Episode 40
A gift, by definition, should be something the other person likes!
Although it was right next to the building where the parade accident occurred, the toy store was surprisingly intact. So were the other buildings on this block.
In fact, the building where the accident happened had been scheduled for demolition, and it was especially weak due to old age and missing materials here and there.
‘But…….’
I glanced up at Grandpa.
‘No reaction?’
I thought he’d be really happy, but Grandpa was only making a strangely ambiguous expression.
Why is that?
‘I even brought Theo because I thought he’d want to come after so long.’
Gasp—could it be he’s worried I’ll start begging him to buy something?
I quickly bragged that Grandma Eliza had given me so much allowance, my coin pouch was about to burst.
“Let’s go!”
Then I proudly took Theo’s hand in one and Grandpa’s in the other, marching forward with confidence. I figured this was probably his first time in a place like this, so I intended to guide him well.
And that was when it happened.
“Uwooooaaargh!”
With a strange noise, the toy store staff came crashing out.
Then, in perfect formation, they lined up and bowed.
All together, they shouted with firm voices, pushing from their stomachs.
“Welcome!”
“Hmm?”
What’s this?
‘Is it because I’ve become a V… VIP?’
Well, I have bought a fair number of toys in the past.
“Th-this way, please, s-sir!”
To this extent?
Theo and I locked eyes.
When I came with Kate, the staff were particularly polite and kind, but today it felt downright excessive.
‘Feels a little like… I’ve become the owner or something….’
“Well then… shall we go in, Theo?”
“O-okay……”
Still distracted by the unexpected welcome, I awkwardly stepped inside.
So I didn’t realize it.
That behind me, Blaine was glaring with an intense and terrifying look in his eyes, murmuring, “Keep. Your. Mouth. Shut.”
And I had no idea that the ones receiving that look were former subordinates from his mercenary corps.
Nor that there existed another face to Blaine Wintervalt—cold-blooded and ruthless—one he would never show to Theo or me.
Of course…
I’d probably never find out.
***
“Oooh… a brand-new magnifying glass…”
Spin, spin.
“Oooh! A gathering basket!”
My eyes lit up.
Ding— ding— ding—
Just then, the large wall-mounted grandpa clock chimed. Snapped out of my trance over the gathering tools, I blinked.
“Gasp. It’s already been an hour.”
There’s definitely a different flow of time here than outside.
How else could an hour feel like a minute?
Clearing my throat, I straightened up from my crouched position.
Truly… Mr. B must be a gentle, kind person who really loves children.
Not only was there that ridiculously addictive wooden doll series, but all these different educational kits too…!
That’s right.
B’s toy store actually sold various educational tools for kids in addition to their signature wooden dolls.
For example: job experience kits, gathering kits, cave exploration kits, insect observation kits…
‘And above all, a five-story store this big in the capital! It’s like a theme park!’
Mr. B must be super rich! I envy his family!
Anyway, I carefully placed the gold-trimmed magnifying glass I really wanted and a gathering bag for Theo into the shopping basket.
There weren’t many people on the third floor, where the educational kits were located.
Plus, there was a surprise clown performance happening on the second floor, so all the remaining kids had flocked there. Theo and Grandpa were also fully engrossed in the show.
I was enjoying a thrilling solo shopping time in the third-floor education corner.
“Eek! A mini garden kit!”
This is crazy. I have to buy that!
“A seed storage case! A child-sized hoe! Eco-friendly safe fertilizer!”
Shwoop, shwoop. My hands moved so fast back and forth from the shelf to the basket that they were practically a blur.
As I was huffing with excitement and immersed in shopping—
“I want everything from here to here!”
A bright voice rang out from somewhere.
My head turned instinctively.
‘Huh? So there was another kid who didn’t go to the second-floor show.’
A bit farther away.
I spotted a small boy standing at the exploration kit section.
He had a servant with him, so he was clearly a child of nobility.
