Chapter 5

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 5

Chapter Title: Prolonged Stay in the Capital

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As soon as the new year began, the children threw themselves into the three-day New Year's festivities with abandon.

On the first day of the banquet, they unwrapped gifts, ventured out to enjoy the festivals unfolding in the capital, and spent the whole day immersed in fun games and joyful times.

After the New Year's celebrations wrapped up, Lucia and Herwin's bond grew even tighter. Even Lucas, who had initially been wary of Herwin, realized he wasn't a bad kid after all and gradually warmed up to him.

And a week after the banquets ended, the day arrived when the Peneus family was scheduled to depart.

Lucas, Lucia, and Herwin sat side by side on the windowsill, gazing at the landscape where snow was beginning to pile up. More snow than expected was falling, delaying their departure time.

"I don't wanna go."

Herwin grumbled, praying for even more snow to fall.

"Why? It's your home you're heading back to."

Lucas asked.

"......I don't like it much."

"Is there a reason you hate going home?"

This time, it was Lucia who asked. Looking at the Agnes siblings staring at him with their identical, clear faces, Herwin hesitated over whether to open up or not.

This was the first time he was confiding in anyone besides his parents. After much deliberation, Herwin finally spoke.

"Actually, I was bullied at home."

"Really?"

"What kind of lunatic would dare..."

"At home, there are older brothers and sisters who are always telling me I look like a girl, that I'm not a real boy, and that I should wear dresses instead of pants."

Until he was three years old, Herwin had never once seen children his own age.

The retainers working at the ducal residence typically raised their kids in the warmer southern climates.

One day, the ducal couple suddenly thought that their growing son might need a friend.

So they invited the children of their retainers to the ducal castle. Since they were two to four years older than Herwin, they figured they'd make great playmates for him.

The intentions were good, but their choice turned out poorly for Herwin.

At the time, the even younger Herwin was doll-like in his beauty.

Adults sometimes mistook him for a girl—what chance did kids have?

At first, the children tried to impress Herwin as their parents instructed. But as they realized he was younger and took everything in stride no matter what they did, they gradually forgot his status and began treating him like an easy target.

In the end, they turned his pretty features into fodder for mockery.

The more they teased, the more amusing his reactions became, escalating their pranks further and further.

Having no prior experience making friends, Herwin didn't know what to do and endured their bullying patiently until he finally told his parents everything.

The ducal couple, who had assumed he was getting along fine with the other children, were naturally shocked.

After hearing him out, they took immediate action.

Whether they gathered the retainers for a talk or scolded the children sternly, Herwin didn't know—but surprisingly, the teasing stopped that very day.

These days, the kids were the ones watching him warily, avoiding drawing his attention.

But the incident left Herwin with a trauma-level aversion to being called girly or pretty.

Not only that, he became overly conscious of others' words, reacting more intensely than other kids to even minor teasing.

That was why he'd exploded when Lucia called him pretty.

Herwin knew full well they couldn't touch him now, but he still had no desire to face them.

The north felt colder than ever.

'Because Lucas and Lucia are here.'

He'd sworn brotherhood with Lucas despite their rocky start, and Lucia...

Herwin glanced sideways at her. She met his gaze steadily with her round eyes, unflinching.

The staring contest stretched over ten seconds, and Herwin's face heated up.

Feeling the burning flush, he whipped his head away.

'I can't even look her in the eye.'

Lately, just seeing Lucia made his heart race, and his cheeks would inexplicably grow hot.

"What? Why'd you stop talking?"

"Oppa, I think Herwin's sick again."

"Huh? Really? Herwin, you okay?"

"No, I'm fine......"

Herwin calmed his pounding heart and shook his head. Recently, he'd been trailing off mid-sentence or blushing more often. The siblings could only shrug at his odd behavior.

Thud thud thud—

"This is bad, Your Grace!"

"What's all this commotion?"

Hail shot a sharp glare at the knight who burst in while he was talking with Yohan. The knight hurriedly bowed.

"Given the urgency... I apologize for the disturbance, my lord Count."

"I'm fine. What on earth is going on?"

"A horde of monsters has appeared in the north."

The word "monsters" instantly sobered the mood. Hail's face hardened as he shot to his feet.

"Let's discuss this elsewhere."

Hail left hurriedly with the knight. Scarlett murmured lowly as she watched him go.

"Monsters... They've never appeared at this time of year before."

"Scarlett, is everything alright?"

"I'm not sure. We need to assess the damage first. Things have been quiet for years... No, I should go check myself."

Unable to stay still any longer, Scarlett followed after Hail.

"Monsters? Like the scary beasts from books?"

"Seems like it. Herwin, know anything about them?"

"......No. Not really."

Lucas and Lucia started to say more but fell silent upon seeing Herwin's gravely serious expression.

Herwin stared at the door his parents had vanished through for a long while.

