Dad’s pupils were shaking like crazy.

“Let me down. I’m scared, Dad. You’re going to burn Ruru flower.”

“Why would I burn Ruru flower? Don’t be afraid of me.”

Dad showed an unusual sign of hesitation and even stuttered.

“But you said you were going to burn all the flowers and grass. Ruru flower is also a type of grass.”

“Other weeds are different from our Ruru flower.”

“Flowers, grass, and trees are all friends of Ruru flower. If you hurt them, I’ll hate you.”

“I’ve loved plants since I was born, little sister.”

“I have no intention of bothering something as weak as you.”

Dad and my brothers spoke urgently and looked at me with anxious eyes.

“Then I won’t hate you!”

Only then did the three of them relax their shoulders.

“I like the garden. I’ve been looking at flowers in the greenhouse all the time, and now that spring is finally coming, I’ll be sad if the gardeners aren’t here.”

“…I can’t make my daughter sad.”

“My little sister likes looking at flowers.”

“Well, a scruffy child like you does go well with pretty things.”

“Then the gardeners won’t be harmed, right? They are precious people who cultivate beautiful things.”

“That’s right.”

Phew, at least I prevented innocent people from getting hurt.

“Miss…!”

The gardeners who were lying down called out to me. They had teary eyes.

“No one in the duchy appreciated the beauty of flowers and trees…!”

“We were so happy to know that you often visit the greenhouse! We’ll do our best to make sure you can enjoy the garden in spring, too!”

“Isn’t this your first spring back in the duchy, miss?”

“Thank you, everyone! Thanks to you, my eyes are always happy.”

Thank you and I’m sorry.

I never expected things to turn out like this just because I accidentally scratched some grass.

‘I should ask my butler to give a bonus to the gardeners later.’

“Wow! You’re so cute! Are you really a flower?”

“No, no flower can compare to Ruru flower’s cuteness!”

“Alright, from today on, we’ll research hybrid breeds! We have to cultivate flowers that can be friends with Ruru flower!”

“Flowers that will follow Ruru flower’s every step!”

“Wooooo!”

No, this is really happening.

I looked at the gardeners who were burning with passion with cloudy eyes.

Chapter 14. I’ve decided, your name

Recently, my life has been more fulfilling than ever before.

I’ve been working on my business, spending time with my family, and studying hard in various ways.

During all of this, I’ve been visiting the child whenever I had a chance.

In the five times I’ve used the ability, a lot has changed.

“Get lost.”

“What the hell are you doing?”

“How long are you going to toy with me?”

The child who used to stand up every time I visited gradually started sitting down when I was there, even though he stayed far away.

Even so, I still didn’t know his name.

“You still won’t tell me your name?”

“I don’t have anything like that.”

“Then who will name you? I can’t call you ‘this child’ forever.”

“Figure it out yourself.”

Is this how it’s going to be?

Well, I have an idea.

“How about Spots?”¹she said ??? (ba-duk-i) or a dog with black and white spots

“Ha, that’s a good name for a slave.”

“No! I’m just kidding!”

You almost became an obedient pet, you know.

Why did he accept it so easily?

…I wonder if he really didn’t know his name like I did.

If there wasn’t even anyone to give him a name—.

‘A name…’

It’s the first time I’ve ever had to give someone a name.

I thought about it for a while, but I couldn’t come up with anything.

“Can I give you a name later?”

“Is that really necessary.”

“It’s a name. You can’t just make one up. It’s important.”

“…For a mere slave?”

“What does that matter? Slaves are people too.”

“…Maybe someday.”

“Huh?”

I asked what he just said, but he just turned his head without answering.

“Come to think of it, how old are you?”

“Why do you care? It’s not like you need to call me by my age or anything, and it’s not that important.”

“It may not be necessary for living, but…still, it would be nice to know how old you are.”

I was so happy when I found out that I was four years old.

When I looked up, the child was staring at me with a strange look in his eyes.

I felt like saying, ‘Ah,’ so I spoke up.

