Dominique’s face twisted into an odd expression once more.
Well, he knew what hide-and-seek was.
He’d seen the temple children play it amongst themselves a few times.
But that was different.
“Isn’t that a little… childish?”
Dominique muttered to himself without thinking.
Immediately, Mabel’s eyes narrowed into sharp triangles.
“What was that?”
Oops.
He meant to keep that thought in his head, but it slipped out of his mouth.
As Dominique stood there awkwardly, Mabel scoffed.
“Hmph, you’re just scared, aren’t you?”
“…Scared?”
“Yeah! You’re scared because you’re bad at hide-and-seek, right?”
That made Dominique snap.
“Who says I’m scared?”
“Then why do you keep backing out?”
Mabel pressed him again, not letting up.
Dominique furrowed his brow hard.
“You need confidence to play hide-and-seek now?”
“Then why are you making excuses?”
And before he knew it—
“Alright, you count to ten. You’re it.”
Dominique had ended up playing hide-and-seek with Mabel…
“I’m gonna go hide now!”
Mabel called out and dashed away as if she’d made all the rules.
‘She just does whatever she wants…’
He stood dumbfounded for a second, then quietly turned around.
He began to count loudly.
“One, two, three…”
Mabel, eyes gleaming, looked around.
Perfect.
She had memorized all the best hiding spots while sneaking around the temple as a cat!
She slipped into one, not even a strand of hair sticking out.
“Hehe.”
She giggled softly, covering her mouth with both hands.
Honestly, there’s no way Dominique could find me here.
It would take him a long time.
But then—
Huh? Why isn’t he coming?
Way more time passed than she expected, and still no sign of Dominique.
Mabel peeked her head out and scanned the area.
Nothing. Not even a shadow of him.
Okay, I know I hid well—but this is getting weird.
She carefully got up and tiptoed back toward where she last saw Dominique.
Then—
What?!
Mabel’s eyes widened in shock.
Dominique was surrounded by a group of trainees!
“Why are you acting so cocky lately?”
One of the trainees sneered, jabbing Dominique in the chest with a finger.
“…”
Dominique just stared coldly at the trainee, not saying a word.
But his silence only made the group more riled up.
“Look at this guy, acting like he’s better than us.”
“So annoying!”
One trainee suddenly grabbed Dominique by the collar.
At that moment—
Fire lit in Mabel’s eyes.
“Dominique oppaaaaaahhh!”
She screamed at the top of her lungs and shoved her way through the group.
Startled, Dominique raised his voice in panic.
“Don’t come here, Mabel!”
But Mabel ignored him and stepped firmly in front of him.
Looking at the small figure standing protectively in front of him, Dominique shut his eyes tight.
Why now, of all times…?
—
Here’s how it all started.
As soon as the hide-and-seek game began, a group of trainees spotted Dominique.
For whatever reason, they were in a bad mood.
They gathered around and started picking on him.
“Hey, what are you doing over there?”
“Creepy little freak.”
Dominique had tried to ignore them and go find Mabel.
But—
“What, are you ignoring us?!”
They grabbed him roughly by the shoulder.
Just the usual harassment.
But this time, Dominique felt uneasy—because of Mabel.
She’s probably wondering why I haven’t come looking for her.
What if he lost her?
Normally, Dominique would’ve stayed quiet. But this time, he cautiously spoke up.
“Stop it.”
But of course, the trainees, already in a mean mood, didn’t listen.
“Stop? You telling us what to do now?”
And so—
Here they were, facing off.
Mabel, caught in the middle, frowned.
“What’s going on here?”
“…”
“…”
Her sharp voice silenced the air like a bucket of cold water.
Mabel put her hands on her hips.
She tilted her chin upward to look taller—which only made her look more like a chirping chick.
“I saw everything. Why are you ganging up on him?”
“We didn’t—what are you talking about—”
“Oh? Then is it not true? Dominique oppa is by himself, and there’s a bunch of you.”
Mabel narrowed her eyes and gave the trainees a sideways glare.
“Adrian oppa told me—people who can’t do anything on their own always hang around in packs.”
The trainees flinched, struck by her words.
Mabel scanned them with a look of pity, then snorted.
“So that makes you guys… way lamer than Dominique oppa, doesn’t it?”
That blunt insult turned their faces beet red.
Watching them, Mabel trembled slightly with satisfaction.
Ah, that felt good.
Like downing an ice-cold soda in one gulp.
This is why having a mouth means you should speak up.
She’d held her tongue too long, sneaking around in cat form at the temple!
“You little brat! Think you can say whatever you want?!”
One of the trainees, furious, raised his hand to strike her.
But suddenly, a hand reached out from behind Mabel and grabbed the trainee’s wrist tightly.
“Agh!”
A shriek escaped the trainee’s lips.
It was Dominique.
He gripped the trainee’s wrist with a force that looked like it could break bones.
The trainee’s face turned red, then pale with pain.
“L-Let go!”
He tried to shake off the grip, but it was no use.
Dominique’s hand was like iron.
The other trainees stood frozen in shock at the sudden change.
Not a single one moved.
“…Dominique oppa?”
Mabel turned to him, confused.
Dominique looked a bit surprised, too.
It had been a reflex.
Why did I step in?
He paused to think about his own actions.
It was the first time he’d instinctively moved to protect someone.
But then he remembered—
She stood up for me.
That alone was reason enough.
Because during all his time in the temple—
Not once had anyone stood up for him.
Mabel… she was the first.
In the past, he would’ve worried about what the temple officials would say, what his uncle the emperor would think.
But right now…
I feel… free.
Dominique blinked in a daze.
“Hey, what are you doing?!”
The trainee whose wrist he held shouted, eyes watery from pain.
“Someone stop this guy!!”
At his cry, the other trainees snapped out of their stupor.
Dominique quickly raised his head.
