Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Stay Still
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Lara's heart, which had plummeted, began to race wildly.
Maybe... she wasn't supposed to leave her room without permission?
This broom might be something she wasn't allowed to touch. What if they mistook her for a thief?
She suddenly recalled Helen occasionally shrieking that the little wench had stolen something. Of course, Lara hadn't stolen anything. The items Helen claimed were missing were ones she'd deliberately tucked under a pillow or beneath the bed to frame Lara.
Either way, Theodor was staring at her in silence, and Lara knew she had to say something.
She parted her lips quietly.
The window handle no longer mattered.
"There's dust..."
"......"
"I'll clean it up quick. I can do a good job."
Lara added hastily.
"Don't."
Theodor spoke to her in a cold tone.
He descended the stairs in a few long strides and snatched the broom from her grasp.
His face was set in a hard line.
"I said don't."
"......"
"I didn't bring you here to do chores like this."
Lara, now broomless, gazed up at Theodor in a daze.
"You—just stay put."
"......"
Stay put?
She couldn't stay put at the orphanage.
If she didn't pitch in, she wouldn't even score a scrap of bread.
Lara was a useless kid. She had to prove her worth somehow.
'So scrawny—whatever will we do with her?'
Theodor's words from the carriage flashed through her mind.
What he'd said after didn't matter to her now.
Skinny or not, she wanted to show she could at least handle cleaning.
'Stay put...'
How did one even stay put? What counted as staying put?
Lara dropped her gaze to the floor.
Theo sighed at the girl lost in thought before him.
'...When did she even slip out of her room?'
It was the crack of dawn—not a time for a human child to be wandering about.
Theodor could tell she'd truly been treated like an all-purpose maid back at the orphanage, slaving away at every odd job.
'Coming all this way just to pull this.'
Every time he saw that terrified look, something lodged in his chest like a stone.
It pissed him off.
He'd never had any interest in women to begin with, let alone kids. Human girls? Even less.
He had no clue how to handle her, yet here she was, agonizing over his every word like her little head might burst.
And the most she'd said since arriving? That she could clean dust fast. Bride of the Wolf or maidservant—he couldn't tell anymore.
It was so ridiculous he nearly laughed.
"......"
Theodor shot Lara a sidelong glance.
Thinking she'd messed up somehow, she still had her eyes downcast.
Marsha must have bathed her—her once dust-matted hair shone silver now, her skin scrubbed clean.
But the crisp white pajamas Marsha had dressed her in hung too loose.
She needed to put on some weight. She'd look so much better then.
Then it hit him—he was standing there like an idiot, broom in hand.
Theodor set it down awkwardly and turned to Lara.
"...Come with me."
"......"
At his words, she bowed her head in resignation. He stepped off first, with the girl trailing meekly behind.
His chest really did feel clogged. All because of his young bride.
Lara was dead certain Theodor meant to punish her. Terrified as she was, trembling all over, she had no choice but to follow in his wake.
But the place they ended up wasn't what she'd expected—it was her own room. Someone was inside.
The moment she spotted the stranger, Lara froze rigid. Theo spoke to her.
"Your chief physician. You know the butler."
"......"
"They're not here to hurt you. Relax."
His words eased the knot in Lara's chest a fraction.
As her wary edge softened just a touch, butler Marsha spoke up gently first.
"Good morning, Miss Lara. Sleep well last night?"
Lara couldn't quite meet her eyes and dipped her head in a tiny nod.
"Yes."
Her voice was so faint you might miss the reply if you weren't listening closely, but Marsha didn't seem bothered.
"And this is the doctor here to check you over, Miss Lara."
"Hello, Miss. Name's Breina."
The doctor, round glasses perched on her nose, flashed a bright smile.
"I'll be handling your health from here on out. Nice to meet you."
She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a red-striped candy stick.
"Like sweets, Miss?"
She did. On Saint Frey's day, orphanage sponsors sometimes brought treats like that.
A few years back, she'd snuck one the director never knew about. Delicious. ...Even if it'd been dropped on the floor and kinda mangled.
But why all of a sudden...?
