Chapter 26
After returning from my outing, I immediately dove onto the bed.
“Phew… that was some good shopping.”
“Oh my, you bought quite a lot, didn’t you?”
Hazel’s eyes went wide as she looked at the line of boxes that had arrived.
“Yeah! Come take a look!”
“This looks like magical ore… and… what’s this?”
“Oh, herbs!”
I dashed over to Hazel and began explaining the herbs I had bought.
After visiting the ore shop, the next stop had been the herb shop. Thanks to checking the map beforehand and planning my route, I had accomplished everything I wanted.
Especially here—there were so many kinds of herbs even in winter, it was really fun to browse!
“There are seeds too?”
“They said I could plant them once the weather warms up.”
“Your Excellency?”
“Yep!”
Since then, Uncle had been relentlessly asking if there was anything I needed or wanted.
Thanks to him, I ended up getting everything I wanted… but I couldn’t help but worry if he hadn’t spent too much today.
No, no. Rich people supposedly don’t flinch even after three generations of ruin.
‘Still, I should hold off on asking for anything else.’
Anyway, there wasn’t much else I needed… probably.
“But what about clothes? Is this really it?”
Hazel frowned slightly as she pointed at the twenty boxes.
“Really…?”
Had I chosen the wrong word?
By the time we returned to the clothing shop, the finished garments had exceeded twenty sets. I was stunned, but Uncle’s reaction was exactly like Hazel’s.
“Can’t be helped. Anything lacking, we’ll order from Lady Evelyn.”
Where exactly was it lacking?
“If Lady Evelyn comes, we can order more!”
Hazel clapped her hands cheerfully as she added.
I had a lot to say, but I decided not to…
I pushed the boxes of clothes aside and opened the herb boxes to check their condition.
Hmm, fresh and green. Good, very good.
“Hazel, can you cut this fabric for me?”
“Fabric?”
“Yes, I have a use for it…”
Hazel’s face lit up with excitement.
“Are you going to make the ointments you gave the knights?”
“Mm, something like that.”
I squatted in front of the boxes and picked out some herbs.
“Anyway, cut the fabric for me.”
“Got it! I’m confident with cutting.”
Her well-trained muscles twitched with excitement.
At this point, I was curious about Hazel’s past, but I decided to leave that for later.
“Use scissors, gently.”
“They’re all just tools, aren’t they?”
Yeah, I should probably stop trusting Hazel with my hair too!
“What size should I cut them?”
“About this much. Enough to wrap around the knees.”
Knees? I nodded in response to her surprised question.
“Got it, leave it to me.”
After requesting a few extra tools, I carefully selected the herbs.
The fresh scent filled the room.
North Wing. Balrok’s bedroom.
Butler Morris closed the window with a soft thud.
Outside, darkness had already fallen.
A faint smoke filled the room—it was medicinal smoke, meant for pain relief.
“…Has the little one settled in well?”
A low voice spoke in the dim room. Balrok was seated diagonally on the spacious bed.
Since the lights weren’t fully on, he looked like a black mountain.
“Yes. He’s eating well and resting comfortably.”
“Ha, did he remember his pocket money too?”
“He struggled a bit carrying it, but yes, he was pleased.”
Morris recalled the child’s face turning pale as he handed over the money pouch.
“Tsk tsk. He even went to the herb shop… why didn’t he buy from that one? Must be that his hands are small.”
“Usually an eight-year-old doesn’t own multiple shops, Your Excellency.”
“Then?”
Morris paused to consider his answer.
“Hmm, maybe one or two…”
Thinking of the child’s fluffy silver hair, a small smile tugged at his lips.
Eyes that seemed to watch carefully but never seemed intimidated.
Looking at them made you want to take care of him somehow.
“Well, Rubian could probably manage owning three or four more.”
“See? I told you! One shop isn’t enough!”
Balrok, who was about to rise, swallowed in pain.
“Ugh.”
Damn body of mine. Damn, damn.
Rough curses followed.
The longtime subordinate’s face showed deep concern.
“…Your Excellency, perhaps you should stop being stubborn and let the physician examine you…”
“Quiet. It doesn’t hurt at all.”
“But earlier you even lost your balance and fell.”
“I said quiet!”
The air trembled violently.
Clang! Unable to resist the intense aura, the lamp’s glass shattered. The window rattled fiercely.
A dark, rippling aura filled the room.
Morris wiped his sweat and stepped back.
“…Understood. Calm down, Your Excellency. I overstepped.”
Balrok flung the blanket over himself and collapsed.
“Damn body of mine… can’t even hold something as small as a tuft of hair…”
Morris quietly cleaned up the broken lamp, hearing Balrok mutter his anger and self-reproach.
“Just go away. I need to sleep.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Thud. Morris quietly closed the door.
In his youth, Balrok Zebert had been stronger than anyone else among the knights. But injuries sustained in battle had left him with issues using his legs.
Usually manageable, but during sudden episodes like this, there was little that could help. Pain starting in the legs would often spread throughout the body.
Though he rarely showed it, these episodes had been happening more frequently lately.
‘Today, he likely fell because he put weight on his injured leg the wrong way.’
That had clearly struck his pride.
‘Sigh, what should I do…’
Balrok still could not accept his weakened body.
Unable to participate in the human war due to his injury, it must have been a humiliation for a northern knight.
This gave him a fragile sense of vulnerability. He deliberately stayed in the isolated wing and treated others harshly to hide his weakness.
“Master Butler?”
Morris hesitated while descending the stairs.
“…Rubian?”
In the northern wing lobby, a child was standing there.
“How did you get here? The route from the main building is rough.”
“Hazel brought me!”
The clear voice shone like light in the dark room.
Morris glanced silently at Hazel behind Rubian.
Perhaps he was already completely charmed by the small child; the once-legendary masked mercenary quietly averted his gaze.
“And the old duke? Is he resting?”
“Yes, he is resting. It seems today it might be best for him not to see anyone…”
“Can I just see him briefly?”
Morris hesitated.
Balrok was in a terrible mood. And his body condition as well.
‘He probably doesn’t want the child to notice…’
I should probably say no…
“Just for a moment!”
Bright, sparkling eyes.
“Please!”
“…Then I will go in with you.”
If his eyes went wide and he scolded, I would quickly take her out.
Morris guided Rubian to the bedroom.
Creeeak. The door opened cautiously.
Inside, even breathing was steady.
So he really was asleep—Balrok had fallen asleep in the meantime.
“Shhh.”
Crossing the threshold, Rubian put her index finger to her lips, looking determined.
Morris looked down at the round head of silver hair.
…Clearly, a few shops are not enough for him.
The child quietly approached the bed and took something out onto the floor.
“What is that?”
“Oh, it has ointment on it. It feels really nice and cool when applied. I made it with the herbs I bought today, so I’m not sure how effective it will be.”
A thin cloth smeared with pale green ointment.
‘Ah, so he was the child of a healer…’
Morris watched silently as the child carefully climbed onto the bed and rolled up Balrok’s pants. She then fiddled with it for a while.
Balrok, deep in sleep, just breathed softly under the blanket.
“You knew His Excellency’s knees weren’t well?”
“Yes.”
“How on earth…?”
