TISND Chapter 16

Chapter 16

I said I would bring it down, but there’s not much I can do right away.

It’s risky to show hostility when I don’t even know how Father will act.

And it’s not like I can just reach out to Caligo and offer my cooperation out of nowhere…

So, I decided to wait for the right opportunity and focus on what I can do right now.

“Why aren’t there any earthworms?”

“When it gets cold, earthworms hide underground to sleep.”

“Do earthworms hibernate too?”

Living closely with the earth had sparked Jeremy’s curiosity, as he began asking more questions about the natural world around him.

“Yeah, they stay underground until the weather warms up, then they come back up to the surface.”

“That’s interesting.”

“Don’t you find earthworms scary?”

“What am I, a child? Earthworms aren’t scary at all! I’m a warrior, just like Father!”

Jeremy continued to ask questions about seeds that Helena kept and crops that could thrive in Frantor’s climate.

The boy, who used to stay cooped up in the manor all day, now spent his afternoons playing in the dirt, fully immersed in it.

“Look at this!”

Jeremy proudly shouted as he dug vigorously with his shovel.

“I’m getting better at this than you now. Can you see?”

With his foot pressing firmly into the soil, he had become quite skilled at digging.

“Yeah, you’re doing well. Better than me.”

Helena couldn’t help but smile at the cute boy working so diligently.

“But if you dig so weakly, what will happen? You’ve got to dig like this!”

Encouraging Jeremy with a few claps, he became even more motivated to continue his work.

“Jeremy.”

At that moment, Helena was smoothly incorporating him into the labor force when a sudden voice interrupted.

“Why are you doing the work so naturally?”

Joshua, sitting elegantly with his legs crossed, scolded her.

“Uh, um…”

“Helena is taking full advantage of you.”

“Oh.”

His expression froze as he realized he had been caught, making Joshua chuckle softly.

“Why am I digging naturally?”

“Joshua. This is exercise.”

Helena tried to smooth things over, though Joshua was not someone who could easily be silenced with words.

His sharp tongue made her feel like she was constantly stepping into a trap with each conversation.

“I don’t see exercise here.”

“…It’s a deal.”

“You call it exercise.”

“It’s a deal, though. Jeremy helps with my work, and I feed him.”

Helena explained.

“You come here often too and eat something. Maintaining that lifestyle requires a little labor, don’t you think?”

“If I don’t eat, then—”

“…Uh, what?”

Joshua knew how much Helena took care of their meals.

Hunger was a common word that sounded much worse when mentioned by her.

Watching her flustered expression, Joshua burst into laughter inwardly.

“It’s okay if you don’t eat.”

“…Hey, why not eat?”

Helena, who was struggling with this, looked helplessly at Joshua.

“You’ll starve again if you don’t eat here, won’t you? It’s pretty awkward.”

Joshua enjoyed teasing her, his laughter bubbling up uncontrollably.

Why am I even laughing?

Joshua awkwardly rubbed his lips, unsure of what had caused his sudden amusement.

Still, he remained suspicious of Helena, following her on the pretense of keeping an eye on her. But the way she effortlessly involved him in conversations and tasks made him lose his footing every time.

“You… you! You’ve been using me all this time?”

Jeremy suddenly realized the truth and yelled out in frustration.

Helena, with a calm expression, simply offered a crown made of dried leaves and flowers.

“Jeremy, look at this. It’s a crown. Isn’t it pretty?”

“Whoa, how did you make this?”

“Want me to show you?”

Watching the simple, naive Jeremy and the somewhat absent-minded Helena interact was difficult to monitor.

Their absurd conversations, resembling a mere comedy, made him lose his guard and laugh without realizing it.

He relaxed and enjoyed the moment for what it was—pure and innocent.

“It’s pretty, Princess Jeremy.”

Helena placed the crown on Jeremy’s head, causing the boy to shy away.

“Who said I’m a princess! I’m a boy!”

“So what if you are?”

“You should wear things like this.”

Shyly, Jeremy gave the crown to Helena.

