Chapter 8
Unaware of the deep wound she had inflicted on the maids, Nivellia made her way to the dining hall for breakfast.
From early morning, the household staff was bustling with energy.
As she watched the commotion, a familiar voice floated above her head—Deter’s calm explanation.
“We’re expecting a guest today.”
“A guest?”
“The Duke of Deigladys will be visiting.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He’s the duke who lives across from us. You remember the neighbor gentleman who lives opposite, don’t you?”
But Nivellia didn’t remember.
Instead, her attention drifted toward the servants, who were working even harder than usual to polish every corner of the mansion for the upcoming guest.
“Deter, can I pay off my debt now?”
“We agreed that you’d do it after breakfast, remember? Otherwise, you’ll get arrested again for breaking child labor laws.”
“Nini knows the law. It’s really hard, annoying, and strict…”
Just last winter, Nivellia had been detained for violating child labor laws after skipping breakfast to run errands.
And Caleo, who had sent her on those errands, was detained along with her.
Fortunately, Muniel and Celletina—on their way to the dining room—had stumbled upon the outrageous scene of child overwork and stepped in to deliver justice.
“Nini only counted to five before coming back, but Daddy stayed longer?”
“In his youth, the master was a remarkably dignified man. But ever since you were born, he’s become quite the character.”
“Daddy is super fun! Nini likes him!”
By the time she reached the dining room, the whole family was already gathered.
“Wow!”
With a radiant smile, Nivellia rushed to her seat and plopped down.
There was usually at least one empty chair at breakfast, but today, for some reason, everyone was present.
Before the meal began, Ardores, seated at the head of the table, spoke with a warm but composed tone.
“We’re expecting a guest this morning.”
“Nini already heard! Deter told me.”
“Is that so? Then you’ll give them a proper greeting, won’t you?”
“Mm-hm!”
Nivellia gave a firm nod, her expression serious, as if to say, You can count on me.
“Nini’s got a busy day ahead, huh?”
Celletina smiled gently as she wiped the jam from Nivellia’s mouth.
“You have to welcome the guest and pay off your debt.”
“Only three left now!”
Nivellia proudly spread her tiny hand open, showing five fingers.
“…Oops.”
After checking her fingers, she quickly folded two of them back down.
Thanks to days of diligent work, only three empty slots remained on her debt-clearing certificate.
Finishing her meal, Nivellia wasted no time and jumped into action to pay off more of her debt. The incoming guest had long since slipped from her thoughts.
She delivered the newspaper to her father and distributed the sorted mail from the butler to her grandparents.
When Ardores handed her a sticker to place on her certificate, Nivellia beamed brightly.
“Only one left now!”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Nini wants to do more errands!”
“Oh dear. I think we’ve run out of errands to give you.”
Ardores chuckled as he skimmed through the letters.
Eager to prove she still had value, Nivellia quickly spoke up.
“If Grandpa gets sick, Nini will call the doctor! Gimme a sticker.”
“…Don’t say scary things like that. At my age, getting sick means a one-way carriage ride to heaven.”
“Nini knows heaven. It’s really nice. When are you going?”
“I’m not going, alright?”
Unable to hold back a laugh, Ardores lifted his granddaughter into his arms. Rather than being startled, Nivellia burst into bubbly giggles.
“So full of energy, even in the morning.”
Muniel watched the affectionate scene between grandfather and granddaughter with a soft smile.
Rising from her seat, she glanced out the window. Through the wide panes overlooking the garden, she spotted a very familiar carriage pulling in.
“…Looks like it’s time to head out.”
A gentle smile lifted the corners of Muniel’s lips.
“Our guest has arrived.”
A grand carriage, drawn by no fewer than six towering black horses, rolled to a halt.
The weary horses tapped the stone path lightly with their hooves.
“Wow…”
Nivellia’s mouth hung open in awe.
Soles, standing beside her, quietly took her hand—just in case she got the sudden urge to dash forward.
Soon, someone stepped out of the carriage.
He was a strikingly handsome man. Tall and broad-shouldered, with a stern expression that radiated a cool, unapproachable aura.
His pristine clothing, not a single thread out of place, and neatly combed hair only sharpened the impression of icy composure.
But to Nini, he was simply a stranger.
The girl quickly ducked behind Soles’ back.
“Nini, it’s okay. That’s the Duke. Don’t you remember?”
“The Duke?”
“Uncle Kalaroff. Father’s best friend. The family who lives right across from us.”
“……”
Just as a faint memory was beginning to surface from Nivellia’s mind—
Another figure stepped down from the carriage.
“…Huh?”
The Duke of Deigladys had children around the same age as Soles and Nivellia.
Naturally, Soles assumed the duke’s sons had accompanied him.