“But not knowing won’t make me unhappy! Just one chocolate makes me happy instantly! Here, have a piece of chocolate from Grandma.”

I took out a chocolate from my pocket.

“No need.”

The child furrowed his brow and turned his head.

Thinking that I had said something unnecessary to a child who doesn’t know his age, I fiddled with the chocolate wrapper.

Still, I felt proud that all his small wounds had healed.

‘Although his heart may not have opened yet.’

Sigh.

How are the other sisters so good at opening the hearts of wild beasts?

I am so far from that.

‘Still, he doesn’t seem like a truly bad child.’

The more we talked, the more I felt it.

But why did the devil say he was dangerous.

‘Ah, a sense of revenge.’

Even if he received kindness from this Grandma, it would be a shame if he held revenge against the princess of Phaeraton.

“Ahem, come to think of it.”

I casually spoke up.

“They say this young lady in the house has been acting a little mean towards you.”

I glanced at him discreetly, and he looked at me as though asking what I was talking about, furrowing his brow.

Then, as if understanding something, he smirked.

‘Wow, it’s the first time I’ve seen him smile.’

But the problem is that it’s not a smile with good intentions.

That smile is clearly a calculated one, imagining how to torment me.

“She said she would turn me into a doll for slaughter.”

“What? What?”

“She said she would use my pretty face as bait.”

“No, not as bait…”

I didn’t say anything like that!

“Well, maybe she’s still young and doesn’t know any better? There’s no need to get so worked up over something a child says without knowing.”

“The way she confidently threatened me didn’t seem like something a clueless kid would say.”

“Well, it’s best to forget about such words! This Grandma has lived long enough to know that.”

“It has to be an incredibly impressive remark to be forgotten.”

“…If you were to leave from here, what would you do? I mean, would you seek revenge against that child…?”

“Well, who knows.”

No, why are you being so vague?

Either seek revenge or don’t!

Just tell me clearly.

It’s making me more anxious for no reason.

I trembled with worry.

Should I change my approach even now?

* * *

The child gradually woke up from sleep.

He was taken aback when he realized that he had fallen asleep.

Since that day, he couldn’t fall asleep properly.

Losing consciousness was the only form of rest he could find.

But to think that he would fall asleep so often in this underground prison, and in the house of a girl who claimed to treat him as a slave.

That girl.

With a soft, gentle face, innocent eyes, and big, clear eyes.

Her cotton candy-like sweet pink hair seemed like it would melt away if touched.

Dreams, starlight, cream, flower petals, sugar, rainbow.

She seemed like a child who lived in a world made up only of such words.

And a child whose true thoughts were impossible to discern.

“Live well.”

Sometimes she would say that,

“I won the bid for 10 billion.”

“As my slave, I have the right to dispose of you. Slaves are the complete property of their owners.”

Then, in the next moment, she said the same words as the humans who were screaming to bid for him.

But it couldn’t simply be said that she did it just to save him—.

“After all, your life and death are in my hands. Not yours.”

The face that said he did not even have the freedom to die was clear.

“It might not fit because it’s too small, but it’s better to wear something than nothing.”

Just a moment ago, you said that I don’t even have basic human rights, so why show such kindness?

The shoes, no bigger than the palm of a hand, were so tiny and small…

“When the knights were poisoned, they didn’t die. Was that intentional?”

When the child asked that, I was actually pleased.

You understood.

I surprised myself with happiness.

Even though such a thing had happened, I still hoped that someone would recognize me.

But that hope was immediately trampled upon and fell into the abyss.

“You are my slave. Nothing more than my possession. Shouldn’t you show respect to your master?”

“You’re quite useful, so it might be fun to turn you into a killing doll. Or with your pretty face, I could make others envy you by putting you on display.”

“Keeping you alive and controlling you for the rest of your life is a very easy thing to do.”

In the end, that child was no different from the numerous humans who had tried to possess him.

It was absurd to expect something from her.

Even in this situation, he hadn’t lost hope in people.

What a foolish, stupid thing to do.

