3. Gift

The southern mansion of the Artua grand ducal house was filled with warmth year-round, befitting its purpose of enduring the cold northern winters.

However, today was filled with a chilly atmosphere of impending storm from early morning.

This was because of the news that the second young master of the grand ducal house, Enoch Artua, would return to the mansion after three days.

“Jeff. The vase in the first-floor reception room needs to be cleaned again.”

“Yes. Head butler. I’ll check it.”

At the instruction of butler Albert, who had been assisting the grand ducal house for forty years, the servants moved busily.

Even after perfectly organizing everything without a speck of dust, the butler couldn’t put his mind at ease. Before the tense atmosphere could even settle, news came that young master Enoch had arrived.

The servants all bowed their heads in unison to greet him.

“Have you arrived, young master?”

“Mm.”

Brilliant golden hair resembling the sun, deep shadowed features, a straight nose bridge, and soft lip lines contrasting with bright red lips, and blue eyes.

The man with an overall delicate and elegant appearance resembling his mother, Enoch Artua, received the butler’s greeting.

“Where are Their Highnesses?”

“Both Their Highnesses are receiving a report sent by young master Alec. I heard it’s good news.”

“Brother must be returning soon.”

Enoch nodded lightly at the news of his brother Alec, who had led the monster subjugation force toward the northern Nilsen plateau.

Since the Artua brothers had extreme affection for each other, normally he would have immediately gone to hear the report together.

But today Enoch had something more important than his brother’s news.

“Where is Rania?”

“She’s having personal time after eating a snack a little while ago.”

“Wasn’t she supposed to have history lessons until next week?”

It was an ordinary sight, at least in Artua, for him as an older brother to know his sister’s home tutoring schedule inside and out.

Therefore, the butler had also carefully memorized the youngest miss’s schedule in detail just before Enoch’s return.

“The miss said she finished all the books yesterday.”

Enoch’s expression, which had been hardened stiffly enough to waste his handsome face, suddenly softened.

“She finished already. It didn’t even take a month.”

The smile hanging on his lips showed pride in his sister who had completed all the liberal arts classes at age eight that would normally take at least fifteen years to finish.

It was always an amazing sight to see.

‘He becomes like a different person whenever Lady Rania comes up.’

Enoch Artua was a young man with a nature completely opposite to the impression his appearance gave.

Born sensitive and irritable, he had changed nannies four times before even turning three, his escort knights changed twice as often, and when he went on his first expedition as a knight, he even created the first case in history of deserting because he couldn’t make eye contact with his superior.

⟨He’s a reliable superior when subjugating monsters, but honestly, he’s scarier than the monsters.⟩

⟨There are even kids who want to stab their own eyes because they’re afraid to make eye contact with the second young master.⟩

How else would Dame Jeanne Flandre, who had endured in his escort knight position for six years, be called ‘the saint of the Artua knight order’?

‘He took Dame Jeanne out again this time. I haven’t seen him rest for a whole month.’

The butler looked at Dame Jeanne, who was waiting silently behind them. Seeing her greet him with a gentle smile, he felt sympathy.

Unfortunately, Enoch Artua’s affection and tolerance were only permitted to fellow Artuas.

His respected parents, his reliable older brother, and his lovable youngest sister……

Among them, his affection for Rania was exceptional, and his absence from the castle for three days this time was also to prepare a gift for the child.

“I should talk with Mrs. Bedlin again. First, let me talk with Rania. Dame Jeanne. Follow me.”

“Yes.”

Dame Jeanne followed behind him, carefully holding something precious in her arms. The servants watching the two figures moving away whispered.

“What kind of gift could have taken three whole days?”

The butler only hoped that whatever was inside would please Lady Rania’s heart.

Otherwise, both he and his escort knight would have to suffer Enoch’s irritation for a while.

***

Rania’s bedroom was located in the south wing building where sunlight came in best on the second floor. Therefore, one had to climb the central stairs of the main castle and then walk straight down the corridor.

“Your Highness.”

A clear woman’s voice came from behind him as he strode forward. When he ignored it and kept walking, pretending not to hear, he heard the calling voice again.

“Young master.”

“……”

“……Lord Enoch.”

