TERMS 05

Chapter 05 …

I brought some water and cleaned Baron’s hands, then put my index finger to my lips and gave it a quick suck.

“Hik?”

Baron let out a startled cry, and I went outside to rinse my mouth with water.

His face, staring at me, had turned as red as a ripe tomato.

Well, I guess being born a noble, this must have been a culture shock. But in the countryside, sometimes life is lived like this.

His violet eyes shook wildly, and seeing him so shocked made me feel a little awkward.

“Maybe the thorn came out since I sucked it.”

“Huh?”

“I tried to take the thorn out. Does it still hurt?”

Baron shook his head as he stared at my finger, which I had rinsed with water.

“Ah, no. It seems fine. Doesn’t hurt at all.”

“That’s a relief.”

Finally reassured, I patted Baron’s shoulder.

“If it hurts, tell me. We’ll go to a doctor.”

“Y-yes.”

Baron nodded.

“And don’t ever do something like this again.”

“No, it’s fine… ah.”

“I said I’m not fine.”

Baron let out a surprised sound as I poked his forehead with my finger.

“You don’t need to work. Don’t worry about adults—just play well, eat well, and sleep well. Got it?”

Baron stared at me silently.

“You should answer me, little Baron.”

“Don’t call me little.”

He pouted but still nodded.

“Okay.”

“Good.”

I stopped nagging and rolled up my sleeves. I put the snails we had caught onto the stove, enough to cook.

The snails cooked quickly.

Once done, I gently rolled the cooked snails into a basket and placed them on the table. Baron came over and sat across from me.

“So, I just peel and eat them?”

He stretched out his small hands, ready to do it himself, so I quickly stopped him.

“No, they’re hot, so stay put. If you eat them raw, they’ll be chewy. You also need to remove the saliva glands so your stomach won’t hurt.”

I skillfully prepared the snails. The tools weren’t great, but the snails were large enough that I could leave just the clean meat.

They looked like the snails I knew, but I took a bite first in case it was a different species.

“Hmm.”

It was the taste I expected—rich and chewy, perfectly cooked.

“Good. Let’s eat.”

I pushed most of the snail meat toward Baron.

“Th-That much?”

I laughed as I put my portion in my mouth.

“You need to eat a lot. And you were hungry, weren’t you?”

Baron, who had been quietly watching me, pushed half of the snails in front of him back toward me.

“But this is too much. You’re bigger, so you should eat more. You must have been hungrier.”

I returned it to him.

“No, since I grilled a lot, it’s okay to peel more. You’re an adult anyway. First, the child should eat enough.”

“I’m really okay.”

“Uh-uh, I said you should eat.”

When I said it firmly, Baron reluctantly nodded.

One bite, two bites. His little mouth chewing like a baby rabbit was incredibly cute.

And he eats so well…

Watching him, I felt a pinch in my nose.

Though he sometimes shows a proud side, Baron is naturally an angel.

Even born a noble and so young, he thinks of others and yields.

Of course, losing his parents early may have taught him to be cautious, but even considering that, he was well-behaved and admirable.

After finishing the meal, I had Baron rinse his mouth with clean seawater.

“Hold on a bit even if it feels icky. Tomorrow I’ll sell some snails and get you toothbrush tools.”

Baron pressed his lips together, thinking about something, but eventually nodded.

“Sit here.”

After brushing teeth, he needed to wash his face too. I scooped water and wiped his face.

“Uuup?”

“Stay still. Wash up quickly so you can sleep.”

The only sound in the house was the splashing of water. I carefully wiped his small face, then held his nose.

“Now, sniff your nose.”

“Huh?”

Baron didn’t seem to understand.

“Sniff with force. Sniff!”

“Wait!”

Baron jumped up, wiping water off his face with his hand, utterly bewildered.

“What do you take me for!”

“Don’t you have any snot? Dust must have accumulated in your nose.”

“That… that can’t be!”

Baron stepped back, flustered. Seeing his embarrassment, I simply nodded.

“What’s the big deal if a kid has snot? Fine, never mind.”

He covered his nose, still cautious, while I finished washing my face.

Outside, I could hear the waves. The tide had already come in.

I went out, scooped seawater, and poured it into the largest wooden tub I had—an improvised soaking tank. I put the remaining snails in it.

Soaking them overnight would make breakfast easier tomorrow.

“Phew, finally done with today! Time to sleep.”

I laid Baron on the bed and lay beside him. It was time to rest.

The bed creaked loudly with every move, likely due to its age.

But the blankets had been washed and dried in the sun, smelling warm and clean.

“It’ll be a little uncomfortable sleeping together for now, but bear with it. I’ll earn money and get you your own bed.”

Baron seemed about to say something but finally nodded.

I placed my arm as a pillow for him and held him close.

Pat, pat.

“Time to sleep.”

Tense, Baron’s body was stiff.

Normally, a child would snuggle in comfortably when held like this. Maybe he wasn’t used to it.

“Has no adult ever put you to bed like this?”

“Huh? Uh….”

“Should I stop if it’s uncomfortable?”

As I gently patted him, Baron relaxed and nestled into me, closing his eyes.

“No, keep doing it. Feels good.”

He didn’t dare touch me, holding only at the side of my clothes, but his lips curled into a small smile.

Yes, this is how a child should be.

How horrible it would have been if I had left him in the orphanage. Imagining other children making the faces he did was terrifying.

I was glad I didn’t leave him.

“Sweet dreams, Baron.”

“Sweet dreams… sis.”

Seeing Baron’s peaceful expression, I felt at ease too.

I closed my eyes, feeling the fatigue finally catching up.

That night, while Hailey slept soundly, a small figure stood about a hundred meters away from the old cabin.

“Ignis Fatuus.”

No sooner had the words fallen than a white orb appeared in midair.

It was the same light that Baron had insisted was a firefly flash when Hailey had asked if she saw something strange.

The orb, about the size of an adult man’s fist, was a type of spirit called Ignis Fatuus, known for emitting a very bright light.

The surrounding area brightened under the orb’s glow, revealing the small figure’s face clearly.

It was Baron.

However, unlike during the day, his eyes were red instead of purple. The crimson eyes, though warm in color, exuded a cold atmosphere. The childlike demeanor he had shown in front of Hailey was gone.

Baron looked at the orb as if the world were beneath his feet.

Earlier, when dusk had fallen close to the ground, Baron had summoned the Ignis Fatuus to guide Hailey home safely.

Though the unfamiliar light might startle her, he needed a marker to ensure she could return safely.

He had also called some subordinates to tidy the house roughly. Since Hailey had helped him, he thought he should return the favor in some way.

Hailey, following the light as a guide, was understandably curious.

But Baron disguised the Ignis Fatuus as a “firefly flash” to conceal its true nature.

When she asked if he would capture and tame it, her eyes flickered and her lips twitched. To Baron, this meant the Ignis Fatuus would be very useful to her.

Thinking of Hailey’s expression, a small smile appeared on his lips.

Well, it’s brighter than a lamp at night, so it’s quite useful in many ways.

Soon, Baron commanded the Ignis Fatuus.

“Listen carefully. From now on, you are a firefly flash.”