"I have to go ahead. The situation seems worse than I thought, so you stay here with the children for the time being."

"......Dear, please be careful."

"I will."

Hail hurriedly prepared to head north.

The urgent telegram reported a monster horde ravaging the north.

And the damage report at the end was graver than expected.

With no monster sightings in nearly six years, vigilance had slackened, and the horde's numbers far exceeded projections, causing the damage to swell by the moment.

"Count, I'm counting on you to look after my wife and children. I'll never forget this favor."

"Don't worry. I pray the crisis resolves swiftly."

"Thank you for understanding."

Hail thanked Yohan and bid his family farewell.

He planted brief kisses on Scarlett's and baby Henry's foreheads, then hugged Herwin tightly.

"Dad......"

"Herwin, you're in charge while I'm gone. Protect your mom and little brother, got it?"

"Yes! I'll protect Mom and Henry no matter what!"

"That's my boy."

Only after embracing Herwin did Hail set off on the long journey.

A year and a half passed since Hail departed for the north.

He'd expected to wipe out the monsters in a month, but here he was, still hunting down stragglers across the region.

The timing couldn't have been worse—heavy blizzards in winter had complicated everything.

Hail sent word not to come north until every last monster was eradicated.

The day Scarlett received his first letter after endless waiting, she wept through the night.

With their stay in the capital now indefinite, she resolved to find separate lodgings.

They'd been imposing on the Agnes family while awaiting the right moment to return north, but circumstances had changed—they couldn't burden them further.

'Find a house? We're fine with you staying until word from the Duke.'

'No, we can't impose any longer. He left some funds here in the capital; I'll manage something with that.'

'Lady Peneus, there's no need. If you leave now, I won't have the face to meet the Duke. Please reconsider.'

Yohan and Julian opposed Scarlett's move.

The Peneus wealth could easily secure a capital mansion, but these were lean times—every coin mattered.

Besides, since hearing of the northern monster chaos, Scarlett hadn't slept a proper night.

Letting her go like this would surely break her. As her friend, Julian couldn't stand by.

After a long, serious discussion, they relented only when Scarlett raised her hands in surrender.

'Thank you so much, Count. Thank you, Julian.'

Scarlett bowed deeply, her eyes shadowed. The Agnes couple could only comfort her weary soul.

And so, Scarlett, Herwin, and Henry came to rely on the Agnes family for an extended stay.

"Lucia! What are you doing over there!"

Back to the present.

Lucia had come on a picnic to the park with her family and Herwin.

She looked up from where she was crouched on the grass, staring at something. Her bobbed hair, which had brushed her chin, now reached her back.

"Lucia."

"Herwin."

Now able to say his name properly, Lucia gaped at him as he approached.

"What are you doing out here alone?"

"Herwin, look at this? It's an ant!"

"......You're obsessed with something weird again, aren't you?"

"No, I'm just watching the ants."

"Don't lie. A week ago it was grasshoppers, the day before yesterday crickets, yesterday cicada shells. No wonder you've been poring over that insect encyclopedia."

Having lived together for over a year, the two had grown even closer than at first meeting—they knew everything about each other.

In the process, Herwin learned one thing about Lucia.

Once she latched onto something, she dove in obsessively until she tired of it.

Everyone had such quirks, but hers were especially intense compared to others.

Once hooked, she'd collect or study it relentlessly until boredom struck, then coldly move on without a backward glance.

Over the past year and a half, her interests had included collecting bear dolls, observing flowers, cataloging leaves by type—and now, insects.

If she brought ants home like the grasshopper incident, there'd be chaos.

Herwin grabbed her before trouble brewed and led her back to the group in the distance.

They'd come for a picnic on a rare fine day, but crowds had gathered, recognizing the count couple and duchess.

Herwin paused at the throng.

"Should we head back a bit later?"

"Sure!"

Excited at the prospect of more ant-watching, Lucia agreed readily and returned to her spot.

Herwin shook his head helplessly but stuck close by her side, gazing fondly at her as she watched the ants.

They stayed like that for a while until suddenly, someone stomped on the ants Lucia was observing.

Shocked by the sight, Lucia jerked her head up.

The culprit was a mean-looking boy, with two others who seemed to be his entourage behind him.

"You're the Peneus kid?"

The boy said.

"My ants......"

Hearing Lucia's choked sob, Herwin scowled and looked up.

"Who are you?"

"Behold, I am Antonio Travin of the Travin Count House!"

He was apparently one of the noble children out for fun.

"You! I shall graciously allow you to be my friend!"

Pointing boldly at Herwin, Antonio acted with utter arrogance. Herwin stared in bewilderment, ignored entirely, while Antonio's followers chimed in with admiration.

The pampered son of the Travin Count House, Antonio's ego pierced the heavens.

No one had ever ignored him before—it was only natural.