But the child who emerged was a slender, blond-haired boy. All of the duke’s sons had inherited his jet-black hair.
Who is that?
Soles tilted his head in confusion—just as Nivellia suddenly darted forward.
“Nini!”
Soles cried out, startled.
The adults, just as shocked by her impulsive movement, reached out to stop her, but only managed to graze the hem of her fluttering dress.
Like a nimble cat, Nivellia rushed forward and stopped directly in front of the slender boy who had just stepped off the carriage.
Panting from the run, she caught her breath.
The boy stared at her with wide, surprised eyes.
He had clear skin, wore decently fine clothes, and his delicate features suggested a promising future.
His striking red eyes, in particular, gleamed like rare winter berries—vivid and full of color.
But he was so thin, it evoked more pity than admiration.
“……”
The boy blinked slowly, seemingly confused.
He had never seen a child so beautiful. For the first time, he instinctively understood what people meant when they said someone looked like a doll.
Silvery-white hair like freshly fallen snow, sky-blue eyes like drifting clouds, and soft, plump cheeks that spoke of good sleep and plenty of meals.
“……”
“……”
The strange standoff between the two children lasted for quite a while.
Even the watching adults held their breath. Deter, in particular, nervously wiped his clammy palms on the apron of his maid uniform.
Then, Nivellia spoke first.
“You’re a wolf.”
“……”
“Aren’t your tummy tails rumbling? Are you hungry?”
“…Hungry.”
The boy clapped a hand over his mouth as soon as the word left.
He may have been a poor, uneducated orphan from the orphanage, but even he could tell the girl in front of him was someone of very high status.
And yet, he had just spoken to her informally.
Thankfully, none of the adults scolded him for the lapse in manners. They simply watched in silence, absorbing the strange atmosphere as the two children regarded each other.
The Duke of Deigladys, watching the scene closely, was surprised in a different way.
He can speak.
At the request of Muniel and Ardores, the duke had brought this boy directly from the orphanage himself.
Throughout the journey, the boy had barely spoken a word. The duke had even begun to wonder if he was incapable of speaking at all.
“Hehe!”
Nivellia suddenly grinned.
“You didn’t eat again, did you? That’s not good. You need to eat to be strong!”
“……”
“Come on! Nini brought this for the wolf…”
As she babbled nonsensically, Nivellia abruptly went quiet.
The corners of her mouth, which had risen so brightly, fell in an instant. Tears welled up in her eyes and slid down her cheeks.
Her trembling jaw began to open, and then—
“…Huuuwaaah!”
A loud wail burst from her.
“Waaah! Huuuwaaaah!”
Nivellia sobbed so hard it seemed like she might run out of breath.
It was a completely unexpected outburst, and the boy, frozen as if turned to stone, could only stare as she cried just inches from him.
A deep sense of unease sank into his chest, like his heart had hit the ground.
The adults rushed to console Nivellia, but her sobs didn’t stop so easily.
At some point, her tiny hands had grabbed hold of the boy’s loose clothing, and she refused to let go.
“I’m so sorry about this,” said Caleo as he gently picked up the boy. It was the first time the boy had ever been held by an adult.
Without resistance, he was brought along as Nivellia was carried back to her bedroom.
“Aaahhh! Waaaah!”
“Why is our Nini crying all of a sudden, hmm?”
Celletina held Nivellia tightly, rocking her gently, cooing in a soft voice as the girl wailed in her arms.
Eventually, Nivellia’s tears slowed and, soon after, she fell asleep. Celletina placed a hand on her daughter’s damp forehead. A faint fever was rising.
Only then was the boy finally freed.
Once outside the room, he felt slightly dizzy. Too much had happened in too little time. He hadn’t had a chance to grasp what was going on.
Why did she cry when she looked at me?
Didn’t she call me a wolf?
Why did she ask if I was hungry?
The boy couldn’t make sense of any of it.
And yet, Nivellia’s smile as she looked at him, the warmth of her small hand gripping his sleeve—he hadn’t disliked it. That, he was sure of.
“You must’ve been surprised.”
Caleo, who had brought the boy out, apologized again.
An adult apologizing to him—that alone was a shock.
He hadn’t lived long—only eight years—but this was the most polite and respectful tone anyone had ever used toward him.
The duke who had brought him here had been somewhat kind. But not this gentle.
“Nini is my daughter,” Caleo said with a soft smile. “She’s a little odd, but she’s a good girl. I hope you won’t dislike her too much.”
“……”
“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself.”
Caleo knelt to the boy’s eye level.
“My name is Caleo. What’s yours?”
“……”
The boy couldn’t bring himself to answer.
Because he had nothing he could truly call a name.
