Cold -2-

"Huh...?"

Olivia stared blankly at the firmly shut door with dazed eyes, letting out a foolish sigh at Ricardo's continued absence even after a long wait.

"That's weird... Why isn't Ricardo coming?"

There was no sign of him rushing over at the slightest sound of her breathing, as he always did. The room was quiet, filled only with the ticking of the clock's second hand echoing in her empty space.

Growing tired from the endless waiting, Olivia let out an irritated sigh.

"Argh... He tells me not to stay up late, but he's the one who's late...!"

Was she just in a bad mood? Olivia pouted, huffing in annoyance.

"This sucks."

She was hungry and bored. She'd woken up early hoping for a lively morning, but Ricardo had overslept. In the Desmont family, this meant pouring your soul into breakfast. If it wasn't up to par, she might have to resort to picky eating as a form of protest. With a sigh, Olivia glanced at the clock.

Even though she'd woken up earlier than usual, the lazy butler still hadn't shown. She'd gotten up at 9:50, no less. Maybe he was preparing a grand breakfast, or something that took a lot of effort—who knew. What was certain was that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Olivia's mood wasn't great right now.

She was hungry and annoyed. It was time to scold the butler who'd lost his edge. Of course, as an unscrupulous employer who never paid his wages, any scolding would just lead to him retorting, "Then pay me my back wages," leaving her speechless. Still, Olivia was angry at her butler's slothfulness.

"Why isn't he coming..."

Olivia grumbled while lying cozily in bed. Today, being alone felt especially boring, so she fidgeted with her fingers to stave off the tedium.

"Hmm... This is no fun."

Playing alone was just no good. Talking nonsense with Ricardo passed the time much better and was way more entertaining. Especially since he'd promised to show her the newly decorated mansion today...

"When's he coming..."

Her stomach was growling so much she couldn't even focus on guarding the house, she thought.

So... come quick.

"I'm bored."

Olivia said softly to Gomtangi, curled up beside the bed.

"Hey."

Gomtangi didn't even pretend to listen, just snorting dismissively. He obeyed Ricardo's every word like magic but brushed off her own as if they were nothing—this insolent bear-dog.

"I'm gonna stew you into real bear soup."

Olivia genuinely craved gomtangi right now—not the one in front of her, but the actual dish. The rich, milky broth Ricardo sometimes made was so good; he'd called it sagol or something, full of energy-boosting power. The thought made her mouth water. Gomtangi, sensing the mad hunger in her eyes, shuddered and lazily stood up.

-Grrr.

"Yeah, you. Go get Ricardo."

-Grrr?

Gomtangi tilted his head, then flopped back down. Olivia, enraged by her cheeky pet's lazy glare that screamed don't bother me, hurled her attachment pillow at him.

"You damn bear!"

Thwack! The pillow hit Gomtangi's back squarely, but the fluffy thing couldn't even scratch him.

-Grrr.

With a low, mocking rumble, he sprawled out again. Furious at this insolence testing her patience—especially with Ricardo already late—Olivia yelled louder. Her tolerance was hitting rock bottom.

"Emergency rations!"

-Grrr?

"Get over here!"

-Grrr.

ㅗ

He clearly didn't understand human speech, but it felt like a big fuck off. That thought flashing through her mind made Olivia snap.

"Arrrgh!!!!"

After a long tussle, the bed held only a single blanket. Olivia glared at the rice-guzzling pest scratching his head with his hind leg. Gomtangi stared back in bewilderment at her huffing. He sauntered over, grabbed the blanket clutched in her hand with his teeth, and started crawling away.

"Argh! Don't take it!!!"

-Groooowl!

Thinking it a game of tug-of-war, Gomtangi shook his head fiercely to yank the blanket from his lady. "Argh!" The young lady was dragged helplessly along. Maybe because he wasn't your average pup, but Olivia—whose body had long ago quit exercise—could never beat his muscled bulk. Dragged across the floor. "Arrrgh!" In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the end, her bed was empty. Staring blankly at the stripped bed, Olivia's thoughts turned to the still-absent Ricardo, a different emotion creeping in.

What'll he say when he sees this mess? He'd definitely sigh and scold her. But the one who would scold her wasn't coming.

"Why... isn't he coming?"

Olivia hung her head sullenly, fidgeting with her fingers as she thought of Ricardo next door and knocked on the wall. Knock.

"Ricardo."

Knock knock.

"Ricardo, you up?"

Knock knock knock...

"I'm hungry..."

No response to her one-sided monologue. With a deep sigh, Olivia resolved to go find her tardy butler herself.

And then.

Her heart began to pound a little.

The memory from yesterday she'd momentarily forgotten.

-Does it hurt?

-No.

Ricardo's flushed face and excited breaths came back to her. She'd fallen for his sweet-talking flattery and let it slide, but now, recalling it slowly, Olivia's calm expression hardened coldly.

"Huh...?"

Knock...

"Ricardo, are you sick?"

Knock knock knock...

"Ricardo?"

Come to think of it, had Ricardo ever been an hour late? Suspicion turned to certainty. Certainty to fear.

Olivia stared at the door, so far away. Her legs—Pexri No.1—was parked downstairs, so nothing here could carry her. The firmly shut door was too distant for legless Olivia to reach. Less than ten steps, yet impossible. Her face flushed with urgency.

"Uh... um... this won't do..."

I need to check on Ricardo.

Her stupid legs wouldn't obey her frantic heart. The waist-high doorknob loomed like a cliffside flower.

As her panicked eyes darted around.

-Grrr.

Gomtangi licked her hand, then offered his back and sat calmly.

"What..."

-Grrr.

Gomtangi sat staring at the door, as if saying hop on. His sturdy back gave her pause, but she reached out slowly. What if I fall? What if I scrape my knee? Worries brief. Urgency pushed her: I have to be brave.

Slowly. As her hand grasped his scruff—

Thud!

"Eek!"

Gomtangi's sudden spin sent Olivia face-first to the floor.

"Ngh..."

Drip. Nosebleed. Wiping it with her sleeve, Olivia glared at Gomtangi with murderous eyes, muttering.

"Argh... you damn bear!"

-Grrr.

"You were supposed to carry me!"

-Groowl?

Gomtangi scratched his head once, then naturally chomped her collar.

"Eek..."

-Grrr.

Shoulders hiked like on a coat hanger, Olivia eyed his wagging thumb-thick tail.

"What."

-Grrr.

"Scared I'd be too heavy?"

-Grrr grrr.

"You damn bear... Sigh..."

Olivia pointed at the door with a sigh.

"There."

-Grrr.

"Take me there."

Dragged along mop-like, Olivia pouted as she was pulled.

-Groooowl.

"Hurry. Ricardo's sick."

-Grrr.

Olivia was scared. Afraid her foolish butler had lied again.

"Hurry..."

Terrified.

*

Creeeak.

With Gomtangi's help, they reached Ricardo's room.

"Ricardo...?"

Olivia peeked through the slightly ajar door. Curtains blocked the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠windows, making the room pitch dark. Only faint light from the hall silhouetted desk and bed. Spooky enough for ghosts, but Olivia swallowed and mustered courage.

"Ricardo... sleeping?"

No answer. Just Ricardo's steady snores responding to her question.

"Sleep...ing?"

"Hah... hah..."

The room was stifling hot. Even in winter chill, the warmth was unnatural—Ricardo, who preferred cool air, never left the heater on while sleeping. As the heat brushed her cheeks, Olivia's heart raced wildly.

She crawled on the floor. Undignified for a noble, but somehow it eased her mind a bit. Scary. Frightening.

"Ricardo..."

And then.

Olivia really hated herself.