Chapter 42

“Huff, huff.”

As soon as the horse came to a halt, Beatty tumbled to the ground, gasping for breath.

“Hm?”

Carl didn’t understand.

They had both ridden the horse, so why was his little sister panting as if she had sprinted the entire way?

“Is there something on the ground?”

She clung to the grass as if it were a lifeline, her fingers gripping it desperately.

A wave of indignation rose in Beatty’s chest.

You’re the reason I nearly lost my life just now, and you don’t even realize it?!

Just as she was about to explode in righteous fury—

“You can admire the grass later. Look up.”

At Carl’s words, Beatty reflexively lifted her head—

And her eyes widened at the sight before her.

“What do you think?”

Carl’s voice carried an unmistakable note of pride, and for once, Beatty understood why.

It was breathtaking.

Nestled within the towering mountains, a vast expanse of open land stretched before her—something she had never noticed despite living here and looking up at these very peaks every day.

And at the center of it all—

“…This is…”

A massive lake.@@novelbin@@

So large and pristine that it was hard to believe it sat atop a mountain.

The moment Beatty murmured in awe, Carl responded with a grin.

“This is Aslan Lake.”

The still waters mirrored the surrounding peaks like a flawless glass surface.

It was the largest lake Beatty had ever seen.

“Wow.”

The word escaped her without thought.

The crisp scent of the lake breeze.

The rustling green leaves that seemed to wash away her fatigue.

Hoo.

Beatty closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply.

“Hm.”

Carl watched his sister with satisfaction.

Just like a sprout.

A moment ago, she had looked withered and exhausted.

But after a little sunlight, she was full of life again.

“See? Wasn’t it worth riding the horse?”

“……”

Hearing the smug satisfaction in his voice immediately dulled the beauty of the moment.

Beatty muttered under her breath.

“I’m never riding a horse again.”

“Huh?”

Noticing her unimpressed expression, Carl looked confused.

“You don’t like horseback riding?”

“It’s not about liking or disliking it. I don’t even know how to ride yet.”

“!”

For some reason, Carl looked utterly shocked.

Wait, at my age, just sitting on a pony would be impressive… Now that I think about it, how did Carl even learn to ride such a massive horse on his own?

Is this really okay, Aslan family?

As she furrowed her brows in deep concern over the safety standards of the ducal house, Carl spoke again.

“Don’t tell me… you don’t like hunting either?”

“No, it’s not that… I’ve never done it before.”

Having never tried it, she had no strong feelings either way.

“!”

Why is he so shocked?!

Carl’s expression was one of pure disbelief, as if she had just confessed to being deprived of basic human rights.

Watching his reaction, Beatty couldn’t help but think—

There’s something seriously wrong with this household if they expect kids to be trained hunters already.

After staring at her for a while, Carl let out a sigh, then reached for something he had tied to his saddle.

“…Then I guess this was pointless.”

“Huh…?”

Carl pulled out a small bow and a quiver of arrows—clearly sized for a child.

The ebony wood of the bow gleamed with careful maintenance, and the arrows looked freshly oiled, their fletching shimmering in the light.

For a moment, Carl stared at the arrows in his hands, his expression unreadable.

He almost looked… disappointed.

“Uh, maybe I can practice at the estate instead?”

She wasn’t about to let herself get dragged into a hunting trip on top of the traumatic horseback ride.

This should be a safe compromise, right?

Her hesitant suggestion was met with—

Oh… his eyes just got bigger.

Carl’s entire expression brightened.

“Pfft.”

“?”

Beatty found herself chuckling despite herself.

“Why are you laughing?”

Carl tilted his head, puzzled.

Somehow, seeing him react so happily was… kind of endearing.

Shaking her head, Beatty said, “It’s nothing. Anyway, we should head back before mealtime—”

Rustle.

“…What is that?”

“Hm?”

Beatty’s voice trembled as she pointed behind Carl.

