Chapter: 4
The young master, who had been staring blankly at me, suddenly scrunched up his face. His thick eyebrows shot up, and his eyes narrowed with intensity.
“Is breakfast really that important?”
“Yes, it’s important. You must eat breakfast. That’s how you grow taller and stay healthy.”
At the mention of height, the young master flinched.
“Who said I’m short! You’re small yourself!”
“I never said you were short. I am a little small, yes, but that’s because I didn’t eat well when I was younger.”
This was a trick I often used when taking care of the village children—to get them to eat properly, I would tell them that eating well helps you grow tall. It always worked; they would gobble up their food in a hurry.
“…Then bring it quickly.”
Of course.
“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”
I moved the chairs piled up by the door and unlocked the latch. He had blocked it tightly so I couldn’t get in.
While I placed the food from the trolley onto the table, the young master glared at me with a sour expression. I finished setting the table under his piercing stare.
“Enjoy your meal, young master.”
But instead of a polite “thank you,” his protruding lips formed a different question.
“Be honest. You’re an assassin, aren’t you?”
Why does he keep calling me an assassin, even today? He must have been reading a lot of novels about assassins recently.
“I’m not an assassin, young master. I’m a maid.” I answered calmly.
“Don’t lie. What kind of maid comes in through the window?”
“Well, that’s only because you wouldn’t open the door. You still need to eat, right?”
“…Why are you so obsessed with food? Did someone poison it?”
“Why would I do that!”
Apparently dissatisfied with my answer, his mischievous expression suddenly turned sour.
“I’m not eating.”
He even crossed his arms firmly. At this rate, it seemed he would never eat.
If that’s the case…
I scooped a large spoonful of soup.
“What are you—!”
Seizing the brief moment his mouth opened, I quickly shoved the spoon into it. His green eyes widened in shock at the sudden action.
After swallowing the soup, he burst out angrily.
“What the heck are you doing! Why are you putting in my mouth what was in yours?!”
“Well? It’s fine, right? No poison or anything.”
“What? Huh…”
“I just wanted to prove it to you since you didn’t trust me. If you want, I can try other things first. What should we try next? Fried egg? Sausage?”
I reached for a fork, but he snatched it away in a flash.
“Enough. Go away.”
“Can you eat by yourself?”
“Of course. Do I look like a child who can’t eat alone?”
“Yes.”
Oops.
Speaking honestly, the words just slipped out.
“…What?”
But it wasn’t wrong. He was just ten years old, a complete child.
I had expected nobles to be different, but the young master was just like the children I cared for in the village.
There were often kids in the village who acted prickly like him. At first, they ignored me and did as they pleased, but eventually, they warmed up.
How adorable they were, always following me around, calling me “sister.”
Once the young master warms up… he probably won’t call me “sister,” but maybe he’ll call me by name?
“Why are you grinning like that? Are you mocking me?”
Snapping out of my thoughts at his sharp tone, I quickly diverted the conversation.
“I’ll be changing the bed sheets. Please enjoy your meal!”
I rushed to the bed, ignoring the sharp gaze from behind. If I made eye contact, he might spew more harsh words.
Luckily, the young master ate quietly while I changed the sheets.
Now, the next task…
I peeked carefully and slowly approached the table.
“What are you doing?”
As I got closer, his eyes narrowed, and his shoulders tensed like a frightened cat. He looked like a gentle puppy, but his personality was that of a fierce cat.
“Have you finished your meal, young master?”
“Can’t you tell? I ate it all.”
Why must his tone always be so rude? I had assumed noble children would be polite and refined.
“Since you’ve finished, it’s time to take your medicine.”
I took the potion from my apron pocket and placed it on the table. He shivered and sat stiffly, hugging the chair, like a cat seeing a syringe.
“Young master?”
Then he shouted with a twisted face.
“I’m not taking it!”
Of course.
The young master, who wouldn’t eat his meal, surely wouldn’t take medicine willingly either.
I had already thought of three ways to make him take it.
“If you don’t take the medicine, you won’t get dessert either.”
“I don’t need dessert.”
Threaten—failed.
“Please, just close your eyes and take it. This is all for your sake…”
Plead earnestly—failed.
Then 3…
“Don’t you dare touch me. I won’t let you force it.”
Failed before I even tried.
He was tougher than any of the village kids. With the village children, I could entice them with candy. But how could I persuade a young master who didn’t even want dessert?
A sudden idea flashed in my mind.
“Alright.”
Pretending to put the potion back in my pocket, I slid it inside the right sleeve of my dress. My maid uniform was slightly large, so the sleeves were wide enough to hide the potion without it being noticeable.
I also slipped some candy into the other sleeve, just in case.
“Young master, look at this!”
I shook my empty hands, and he responded bluntly.
“What is there to see? There’s nothing.”
“Exactly. There’s nothing, right?”
“Yes.”
“Now, I’ll make the thing you hate most appear in my hand.”
“…What?”
His green eyes sparkled with interest. I knew he would be curious.
I turned my hand to show the back of it and shook it dramatically while letting out a spirited shout.
“Hah!”
The potion, hidden in my sleeve, appeared in my hand. I held it firmly with my palm while still showing the back of my hand to the young master.
He stared intently at my hand, eyes wide.
“Surisuri Masuri, Abracadabra, Yap!”
Chanting a convincing spell, I thrust my fist toward him. Then I opened my hand to show the potion, and his eyes widened like saucers.
“W-what? How did you do that?”
I laughed at how cute he looked, mouth agape in surprise. I tried to appear calm.
“I magically moved the potion from my pocket to my hand.”
“No way! Magic doesn’t exist!”
In truth, it wasn’t magic at all, just a sleight of hand—hardly even a proper trick. But it was enough to fool a ten-year-old.
Even in the village, mischievous kids reacted the same way when I first showed them magic.
“This isn’t fake, right?”
He examined the potion carefully, still suspicious.
Meanwhile, I placed the candy from my sleeve precariously on the chair back. The chair was tall, above his eye level, so he wouldn’t notice it unless he turned around.
Now, with just a little jolt, candy would “magically” appear—perfect.
“It’s not fake. If you don’t believe me, you can try it yourself.”
“…No. You’re just trying to trick me into taking the medicine, aren’t you?”
Ah, caught.
“Ah, I see. You actually hid it in your sleeve and pulled it out, right?”
Tsk, sharp eyes.
I smiled calmly and prepared my next move.
“If you really don’t trust me, I’ll show you another magic trick.”
“What are you going to do this time?”
“This time, I’ll make your favorite dessert appear.”
“…I’m not falling for it. Roll up your sleeve now.”
I quickly rolled up my sleeve to show it was empty.
“Checked carefully?”
He inspected it thoroughly and nodded reluctantly. Now that he confirmed there was nothing in my hand or sleeve, he’d surely fall for it.
“Now then…”
I stepped toward him.
“W-why are you coming closer?!”
Why? Because I was going to gently drop the candy, precariously perched on the chair, onto his head.
