“It seems your father talks a lot.”

Roger said quietly, looking at his father who was still talking. Even after an hour had passed, his father had not calmed his excitement.

To put it nicely, he talks a lot, but in reality he’s just talking to himself. Surprisingly, his father didn’t seem to realize that no one was interested in what he was saying.

That’s a skill in itself, if you can call it that.

“Count, I think it’s best to send the children up now.”

“Oh? Let’s do that then.”

As the conversation didn’t end, Isabel intervened. At her words, the father’s speech was cut off and he showed a displeased expression, but that was all. Perhaps because Lady Bakus was present, father didn’t get angry.

“Children, you heard the Count? You can go up now.”

“Yes!”

The siblings left the dining room as if they had been waiting for this. Gathered quickly at the entrance, their faces were full of discontent. It seemed they too had found father’s words quite boring.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen father talk so much. I thought he was our teacher or something.”

“Teacher? I thought he was reciting the entire chronicle. The so-called Marsen Chronicle.”

Felicia and Swel mocked their talkative father. The other siblings, seemingly having a lot pent up, joined in the mockery until they flinched at the sound of the clock striking the hour.

“……”

“……”

Everyone fell silent, as if they thought they had been caught by father.

“Shall we… stop talking about this and all play together?”

“That sounds good, elder sister. Haha.”

Felicia and Swel, who had been enthusiastically cursing their father, laughed awkwardly.

They suggested playing together since there was quite some time left before bedtime.

“Let’s start with a simple game of hide-and-seek. The first floor is the shark’s den, so you can only hide on the second floor. If you go down to hide on the first floor, it’s like you’ve already been eaten by the shark and died first. Got it?”

Felicia explained the rules. It was a short and simple set of rules.

“Then I’ll be the first seeker!”

“Alright.”

Swel was chosen as the seeker. Now all that was left was to hide.

“I’m counting! Twenty…!”

As Swel covered his eyes and started counting, the siblings quickly climbed the stairs, unlike Roger who was wandering around, not knowing where to go.

“Don’t just stand there like an idiot, follow me.”

I grabbed Roger’s hand.

After climbing the stairs, I tried to enter the room I thought had the most hiding places. But I was a step too late, as Silke, who was already in the room, blocked my way.

Instead of opening her mouth, she gave me a meaningful look. It meant she had claimed this room first, so don’t try to take it.

The other rooms were the same. Siblings who had already claimed them blocked me and Roger.

“This is so unfair. Would it kill you to let us hide in the same room?”

“What are we going to do, Lize? We don’t have much time left.”

As Roger said, we had at most ten seconds left.

“The third floor is mainly used by the maids, so there’s hardly any place to hide.”

“Can’t we just go into any room?”

“We have no choice. Let’s go to Felicia’s room.”

We finally entered Felicia’s room right next to us. Her room, which she used to collect dolls, was a field of dolls. Even under the desk was full of dolls, and the drawers were no different, leaving no place to hide.

Anxiously surveying the room, I spotted under the bed, which was also full of dolls.

“Is there a place to hide here?”

After clearing away the dolls on the outside, there was space for two people to fit. I immediately squeezed my body into that space. Along with a dry smell, dust flew in front of my eyes.

“Cough! She should clean up a bit.”

“Hey, hurry up and get in…!”

Roger put his body in the remaining space. He too coughed dryly several times from the unexpected dust.

“Roger. Don’t you think we should hide somewhere else?”

It’s cramped, and I’m worried our lungs might get damaged at this rate.

“Five! Four! Three… I’m coming!”

Swel’s voice was heard from below. He seemed to be climbing the stairs as a slight vibration could be felt.

I held back the urge to clear my throat several times. But the position was uncomfortable and difficult. Unable to bear it, I wriggled and moved trying to find a comfortable position.

“Roger, move back a bit.”

I gestured for him to move back, but Roger didn’t move. Frustrated, I unconsciously raised my head and met Roger’s gaze.

“……”

“……”

It was much closer than I thought. Our bodies were pressed together and our faces were close enough for our noses to touch.

I tried to pull back first, but the dolls on the outside moved slightly. If I pulled back more or spread my arms, the dolls would topple over.

Roger seemed to be in the same situation as he didn’t move either. His breath and breathing were transmitted directly to me. At that moment, Swel’s noisy footsteps drew closer. I unknowingly pressed my body closer to Roger.

“Hey, you’re too close……”

“We can’t help it. Bear with it.”

When I said firmly, Roger lifted his head up forcefully. It was a struggle to avoid touching me somehow.

A few seconds passed, and the footsteps could no longer be heard. Just as I thought it was okay to separate now and started to move, I heard the sound of the door opening.

Swel, that cunning one, must have come here on tiptoe to muffle his footsteps.

“Where~ are~ you~?”

Swel’s drawn-out voice gave me goosebumps. I could hear him opening the closet and carefully checking behind the curtains.