'I'm seventeen now, though...'
Anyone could see she was past the candy-sucking age. Embarrassing.
The doctor slipped it into Lara's hesitant palm anyway.
"Here you go. Nothing loosens you up like something sweet."
Lara's cheeks pinked as she accepted it on reflex.
Theodor snorted at the scene.
Looked like he and the butler weren't the only ones clueless about humans.
Breina beamed even prouder, thrilled that the human girl had taken her carefully chosen candy.
"Time to examine you now, Miss. Master, mind stepping out for a moment?"
Marsha gave Theodor a subtle nudge.
He eyed Lara, who clutched the candy like a lifeline, and paused before speaking.
"...Don't be scared. Can't stand seeing you shake like a leaf."
Lara looked up at him.
Not the warmest tone, but relief washed over her anyway.
...He won't hurt me.
He won't hit me, even if I screw up.
She felt ashamed of her earlier trembling.
Lara gave a small nod.
"Miss, keep your eyes ahead or you might trip."
Marsha murmured to her.
Lara, gawking at her surroundings mid-stride, startled and refocused.
She stepped carefully, mindful not to let the hem of her fresh new dress trail the floor. No sense soiling such fine clothes.
Marsha watched, biting back a smile.
It had been ages since anyone new set foot in this mansion.
A human girl, no less. Not since Lady Eleonore, young master Theodor's mother, years back.
The old Diarc family head had only recently passed, but everyone knew Theodor was the new lord of Diarc.
Reopening this long-forgotten manor at such a delicate time? It meant something.
'Thank goodness we got it spruced up before the master arrived.'
Fireplaces crackled anew in the aged halls. Cooking aromas wafted, servants' footsteps echoed busily.
The dining room lay on the annex's ground floor. Its walls were a ring of vast glass panes—a clever design, perfect for meals with a view.
Aren's summers were fleeting; winter ruled most months. Tough country for crops, but Wolfkin didn't care much for farming.
That made it prime Diarc territory anyway.
Humans fared worse in the chill, though. Lady Eleonore had fitted the annex with those huge windows to frame the outdoors nicely.
To bottle up the brief summer green.
And now this human girl—the mansion's sole 'miss' since last night—had been distracted by sights all morning.
Everything caught her eye like it was brand-new.
She looked so small, so fragile. A White Weasel Beastkin like me could snap her with a nudge.
The old abuse scars bared while bathing her? Enough to furrow Marsha's brow.
'...Humans.'
Disgusting. Not a drop of beast blood, yet lower than beasts.
Marsha tsked inwardly.
Years in the human world had dulled her beast instincts plenty. But sights like this? Made her ache for beastkin lands.
The only thing keeping her here: her promise to Eleonore, Theodor's mother.
They reached the dining room. Theodor waited there.
Marsha guided the hesitant Lara to the seat across from him.
"Hungry, Miss? Bit late for breakfast—we'll have it out in a jiff."
Lara ducked her head, unused to the attention.
No one had ever fussed over her like this.
This place felt utterly alien to a girl who'd lived in the shadows.
Salad. Sauced fish braise. Fresh fruit juice. A massive pudding. Marsha and the staff set plates before her one by one.
The director and Helen ate like that sometimes. Lara had prepped orphanage meals plenty—knew exactly what they were. Her share? Never included.
But not anymore.
"Dig in, Miss Lara."
Lara stared at the heaping feast before her.
So much mouthwatering food. Lots. So, so much. Way too much.
Theo, arms crossed opposite her, met her gaze as he watched.
"...This."
After a long hesitation, Lara spoke.
"Can I... really eat it?"
Her voice brimmed with such pure innocence that Marsha's chest twinged for no reason.
Theo stared hard, then unfolded his arms.
He claimed one of her plates.
Gloved hand wielding the knife, he sliced the hefty sea bream into neat bites with elegant precision.
His motions were so graceful, Lara's eyes tracked them unbidden.
Even the last garnish veggie diced small. He slid the plate back in front of her.
"Eat. Lots."
"......"
"Gotta fatten you up first if you're gonna pull your weight, right?"