“Yes, yes. By the time I learned the truth it was already too late, they just barely managed to leave the child in my care.”

Rashid’s eyes narrowed.

“You don’t know either?”

He asked Lian.

The child seemed not to expect him to address him directly. Lian could only slightly shake his head without making a sound.

Then, hiccup! Perhaps from fear, Lian started hiccuping. I had warm water brought for the child.

“I think the child is frightened. Let’s only talk about pleasant things.”

Rashid muttered something uncharacteristically, then soon nodded.

When heading to the reception room for tea after the meal, I moved slightly closer to Rashid.

“Why did you ask such a thing?”

“The truth……”

“You’re hurting the child.”

I quickly cut off his attempt to answer. I hadn’t asked because I was curious about why he asked or what his reason was.

“If you really want to know, you should have asked quietly when talking with just the adults later. No matter how curious you are, or even if you are their lord. It’s not very adult-like.”

“……”

When I frowned at him, Rashid slightly lowered his head like he’s trying to avoid my eyes. But because he was much taller, his face was still clearly visible.

Perhaps because he was scolded, his lips seemed to slightly pout.

“Ask later after we finish tea, when the child won’t know.”

“I already……”

“Ah ah!”

Rashid closed his mouth.

* * *

The deer crossed through the forest and fields to find a cabin. The cabin was carefully situated in a deep forest away from people. A woman came out opening the door of the cabin that stood alone, separated from the village.

“Oh my, what happened!”

The woman was startled at seeing the injured deer. The bloodied silver deer had returned to its master with its last strength.

“Come here. Rest now.”

The deer that entered the cabin collapsed into the woman’s arms. The woman comforted the deer without showing signs of panic.

Then the deer disappeared without a trace like smoke.

“I told you not to go out. The deer prince has suffered needlessly.”

The witch who looked after the deer spirit let out a sigh. It would take quite a while for the familiar who was badly wounded by humans to recover.

Should she be grateful it returned alive at least? She would have to ask what happened when the deer wakes up.

The witch closed the cabin door. While letting the deer rest, she thought she should make another toy like a golden bird.

It was a scene from deep in a forest protected by magic so humans could not reach it.

* * *

Lian was a lovely child. I found everything about him fascinating.

His small hands moving diligently were cute, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his legs that dangled without touching the floor when he sat in a chair. Those dangling feet were so tiny, and his mouth that happily answered when I spoke to him was like a singing bird.

“It’s very delicious.”

Lian smiled brightly while eating cookies sprinkled with cocoa and sugar. I felt regretful thinking that if this were the Camelina capital’s ducal residence, I could have served more sweet and pretty things like macarons or cakes.

“Uncle, please eat too.”

“Oh my.”

Lian held out a cookie to the hunter. He seemed concerned that the hunter was just watching us without eating.

“He’s really sweet.”

“Yes. Even at home he worries I might go hungry. Even though I’m several times bigger than him, haha.”

The hunter looked proud.

“I feel sorry having to leave him alone when I need to go hunting for several days.”

“I can manage well by myself.”

Lian tried to act mature, but I found his behavior even more pitiful. He was still too small and young to be saying such things.

“Aren’t you scared?”

“But if I wait, uncle always comes back.”

I wonder if waiting becomes bearable when there’s a definite end to it. It kept bothering me that this mere six-year-old was already speaking so maturely.

After tea time, we spent time playing some games with Lian until darkness began to peek in from outside. Winter days really are short.

I told Rashid he could go rest first if he was tired or not interested, but he remained until the end.

‘Still, he pays attention since they’re his subjects.’

Indeed, Rashid’s governing ability was beyond doubt. He truly was exemplary as a lord.

When we loaded the provisions we planned to bestow onto the carriage for the two, it was soon time for departure. Night would quickly bring deep darkness if they didn’t hurry.

“I will never forget this kindness, Your Grace. And my lady.”

Standing in front of the carriage, the hunter expressed his gratitude with a rough speech but sincere heart.

