CH 34

“Trixie!”

One of the servants urgently looked for her and asked if she could bring it to him, as he was worried that Sir Adler had skipped lunch today. Except for Leone, the people in the main building would take turns visiting the dining room to eat. It was because the servants were reluctant to come to the main building, so they couldn’t even bring food to the people in the main building. But today Adler didn’t come.

“Oh, of course.”

“I’m so glad I have Trixie. Originally, everyone couldn’t go to the main building, so even if Sir. Adler starved, he would stomp here.”

“I will help you.”

Tom, the firewood manager, who was fearless and had been able to get around Leone’s unnoticed, had offered to help her. He was the eyewitness to the shirt-binding incident.

Tom and she walked through the woods carrying heavy food.

“Hey, Trixie.”

“Yes.”

“You crawled on all fours with Leone-nim. Why did you do that?”

“Not crawling… I didn’t do that.”

From that person’s point of view, she was just curious. A little woman suddenly appeared, frolicking like Leone and her beast.

“It was just eye-level.”

“At eye level?”

“Sir Leone is very wary of people. If you look down from above, of course it’s bound to be scary.”

“Oh oh.”

She answered awkwardly. Tom put a soft admiration in his mouth. They only had a brief conversation, but they arrived at the main building before they knew it.

But it was strangely quiet.

It hasn’t been that loud lately, but now something… A majestic aura like the night before the storm seemed to surround the mansion.

“There…  I can’t even go inside the mansion… That’s right.”

Tom did nothing but replenish firewood outside; he never went in or out of the house. It was a face full of denial.

“Oh right. Then put it in front of the front door. I’ll take both.”

“Yep.”

Tom brought food to the top of the steps in front of the front door and then disappeared. She pushed her foot through the slightly open crack and opened the door. Beyond that, the lobby came into view at a glance.

“Trixie.”

She heard Leon’s voice. The first thing she saw was Benjamin, who stood with a serious face. In front of him, Leone was sitting in a stretched position on the sofa. The long legs were not stowed in, so they were sticking out.

Adler and Gourden stood a little further away. Both of them had a clear expression of nervousness on their faces.

“Trixie.”

While she was checking the situation for a while, Leone called her again. Men’s eyes also turned to me.

Leone’s eyes were round as he poked her head out from the back of the sofa.

“They said you didn’t eat… I was asked to deliver.”

“Ah. Put it on the table over there.”

At Adler’s command, she moved the tray to the table in front of the fireplace. She turned around to move what Tom had left behind, but Leone, who was watching her, jumped up. The man in the shirt was very unfamiliar.

“Leone. We are in class.”

Benjamin stopped in front of him as he suddenly seemed to be escaping. But Leone didn’t even look at him and walked past him to the front door. He walks on all fours.

‘Are you avoiding me again…?’

For some reason, a sense of sadness came over while seeing Leone’s back as he walked away. After the night’s conversation where she was said that she was not hated, she thought she would spend the same time with Leone, but Leone didn’t even show his face well for two weeks.

It was to the point where she thought it was right he was avoiding her no matter what. If they bumped into each other while walking down the hallway, Leone would disappear before she called. He learned well enough not to be lacking, so she couldn’t go next to him because he wanted to do well.

She tried hard to interpret those words. Was it the heart of a child who wants to show the guardian a developed look at once? Could she wait and cheer for him? But no matter how she thought about it, he avoided her too blatantly for that.

‘So sad! You’re saying I’m going to be a stumbling block, Leone…’

Her mind got complicated. Still, she tried her best to help… Wasn’t the saying that raising children was useless used in times like those.

“He stood on his own two feet… !”

She heard Adler’s thrilling voice and came to her senses.

Standing on his own two feet, Leone stood in front of the porch and bowed to her. Then he lifted the heavy tray on the porch.

Eh? Wasn’t he leaving?

“Uh. Leone. That’s mine.”

“It’s heavy.”

He gave her short and firm words, and he passed her by and put here on the table.

“It’s fine.”

“Me too, I’m fine.”

Kindness emanated from the blunt voice.

‘Hehehe. Look at our child’s consideration.’

But wasn’t he avoiding her? Did he just want to properly show his progress?

‘Ohoho.’

As if she had never been sad, her heart felt lighter.

“Oh oh.”

“Good job. Leone. It is good to help someone.”

At first, she thought Leone was leaving, but when she realized that he was trying to help her, Benjamin called out to Leone with a happy face. Leone didn’t answer and went back to the sofa and sat down on his back. Unlike his arrogant posture earlier, his straight body line was elegant.

“What are you doing?”

She walked over to Gourden and whispered.

“They are trying to wear shoes today.”

Even the shoes… Benjamin. He was such a bulldozer educator.

“Teacher. Long time no see.”

“Yes. Long time no see, Gourden.”

These days, Gourden also had nothing to do, so he solved the dirty work requested by the servants of the annex. His dexterity was excellent, as he had done all kinds of chores besides training in the circus. Instead of being able to go to Leone’s side, she was busy cleaning the inside of the main building. So, she really didn’t have to run into Gourden.

