“Cecilia.”

“What is it?”

“What’s been going on with you lately?”

“What do you mean? I’ve been diligently lifting the curse every day for two hours. I’m fulfilling all my duties.”

“Like a hedgehog, you mean?”

These days, I had been spending most of my time transformed into a hedgehog in the carriage. It was an implicit way of saying I didn’t want to converse with Idreesh.

“It’s fine like that, isn’t it?”

“Sure, it doesn’t hinder the curse lifting. But that’s not what I’m talking about. Your expression changes when you look at me. Look, even now.”

Idreesh poked my cheek.

Ugh.

I hurriedly rubbed my cheek.

Is he intentionally doing this because he knows I’ll get flustered? To lift the curse?

It’s annoying. But the worst part is that I’m actually excited amid all of this.

“You look at me as if I’m a living beetle larva.”

How mean, so mean.

He’s usually good at picking up on what I want, so why doesn’t he understand now? Is he pretending not to know?

“Well, I guess Idreesh just resembles a beetle larva.”

“What?”

Ignoring Idreesh’s furrowed brows, I hurriedly ran back into the carriage.

Just a little more and we’ll reach Baekho’s mansion. I don’t have to be alone with Idreesh!

“Hurry up. Let’s go.”

I shouted in a loud voice.

“Thankful for allowing me to share a ride with a beetle larva.”

“You should be.”

I quickly shut the carriage door before Idreesh could enter, and transformed into a hedgehog. Idreesh looked at me incredulously, but I bristled my spines and curled into a ball.

Well. I just don’t want to see Idreesh’s face.

“Cecilia!”

I hadn’t even seen the mansion yet; we were still in the forest. But I saw Rodrio and Zeros already coming to greet us.

“Rodrio!”

I extended my arm out of the carriage window and waved energetically. Rodrio was jumping around excitedly.

As the carriage stopped, Idreesh was the first to grab my hand.

“Don’t trip and hurt your knee again.”

Hmph. I don’t want to hold his hand, but my knees are precious.

I grabbed Idreesh’s hand and quickly descended. Then Rodrio ran toward me.

“I missed you!”

Rodrio jumped high and hugged me tightly. I bent down to embrace him back. Rodrio nuzzled his face into my chest like a child seeking comfort.

I also greeted Zeros warmly. Zeros nodded to both me and Idreesh, then hurried off to check the carriage’s luggage.

“It’s so boring without you, Cecilia! Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

“No one played with you? That’s too bad, everyone.”
“Right, everyone just work.”

“Have you read all the books I left for you?”

Before leaving, I had bought a few books for Rodrio.

“Well….”

He hadn’t read them.

“I assume Rodrio would’ve read them all, right? I trust Rodrio. I’ll ask what they were about the day after tomorrow.”

“Uh, yes. I’ll tell you what they were about the day after tomorrow.”

Rodrio’s eyes rolled around.

Rodrio will be busy reading books tonight, then.

“Rodrio, stop acting like a child and keep your distance from Cecilia. She’s tired from a long carriage ride.”

“Why… Cecilia isn’t saying anything. Cecilia, are you okay?”

Idrish lowered his head as if telling me not to indulge him.

Hmph! Will I listen?

“Yes! I’m totally fine. Should I hug you?”

“Great!”

Rodrio eagerly stretched out both arms. As I bent down, he wrapped his hands around my neck.

Lifting Rodrio should be easy…. oh….!

Rodrio was much heavier than expected.

My arms and legs started shaking within seconds.

“Let’s go to the mansion. The lord is also there.”

“Uh, okay, let’s go.”

But Rodrio had come so far to meet us, the walk back to the mansion was quite long.

Did I overdo it by offering to hug him? I’ll lose my arms before getting there.

But faster than losing my arms, Idrish took action.

Idrish easily took Rodrio from me. Of course, I didn’t resist much.

Rodrio clung to Idrish’s side like luggage.

“Let go. I want to go with Cecilia!”

His short legs wiggled, but Idrish was as steady as a bed made of Demon’s Stone and didn’t budge.

As we were about to greet Tesmilion upon arriving at the mansion, we were guided to an unexpected place.

“The drawing room? The lord is in the drawing room?”

“Yes, he’s spending more time in the drawing room these days.”

At Mirai’s words, my mouth gaped open.

Why would the introverted, reclusive lord, who usually locked himself in the study, be there?

Idrish, holding both Rodrio and me, headed for the drawing room. Indeed, Tesmilion was there.

Tesmilion stood up, placing his cup of tea down.

“Welcome.”

Though his expression was as stoic as usual, his eyes sparkled. It was clear he was happy, but he hesitated, unsure of what action to take.

I ran and gave Tesmilion a big hug.
“How have you been! I missed you all so much.”

Tesmillion momentarily stiffened before awkwardly patting my back.

As I pulled away, he seemed to be overcome by awkwardness and coughed noisily.

“This is His Lordship’s quill, and this is a toy for Rodrio; the rest are books for the library.”