“No, I had to do at least this much since I ruined your hunt. Think of it as compensation.”

I bent my knees slightly to meet eyes with Lian who stood beside the hunter.

“Travel safely back. Stay healthy.”

Lian looked up at me with an expression that seemed ready to burst into tears at any moment. Then he came to me and tightly gripped the hem of my dress.

“Do I have to go?”

The strength holding my skirt was weak enough to easily brush off, but I couldn’t bring myself to ignore it.

“Why, Lian. You don’t want to go?”

Lian nodded his head vigorously. While doing so, the child mumbled something while watching my reaction. Even his mumbled pronunciation was cute.

“Can’t I stay just a little longer?”

Oh dear.

I smiled and gently stroked the child’s cheek. His round soft cheeks that had soaked in the warmth of the fireplace during the stay at the villa were tinged pink.

“Oh my! Come here, Lian. You shouldn’t bother the madam. My lady, please forgive him. He’s acting spoiled because you’ve been so kind to him.”

The hunter pulled at Lian’s hand that was holding my skirt.

“Mama…… sob……”

Then Lian started dropping tears. Whatever made him so sad, his large eyes quickly flooded.

“No, why are you crying. Stop right now! Oh dear, he’s not usually like this, I don’t know why he’s suddenly……”

The hunter scolded the child in panic. Lian tried hard to hold back his sobs, but he couldn’t stop the overflowing tears.

I gently wiped the child’s wet cheeks with my hand.

He must miss his mother, poor thing. But he can’t even cry freely. It pained me to see that Lian had learned to hold back at such a young age.

“We can’t help it then. So, Lian. Would you like to stay overnight today?”

The child’s eyes instantly sparkled.

“Oh no, we couldn’t! Lian, come here right now.”

The hunter scolded the child again from the side, but Lian rushed into my arms with such joy.

“Really?”

“Yes. That’s alright, isn’t it?”

While patting Lian’s head, I asked Rashid. Looking closely, his slightly furrowed brow showed he wasn’t pleased at all, but I pretended not to notice and urged him once more.

“Rashid.”

“…Fine then. Return tomorrow morning.”

Rashid, who had maintained silence until then, commanded as if giving in to my persistence. I welcomed his decision with a bright smile.

The villa’s servants were quick. A room was prepared for the guests in an instant.

The hunter was given time to rest while I read storybooks to Lian. Though the child didn’t know letters, he loved stories and listened intently to my voice with shining eyes. Rashid sat quietly reading his own book in a chair at one corner of the room. The peacefully flowing time felt serene.

Soon night fell. Rashid and I took Lian to the guest room where the hunter waited, and I stood at the doorway stroking the child’s head.

“Sleep well.”

Despite being together all day, Lian seemed sad about parting.

“Will I not see you anymore?”

“No. We’ll meet again tomorrow morning.”

“I want to…… play more……”

Though he must be tired from staying up so long, seeing him still wanting to play more was both cute and pitiful. The hunter would have far too little time to spend with the child while trying to make ends meet. That’s why the child must be desperate to hold onto this warmth that reached him.

A child growing up without receiving his parents’ love.

That fact made my already soft heart even weaker.

“Then would you like to sleep with me?”

“What?”

“What?”

The startled hunter’s voice overlapped with Rashid’s voice full of discontent.

“Shall we, Lian?”

“That’s not allowed.”

Though the question was directed at Lian, Rashid answered. When the man much larger than me hardened his voice, Lian looked anxious.

“But, Rashid.”

“I said no.”

“……if you really don’t like it, I can sleep in another room.”

“That’s even more unacceptable.”

A shallow sigh escaped at his stern attitude. He usually accommodated my requests quite well, but when he was stubborn, he was very stubborn, and this was one of those times.

“Then I’ll at least stay by his side until he falls asleep.”

Rashid still looked displeased. But he seemed to think it better to compromise and accept at that point. Perhaps from spending so much time with me, he had become quite perceptive.