Ch. 13

“I’d say I know more than an ordinary person.”

He fixed his eyes on me and asked, “Why are you so interested in mana?”

His voice was softer than before, and his gaze also wasn’t as sharp as back then. His face now told me he had let go of his suspicions of me.

“I became interested because I wanted to know how to use mana more efficiently.”

Ardion nodded calmly.

Before I noticed it, we already reached the door to his room. “Young Master, it’s lunchtime now. Please go in first. I’ll get my food and then get some food from the pantry for you.”

Just as I was about to leave with the book and go to my room, I heard him speak again. 

“Leave that book with me.”

When I turned around, he continued, “Didn’t you bring that book to teach me anyway?”

“That’s true. But before that, I…”

“You don’t have to personally teach me. I will understand it in a glance.”

His tone was firm, so I could only agree. “Then I’ll leave the book in your room.”

Just as I tried to enter the room with the book, Ardion stopped me. “No, just give it to me now.”

I gazed oddly at him.

He continued, “I can carry it by myself.”

“It’s heavy.”

“Give it to me.”

Since he was so persistent, I handed him the book. As expected, he stumbled but quickly steadied himself before heading inside his room.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll bring your food right away, Young Master.”

Ardion closed the door.

I felt Derol peek out from my pocket. He suggested, “Master, we should quickly go to the pantry.”

“Yes, like how we did before.”

Since I had done it once already, I was confident I would do a better job. Inside the pantry was still the same heaven of various foods, and since Ardion ate well last time, I carried a lot with me this time.

After finally carrying everything out safely, Derol and I walked back to Ardion’s room with difficulty.

“Master, how long are we going to have to do this?” Derol grumbled. He had almost been caught a few times. Thankfully, he had always saved himself.

“I’m not sure, but I know that if we keep doing this, we’re putting ourselves in danger.”

Just like Derol said, we couldn’t keep stealing from the pantry like this. They would set up more mousetraps, and eventually, they might even change the locks.

“In that case, I’ll talk to him.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Duke Orchid.”

“Will he listen to you, Master?”

“If I mention that Ardion is a member of the imperial family, he will yield.”

“Then I’ll help you,” Derol said with determination, making me smile. However…

“Derol, Duke Orchid won’t understand you.”

“But there should be something I can do to help, right?”

“Then let’s go together later. Just like you said, there might really be something you can do to help.”

Arriving in front of Ardion’s room, I knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

When I opened the door, I saw Ardion sitting at the table, reading the book. I placed the heavy sack next to his bed, causing a loud thud.

Ardion glanced at the sack I brought in, then turned his gaze back to the book. He wasn’t taking his eyes off the book, holding onto it even when I approached him.

I said with a smile. “I guess you like books.”

He seemed to think for a moment, then nodded. “I read often, but since Rowell hated it, I couldn’t do it. Later, he forbade me from entering the library and the study.”

I wondered why Rowell stopped him from reading books. "Why?"

“Probably because he hated that I could easily understand everything right away.”

So he kept Ardion from growing more intelligent on purpose? It was absolutely ridiculous and pathetic.

As I silently cursed Rowell, I glanced at Ardion. He was still staring intently at the book, completely absorbed. I took a small step back, realizing that my presence might interfere with his focus. It seemed having me around was disrupting his concentration.

"Young Master, I'll take my leave."

When I turned around, I heard Ardion's voice.

"Wait a minute."

I paused and looked back.

"Where are you going? Won’t you eat lunch?"

"I'm going to go see Duke Orchid."

"Why?"

“It’s not a good idea to keep stealing. It’s dangerous for me and Derol, and it’s honestly unfair not to give you food.”

"..."

“Then I’ll go.” Ardion got up from his seat. “I’ll go with you.”

“Pardon me?” I looked at him in surprise.

“It’s my food anyway. You’ve also helped me a lot so far.” 

Derol raised his head from my pocket. “That’s a relief.”

“Mouse, I don’t want you saying anything.”

