Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: The Lucky Young Master
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The child blocking Nihil's path was Anna, the very first girl he'd seen when he entered the palace.
The Harpen Kingdom had a unique custom: all young maids who hadn't reached adulthood braided their hair into twin tails. It was a protective measure from long ago, when nobles and royals often treated maids carelessly.
"Young master, have some of this!"
Anna thrust a bundle of cookies from her pocket, blurting out words in a rush for fear Nihil might ignore her and walk away again.
"Young master, you have no idea how long I've waited for a chance to run into you! Carrying cookies every day has paid off. All the palace servants are dying to know about you, Nil. Oh, these are cookies I made myself—rye cookies today. I've baked them fresh every day just hoping I'd bump into you and have an excuse to talk. You don't hate cookies, right? I'm so glad we met today. Yesterday's batch got a bit burnt, but these turned out perfect, so please try one... Mmph?"
When Nihil saw no sign of the maid's chatter letting up, he clamped her mouth shut with his hand and snatched the cookie bundle from her grasp. Then he jerked his chin toward the other maids waiting behind her, urging her to hurry along since they were all waiting.
The young maid peeked back with a crestfallen look, but when the others shook their heads to say it was fine, she beamed innocently. The other maids were just as eager to get a look at Nihil. In fact, they seemed to be eyeing a chance to butt in, inching closer bit by bit.
Growing wary of the hassle, Nihil turned to slip away.
"Wait just a moment, young master! Um, there's something I'd like to ask..."
"...?"
Nihil tilted his head, wondering what on earth she could want from him when he hadn't done a thing since arriving at the palace.
The young maid fidgeted, glancing around nervously before whispering.
"Well... there's this rumor that hearing your voice or touching you brings good luck..."
"... ."
Nihil narrowed his eyes, never imagining he'd hear such an absurd rumor straight from the source.
The maid waved her hands frantically and pressed on.
"I know it's total nonsense, but... you know, it just feels... psychological, like a comfort thing? So, could you maybe hold my sister's hand? Just once? She's a palace maid too, but she's off duty right now. She's due to give birth soon... She's a bit frail, and we're all worried. The rumor’s going around openly among the servants, so maybe it'd ease her mind a little... Just a quick hold of her hand? Please?"
Nihil stared at the maid for a moment, touched by her dedication in carrying cookies every day. He gave a small nod, deciding to let it slide this once. Holding her hand wouldn't bring actual luck, but he could at least check her condition.
Anna chattered nonstop the whole way to her sister's room, her face lit with excitement. She flung the door open without knocking.
"Sis!"
The first thing that caught the eye when the young maid burst in was Head Maid Perry, who had come to deliver some things.
"Oh, uh? S-Sorry!"
Anna jumped in surprise at the sight of the head maid and quickly apologized. But Perry, seeing the ever-elusive Nihil out in the open, simply stared at him with wide eyes.
"No, Young Master Nil, what brings you all the way here?"
The young maid's brother-in-law—the pregnant maid's husband and the palace stablemaster—sprang to his feet to greet Nihil. The woman with the bulging belly startled at Nihil's arrival and tried to stand, but the head maid stopped her.
"Marilyn, don't get up so suddenly."
"Y-Yes. Sorry, young master. Please forgive me for not being able to greet you properly—I'm so heavy right now. Oh, my name's Marilyn. Anna's older sister. I'm off work now, but I handle sewing."
Nihil gave a vague nod and scanned the room. It wasn't huge, but it was clean and sunlit—clearly a room they'd thoughtfully assigned her.
Anna scurried over to her sister and plopped down beside her.
"Sis, I brought him. Isn't he just gorgeous?"
"He is..."
Marilyn stared openly at Nihil and his otherworldly aura. Any normal child would have rushed over in fascination to poke at her swollen belly, but this beautiful young master the prince had brought remained detached, observing her instead.
When she'd first heard the servants' silly rumors, Marilyn had laughed them off as jokes. But seeing him now, she could almost understand where they came from.
"Did you finish your work before coming?"
Head Maid Perry asked quietly, eyeing the string of maids who'd trailed in after. They hadn't even started their duties, so they shrank back guiltily.
Perry sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead as she looked at them. She knew everyone was curious about the prince's mysterious friend—rumors aplenty but no real sightings. Still, she hadn't expected this level of slacking off.
"Sorry, Head Maid! We'll head back right now! He said he'd hold Sis's hand, so I brought him!"
"You're not seriously buying into that nonsense, are you?"
Perry frowned and scolded her lightly. But Nihil, aware that even Perry carried a "lucky gold coin" in her pocket, found the reprimand ridiculous. He arched a brow as if to say you don't believe it? and held out his hand.
Perry snatched up the small hand in a flash, then caught herself and cleared her throat.
"Ahem, young master, what happened to your hand?"
Smooth deflection.
Nihil snorted dismissively and turned to the pregnant woman.
