Episode 4
I moved my hands calmly.
I put on the black butler uniform the castle had provided and neatly tied my necktie.
After smoothing out my skirt, I headed toward Julian’s room.
Waking up at eight—this little kid doesn’t even sleep in.
“Ah, Butler, good morning!”
“Good morning, Butler!”
“Yes. Good morning.”
After greeting so many servants, I felt oddly familiar with them, even though we weren’t close.
I went up to the second floor, knocked lightly, and entered.
The nanny was pacing nervously near the door.
“Ah, Butler!”
“Yes. Why are you standing here like that?”
“Well… the young master is still sleeping. He’s supposed to have lunch with the Demon King…”
I see.
Without hesitation, I walked up to the sleeping Julian.
“Young master, please wake up.”
I grabbed his small body with both hands and lifted him up.
“Ugh…!”
He growled without even opening his eyes properly.
Haha. He’s really like a dog.
Well, he’s still young—more like a puppy.
I lifted Julian into the air and tossed him upward.
“Aah!”
His eyes flew open as he screamed.
I caught him as he fell, then threw him up again.
“Aaaa! Hey!”
When I caught him again, Julian shouted.
“Are you awake now?”
“I’m awake! You idiot!”
“My name is Perry. You named me yourself.”
“I know that!”
“I’m relieved your memory is fine.”
Julian glared at me and struggled.
“Put me down!”
I loosened my arms slightly, and Julian panicked.
“The bed! Put me on the bed!”
Tsk. He learns fast.
I gently placed him back on the bed.
While Julian squirmed, the nanny handed me a bowl of water.
“I don’t need to drink—”
“I-it’s for washing your face!”
I see.
I nodded and placed the water in front of Julian.
Then I dipped my hand in and rubbed his face roughly.
“Ubbubub!”
Still half-asleep, Julian suddenly bit my hand and wouldn’t let go.
Since I couldn’t wash his face like this, I left my right hand in his mouth and used my other hand to wash him properly.
“Hea ihe ho humae….”
“I can’t understand you if you talk with something in your mouth. Spit it out. Ptoo.”
Julian glared at me like a small beast, then really went “ptoo” and spat my hand out.
“Good boy.”
“I hate you!”
That’s fine.
No one can like everyone in life—human or demon.
I touched Julian’s nose.
“Blow your nose, young master.”
“Move! I can do it myself!”
“You’re not going to?”
“I’m not!”
Do demons not get boogers?
Watching him shout so hard his neck veins popped, I worried he might collapse from high blood pressure.
“Please limit shouting to three times a day.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?!”
I’m worrying about you.
Julian glared at me angrily.
It was so cute that I briefly thought about hiring a painter to draw him every time he made that face.
Maybe I should tell Henry.
“Um… it’s almost time for lunch…”
The hesitant nanny spoke, and Julian immediately relaxed and jumped off the bed.
In front of the mirror, the nanny smoothly took out clothes and handed them to Julian.
Julian clumsily took off his pajamas, put on a child-sized shirt, and slowly tried to button it.
Cute. Very cute.
But way too slow.
“Young master, just a moment.”
I bent down and reached for the shirt.
The moment I touched it, Julian released his power and cut off my hand.
Judging by his glare, it was clearly a warning.
So I used my severed hand to quickly button the shirt.
“Huh…?”
“Oh my goodness!”
Seeing my cut-off hands move on their own, Julian stared in shock.
The nanny screamed and covered her eyes.
“Please stay still while I serve you.”
“…….”
“If you don’t like it, then awaken sooner.”
Once he grows up, he’ll be able to do this himself.
“B-Butler! That topic is—!”
“If you awaken, you won’t touch my body anymore, right?”
“Right.”
“Then I won’t touch you once you can manage on your own.”
Julian thought for a moment, then quietly stood still facing me.
After correctly reattaching my hand to my wrist behind Julian’s neck, I dressed him in his pants and tied a small cravat around his neck.
“Oh my…”
As I smoothed his clothes, the nanny suddenly burst into tears.
“To think I’d see a day like this… I’m so moved!”
She clung tightly to my arm.
“Even though I’m the seventh nanny! The young master opening his heart to someone! Thank goodness you came!”
“I didn’t open my heart. Get off the butler.”
Julian spoke coldly. I nodded.
I don’t die no matter how much I’m touched—can’t she tell he finds it annoying?
“See! He doesn’t even like the butler touching anyone!”