Only when his name was called did he turn to look at his escort knight. The woman with red hair tied up meticulously to a suffocating degree sighed briefly.

“You should change clothes first.”

“It won’t take long.”

“Blood splattered. The miss will notice again.”

You hate making excuses. Jeanne pointed to his sleeve with her eyes.

“Damn.”

Enoch, who confirmed the bloodstain, irritably took off his outer garment. A servant who had been following with quick steps promptly took the clothes.

“Is there more?”

Jeanne examined his sullen face, then arranged his disheveled hair.

“Yes. Now you look handsome.”

“Playing nanny again as soon as we arrive at the castle.”

Even at his extremely irritated voice, Jeanne showed no particular reaction. She had become an adult too early to react every time to the neurotic attitude of the young master who was five years younger.

She turned the conversation away, ignoring the gaze that persistently shot at her nape, precisely at the red mark carved inside it.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to carry the gift directly, Lord Enoch?”

This time there was no reaction from Enoch’s side.

Did he mean he wasn’t confident about the gift and wanted her to come along? Or was he just being spiteful?

Having no choice, Jeanne headed to Rania’s bedroom together, carrying the gift.

“Lady Rania. Lord Enoch has come.”

When the child’s escort knight announced the visit, a faint answer came from inside. The knight nodded to Enoch and opened the door for him.

The little miss, who always used to run out and jump into his arms before the door even fully opened, didn’t even make a sound. As he entered inside, Rania was reading a book with her back to the door.

“Rania.”

“Hmph.”

Rania, who turned her head slightly to check Enoch’s face, showed her sulking mood and then turned her gaze back to the book. Then she even picked up a pen and pretended to be very busy.

“I’m sorry for being late. I had business. But I came to you as soon as I arrived at the mansion.”

Enoch was genuinely sorry. Though he was only a day later than promised, he knew well how lonely it was to guard the castle without a single peer to associate with.

The Artua children were too clever to mix words with ordinary children. But even if they joined adults in academic discussions or wielded swords, their loneliness wouldn’t be resolved.

⟨The young master is still young, so he’s confused.⟩

⟨Are you saying my heart will change when I come of age?⟩

⟨Yes. So give yourself time to have proper feelings toward yourself.⟩

Just as he had done, there was no choice but to endure and wait for time to pass.

“Rania.”

“Hmph. I can’t hear you.”

“Brother brought a gift as an apology. Won’t you at least take a look?”

“……Gift? You bought me a gift?”

As soon as Rania heard the word gift, she came running quickly. Then belatedly rolled her eyes pretending not to be interested.

“Jewelry? Or a doll?”

When Enoch only smiled meaningfully without answering, Rania pouted.

“I hate it if it’s jewelry. I’d rather have a doll.”

“A doll?”

“Yeah. Because jewelry doesn’t have dolls attached to it, but dolls will have jewelry attached to them.”

Jeanne smiled silently at the response that shrewdly calculated practical benefits. She approached Enoch’s side and showed her the gift he had prepared.

It was neither a doll nor jewelry.

“Huh? Huh?”

“How is it, Rania? Do you like it?”

What Dame Jeanne held out was a small puppy with fluffy brown fur.

“Uh……”

Rania, who had frozen in surprise, jumped up from her spot when the puppy barked “Woof!” Rania cleverly ran toward her brother’s arms instead of rushing to the gift.

Enoch gladly opened both arms to receive the child.

“Enoch! Puppy! It’s a puppy!”

“Yes. You said you wanted to raise something that wasn’t a hunting dog.”

“Right! The puppy is so small! I’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Since Rania had only seen her mother’s hunting dogs, she was amazed by the appearance of such a small puppy.

“Miss. Would you like to hold it directly?”

“Yeah, yeah! I will. I’ll hold it!”

The puppy that had been squirming in Dame Jeanne’s arms stared intently at Rania. Then it stretched its head toward Rania, wiggling its nose as if to smell her.

“What should I do? The puppy is so cute……”

Enoch and Jeanne bloomed with smiles at her delighted appearance.

“Enoch. The puppy kissed me! Did you see it kiss me with its nose?”

“I saw it. Do you like it that much?”

“Mm-hmm. I like it so much. And look at this, the puppy’s eyes are gray! They’re so pretty!”