“This is the first time anyone’s put a crown on me. I’m so excited and happy.”

“Tch, you’re just wearing something you made. What’s there to be excited about?”

Helena laughed, her cheeks flushed red.

“Father?”

Suddenly, Caligo appeared, having been watching silently the entire time.

He seemed to forget even that Joshua had called him, simply staring at Helena and Jeremy.

More specifically, his eyes were fixed on Helena.

The man who had long lost his joy, who had spent years fighting wars, now wore a slight smile—reminiscing or perhaps lost in thought.

Joshua couldn’t help but notice the gaze was focused more on Helena than on him or Jeremy.

***

As usual, Jeremy and Helena were bickering, but suddenly, Caligo appeared.

Helena felt a strange distance between them—an emotion deeper than mere guilt.

On one hand, she felt affection for him, yet she couldn’t easily cross the boundary. Her lips moved as if trying to speak, but they remained sealed.

Somehow, the three—Jeremy, Joshua, and Caligo—ended up dining together.

It was the first time all four were gathered for a meal.

“Is it really that rare for us to eat together?”

At that moment, Helena realized a critical reason why the children’s meal habits were poorly established.

“Yes, because our schedules and living environments are different…”

“Still, you should make an effort to eat together.”

Helena sharply scolded Caligo about their meals.

“It makes sense now why Jeremy and Joshua don’t eat.”

Caligo was taken aback by her directness.

“What do you mean?”

“That only by eating together can we ensure meals are provided. Starting now, Your Grace, please make an effort to have dinner at least once a day.”

Caligo shared the same sense of awkwardness, and Helena’s sudden assertiveness caught him off guard.

Her stern expression was a departure from her usual demeanor, making him feel as though he’d been hit by something unexpected.

A laugh threatened to escape, but the response he gave was dry and formal.

“I’ll try.”

Even as he spoke, he seemed uncomfortable, twisting his mouth slightly.

Caligo couldn’t quite define the feelings he had toward Helena.

He knew it was wrong, but he was inexplicably drawn to her.

She was Eskel’s daughter, the daughter of the enemy who took his brother’s life. A daughter brought in to weaken Eskel.

Still, the idea of forming a connection, of allowing more time with her, felt wrong.

He knew that emotions shouldn’t develop, and that spending more time would only lead to complications. Yet, despite himself, she was always at the back of his mind.

‘I thought I caught Eskel’s daughter for the sake of my plan. Yet, perhaps the invisible hook that’s tangled me deeply is none other than myself.’

“I want to repay you for taking care of the children. Is there anything you desire?”

“No, not really…”

Her face becomes shadowed with hurt, not having done what she did expecting anything in return. Despite understanding her changing expressions, Caligo pretended not to notice.

“Oh, well, if there’s something else you’d like to request, I’d be happy to help.”

“What is it?”

“I recently made a remedy using some herbs I gathered, and I believe it could be useful for the knights.”

“For what kind of ailment?”

“Perhaps…”

Helena asked matter-of-factly.

“Do you have athlete’s foot?”

“…?”

“Pfft!”

“Why are you laughing?”

Caligo’s lips trembled slightly. He hadn’t expected such a question.

Jeremy burst into laughter, holding his stomach, while Joshua tried, but failed, to suppress his amusement.

“No, I haven’t caught it, but I heard some under my command have.”

“Oh, well, that’s a relief. I’ve made a very effective remedy for it.”

“Granted.”

Yes, for now, seeing the children laugh like that is enough.

Having her by my side is only because of the children.

“I never thought you’d ask my father something like that! It’s totally hilarious!”

Jeremy’s laughter echoed, while Joshua wiped away tears secretly.

“What’s so funny? Is this even funny? This is serious…”

“It’s funnier because it’s serious!”

Endlessly trying to rationalize and hold back his crumbling emotions like waves crashing against a rock.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

But that smile of hers still leaves him blank inside.

Caligo, unaware that even the smallest crack was slowly chipping away at his rock-solid heart.

Now, he simply clenches his fist, struggling to suppress the emotions threatening to surface.