Chapter 15
Back in the guest room, Rima let out a deep sigh as she finally relaxed.
“Ugh, that was so exhausting.”
She flopped down onto the bed, arms wide, then burst into giggles, a proud grin spreading across her face.
“Wow, I totally nailed the ‘seven-year-old orphan girl’ act just now!”
Rima replayed the scene in her head again and again. If this world had acting awards, she was sure she’d win Best Actress, no question.
She got up, went over to her desk, and pulled out a bundle of papers hidden beneath the drawer.
“The reason I didn’t stick with the boys today…”
…was so she could write down everything she remembered from the novel—its settings, timelines, and major events.
She had gotten the paper and pen from the head maid, claiming she wanted to practice writing using the books Al had lent her.
She still remembered the impressed look on the maid’s face as she scribbled.
“Heh, I am pretty clever.”
From the moment she regained her memories of her past life, Rima could understand the language of this world perfectly.
Naturally—she was the author who created it. The god of this world.
“There’s a reason I’m trying to stay on the maid’s good side.”
Rima tapped one of the notes she’d written down.
“The Egg of the Evil Dragon Ather.”
She needed to find it and give it to the information broker.
Only then could he treat his sick younger brother.
“He’s the first one I need on my side.”
Once she gained his trust, no one would be able to interfere with her plans going forward.
The broker, Delrac, would become curious about this sharp, well-informed girl. Eventually, he’d even try to match her with his brother.
“I know where he is. I just need to get outside.”
All she had to do was tag along on a shopping trip with the maids—after getting friendly enough.
“The Egg of the Evil Dragon Ather is in the hands of the Mercenary King. Once I pass that info to Delrac, he’ll take care of the rest.”
Rima smiled to herself, already dreaming of her first big outing.
“Oh—right.”
Another male lead popped into her thoughts.
“I wonder how Le■ is doing…”
She leaned her chin on the windowsill and let out a quiet sigh.
In the far distance, beyond the thick forest, stood a grand estate—the Deiamor residence, where Al, Rubens, and Le■ were currently staying.
A small frown crept onto Rima’s face.
“I hope the villainess isn’t messing with him already…”
Back at the Deiamor estate, the family was celebrating Aref’s new name.
“Your blond hair really does stand out. Is there anything you want? I’ve prepared a few things you might like,” said Caleo, smiling warmly.
“You have such a cool name now. Congratulations! Oh, and I heard you’ll be starting school soon? I couldn’t just sit still hearing that,” said Celletina with a wink.
Caleo gave Aref a box of brand-new toys. A few days later, he followed up with a custom-made riding outfit and shiny new boots.
Celletina didn’t stop there—she gifted Aref a full set of school supplies, all engraved with his name. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, she arranged for a pony just for him.
The mountain of gifts was so overwhelming, Aref could hardly hold them, let alone respond.
Watching him panic, Nivellia crossed her arms and scolded him softly.
“You’re supposed to say thank you!”
“Th-thank you very much…”
“Good boy.”
She gave his head a gentle pat, clearly pleased.
Caleo chuckled.
“…Well, look at you, Nini. Acting like a proper teacher.”
“Yup! Nini is Aref’s teacher now.”
Not calling him ‘Wolf’ anymore, huh?
Caleo quietly smiled to himself and gave his daughter’s head a soft pat.
A few days later.
Wearing his brand-new riding gear, Aref walked out to the estate’s stables. Soles and Nivellia came along—today was their first official riding lesson together.
Soles had been riding for years and handled the horse with skill and confidence.
“Whoa…”
Aref stood just outside the fence, watching with wide eyes that sparkled with awe.
The horse’s speed, its wind-blown mane, the ripple of its muscles as it ran—all of it felt powerful, almost magical. Soles moved in perfect sync with the horse, like they were breathing together.
“Would you like to try riding too, Master Aref?” the stable master asked with a laugh.
The Deiamor family had made it very clear—Aref was to be treated with the same respect as family. The staff addressed him as Master Aref, just as they did with Soles and Nivellia.
“The horse is so cool…” Aref said, cheeks flushed with excitement.
He looks all sharp and prickly like a wild kitten, but talks like the world’s shyest rabbit, the stable master thought, amused.
“Nini’s cooler, though!”
In contrast, Nivellia, with her sweet face and boundless wild energy, was bursting with confidence.
“You’re always so full of energy, young miss. It’s great to see.”
“If I wasn’t, I’d be a corpse!”
“Haha! What a bold way to put it. Oh—Young Master Soles is coming back now. It’s your turn next.”
Soles, slightly out of breath from his demonstration, approached the group with a smile.
Aref gathered his courage and spoke.
“You were amazing. You ride really well.”
“Haha, yeah? Thanks. What about you, Nini?”
“It was cool! But if you let your guard down, your neck could snap and you’ll die.”
“Uh… You’re worried about me, right? That wasn’t… a curse or anything?”