I will never hope again.

This girl is more relentless than any other existence.

But…

“Grandma’s here.”

For some reason, the child came in, holding a large basket and calling herself ‘grandma.’

At first, I thought it was some kind of bad joke.

But…

“This boy, that’s no way to talk to your grandma.”

“Come on, grandma wants to take care of you. Aren’t you scared? Aren’t I kind?”

“Oh, you’re enduring it well. You must be a general’s grandson~”

“Grandmas naturally want to take care of sick children.”

The child seemed to truly believe that she was an elderly person.

Only then did he finally realize what had happened.

‘Mind’s Eye.’

He had eyes that could see through the truth.

Perhaps she was disguised as an old lady with polymorphism or disguise magic.

It was ridiculous that she was acting so boldly, never realizing that she was actually being seen for what she was.

But it wasn’t just ridiculous.

He was horrified when the child forcibly wiped his body.

Although the child acted like an adult taking care of a child, she was not.

It was a girl of the same age who wiped his arms and legs.

Small, soft hands.

Gentle touch.

Her nice scent and long hair occasionally brush against his skin.

At that moment, even if his limbs were not paralyzed, he would have broken out of prison.

The girl even wiped his face while she was on her knees.

The face of that child looking down at him at that time was so… 

With a delicate appearance and lips like spring flower petals.

Eyelashes that stretched out like sunshine.

A soft and smooth white cheek.

There was nothing that wasn’t fascinating.

But that was a good thing.

A vast sky that has never been touched even once.

An exotic sea that has never been seen even once.

Eyes so vividly blue.

So detestable.

So terrible.

So cruel that it could burn one’s heart.

I would rather die at the hands of that tiny child.

* * *

“Ah, he’s asleep.”

I scratched my head as I looked at the child who was lying down with his eyes closed.

‘I used my ability for no reason.’

My precious power! There isn’t much left now.

Usually, I check if the child is awake before using my ability, but today I was too absent-minded and forgot.

“There’s nothing we can do.”

Feeling sorry for waking him up, but also too sorry to go back to this form, I went into the cell.

Even though I brought a pillow and a blanket, he was lying on the ground.

I carefully lifted his head and placed it on my lap.

Then I gently brushed his hair.

It helps me sleep when Dad and Ares do this often.

‘Whoa…’

As I looked at his sleeping face, I couldn’t help but be amazed.

But he gained a little weight from eating a lot, and the bruises on his face disappeared.

“Hey, you can’t grow up to become a bad guy after I’ve taken care of you like this, okay?”

I whispered to the sleeping child.

“You don’t have to be a good guy. Live your life the way you want. But you can’t kill me, okay?”

Mumbling to myself, I suddenly had a thought.

‘If I whisper this next to his ear, maybe he’ll remember it subconsciously, right? Like brainwashing.’

It sounds ridiculous, but it won’t hurt to try.

So I whispered in his ear.

“Do not kill Ruatisha Phaeraton. Do not harm the Phaeraton Duchy. If you kill Ruatisha Phaeraton…”

After repeating that about five times, I was satisfied.

“Ugh, he’s so skinny. Kids are supposed to be chubby.”

No matter how much weight he gained, he was still thin.

Seeing that there were still traces of infancy, I felt even more sad for him.

“You should grow up well.”

I’ve been through so much trouble for his sake.

He should grow up and live happily.

And if possible, maintain this beauty.

Not just if possible, but definitely, this beauty must be preserved.

While tousling his bangs, I whispered.

“You must meet a really good woman and have twelve children.”

He flinched.

His eyelids twitched.

‘Did, Did he wake up?’

I anxiously observed his reaction while holding my breath.

But even after watching him for a while, he only breathed evenly and didn’t move at all.

‘Maybe it’s just me.’

I resumed his brainwashing.

“You should have at least twelve. Have as many as you can. That’s how you contribute to humanity.”

Hmm. Good.

The more beauties there are in the world, the higher the happiness.

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  she said ??? (ba-duk-i) or a dog with black and white spots