Was this bed also in Swel’s search area? His footsteps were heard right in front of us.

“Are they here?”

We’re going to be caught! An arm suddenly reached in beside me.

“…Uh!”

As I flinched, Roger hurriedly covered my mouth and pulled my waist. Roger’s heart, which touched my ear, was beating very fast. I was worried that Swel might hear us because of his heartbeat.

“Hm? Where are they?”

I hugged Roger’s waist tightly to avoid being touched by Swel’s hand. We held our breath in an embarrassing position, embracing each other.

“Where are they really?”

Please just go… It was reaching my limit.

Just when I wanted to make a sound, Swel’s hand that almost touched my back withdrew. As his footsteps began to fade away, Roger and I opened our closed eyes and looked around.

Judging by the lack of presence, it seems Swel really left.

“Haa.”

I let out a deep breath that I had been holding.

“Roger, do you know we almost got caught… Hey, your face is really red.”

Roger’s face was as red as a radish. Is it because it’s narrow and hot under the bed?

Unconsciously, I tried to put my hand on his forehead, but he swatted my hand away. As I blinked in surprise, Roger pushed away my waist.

“Hey, be careful. The dolls are moving!”

“Th-that’s because you suddenly reached out your hand.”

“I was trying to check if you had a fever! Your face is seriously red, you know?”

“I’m fine, leave me alone.”

Why is he being so sensitive again?

“Fine. Swel seems to have gone, so I’ll take this chance to hide somewhere else.”

As I tried to get out from under the bed, Roger grabbed my wrist.

“…What if you get caught?”

“What?”

“The seeker might come back.”

“That’s true, but…”

“If you hate being with me so much that you’d risk getting caught, then go.”

What does he want me to do?

I sighed and moved to make myself comfortable instead of going outside. Every time I moved, Roger reacted by keeping a distance to avoid our bodies touching.

‘Come on. You’re the one who dislikes me.’

I just wanted to get out of this hot and dirty place quickly.

Only the quiet and hot air settled on my face. Out of boredom, I just rolled my eyes and spotted a rabbit doll. The rabbit doll with sparkling big eyes immediately reminded me of one person.

“Pfft.”

As I burst into laughter, Roger moved his body.

“Why are you suddenly laughing?”

“No. This doll. It looks like Yurik.”

I pointed at the rabbit doll. It was white with blue eyes, just like looking at Yurik.

“Not at all.”

“Really? It looks similar, and I think Yurik would like this doll. He’d be happy if I gave it to him as a gift, right?”

Imagining Yurik liking it made me want to give it to him. I should ask Felicia for it or maybe check if there’s a rabbit doll at the doll store later.

“…Hey. Lize.”

“What.”

Roger hesitated before opening his mouth.

“Do you… that rock. No, do you like Yurik Penton?”

The question Roger threw was typical of what a ten-year-old boy would be curious about. Noticing Roger getting nervous after asking, I chuckled.

How cute, this kid.

“Yes, I like him.”

“What?”

Roger asked again, seemingly flustered.

“I like him.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

I thought the questions were over after answering sufficiently, but…

“Really?”

“……”

“Seriously?”

“How many times do I have to say it for you to understand?”

I got annoyed at the endless questions. At that, Roger unusually closed his mouth obediently.

Did he get upset over something like this? As I examined Roger’s face, his expression was strange. His face seemed both frozen in shock and pale.

Why is he making such an expression? As I was lost in thought, I opened my mouth with a sudden realization.

“Why so serious? I meant I like him as a friend.”

“What? I meant do you like him romantically!”

Roger immediately reacted to my added words.

“Really?”

“Answer again. Do you like Yurik Penton romantically?”

“Why should I answer?”

“Hey!”

Roger shouted as if wronged. Unaware that his reaction had sparked my curiosity.

“Why are you curious? Don’t tell me, you like me?”

“Wh-wh-what are you saying!”

Roger noticeably flustered and stuttered. His reaction was amusing and made me want to tease him more. I secretly grinned mischievously while observing Roger’s expression.

“What do you mean? I’m asking if you like me.”

“Geez! Th-this is ridiculous. I can’t stay with you anymore! I’ll just hide somewhere else…Aah!”

Roger screamed as he was clearing away the dolls in front to get out.

“What? What’s wrong…Ah!”

As I lifted my head slightly to see what was happening, I saw a face just hanging there. The two wide-open eyes and the mouth split on both sides were indescribably grotesque.

“Swel. Since when……”

It’s Swel. He looked like a giant coming to catch the hiding dwarfs. I definitely didn’t sense any presence, so how could Swel be here?

This doesn’t make sense.

“Are you done chatting?”

Swel grinned as he looked at the pale faces of Roger and me. Is that even human?

“Sorry, but there’s no way to hide from me, the seeker.”

Swel laughed, holding his stomach.

The conclusion was reached. That’s not human.