“I just don’t like demons touching someone I touch.”
“I’m not a demon.”
“What? Then… human?!”
“Humans die if their neck is cut. I’m a doll.”
“W-What?”
After gently removing the nanny from me, I said calmly,
“Aren’t we late for lunch?”
“Oh my! Look at me—hurry!”
Every word she spoke was full of passion.
She was the complete opposite of me.
“Oh dear… only five minutes left….”
Five minutes was not enough time for Julian to reach there on foot.
The castle was unnecessarily huge.
“Excuse me, young master.”
I lifted Julian under my arm and started running.
The nanny shouted something behind us, but I ignored it.
This doll body was strong and tireless, so I ran extremely fast.
“Put me down! Put me down!”
“Really? If I do, you’ll go flying.”
“Am I luggage?!”
“You are the young master.”
Julian struggled, then suddenly lifted his head.
His face was bright red.
“Hold me properly!”
I tilted my head while running.
“I’ve never held anyone before. I’ll learn.”
“…Then what about now?”
“Please endure it.”
I sped up wildly.
Julian shouted something, but the wind drowned out his voice.
As soon as we reached the dining hall, I pushed the door open and seated Julian.
“What… what is this….”
Henry muttered with a blank expression.
Kardel also stared at me in silence.
“Did you just carry my son like luggage?”
“I don’t know how to hold a child. I apologize.”
“No. I asked if you carried my son.”
“Yes.”
Kardel looked between Julian and me, then chuckled.
“Well done.”
“Ugh….”
Julian muttered something quietly.
Since he muttered on purpose, I assumed I didn’t need to hear it and began cutting his food into bite-sized pieces.
“He’s being raised well.”
“…It seems so.”
Too tired to protest, Julian obediently ate the food I prepared.
It was nice to see him eat well.
Ah, right. I had something to say to Henry.
I walked over to Henry, who stood behind Kardel.
“Butler Henry, may I ask something?”
“Go ahead.”
“May we hire a painter?”
“Pardon?”
“The young master is too cute. I’d like to preserve it in paintings.”
Henry stared at me in disbelief.
“…Hearing that from someone with that face makes it impossible to agree.”
What’s wrong with my face?
I touched my face, and Henry muttered,
“Is it because you’re a doll and have no expression….”
I stood firmly, waiting for an answer.
Then Kardel calmly set down his utensils.
“Do you truly find my son cute?”
Of course.
I usually don’t care about appearances, yet I thought he was cute the moment I saw him.
I opened my mouth to answer—but the reply came from elsewhere.
“Perry.”
The three of us looked over.
Julian, chewing on a carrot, said again,
“The butler’s name. Perry.”
“Didn’t you say you had no name?”
“The young master named me. He said it was hard to call me without one.”
A brief light flickered in Kardel’s eyes, then disappeared.
I looked at Kardel and Julian again.
No matter how I looked at them, aside from color, they didn’t resemble each other at all.
Kardel looked like a knight, while Julian had delicate features.
Maybe he resembled his mother.
Or maybe he’d look like Kardel when grown up.
As I observed Kardel, Henry whispered,
“Please don’t take interest in the master.”
“I’m not.”
“Then why do you keep looking?”
“Because he looks nothing like the young master.”
“…Please stop observing him.”
Fine.
I shrugged and returned to Julian’s side.
“Young master, why aren’t you eating that soft-looking green thing?”
“It’s broccoli.”
I see.
I knew carrots and pumpkin, but broccoli was new.
“Then why aren’t you eating it?”
“…It’s not food.”
Anyone could see he was lying.
I picked up the broccoli with a fork and brought it to Julian’s mouth.
“Picky eating is bad.”
“I said it’s not food!”
I glanced at Kardel and Henry.
They both shook their heads.
I squeezed Julian’s cheeks, forced his mouth open, shoved the broccoli inside, and covered his mouth.
“Ubbubub!”
“Chew properly and swallow.”
“Ubub!”
“Would you like one bite, or ten small bites?”
After struggling, Julian finally swallowed with a miserable face.
Only after confirming he swallowed did I let him go.
“…I’ll kill you.”
“You know I won’t die.”
“When I awaken, I’ll kill you!”
“Please do, young master.”
Julian glared murderously while I replied expressionlessly.
I could feel Kardel’s and Henry’s stares.
So this method works.
Deciding to use it for picky eating in the future, I placed another piece of broccoli on Julian’s plate.
