ICTV - Chapter 21

ICTV - Chapter  21

I Changed The Villain

“Where are you going?”

A moving place would be best, but it can't be helped. I put the weasel down on the cloth. I wrapped the weasel in a cloth and observed it closely.

The weasel, which was still a baby, was brown overall, but its belly was pure white. I unconsciously tried to pat the weasel's belly but barely persevered.

“It’s done.”

I withdrew my hand. The weasel looked like a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. Rose went back into the room holding the weasel. Thanks to the cloth, Rain the Weasel's trembling subsided.

“Wasn’t there food written down in that notebook?”

"Yes. I’ll ask the chef to prepare it exactly as written here.”

I put the weasel down on the floor. As soon as I  put it down on the floor, the weasel looked around.

“Do not have a separate place to live outside rather than indoors.”

“I think it would be good to train them.”

The weasel scratched the floor with its small front paws. This is natural since weasels are animals that live by digging burrows. The weasel scratched the floor a few more times and soon became sullen.

“There’s an empty chicken coop right now. If you make a nest there, it will be perfect.”

“Is it wide?”

“Yes, very much.”

The weasel crawled helplessly under the bed. Probably make a separate house

It seems like he'll just stay there until I wake up. I took off my shoes and sat down on the chair.

“Of course, animals and people are very harmless and cute when they are young.”

I got down to my knees and looked at the weasel. Mera was impressed.

“Are you going to be scared when he grows up?”

"No. It's cute even though it's big... After all, personality is the problem.”

I, who was staring at Mera, opened my mouth.

“I guess I’m still afraid of weasels. Should I leave the work to another maid instead of you for the time being?”

“You can’t do that, My Lady!”

Mera stood up in horror.

“I’m not as scared as I was when I was a child..! It's real!"

"Really?"

"Yes! There are more things that are much scarier than weasels!”

Mera's voice was very energetic, but the content was not at all. I stroked my chin.

“That’s not a good thing at all.” 

“...You’re right, young lady.”

Ugh, I said it again without thinking. Mera, embarrassed, knelt on the floor again. The weasel went deep into the bed and was not seen at all.

“...I thought I could do anything when I became an adult. That’s why I wanted to become an adult as soon as possible.”

It was very dark under the bed. It feels just like my past. Mera laughed.

“But the reality was the opposite. Now I'm an adult, and this happens, the scary thing has doubled. I became more careful with my actions.”

"..."

“It might have been better back then when weasels were the most scary.”

At that time, the only things that were impossible were not being able to go into the forest alone or not stealing and eating food carelessly. Mera's eyes turned red little by little.

“Maybe that’s why I lived like a monster. At that time, I was really..."

“Definitely the people around you at that time.”

I interrupted Mera's words. Mera, who came to her senses after hearing my pitchless voice, quickly wiped away the tears in her eyes.

“You said that monsters like you would make the world a difficult place to live in, right?”

Mera nodded.

“But I don’t think so. As I said then, I think a difficult world creates monsters.”

 “...Thank you for always saying that, lady.”

Mera crackled the wrinkles on her apron. Mera, who was perfectly resurrected with even her hair in order, shouted cheerfully.

“Then I’m going to go see the chef now! I need to prepare food for the weasels!”

“Sure.”

“Miss, I keep telling you, but I exist for you, so just leave everything to me, please!"

Mera ran faster and more powerfully than before. I left alone and knelt on the floor like Mera did earlier. It wasn't visible at first, but as I persistently observed under the bed, I started to see it little by little. A round bundle of hair.

“...I heard that animals experience trauma and depression just like people do.”

Neither you nor I are okay. I stared endlessly into the pitch-black darkness. 

The weasel that was hiding under the bed was taken into the arms of the servants and taken to an empty chicken coop. The weasels found comfort in a chicken coop decorated to resemble a forest. It would slowly crawl on the straw and eat small bites of food. I observed the weasel's movements whenever I had the chance.

***

“You wrote the budget very neatly and well this time. If you marry him right now, you won’t have anything to worry about.”

"Thank you."

“By the way, your boyfriend held the engagement ceremony himself. I heard it would be okay to do it in his garden. My daughter is having an engagement ceremony in the Serenity family's garden. After all, the world is something we will live to see for a long time.”

"Thank you."

“Are you not listening to me?”

"Thank you."

Primrose raised her fan loudly. I finally came to my senses and quickly held my head and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

“Are you going to be like Beryl too?”

“Absolutely not.”

Primrose folded her fan again. Over my shoulder, a weasel was leaning against the wall, staring into space.

“...What kind of animal has a face like that?”

That might not be an animal. Feeling uncomfortable for some reason, Primrose quietly stepped behind me.

