara’s urging.

And she saw something she hadn’t noticed before.

“You trust me, don’t you, my lady?”

Joy flickered in Yubara’s eyes as she spoke.

Hmm.

You’re so poor, so pitiful,

Everyone else will mock you — so trust only me, don’t trust anyone else.

“There was a word for that…”

A person who cuts down your self-esteem and plants fear in you.

That word Earthlings always raised their voices about—

Lynn’s eyes flew wide as the memory clicked.

“That’s it! Gaslighting!”

“Gas… what?”

“Uh-huh! It’s when someone tries to control another person!”

“Excuse me?”

“They do it by putting them down — so much that they start believing lies. They make you doubt yourself and only believe what they say.”

Feeling proud for recalling the faintly-remembered word, Lynn cheerfully explained it to the bewildered Yubara.

She didn’t notice Yubara’s face gradually turning pale.

“They make you think you’re stupid so they can control you. Just like what you said just now, Nanny. That’s exactly… huh?”

After happily using her Earth-learned vocabulary, Lynn tilted her head.

“Nanny, are you… gaslighting me?”

That’s a bad thing, though.

Lynn’s brows started to furrow in thought—

“A-ah, my lady!”

Thud!

Yubara dropped to her knees so suddenly it was almost like she fell.

“I’m so sorry for making you think that! It’s all my fault!”

Blinking down at the sight in confusion, Lynn thought—

“Oh, I know this one too.”

Prostration!

Recalling yet another word from Earth, she watched as Yubara knelt on the carpet so low that her bowed head was completely visible.

“To think a lowly herbivore beastfolk like me would dare manipulate a lady of the great Pegasus family… I’m a wretch who deserves death for causing such blasphemous misunderstanding!”

As Yubara grovelled pitifully, repeatedly bowing her head, Lynn patted her shoulder to comfort her.

“You’re not someone who deserves death, Nanny. Uncle Theo said if someone makes a mistake, they should just admit it and apologize. I’ll tell him you did!”

So you don’t have to think scary thoughts like that, Lynn sincerely reassured her.

“P-please, anything but that…!”

But Yubara clung to the hem of Lynn’s dress instead.

If word of this reaches Acting Lord Theodore, he might really have my head!

It had only been a figure of speech—she had no actual desire to die—but now she was desperately pleading for her life.

Eventually, thanks to her long years of service caring for Lynn, the young lady’s affection, and a generous peace offering of forbidden sweets (so addictive you can’t stop after one bite), Yubara narrowly escaped her brush with “death.”

She had, of course, learned on Earth that flattery should be avoided—

But Lynn was only six years old, still an age easily swayed by praise and bribes.

Bang!

Yubara slammed the door shut and hurled an innocent cushion across the room.

“Aaaargh!”

Her usual kindness was nowhere to be found as she furiously beat the cushion.

That little brat!

Unable to curse aloud in case someone heard, Yubara ground her teeth in humiliation and rage.

“Why did she suddenly start reacting differently?”

A mutant child starved for affection—she’d thought acting a bit affectionate would make the girl obedient as always.

Who would’ve guessed she’d suddenly talk back!