“Master Reytan told me to listen well to big sister Berry if I didn’t want to go to the neighboring village.”
Oh-ho. So there’s such a deal in place.
I nodded at Jeffrey, reminding him not to forget his commitment to that arrangement.
“But, big sister, about what you mentioned earlier. Should I let you know right away if I hear anything about the wild dog tribe?”
At Jeffrey’s whisper, I was startled, quickening my pace to move ahead.
“Yes! Let’s hurry!”
Fortunately, Jeffrey and I were about the same height, so it seemed like our voices wouldn’t carry enough to be overheard by anyone.
“Berry, you shouldn’t be running either. And don’t walk alone; you might fall.”
Dad, who was standing at the entrance of the village, also warned me as he started walking. Falling while walking alone was something that happened up until I was six years old. Dad still thought of me as a child with weak legs.
Soon enough, Theon approached me and extended his hand.
“Want to hold it?”
“Yes.”
Without any fuss, I held Theon’s hand.
“Theon, which way should we go? Should we keep going straight?”
“It’s the path to the left.”
It was Theon’s job to guide us. We walked at the front, with Jeffrey matching his steps beside me on my right.
Behind us was Dad, and a bit farther back, Anne was following.
‘With this many people, it shouldn’t be too burdensome for Baron Voltman’s family to accommodate us, right?’
Leaf Village had many people who made a living from farming.
Looking at the fields densely planted with corn, I asked Theon.
“That’s corn, right?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“The adults in Bonwell Village also farmed! This is easy~”
“I want to know too!”
Jeffrey, seemingly annoyed at not knowing, asked to be informed about the types of crops.
“That’s potato!”
“Oh! It tastes good steamed!”
“And that’s paprika!”
“Ew. That doesn’t taste good.”
Then I noticed something strange.
It was dinner time, but there wasn’t a single person in the fields.
Not only the fields. The roads too.
“Why isn’t there anyone outside?”
At my words, Jeffrey snickered.
“They’re all hiding.”
“Hiding?”
I asked, and Theon quickly turned his head. Sensing something, I looked up at Theon. Our eyes met, and he seemed puzzled.
‘Could it be that the wild dog people have come down from the forest?’
Depending on the species, carnivorous hybrid species are known to be much stronger than robust adult males.
The people from the wild dog tribe were said to be at least five times stronger than mixed-blood species.
‘Then it would make sense for the villagers to all be hiding…!’
Just thinking about it made me nervous.
What if we encounter a wild dog wandering around the village?
With Dad’s skills, no one here would get hurt, but—
‘Having trouble before the plan unfolds would be problematic.’
Jeffrey must have heard some stories from the people in the nearby houses. I had instructed Jeffrey to tell me if anyone mentioned the wild dog tribe.
I whispered to Jeffrey as I asked him.
“Jeffrey, why are people hiding? Is it because of ‘that’?”
“Oh, no-.”
Jeffrey paused briefly, then answered with a bright tone, as if sharing a fun story.
“They say Master Reytan’s expression is scary!”
“Ha.”
Dad let out a chuckle at Jeffrey’s innocent remark, and Anne burst out laughing, unable to hold back.
“Ah! I’m sorry, Master Reytan! That’s not what I meant—.”
“Enough.”
Dad replied dismissively. I turned back to look at Dad and spoke.
“Dad, don’t worry too much. They’re just acting like that because they don’t know better. Right, Theon?”
“Yes.”
Theon agreed with me, nodding his head. Anne started laughing again at our attempt to console him, and Dad shook his head, letting us do as we pleased.
After that, we passed about three houses spaced a bit apart.
“That’s our house.”
Theon pointed to a log cabin with smoke coming from the chimney.
In the distance, a kind-looking elderly couple stood in front of a low gate.
“They’re my grandparents.”
“Really? Your grandma’s waving at us! Hello—!”
Baron Voltman’s wife waved her hand even more enthusiastically at my greeting, saying something that was too far away for Jeffrey to hear.
“What did she say?”
“Who knows.”
It must be heartwarming to see family after a long time.
I tried to let go of Theon’s hand, signaling for him to go ahead, but he didn’t let go of my hand.
We continued walking at our usual pace. When we finally reached the Voltman couple, Theon introduced us.
“This is my teacher. This is Berry, my friend. This is Jeffrey, and his sister, Anne.”
Oh-ho.
After greeting the Baron and his wife, I curiously observed Theon’s cheerful expression.
