chapter 13
“I’m dirty because I have a lot of dirt on me.”
“That’s alright.”
Hern spoke in a gentle voice.
The child tilted their head, clearly confused about what could possibly be “alright.”
“Blankets are meant to keep their users warm. If you are warm, that’s enough.”
“…….”
Hern continued, trying to explain a little more.
Still, the child looked utterly troubled, glancing back and forth between the dirt-stained hands and the blanket in their grasp. Their tightly pressed lips and wide eyes made it painfully obvious how deeply they were thinking.
Hern suppressed a smile that threatened to escape.
“If your hands bother you, perhaps you could take a bath after your meal?”
“……A bath?”
The child’s eyes went wide in surprise. Hern quickly pressed his lips together, unable to hide his admiration.
Truly a kind soul.
Unlike the mischievous princes of a similar age, this child’s reactions were different—calm, thoughtful, and genuine. Other young royals were little bundles of chaos, fully aware of their power and the importance of their titles, often displaying mischief at every turn.
Seeing a child whose thoughts and feelings were written plainly on their face left Hern with a fresh sense of appreciation.
And on top of that, this child’s sensitivity to small details spoke volumes about their innate kindness. Though currently a bit grubby, Hern was certain that after a proper bath and a change of clothes, the child would be as adorable as a doll.
“Yes, you’ll feel wonderful soaking in warm water.”
“……This castle doesn’t have warm water.”
Hern looked at the child, smiling softly. The words carried a sharp sense of loneliness.
The castle was cut off from basic comforts—no fires burned, and the cold seeped into every corner. When Hern had first stepped inside, the chill had even crept down his back.
“If you go to another castle a short distance away, they have warm water.”
“…….”
The child hesitated, clearly reluctant, and finally shook their head. It seemed leaving this place filled them with unease.
Hern didn’t press further. Instead, he laid a large cloth on the ground and placed the meal on it. Breakfast had been carefully preserved with magic to keep it fresh, and it was a relief that the child could finally eat.
Moreover, he had woken a notoriously sleepy mage at dawn and had him cast a warming spell across the entire castle—by order of His Majesty the Emperor. The exhausted mage reportedly collapsed back in his office afterward. Hern ignored it and smiled gently.
“Here, please eat.”
Hern pushed the food toward the child. They eyed it cautiously.
“Grandpa isn’t eating?”
“My name is Hern. Please call me Hern. Though I suppose ‘Grandpa’ works too.”
“……Hern.”
The child repeated the name softly, savoring it. Hern smiled.
“I’ve already eaten, so it’s alright. Please, eat as much as you like.”
“Mm.”
The child grabbed a sandwich with both hands and murmured a response as they began eating. Their eyes sparkled at the sight of the food, and they reached eagerly for the plate full of fruit and sandwiches.
Once again, the child devoured the food with both hands, not pausing to chew properly—swallowing as if someone might snatch it away. Hern’s expression softened with concern.
As the child shoved another bite into their mouth, Hern poured freshly squeezed orange juice into a transparent glass and placed it in front of them.
“You can drink while you eat. Take your time.”
The child grabbed the glass with hands smeared in mayonnaise and sauce and gulped it down. The once-pristine glass was quickly covered in sauce, but Hern calmly wiped it and refilled it without complaint.
When only two of the four sandwiches remained, the child placed them back on the plate. Then, seemingly dissatisfied, they brought their fingers to their mouth to lick off the remaining sauce.
Suddenly, a large hand gently caught the child’s small hand. Hern’s hand, gloved in white, had intervened.
“That won’t do.”
“……Huh?”
The child looked up at Hern, startled. He smiled warmly and kindly, yet there was a firm resolve in his action. Though the grip was gentle, the child had no chance of pulling free.
“You should clean your hands with a handkerchief or water.”
Hern took out the handkerchief tucked into his chest, moistened it, and carefully wiped the child’s hands. The once-pristine white cloth quickly became dirty. The child’s face went pale as they stared at it.
The child hastily pulled their hand back.
“My lady?”
“No, it’ll get dirty. That’s pretty.”
“It’s alright. If I wash it, it’ll be like new.”
“……Wash it?”
The child asked, looking at Hern. He nodded.
The child gazed at Hern’s warm, sun-like smile, blinking before finally speaking.
“But… did you meet any bad people?”
“Bad people?”
The child’s gem-like eyes glimmered strangely. Hern froze.
It felt like those first moments when he had met His Majesty the Emperor. The child’s gaze seemed to pierce through him, an uncanny, unsettling sensation.
“Yesterday it wasn’t like this, but today it’s pitch black.”
Hern’s eyes widened slightly at the words. The child’s pupils seemed to search for something unseen, something sticky and dark that clung unnaturally—like a shadow, yet not quite.
Hern shivered. The child wasn’t looking at him. They were seeing something else entirely.
‘What is it that you’re seeing?’
It was said that those born with gemstone eyes possessed strange powers. For instance, royalty with diamond eyes were gifted with extraordinary luck. Their presence could heal incurable diseases, deflect arrows mid-flight, and even guarantee victory in battle. Ruby-eyed individuals thrived in war, using blood as weapons, while those with aquamarine eyes could heal any injury—if they survived, that is. Gemstone eyes were rare, but immensely powerful.
‘As for the person I met today…’
Hern thought. It had only been the attendants and maids, who merely reported and kept the castle clean. He couldn’t determine who the child might call a “bad person.”
‘I should report this to His Majesty.’
Hern smiled gently, finishing his thought.
“I don’t know who it is, but I’ll look into it.”
“Mm. Watch out for the leaves.”
The child added this casually, already patting Sion’s back without paying much attention to their previous conversation.
“Are you full? If you want more, I can bring it.”
“No.”
The child glanced briefly out the window, the sun still shining outside, before bowing their head again. Hern let out a wry smile.
“Waiting for His Majesty?”
“……No, not waiting.”
The child’s sudden, earnest denial was so abrupt that Hern almost laughed. If they had a tail, it might have swished in irritation—but as a human, it remained just a wistful thought.
“Don’t you like His Majesty?”
“Nope.”