He turned to look—

And standing there, half-hidden behind the trees, was an enormous snake.

Far larger than Carl himself.

Shhiiiik—!

Its gaping maw revealed venomous fangs that gleamed ominously in the light.

No…

Beatty’s face turned pale.

The memory of fangs sinking into flesh—of cold, numbing poison—flashed through her mind.

But before she could react, a broad back stepped in front of her.

Shff.

A single, fluid motion.

Carl’s sword sliced cleanly through the air—

Thunk.

The snake barely had time to register its death before its severed body slumped to the ground.

Carl didn’t even glance at the fallen beast.

Instead, he casually inspected his sword—

Is there any blood?

Making sure none of it had splattered onto Beatty, he gave the blade a quick flick before sheathing it again.

“Huff…”

Beatty’s breath caught.

The sudden appearance of the snake.

The even more sudden disappearance of the snake.

She wasn’t sure what had shocked her more.

Dark red blood seeped into the earth.

“Tsk.”

Carl clicked his tongue.

He didn’t want Beatty to see unnecessary bloodstains.

For a more ‘perfect’ cleanup, he effortlessly picked up the remains and flung them into the lake.

SPLASH!

A massive spray of water erupted.

“There. All done.”

“……”

Carl acted as if he had just tossed a worm out of the flowerbed.

Meanwhile, Beatty had just witnessed the terrifying reality of northern nature.

And her brother’s complete disregard for it.

Seeing his sister frozen in place, Carl tilted his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“…That snake…”

“Have you never seen one before?”

“…Not one that big.”

Isn’t that a normal reaction?!

“Oh, right. The ones in the capital are smaller, aren’t they?”

Carl recalled something he had once heard in passing.

Nodding to himself, he reached out and gently placed a hand on Beatty’s head.

“Don’t worry.”

His smile was meant to be reassuring.

“No matter the size, I’ll cut them all down.”

“……”

That was… not as comforting as he thought.

For a brief moment, Beatty found herself worried.

Not for herself, but for the survival of all living creatures around her brother.

Meanwhile, Carl was fully committed to treating his sister like a delicate sapling.

Bringing her to the sunniest, highest point in the mountains for ‘healthy growth.’

Completely ignoring the fact that northern mountains were filled with massive predators.

He had even prepared ‘nutritional supplements’—hunting tools.

Which, unfortunately, were now useless since his sister had never even held a bow before.

Hmm. What else… Ah!

“?”

Beatty blinked as Carl suddenly turned toward her.

Seeing the dark circles under her eyes, he nodded as if coming to a conclusion.

“Kids need a lot of sleep to grow, right?”

“…Huh?”

Before she could question it, Carl led her to a small clearing by the lake.

Nestled between the trees was a wooden cabin.

It kind of looks like that place…

Beatty was reminded of the time she had taken shelter in the forest with that strange boy.

…I wonder what happened to him?

Lost in thought, she almost didn’t notice Carl setting something up.

“All done.”

“…What is this?”

Carl had tied up a sturdy leather hammock.

It was placed perfectly under the shade, catching just the right amount of warmth from the sun.

“Come here.”

With a single motion, he lifted Beatty and placed her onto the hammock.

Oh…

It rocked gently beneath her.

For a moment, she was completely engrossed.

But then—

Wait… why is Carl watching me like I’m running in a squirrel wheel?

Beatty cleared her throat, suddenly self-conscious.

With a small chuckle, Carl draped a light blanket over her.

“Now sleep.”

“…What?”

“You’re weak from lack of sleep, right?”

“I—wait, that’s not—”

Before she could protest, his hand ruffled her hair.

It was rough.

But somehow, to Beatty, it felt softer than any silk.

“……”

She didn’t know why, but her eyelids grew heavy.

The rustling leaves.

The cool lake breeze.

The occasional sound of birdsong.

As she drifted into slumber, she mumbled one last question.

“…Brother.”

“Hm?”

“…Why are you so good to me?”

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