Anna giggled and chimed in.
"But seeing the young master's pretty face just lifts your spirits, right, Sis?"
"Oh, y-yeah. He's really... pretty..."
Marilyn, who'd been staring blankly at Nihil, snapped to and answered hastily.
He was pretty, sure, but there was something oddly soothing about looking at him.
A normal kid might blush or puff up at all the "pretty" comments, but he stayed utterly expressionless. He seemed almost like a spirit from the rumors—maybe he didn't understand human speech well?
"Um... do you understand words?"
"... ."
"Ah, n-no, not like that! I just meant... are you really some kind of spirit...?"
Marilyn hurriedly explained as Nihil raised a brow.
Spirit or not, his expression made it clear he understood perfectly. The mysterious pretty boy suddenly stepped forward and offered his hand.
His intent was obvious—just a quick hand-hold and he'd be gone—so Marilyn extended hers.
"Your hand... does it hurt?"
"... ."
Ignoring the question, Nihil gripped her wrist. Startled by the sudden grasp, Marilyn reflexively tried to pull away but froze, worried she'd jostle the bandaged wound.
The beautiful boy had closed his eyes by now. The mood felt too solemn to interrupt, so she just watched, dazed.
His lashes are so long...
His snow-white lashes were long and lush, fluttering with every blink. Staring at them vacantly, Marilyn suddenly met a tiny universe as his eyes cracked open. The kaleidoscope of colors was so captivating that her hand rose unbidden.
The universe shyly retreated a step.
Finally snapping out of it, Marilyn realized she'd nearly touched the young master and begged forgiveness.
"S-Sorry! I didn't mean to."
The boy, serene as his cosmic gaze, simply stared blankly at her before placing a hand on her swollen belly. His touch was so gentle that her lips curved into a smile despite herself.
She figured the bulge had secretly fascinated him, even if he didn't show it, so she let him touch freely.
Just then, she felt a kick. It was a gentle one—the baby was so calm she rarely felt much movement.
"Looks like our little Nyamnyam likes you too."
"... ."
Marilyn smiled as she said it, but felt a twinge of awkwardness at the boy's unchanging blank face.
He prodded the belly a few times, then wordlessly left the room. Marilyn murmured glumly, a bit hurt by his curt demeanor.
"...The young master must be really shy."
Anna stroked her sister's belly as she replied.
"Sis, this is a long time for him. He's so skittish—he vanishes the second you get close. Today he tried to leave, but I grabbed him."
"Anna, don't be rude to the young master."
"Yeah, but the physician kept saying ominous things. You were suffering too. I know it's silly nonsense, but... you know how they say seeing a pure white beast brings luck? I thought maybe..."
"Thanks for thinking of me, Anna. But what if... just hypothetically... the baby is stillborn...?"
"Sis! Don't say that!"
"She's right, Marilyn! You've made it this far."
Marilyn's husband Jonathan and Anna twisted their faces. The head maid and other maids bowed their heads helplessly.
Marilyn's health wasn't great. She'd been warned pregnancy would be tough from the start.
Joy at the miracle of conception was short-lived—early warnings of miscarriage risk, then later chances of birth defects or stillbirth, with advice to terminate.
Still, Marilyn refused to give up. She didn't believe another miracle would come if she lost this chance.
As the mood darkened, the head maid shooed the maids back to work.
Marilyn spoke heavily.
"Anna, I don't want to accept it either. But..."
Bang—
The door flew open again, and a snowy figure slipped in.
"...Young master?"
"Yip."
Marilyn's eyes widened in shock. Nihil, who'd left without a word, was back—clutching a squeaking puppy and a pretty glass bottle adorned with a ribbon.
Ignoring the stunned room, Nihil kicked the door shut and handed Marilyn the ribbon-tied vial.
Staring at the dainty, gift-like bottle, Marilyn smiled brightly.
"Is this a gift for me?"
Nihil nodded vaguely and mimed drinking to show it was for consumption.
"Something to drink? Thank you, young master."
Nihil bobbed his head at her thanks, approached, and gently placed a hand on her belly. He tapped lightly with his fingers, and the baby responded with a kick, as if in reply.
Repeating this a few times, Nihil's lips twitched faintly upward. He leaned in and planted a soft kiss on the swell, then set the puppy atop it.
Marilyn burst into delighted laughter without thinking. She'd been a bit baffled when he left silently, but his return with a "gift" was utterly endearing. If someone else's child could be this lovable, how much more her own?
As Marilyn thought this and reached for the boy's fluffy white head, a knock sounded: knock knock.
"Who is it?"
"Sir Evan here. Is the prince's friend in there?"
"Oh! Yes, Sir Evan. Come in."
At the invitation, Evan flung the door open. He looked a bit urgent, but the moment he spotted Nihil, he scooped him up under one arm.
"Gotta borrow this kid."
With that, Evan vanished like the wind, not waiting for a reply.