“I thought that shoes might be too much, so I decided to hold an observation class for Sir Leone’s possible seizure. I don’t want Mr. Benjamin to get hurt.”

“Aha.”

Middle-aged men who were really serious about wearing children’s shoes… That was a little cute.

“Shoes start with putting the foot inside.”

At Benjamin’s words, Leone frowned and raised his feet. He seemed hesitant. Leone looked at her once. Unknowingly, she put her hands together and cheered.

“Yes, like that. Fight…!”

Benjamin’s voice rose. He was a comfortable leather shoe with no straps. He only touched lightly, but Leone’s face was filled with displeasure. He looked close to disgust. Seeing Leone like that, her mouth opened involuntarily.

“Leone.”

“Yes.”

Leone looked back at her and she approached him

“No?”

If he forced himself too much, suppressing unpleasant feelings because of his desire to improve, it would explode later.

Even so Leone shook his head like an adult.

“No.”

“Then, do you want to try them on?”

“… yes.”

Leone courageously nodded his head. Then she decided: she had to help.

She knelt down in front of him.

“… Trixie.”

Leone murmured softly. A pleasant voice flowed into her ears like wind.

“What is Miss Trixie doing-”

“Gourden, shh.”

She knew that he had to do it alone, and that he had to adapt to people’s things in preparation for going to the imperial castle someday, but she was worried about Leone’s stress. It seemed that she had to train him to get used to the touch and sensation. Wouldn’t it be good for Leone if she helped him recognize putting on shoes as a fun game?

“I’m glad you want to wear shoes. Actually, I also thought it would be better if you wore shoes rather than getting hurt all the time. Look at this, it’s full of scars.”

She reached out and tried to grab Leone’s big feet. Seeing the scarred feet made her feel a little sad.

“Ah.”

Leone bit his foot as if surprised.

“Oh, is it itchy? Sorry. Slowly- uh.”

It didn’t look ticklish. Leone got down from the chair and fell on his knees on the floor.

Getting down on his knees was a very human attitude.

“I… Trixie.”

“Are you going to do it? You don’t have to push yourself.”

Leone’s big, long hands wrapped around her arm at once. A strong yet gentle force lifted her up. She was seated in a chair so naturally and comfortably that she wondered if it would feel like lying on a cloud.

“I.”

In a short time, Leone’s tone became more natural. He slowly slipped his foot into the shoe. He felt awkward with his feet dangling in the hole, as if he didn’t know where to go.

She smiled and gestured. She waved her hand forward as if fanning it, meaning to push his foot in slowly.

“… ah.”

Leone watched the action and let out a shriek. She knew he would push his foot straight through. However, he suddenly fell to his knees.

“Lee, Leone.”

She looked up in amazement. Her feet were still hanging awkwardly in my shoes. As Adler had done, he knelt down and made eye contact with me. Whenever she was standing, she was always at eye level with Leone. So it was nothing strange. But it felt strange to see Leone on his knees like a knight swearing to her

“That, not that. Shoes… ”

Did he misunderstand her gesture as asking him to kneel? It was like courtship.

“Haha…”

Her eyes rolled and rolled.

“Huh.”

Benjamin let out a low exclamation with a meaningful smile. Adler was shaking with shock, admiration, and delight in his eyes. Gourden next to him was no different.

“A noble and dignified appearance to anyone’s eyes…! He has become a full-fledged man. Everyone will praise him.”

Adler’s muttering to himself sounded a little frightening.

“Sir Adler. It seems the time has come.”

It was Benjamin who broke the silence and opened his mouth.

“Even if Sir Leone refuses, I think it would be better to change the education method. I guess I’m not good enough.”

“You think so, Benjamin.”

“Yes.”

“Yes. Even if I think… That’s right. After all, it would be nice to have Trixie.”

“Yes. So Trixie. Please come back to class.”

“Yes?”

Back to class? Involuntarily, she looked at Leone.

Won’t he avoid her?

Leone seemed not interested in Benjamin’s words, but he was still sitting on his knees, looking at her. Eyes that were kind and warm somewhere. She had the illusion that emotions were swirling inside. Maybe that’s why she just turned her eyes away.

Seriously, if someone gave him a sword, he could be a knight who would shine in the most in the century.

“Leone. Trixie will be back.”

Benjamin came over and explained clearly to Leone. As soon as Leone heard that, he jumped up.

“… teacher.”

Standing on two legs, Leone was much taller than Benjamin. Besides, Leone was glaring at Benjamin as if he wanted to punch him. The atmosphere became grim. It was as if Benjamin would fly with just one swing of his fist by Leone.

“You look happy.”

“Teacher.”

Leone’s voice was calm. However, unless you were an idiot, you could tell he was dissatisfied.

His mind was complicated. Leone’s eyes looking at her were friendly. So it’s not like he really hated it. He didn’t like being by her side, did he? Otherwise, there was no reason to be so threatening.

So, to Leone… She became the kind of person one wanted to keep a distance from and didn’t want to get closer than necessary.

She didn’t know why or the cause. It just happened.

Her mouth was bitter.