“What’s a curse?”
“Never mind. Thanks for worrying about me. Now—your turn. Both of you.”
As the two stepped inside the riding ring, the stable master approached with a friendly smile.
“Let’s have Master Aref start by getting comfortable with the horse.”
He gently lifted Aref up and placed him on the saddle.
Startled, Aref instinctively bent forward, but Soles quickly stepped in.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry. Keep your back straight.”
“The young master is right. I’ve got the horse steady, so you can relax.”
And so, Aref’s first riding lesson began.
“…!”
As soon as he sat upright, the world around him seemed to expand. The raised perspective should have been scary—but Aref didn’t flinch.
In fact, his body leaned forward slightly, eager for more speed.
“You want to go faster, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Aref answered without hesitation.
But the stable master smiled and gently declined.
“To ride like the young master, well… first, you need to build up your strength. And as I said, you need to bond with your horse, too.”
After the first lap, he suggested they go greet the pony that had been gifted to Aref.
Aref nodded so hard it looked like his head might fall off.
When he returned from his ride, Nivellia and Soles greeted him with a round of applause.
Now it was Nivellia’s turn.
“Venti.”
The same horse Aref had ridden stepped in front of her. Its glossy brown coat shimmered in the sunlight.
Venti lowered its head to meet Nivellia’s eyes.
“Sit.”
Venti obediently bent its legs and lowered its body.
With effort, Nivellia climbed into the saddle all by herself. Her small arms stretched to gently pat the horse’s long neck.
“Good job. Now, stand up.”
Following her quiet command, Venti rose slowly and carefully, helping Nivellia maintain perfect balance.
“Let’s go!”
With a bold shout, Nivellia and Venti raced around the ring—not just once, but twice.
“…Well, Nini’s kind of a special case.”
Soles turned to explain, noticing Aref staring in awe.
“Horses have always liked Nini. Even when she was a baby, they’d escape from the stables and come all the way to the main house just to see her.”
One story had become almost legendary: the day horses wouldn’t return to the stable until they’d seen baby Nivellia sleeping peacefully.
Aref watched Nivellia as she came trotting back, face glowing with pride.
“Aref!”
She no longer called him Wolf. The tiny four-year-old who always tried to protect him was now running toward him, waving.
“If you wave back, she’ll love it,” Soles whispered.
Aref looked down at his hand for a moment. Then he slowly raised it to shoulder height and gave a small wave.
Sunlight lit up Nivellia’s face with a bright, cheerful smile.
Ever since Aref became part of the Deiamor household, an unexpected and delightful change had occurred:
Nivellia was getting into fewer accidents.
Because she treated Aref like her subordinate, she’d started trying to act more responsible—as if to be a leader worth following.
And when Aref started studying, Nivellia suddenly declared she would study too, full of determination.
The adults called an emergency meeting.
“We have to row while the tide is high,” Muniel declared.
Ardores, Caleo, and Celletina all nodded solemnly.
“We can’t let her go on doing whatever she pleases forever. One disaster involving slapping a tower master is enough.”
“He could’ve used a few more slaps, honestly,” Ardores muttered bluntly.
But even he agreed it was time to start shaping his granddaughter’s behavior.
They couldn’t let her continue throwing out whatever wild words she pleased while hiding behind those bright, innocent eyes.
Caleo was the first to offer a suggestion.
“Then how about letting Aref and Nivellia study together?”
Nivellia only seemed motivated when Aref was around, and Aref—despite appearances—was more timid than he let on. Teaching them together might be the most effective approach for now.
“But Nini is still only four. Sooner or later, there’s bound to be a learning gap,” Celletina added. “What if they only study certain subjects together?”
“She’s right,” Ardores agreed. “The real issue is who’s going to teach them.”
“Could we use Soles’s current tutors?” someone asked.
“There’s no point bringing in academy scholars to teach kids who barely know their letters,” Ardores replied flatly.
Then, after a brief pause, someone came to mind.
“…Actually, I know someone who might be perfect.”
A few days later…
The Tower Master, Magia, stepped into the Deiamor estate with a scowl on his face.
Standing in the garden out front, Nivellia—who’d been playing with Aref—suddenly stood up straight.
“Ugly Tower Master!”
“Seriously? Picking a fight the moment you see me? You’re just as rude now as you were back th—”
Magia instinctively reached behind to touch the spot where he’d been slapped last time… but froze.
His eyes locked on the boy standing beside Nivellia.
“You… y-you…!”
Magia pointed straight at Aref, voice rising.
“What are you doing here?!”
Chomp!
Nivellia didn’t hesitate. She lunged forward and bit Magia’s pointing finger.
“AAAH!”
Magia let out a shriek.
Aref jumped, panicked, and quickly pulled Nivellia back.
“Hhhaahh!!” Nivellia snarled like a tiny beast, baring her baby fangs.
“No pointing! Don’t bully Aref!”