Nevertheless, Derol didn’t hide. Instead, he said quite loudly, “Master, since it’s come to this, I think it would be good if that person came along too. After all, it’s his food, and if we go together, won’t the duke behave differently?”

Derol was quite thoughtful. I talked to him every night, so I knew he understood a lot about the mansion.

I thought for a moment and said, “Young Master, are you sure?”

“What?”

“Far beyond your imagination, Duke Orchid is sneaky and wicked, and he gets angry easily.”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s no different from the person I saw earlier.”

“But it’s different when you talk to him directly. He is arrogant…”

“It’s okay. But I don’t think I can speak like you.”

“… You want to speak like me?”

Ardion nodded. It was a sentiment I hadn’t expected, and I smiled awkwardly. Ardion glanced at me.

When our eyes met, he whispered, “Help me.”

Despite his soft voice, my heart was full of his warmth. Just days ago, he had been wary of me, but now, he was relying on me. I was glad he was finally trusting me.

“Of course! Let’s go, Young Master. I’ll definitely help you.”

Ardion nodded.

“I’ll help you this time too,” Derol squeaked.

Ardion nodded, and we left the room.

As soon as I entered the hallway, I said, “Duke Orchid should be eating in his office now. This family usually doesn’t eat together.”

“Just like the Rowell mansion.”

“What was it like there?”

“It’s the same as here, just the atmosphere is darker than here. There’s always a cold wind blowing.” Ardion frowned.

“… You don’t have many good memories there.”

“Yeah. They were always eager to catch me.”

I nodded slightly.

He continued, “There, no one was nice to me. Everyone was just nice at first, but then they would stab me in the back.”

Ardion lowered his head. I took his hand gently. He looked at me in surprise.

I assured him, “Young Master, please trust me. There won’t be anything that will bother you.”

Ardion didn’t answer right away and just stared at me blankly. “… You said you wanted something from me, right?”

“That’s true, but that’s not really why I’m helping you, Young Master.”

“…”

Still, I couldn’t lie, so I added, “Well, it’s a big part of it.”

Ardion just blinked. Then he took his hand away from mine.

When I looked at him curiously, he said in a quiet voice, “My hands are sweaty.”

Ardion slightly lowered his head and fiddled with his hands.

“I’m sorry. I was thoughtless…”

“It’s okay. By the way, where is Duke Orchid’s office?”

“We just need to make one more turn. Here we are.”

Derol’s squeak, “Master, leave me here. I’ll be on standby nearby.”

“Okay, Derol, be careful.”

“Yes, don’t worry.” Derol quickly escaped my hand and disappeared into a small hole.

After watching Derol disappear, I looked back at Ardion. He was noticeably tense. His mouth was dry, so he kept licking his lips and fidgeting with his hands.

I put my hand in front of the door. “Young Master, you don’t have to be so tense. Or you can go back now…”

“No, from now on, I’ll say what I want to say like you do.”

I could see Ardion’s determination. I was glad that he seemed to have changed in just a few days.

“Then I’ll knock on the door.”

Ardion nodded. I knocked on the door quite hard.

“…”

As expected, there was no answer from inside.

When Ardion looked at me strangely, I said as if nothing had happened, “That’s just how it is. In times like this, just open the door and go inside.”

I opened the door without hesitation.

The office was filled with the pungent smell of cigars. Despite his frown, he looked around and went inside with me.

“Young Master, don’t you smell something?”

“What smell?”

Now that I think about it, Ardion didn’t hold his nose when he first came. Even a young child would smell something.

… Could it be that he can’t smell something?

While I was wondering, I heard a voice that pierced my ears.

“What’s going on?!”

I turned around and saw Duke Orchid fiercely staring at me. He was holding a table knife and a fork with blood dripping from it.

I frowned for a moment and then said calmly, “I came here because I have something to discuss with you, Your Grace.”

“Why did you bring him here when you have something to discuss with me? The meat tastes unpalatable now.”

Those words were typical of Duke Orchid.

Ardion took a step forward and stated, “I want you to give me proper meals.”

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