‘Though, for a noble, his clothes are pretty plain.’
But then, what is it?
“Young master… You already own everything over here. Buying more would be wasteful.”
“So what? I want it. Buy it!”
There was something about the boy’s profile as he clung to the servant’s sleeve that I couldn’t look away from.
Dark black hair that seemed to contain all the colors in the world.
His face was scrunched from whining, but his slightly upturned, catlike eyes and smooth, clear skin stood out.
‘Oh……’
I think I know who he is.
But.
……Why do I know?
“Young master, you’re skipping your history lesson again, aren’t you? If you go back with new purchases like these, His Grac… I mean, your father will be furious.”
“……He always gets mad just from seeing me. So what?”
The boy grumbled as he kicked at the floor. The heels of his shoes were caked with dried mud.
I held my breath and quietly hid behind a giant teddy bear statue.
It was just as he began to fully turn toward my direction.
“Ugh……”
Clatter, clack.
An unidentifiable ringing echoed in my head, and my vision spun for a moment.
I instinctively ducked and grabbed my head.
‘A dream……?’
This was the sensation I always got when I had a dream.
But a dream about the future? Out of nowhere? And I’m not even sleeping right now?
“I don’t care! I said buy it!”
The bratty voice jolted me back to awareness. I instinctively looked straight ahead again.
“A-all right! Then how about you just buy this exploration lamp first? I’ll place an order for the rest to be delivered by tonight. How’s that?”
“……Fine. Then I want three of the exploration lamps. The ones with the magic light stones look cool.”
“I think there’s only one left in stock, though?”
“I want three!”
“Hah! I’ll go check! But you have to stay put! Here, have this while you wait.”
The man firmly placed a glass jar of colorful jelly into the child’s hands.
“Yay, and I have to go place the order too!”
“Ah, yes, yes!”
The child waved his hand sweetly at the servant’s back and then exclaimed, “Ooh, there’s an apple flavor too!” as he held up the jar happily.
As the man passed by the teddy bear I was hiding behind—
“Geez. He really got the short end of the stick. Still acting this immature at nine years old… At this rate, he won’t even inherit the estate. Tsk.”
‘Nine-year-olds are supposed to be immature though.’
That thought crossed my mind.
Once the man was completely gone, I took another discreet peek at the boy, who was now aimlessly wandering near the shelves, still clutching the jelly jar.
He was shorter and smaller than kids his age.
‘But his face is really pretty.’
His profile, as he browsed the shelves, was delicately and beautifully shaped.
Eyelids gently lowered, framed with thick lashes. A perfectly curved mouth lifted in satisfaction at the jelly, drawing the eye.
Rustle, rustle.
The child slowly walked, scanning the products on the shelves. His red eyes sparkled.
‘Huh? But something’s…….’
Something feels different now.
Step, step.
The sound of footsteps on the wooden floor slowed. Only then did I realize how straight and proper his posture was.
His slowly blinking eyelids revealed and hid his red eyes in turn.
Each time, the innocent gleam in them seemed to shift into something else.
That is…
‘Boredom…?’
Even though he was just so excited.
……So suddenly?
‘But he’s still smiling though.’
Step.
Step.
‘Yeah. I know who that kid is.’
Even if he came in disguise, that child was definitely a prince of the empire.
His name…
It was definitely—
‘Argen Etherion.’
At that moment, it felt like a lightbulb flicked on in my head.
— My apologies, sir.
What is this memory?
‘A dream… of the future?’
But I’m not even asleep—why is a memory like this surfacing?
More importantly…
‘What’s a lightbulb?’
— That I would have to dispose of you in this manner.
‘Waaah, what is all this, seriously!’
I shook my head with a confused expression.
A tall figure appeared vaguely in my mind.
The voice that murmured lowly came from a man with sharply lifted corners of his mouth. And then—
— Wow, this novel is so good.
Even the murmur of someone watching that scene from afar.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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