Until now, Theon had always had a quiet and reserved demeanor, rarely showing emotions outside of matters related to swords. But in front of his family, he looked like a ten-year-old child.
‘How cute~’
I shifted my gaze forward.
The first thing that caught my eye was Theon’s grandfather’s hands.
They were wrinkled and sunburned, the hands of someone who had farmed for a long time, yet large and strong, like those of a knight who wields a sword.
I’d heard he was a skilled knight who had served under the late emperor.
‘Oh.’
Then, glancing to the side, I was slightly surprised inside.
Baroness Voltman’s hands, clasped in front of her, were also rough and sun-tanned like a farmer’s.
They were different from Grandmother Priscilla’s hands, which were smooth from daily care with expensive cosmetics.
“Hello?”
A gentle voice greeted me.
I looked up and met eyes with Theon’s grandmother.
She must have been a beauty in her youth. Despite her sun-kissed skin and wrinkles, her beauty was unmistakable.
“Hello!”
Theon’s grandmother smiled at my enthusiastic greeting.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen Theon holding hands with a girl.”
Flap.
Theon’s hand, which had been holding mine tightly, suddenly let go at her teasing comment.
***
Dinner was a stew that Baron Voltman himself had cooked.
Dad received a stew bowl larger than his face, and though he looked reluctant, he finished the entire bowl without a word.
The Baroness chuckled warmly as she spoke to Dad.
“Did it suit your taste?”
“Yes. It was so delicious that I can hardly remember the taste of any stew I’ve had before.”
“I’m glad. The Baron started simmering it from morning.”
“Why mention such things.”
Baron Voltman coughed awkwardly, slightly embarrassed.
After the meal, Anne volunteered to help clean up and went to the kitchen, with the Baroness following her.
Jeffrey had fallen sound asleep in the guest room. Given that he was still recovering from his illness and had been awake all day, it was understandable he’d be tired.
Dad went with Baron Voltman to the study, leaving me and Theon sitting alone on the living room sofa.
“….……”
The issue was that there was nothing in Theon’s house that a child would find entertaining.
In the kitchen, I could hear Anne and the Baroness chatting away.
‘I’m bored.’
I glanced over at Theon. He was lost in thought, silent as ever.
If we were at my house, I would have already been fooling around.
“It’s Theon’s grandparents’ house. Behave yourself.”
“Yes, dad.”
Since Dad had instructed me to behave, I settled back on the sofa and dangled my feet in the air.
‘I want to ask Jeffrey if he’s heard anything about the wild dog tribe. Will he sleep until morning?’
If so, I’d need to persuade Dad tonight to let us stay a few more days in Leaf Village. Then tomorrow, I’d convince Theon to show me around the village—
“Theon?”
“Yes?”
Theon called my name, and I lifted my head, hugging a cushion.
“My Grandma loves making jokes.”
“She sure seems to~”
Baroness Voltman seemed to enjoy teasing. I get it. With a grandson like Theon, I’d want to tease him too; he’s just so adorable.
Theon continued speaking.
“That’s why she made that joke earlier.”
“Earlier?”
What joke did she make?
Since he brought it up while we were alone, it felt like Theon was trying to clarify something privately.
If it’s a joke that needed secret clarification, then—
‘Could it be that one?’
I giggled, taking Theon’s hand.
“Holding hands with a girl?”
Knock, knock.
“…………”
Just then, there was a sudden knock at the front door. Startled, we froze with our hands still raised in mid-air.
My surprised face was reflected in Theon’s equally wide, dark eyes.
“Yes, I’m coming.”
The Baroness came out from the kitchen to greet the visitor.
Since she had to pass through the living room to reach the front door, she directly witnessed us holding hands.
“Oh my.”
“G-Grandma…”
Theon’s face turned bright red as he glanced to the side.
Normally, he wouldn’t be so flustered.
Perhaps he expected his grandmother would tease him again and was too embarrassed even to think of letting go of my hand.
‘Guess I’ll have to use my experience to help him out.’
I lifted our clasped hands high to show Baroness Voltman.
A pure, innocent hand-holding! Emphasizing that we were just friends.
“We were just holding hands! Theon and I are friends!”
“So, Berry is Theon’s girlfriend?”
Huh. That wasn’t what I meant.
The Baroness’s gentle smile held a hint of mischief, and Theon turned red all the way to his neck.
“All right, continue as you were. Grandma didn’t see anything.”
