Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Third-Floor Greenhouse
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"-Did you know?"
"-Know what?"
"-They say there's a huge library on the first floor."
"-I had no idea! How do you get there?"
So on the first day, I went to see the library.
I wanted to read a picture book, but since I hadn't learned to read yet, I took the most popular book recommended by the librarian and went to find Rosaria, who was waiting in my room.
As I wandered around, I realized the mansion was so big that it was clear no one really knew where anything was.
"-I heard there's a place on the second floor where you can observe the night sky. The whole ceiling is made of glass, apparently."
"-I had no idea! We should go in the evening then, right?"
Unfortunately, I had to sleep at night, so I couldn't go. I'll have to go someday.
"Where should I go today?"
Squeak, squeak.
Actually, when I first said I wanted to explore the mansion by myself, Rosaria had tried to stop me, saying I couldn't.
But Kaide gave his permission, and I was allowed to leave my room.
"-It's not like she's asking to go outside. We should at least let her roam freely around the house."
That's what he'd said.
To be honest, I had no desire to go outside by myself either. Little kids aren't supposed to go out alone.
Rosaria had warned me several times that there were lots of scary things that go "roar."
First, I'll conquer the mansion!
Squeak, squeak.
Squeak, squeak, squeak.
But contrary to my grand goal, there was something I hadn't anticipated.
"Hmph. My legs ache."
My stamina was too low. I'd been walking around since morning, half with excitement and half with anticipation, and I was starting to get tired.
Isn't there somewhere I can sit and rest?
Tapping my legs, I looked around and spotted a lone chair sitting by itself.
"Hmm?"
Was that always there?
Delighted, I scampered over and plopped down onto the chair.
Then I opened the water bottle she had hung around my neck, telling me to drink whenever I was thirsty.
Pop.
A small straw popped out.
I took a sip of water and looked around the hallway.
The atmosphere in the mansion had been chaotic lately. I'd overheard that guests would be arriving soon.
How many people were coming that everyone was too busy to even catch their breath?
The hallway was unusually bustling, as if no one had a moment to sit down.
As I sat there, swinging my legs back and forth, two men with rather serious expressions came out of a room with a black door.
"Yudis."
"Yes, Sir Orca."
"There's a greenhouse garden on the third floor of the mansion, isn't there?"
"That's right. There are always snacks prepared there, too."
My ears perked up.
I listened closely to the rather interesting topic.
"The young masters' rooms are also on the third floor. Have you been there, by any chance?"
No! Where is that? I've never been there.
"Aileen doesn't know where that is, so I haven't been."
The third floor? So there's a greenhouse with snacks, and Set and Arban are there too!
My eyes sparkled.
I want to go!
"Aileen wants to go."
But I was out of energy to go by myself, and the mansion was too big.
I'd have to climb stairs to get there, and this was the first floor.
"......Aileen wanna go, but it's too far. I miss Rosaria."
I keenly felt Rosaria's absence. Tears welled up. My nose started to sting.
Just as I was starting to feel sorry for myself, suddenly missing Rosaria, I sensed a flurry of movement.
I rubbed my reddened eyes and looked ahead.
"Ahem! Sir Orca. Could you please take this to the third floor?"
"Yes, I'll do that."
"Then I'll see you later. Oh! Isn't that Lady Aileen?"
I quickly nodded my head. At the same time, I glanced at the man called Orca.
Fidget, fidget.
I idly fiddled with the fingers holding my water bottle and parted my lips.
"Orca."
"Yes."
"Orca, you going to the third floor?"
"I am."
Orca, with his white hair and white eyes, stared at me, waiting for my next words.
If I ask him to take me with him, will he?
Worried he might just leave, I quickly hopped off the chair.
In my haste, I reached out and gently tugged on his sleeve.
Orca flinched and drew a sharp breath. For a moment, a flicker of anticipation seemed to cross his white eyes.
"Aileen... wanna go to the third floor."
"..."
"But my legs really hurt."
I rummaged through my bag.
I remembered something I'd heard when I visited the meeting room a while ago.
"I'm not asking for help for nothing."
"Oh, is that so?"
Yudis chimed in with a bright smile.
"Aileen is a baby bird that repays kindness!"
I learned that when you receive help, you have to give something in return.
So I have to give Orca a present.
I rummaged through my bag and pulled out a long, clear tube filled with star candy.
Fortunately, Orca seemed interested in the star candy.
"Is that your payment?"
"Yep. It's Aileen's most prized possession."
"To understand such a concept already, you are very clever."
Orca looked somewhat surprised.
I beamed. The truth was, I'd just remembered something Kaide had muttered while looking at some documents.
"-These bastards are always clamoring for help with empty hands. I should just thrash them."
If you receive something, you must give something in return. That was an immutable truth.
I said seriously.
"Aileen doesn't like free stuff. If you like stuff like that, you get thrashed."
As I puffed out my chest proudly, the amused smiles on Yudis's and Orca's faces froze solid.
* * *
"The garden is down the hallway to the left. You'll see a glass door, so you should be able to find it right away."
Holding Orca's hand, I had arrived on the third floor before I knew it.
I felt like I needed to remember the way back, so from the halfway point, I asked him to put me down.
I carefully noted what I saw, memorizing each detail.
When we reached our destination, I handed him the star candy I was holding.
"Thank you for bringing me. Here's Aileen's present."
"I will accept it gratefully."
Orca accepted the star candy with a complicated expression.
His expression hadn't been very good for a while. Considering Yudis had looked the same, there must have been a reason.
I was excited at the thought of finally going to the garden.
I couldn't go outside, so I thought I had to give up on playing in a garden, but to think there was a greenhouse!
If I have time, I should go look for Set and Arban, too.
I said goodbye to Orca, who hadn't left yet.
"Aileen's gonna go now. Bye-bye, Orca!"
"...Yes, Lady Aileen. I hope you have a good time as well."
"Yep!"
Squeak, squeak, squeak.
The quiet hallway echoed brightly with the sound of my sandals.
When I get to the garden, I'll lay out my snacks and eat them all!
Just as Orca had told me, I walked straight down the left corridor and, sure enough, there was a white door with a transparent window.
"Woah."
My eyes widened. It had a completely different feel from the mansion's outdoor garden.
"It's pretty."
I pushed the door open and went inside. Koi fish were swimming in an artificial spring.
A squirrel that had been nibbling on an acorn in a tree scurried out of sight when I appeared.
Unlike the forest, which was sealed off to prevent other creatures from entering, this place felt very lively.
I really liked this place and beamed.
"Aileen will make this her secret hideout."
I plopped down on the grass and took off the bag I was wearing.
*Rumble.*
I turned the bag upside down and shook it, and snacks came tumbling out.
As I was wondering what to eat first, I sensed a presence from between the bushes.
*Rustle.*
"Hmm?"
I turned my head in the direction of the sound.
I think I heard something.
I shot to my feet and walked toward where the sound came from. And there, I came face to face with someone unexpected.
It was Arban, hiding among the bushes.
"Arban?"
"What the. Why are you here?"
"Arban!"
"Be quiet! What are you going to do if they find us!"
Arban seemed frantic. He put a finger to his lips and went, "Shh!" to tell me to be quiet. I slapped my hands over my mouth.
As I held my breath and darted my eyes around, Arban emerged from the bushes, brushing off his clothes.
Who was he hiding from?
Whatever the reason, I smiled happily at the sight of him.
Arban sighed, his expression clearly showing his annoyance.
It was our first meeting since we parted in the dining hall.