Chapter 4: CH 4

“You picked up a thrown away thing, didn’t you?”

I couldn’t hide my displeasure in front of Edgar, who had called me again.

What do you mean thrown away? How can I purify his mouth?

It is a fortunate that Leon is not next to me.

“Why are you so interested in me these days? When are you going to let me go?….”

I dodged his gaze, blurring the end of my words.

“It’s a story I heard when I was living peacefully.  What can I do if I keep hearing stories in my ears?”

Edgar looked at me with a face indifference to my words.

His voice was very blunt.

There seemed to be no excitement or curiosity.

“Let’s stay like this! I don’t want anything.”

“Even if you want, you can’t wish for things.”

Edgar’s words sounded cold and speechless.

There was nothing to be sad about, but I felt quite depressed.

‘Who wants what?’

Nevertheless, he held his chin and did not look back as if he had something to say.

He spoke to me with his lips clenched.

“Throw it away again. What if you picks up something you’re not supposed to have and causes trouble?”

“No way!”

“Are you sure? What do you believe in a child you never met before?”

He chuckled at my resolute words.

Edgar often had a dry smile on his face.

Why are you laughing so hard?

It would be better not to laugh.

“I’ll just keep him for a while and let him go later.”

“Whose permission?”

“I, as I wish…….”

“Did you forget that this is my house, and you are making a living with my money?”

You’re so cheap.

Edgar seemed to regard me as a trivial and troublesome being.

The more you think about it, the more disgusting it is.

“I’ll pay you back!”

When I have some money invested! I was going to pay you back.

I saw Edgar’s ridicule.

The smile around his mouth was an obvious sneer. His smile made my blood boiled.

“I’ll pay you back!”

Edgar toned down his expression a little at my cry.

I don’t know what he’s likes, but he doesn’t seem to hate the voice of evil.

He’s a really weird person.

“How.”

“That…”

“What would  you do?”

“So.”

“Tell me the details.”

He snapped his pen down on the desk.

The shape of his arms folded was an attitude that he would inevitably hear the answer from my mouth.

‘I can’t help it……?’

I decided to use the contents of the novel that I know for a while.

“It’s a parchment business. It would be good to sort it out.”

“How do you know that?”

Edgar would not have told anyone about the business. But, I knew everything he was doing.

Even the trials that come.

“Look, I saw it. What you’re using right now is parchment!”

“Every aristocrat uses it.”

“It’s not a very cheap product, is it……? But it’s all over the place in our house.”

“Did you guess just by that?”

I groaned and sighed at Edgar’s persistent question.

Parchment was now a common commodity for aristocrats.

It was antique and had a good touch, and now that the export of paper was blocked, nothing was loved as much as parchment.

But soon the parchment business is doomed.

This was because an unknown disease turned from the south and animals were killed in droves.

The leather could have been peeled off, disinfected, and used, but the nobles even felt uncomfortable about it. In addition, conflicts with countries that export paper that did not get along with each other will be resolved soon, and supply will be smooth.

The price is cheaper than parchment paper, and the writing texture was not bad, so people start to look for paper again.

“It’s just that the family does a lot of business, so I choose them.”

“That’s funny.”

I continued to speak despite Edgar’s ridiculous expression.

If I stop here, I can’t get what I want.

No matter what happens, Leon has to be here.

“And so..”

He moved his fingers. It seemed to ask me to keep talking.

He seems to have become interested. Or maybe he’s trying to test when my fearless chattering mouth will stop.

“I think you’d better buy paper at a low price.”

“The reason is…”

At this point I had to think with my head.

If I answer clearly, he will be suspicious, and if I say it vaguely, he will be suspicious.

I need to give a reason for him to nod properly.

“I feel sorry for the animal!”

“Yeah, I feel sorry for my time when I heard your useless stories.”

“There’s one more thing! I’ve been walking around and hearing this.”

I cried out in a hurry.

This is because Edgar stealthily saw the family’s sword hanging well on the wall.

I think I’m sweating all over. Is it just me?

“I heard a story from merchants selling animals in the market! I’m telling you.”

“Speak properly.”

“They said the animals were suffering from an unknown disease.”

Edgar turned to the knight who was standing next to me.

He seems to be trying to get confirmation from him. This was true.

I said that without thinking, but I clearly heard what the merchants said in flowing words.

“Ah, I think I heard something like that. Even in the stables, horses are dying these days.”

Fortunately, the knight’s memory seems to be not bad. I took a deep breath unconsciously.

“It’s working! It’s working!”

Edgar’s face calmed down even more, as if it had been quite credible.

“You seem to have a good hunch.”

“I guess I took after my father. I know my family is doing informational business.”

“I have a good sense.”

His blue eyes soon fell off me.

“Go. I’m not interested in that kid. Don’t bother.”

“Okay! Please stop paying attention to me and Leon, too. I’m going to live like I don’t exist.”

Edgar didn’t answer me. He just waved his hand.

I don’t know if he’ll quit the parchment business, but it wasn’t a bad deal for me anyway.

Now that Leon can stay here.

* * *

I thought it’d be better if Edgar coaxed me.

I sighed deeply in front of Leon’s tightly closed room.

I think it takes a lot of effort to get acquainted with him.

He was like a cat with its claws exposed to survive in the wild.

“Can I come in?”

Leon did not answer. I leaned against the door and asked again.

“I really can’t?”

“……Go back.”

“I want to see your face.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I’m telling you, I think I’ll feel good when I see your face! I got permission today.”

I spoke to the door in a weak, drooping tone.

He didn’t seem to answer for a moment, and then the door squeaked open.

Though Leon disappeared with a hurried sound.

‘Cute’

I could see his feet wiggling through the hidden blankets. I guess he couldn’t hide it because he rushed in.

“Leon, are you not going to come out of the bedroom?”

“…….”

“I brought delicious food here.”

“………You came with someone else.”

He spoke in a low voice under the covers.

I sighed as I looked at Diria next to me.

“Shall I bring in someone else?”

“……No”

He flatly refused.

“Well, I’ll send Diria out, too.”

“Really……?”

“Yes, but you have to wash up.”

“…….”

Leon did not answer. He looks flustered, seen from his toes that stop moving.

However, I couldn’t stand not washing.

I couldn’t help but roll up my arms.

“If you keep holding out like that, I’ll take off your clothes and wash you?”

Surprised, Leon flinched under the blanket. Even more, he grabbed the blanket tightly and didn’t make any gaps.

I ended up bringing in the knights and holding Leon under the covers.

“Hey, what the hell are you doing?”

“I  gave you a chance. I can’t help it because you say you hate it so much.”

At my command, the knights headed for the bathroom with blankets.

When I shook off the blanket in the prepared bathtub, Leon fell into the water with clothes on.

“………Ha.”

With wet hair, the body was reflected on the white clothes.

I blinked at him.

“Ugh! Young Lady!”

Diria hurriedly covered my eyes and kicked me out of the bathroom.

I turned around blankly and knocked on the door.

“You’re so mean. Why do you get me out?”

“Young Lady, what are you talking about? Go to your room!”

“Leon, I’ll wash you!”

“Never mind! Diria said she’d help.”

Leon said in a startled voice.

I trudged to the room with regret.

I thought Diria and Leon would be quite close this time.

“Ah! That’s too bad! I should have gotten closer!”

I struggled on the bed.

It was too bad that only Diria could see that, so I felt like I was going crazy.

I turned around and looked at the ceiling.

“As expected, I need to get closer quickly. You look so cute.”

Leon’s red face and shrinking body made me smile without realizing it.

Really, would it feel like that if I had a younger brother?

I guess I’ll have to take action.