Episode 11

As looked at me with worried red eyes.

The moment I met his gaze, something surged up in my chest.

This little boy, worrying about ‘me’—when he was the one hit by boiling stock!

I snapped out of my daze instantly.

I immediately used my spirit’s healing powers, pouring the magic over As’s back.

A greenish-blue glow wrapped around his upper body before seeping in.

“You’re the one who’s hurt, not me.” I said, gritting my teeth as I examined him carefully.

His back and upper body, where the hot stock had spilled, were perfectly smooth without a single burn or mark.

As I checked thoroughly to make sure, I suddenly noticed that As was hiding his left hand behind his back.

“As, what’s with your hand?”

“…It’s nothing.”

He hesitated, trying to hide his hand further as he muttered a vague response.

His awkward behavior made me suspicious.

I reached out and pulled his left hand toward me.

“…What’s this?”

A huge blister had formed on his palm, the kind of wound that didn’t belong on a child’s hand.

I froze, staring at the terrible injury on such a small hand.

Instead of answering, As pulled his hand away and remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

“…How does it look?”

I turned to look at him, and he gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile.

“Disgusting, isn’t it?”

The moment I heard those words, it felt like the thin thread of composure in my mind snapped.

‘What kind of life has he lived for a child to say something like that?’

My eyes filled with tears.

Whether he noticed my emotions or not, As continued in a calm voice.

“It’s only natural to feel disgusted. Even I find myself disgusting. It’s not your fau—”

Before he could finish, I grabbed his hand again and pulled it toward me, tightly clutching it.

I channeled healing magic into his hand, and with each word, I emphasized my feelings.

“It’s not disgusting at all.”

“…”

“All I can think is how much pain you must be in and how I want to help.”

As the healing magic finished, his palm returned to its flawless state, with no trace of the blister.

Only after seeing it with my own eyes did I finally feel relief.

“Thank goodness… really.”

I sighed in relief and let go of his hand.

As stood there silently for a moment, then muttered in a low voice,

“…Do you even know what those words mean to me?”

“Huh?”

I widened my eyes and looked up at As’s face.

He had a look that was on the verge of tears.

“You’re so kind… how could I not like you?”

“As…?”

“What should I do? I’ve started hoping again.”

I tilted my head in confusion at his cryptic words.

‘What does he mean by “hoping again”?’

If he said “again,” it meant he had hoped for something from me before.

‘But I don’t remember ever meeting As before…’

Just as I was narrowing my eyes in bewilderment, As suddenly spoke again, as if he had made a decision.

“About the festival you mentioned… do you still want to go with me?”

His voice was clearer now, more certain.

Hearing such an unexpected and welcome question, I couldn’t help but brighten up and ask in return, “Will you go with me?”

As lowered his gaze slightly and nodded.

“…If you still want me to.”

“Of course I do! I want to go with you!”

I nodded enthusiastically, my eyes shining with excitement.

A faint smile crossed As’s lips.

“Alright. Let’s go together.”

I beamed and immediately hugged him tightly.

“Thank you so much, As! I’m really happy we can go together!”

“…Why are you so happy?”

As muttered, his face buried in my chest.

“Hmm?”

I asked, and As simply shook his head.

“It’s nothing.”

I clearly heard him say it was nothing, but I tilted my head, wondering what he meant. Just then, As lifted his head and looked at me directly.

His transparent, ruby-colored eyes gazed at me intensely.

“You’re the one who said you wanted to go to the festival with me… so, please, don’t hate me.”

I stared at him for a moment, stunned, before finally gasping in shock.

“What? As, why would I ever hate you?!”

“…You never know with people.”

He lowered his gaze, mumbling as if losing his energy.

I pulled him closer, holding him a little tighter as I reassured him.

“I will never hate you, As.”

How could I hate someone so adorable?

“…Are you sure?”

“And As, you better not hate me either.”

Suddenly, As’s body stiffened.

After a brief silence, I heard his voice, low and a little hoarse.

“…How could I ever hate you, Ainra?”

I froze for a moment.

His words sounded like something someone who had known me for a long time would say.

Was it just my imagination?

Just as I started to wonder, As wrapped his arms around me, hugging me back. I stopped thinking and just smiled, feeling lighthearted.

It didn’t matter. I felt happy, and that was all that counted.

Chapter 3. When I Tame him Again

* * *

No matter how late into May it was, the night air was still quite chilly.

I made sure to wrap a cardigan snugly around As before we stepped outside.

Unlike my previous life, where city lights obscured the stars, the night sky here was filled with twinkling stars.

“As, look at the sky. Isn’t it beautiful?”

My spirits were high, and I couldn’t stop myself from chattering excitedly.

For the first time in days, As didn’t seem distant, and the tension between us had melted away.

‘Was he keeping his distance to protect himself from being hurt?’

Maybe he’d been putting up a wall, afraid I would reject him.

Thinking about it made my heart ache for him, this small boy who seemed so fragile.

‘Did someone hurt him before?’

I silently cursed whoever had caused pain to this noble boy. But before I could dwell on it, we arrived at the heart of the festival.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful.”

The main square was decorated with lines of small, paper umbrellas strung across the streets.

Inside each umbrella was a candle, creating colorful lanterns that lit up the night.

These were “umbrella lanterns,” a special feature unique to Count Haila’s territory.

A gentle breeze blew, carrying the soft scent of acacia flowers with it.

The sweet fragrance lifted my mood even higher.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to As.

“As, these are the famous umbrella lanterns from Count Haila’s region…”

My words trailed off as I realized something surprising.

Instead of being mesmerized by the lanterns, As was staring directly at me.

When our eyes met, he calmly shifted his gaze back to the lanterns.

“Yes, they’re really beautiful.”

A faint smile played on As’s lips, but I couldn’t shake off the strange feeling as I lifted my hand to check if something was on my face.

Just then, I heard a familiar voice.

“Oh, Ainra, you’ve come out for the festival!”

It was Mr. Carl, the florist, approaching with a friendly smile.

I returned his smile and replied, “Hello, Mr. Carl! I came to the festival with As.”

“Oh, so this is the little As who lives with you?”

“…Yes.”

As’s face scrunched slightly at being called “little,” which I found so cute that I chuckled and wrapped my arm around his shoulders, pulling him close.

“As isn’t little, Mr. Carl.”

“Oh, right, right. Little, I mean, that was a mistake on my part.”

With a good-natured laugh, Mr. Carl pulled out a flower crown from his basket. It was woven from acacia blossoms.

“Here, welcome to the festival, Sir As. This is a gift to make up for my mistake. Don’t worry, I’ve removed all the thorns.”

He gently placed the flower crown on As’s head.

While As stood frozen, I smiled and thanked Mr. Carl for him.

“Thank you for the flower crown, Mr. Carl.”

“Ha ha, no need to thank me. Just stop by the flower shop sometime. Enjoy the festival!”

After Mr. Carl left to advertise his shop, I turned to As.

The flower crown resting on his small head looked so cute that I couldn’t help but smile.

“As, the flower crown suits you so well. You look really adorable.”

When I said that with a laugh, As’s red eyes turned to me.

He blinked innocently and reached up to feel the crown on his head. Then, with a small gesture, he motioned for me to come closer.

“Ainra.”

“Hmm?”

Surprised by his sudden request, I leaned toward him.

With a gentle smile, As placed the flower crown on my head.

I could smell the sweet acacia fragrance as it settled around me.

“Something as beautiful and charming as a flower crown suits you better, Ainra.”

His ruby-red eyes crinkled softly as he smiled.

The moment I saw his expression, I froze.

‘…I love you. So much.’

I recognized those smiling eyes.