“But isn’t it cute in its own way?”

“It’s cute, though.”

Primrose glanced sideways at me. Still, after that weasel came to the mansion, it came out of the room often. Beryl did something extraordinary. She will definitely have to praise him later. Primrose advised me.

“While you’re out, how about taking a walk around the garden with me?"

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think that will work. I have to go up to my room and get ready.”

“Ready for what?”

Mera was waiting behind me. God answered.

“Today the Young Lady will attend a birthday party.”

“To whom?”

“Lady Judith of Count Henry’s family sent us an invitation.”

It's much bigger than she imagined. Primrose asked cautiously.

“When did you become friends with her?”

“I don’t have any friends.”

“Then why is she sending you a birthday invitation?”

"I know, right."

"..."

Weak families like the Pale family were often criticized in social circles. It was so disgusting that Primrose refrained from entering social circles as much as possible as soon as she got married. So she couldn't help but be worried about Rose.

Could it be that Judith intentionally called Rose over and tried to harass her? There must be some ladies who are upset by the fact that Rose is engaged to Belial. Although you cannot touch it directly, it is possible to damage its reputation little by little by spreading bad rumors. Primrose's mind became complicated for a moment.

"Mother, why is your expression so dark?”

If I, the parent, am anxious, my child will be anxious as well. Primrose tried to calm her mind.

"Nothing. Well, by the way..."

“Yes, mother.”

“Was Duke Serenity also invited to the party?”

“Of course. We're invited along.”

"Thank God. I'm so glad."

If you accompany Belial, you will be careful about your every word. Primrose sighed.

“And my brother was invited too.”

Thud. 

After some time had passed, an invisible stone fell on Primrose's head again.

“Beryl was invited too?”

“Lady Judith also sent an invitation to Master Beryl.”

“Then maybe…”

Mera cruelly poured cold water on her.

“It is said that Master Kedis, Lady Judith’s brother, and Master Beryl sometimes meet in the forest. It’s a bit awkward to only call the Lady, so it’s highly likely that the Master was also invited out of courtesy.”

“That’s right.”

If you're Beryl's age, you're bound to have at least one scandal at a party with another Lady, but he doesn't have one of those common scandals. To begin with, he has no interest in anything other than bows and family. Primrose clicked her tongue.

“Slowly, that guy turned out to be a decent person too. He should meet a girl and get engaged. I hope be meet a nice girl at the party today.

“He might fly.”

“I hope so. I need to get Beryl ready soon. Where is Beryl?”

Mera clenched her fists.

“Please leave it to me, Lady."

“What if he’s hiding somewhere else?”

“Hehehe....”

Mera smiled darkly and raised her hand to her mouth. She shouted.

“Ahh! Miss Rose collapsed!"

Doo doo doo....

A man came running at a scary pace from the other side of the garden. It was obvious who the man was.

“If you are weak in stamina, pumpkin flowers?

“What are you doing?”

There was a method like this. Primrose was impressed. Beryl shouted with blazing eyes.

“Is your stamina still like that when you take a walk with me every morning? It won't work! From now on, walking time will be doubled!"

And behind him,

"Young Master...! Please go a little slower, please...!"

Whoosh, whoosh, 

Taksha was desperately chasing Beryl. This time Mera was impressed.

“You really saw that kid accurately. The other servants didn’t even dare to chase after you.”

“Was it like that?”

“Have you already forgotten? I really have a chance. You wandered through the forest and came back to the mansion alone.”

I still vividly remember the faces of the servants who were crying because they had been abandoned by the Master. I shouldn't say this, but it was really trivial and cute. While Mera's eyes grew dim, Beryl arrived in front of Rose. Beryl became curious.

“Huh, what is it? Why are you standing on your own two feet?”

Beryl belatedly discovered Primrose and froze. Beryl tried to back away immediately, but it was already too late.

“Get him ready quickly.”.

Maids came out of nowhere, grabbed Beryl by the arms, and dragged him to the mansion.

“Do I have to go to the party with my brother?”

“Don’t you like it?”

"Yes."

Beryl screamed.

“Who would want to go to a party with you? Oh?!”

“Master, please lower your voice...!"

Taksha was at a loss and tried to comfort Beryl. Mera touches Rose's arm.

“Now, young lady, go quickly and get ready."

“Then I’ll go too, Mom.”

“Be prepared.”

Soon, she has to go to her husband too. Primrose tightened her shawl and looked at the chicken coop. The weasel had long since hidden in a corner. Primrose muttered.

"You definitely look like Rose.”

Rose also hides frequently. 

Primrose looked helplessly at the chicken coop.

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