Now that Hiram and Scarlet weren’t around, it was the perfect opportunity. I wanted to spend some quality time with Lewin, who had been cooped up in the mansion, making memories! He’d been eating too many cookies lately, so I was a bit worried about his health, and this would be a good chance for him to run around like a child and release a ton of stress.
And at the same time, I could boost our bond quite a bit.
“Keup…!”
Dorian couldn’t help but laugh at Lewin. As a duke, his laugh was composed and refined, and he quickly stifled it so that Lewin wouldn’t feel embarrassed—but I heard everything.
A somewhat stained wooden plank. A floor with no cushion that looked like it would make your backside sore. Large, sturdy wheels that seemed like they would transmit every bump mercilessly.
‘I shouldn’t have insisted on riding this…’
I immediately regretted it the moment I saw the wagon. Of course, I couldn’t show it. Lewin was beside me, his eyes shining with intensity.
The human heart is so fickle. The moment I saw the wagon, I wanted to wait an hour before even getting on, but it seemed like I was the only one thinking that.
From Lewin’s perspective, this wagon seemed like the back of a dragon. He was stomping his feet and swinging his legs, clearly eager to climb aboard.
He was doing his best to sit still, but he couldn’t actually manage it.
“Shall I bring a cushion for you?”
“…No. That would just be cumbersome. Thank you for the offer, though.”
Dorian had noticed my glance and tentatively brought up the cushion. But I silently refused.
I probably wouldn’t ride this again on the way back, and if I took a cushion, I’d have to carry it around during the whole journey.
In the end, we simply climbed into the wagon without any cushioning. Several empty crates were a bonus. Luckily, the crates smelled pleasantly of sweet, fresh fruit.
I guessed the cargo must have been food supplies. Thank goodness.
There was barely any room to put our legs in the flat wagon. I leaned against the railing and sat cross-legged, placing Lewin on my lap.
Dorian sat opposite me. He watched me quietly for a moment before saying,
“That’s an unusual way to sit.”
“Unusual?”
My dress hid most of my legs, but the silhouette was visible, so apparently my posture was noticeable. Well, I had nothing to say to being called unusual, so I simply shot back that remark and closed my mouth.
A silence settled over the wagon.
Come to think of it, I heard that the coachman was deaf… I couldn’t be sure, but I had to trust him for now.
Every time the wagon jolted, Lewin’s bag bounced. The sound of hooves came at a steady rhythm. Perhaps because it was summer, the sunlight felt quite harsh.
Dorian’s eyes, opposite me, were vivid. Red. I recalled the news I’d heard while running the academy about the Duke Brecht’s appearances.
<The duke appeared at the fountain square yesterday?>
Even for trivial things, people made a fuss.
<What is the duke even doing in that massive mansion?>
Duke Brecht—Dorian—rarely left his mansion, but whenever he appeared in public, rumors would spread even to the outskirts of the capital.
Part of that was due to his striking appearance: black hair and red eyes, impossible to miss anywhere.
As far as I knew, among the novel’s characters, the only one with black hair and red eyes was Duke Brecht.
Of course, someone off the novel might have black hair and red eyes, but living in this world, I noticed black hair was rare among the various hair colors.
Red eyes were rare too. I didn’t know what the author intended with this design.
Curious, I once subtly asked Dorian about black hair and red eyes.
<Do you mean someone with black hair and red eyes like me? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen anyone else, but I suppose if you looked, there might be. May I ask why you’re asking? Does this have something to do with Lewin?>
Of course, it had nothing to do with Lewin, so I just waved my hands. It was probably a special trait the author gave to the mastermind character.
The rumors about Dorian were also why I had a reason to stay in the capital. News traveled fast here, making it easier to avoid him. It was better to stay in densely populated areas.
While I pondered this and watched his eyes, Dorian finally looked away, lowering his gaze.
“I didn’t ask to make you uncomfortable. I… just hadn’t seen someone sit like that before.”
“Oh? Ah, no. I wasn’t staring because of that either.”
“That’s a relief.”
He smiled, genuinely at ease. Such a gentle person. Every time I looked at him, I understood why Lewin was gentle too.
‘He takes after his older brother, so he’s gentle.’
I had never said this directly to Dorian. I felt he wouldn’t like it.
Even setting aside the fact that he was the mastermind, I doubted a top ten power-holder of the empire would enjoy being called gentle.
But as we sat like this, I suddenly felt like teasing him.
“Dorian, you hear that you’re gentle often, right?”
“Gentle?”
He asked, genuinely curious, not offended or embarrassed. Boring. I turned my gaze to Lewin.
“Lewin. Isn’t he gentle?”
Lewin tilted his head back to meet my eyes. His eyes widened as he asked,
“Hmm?”
So cute it brought tears to my eyes, but in the jostling wagon, it looked dangerous. I shook my head.
“Thanks for looking at mom, but leaning back is dangerous. How about looking at your brother instead?”
Lewin obediently straightened his head and looked at Dorian. Dorian cleared his throat awkwardly.
By the time we reached the commercial district, I wondered if my hips and spine would survive. It was excruciating.
“Ugh…”
The moment I stepped off the wagon, a groan escaped me. Straightening my back only made my legs ache, so I had to bend my knees slightly.
Meanwhile, Dorian was fine. Perhaps because of his muscle mass. He paid the coach while standing upright.
‘Jealous…’
I had failed to make Dorian embarrassed. He simply acknowledged that he was gentle.
Do nobles always refer to grandmothers with such formality? I’ve never been a noble or had a grandmother, so I didn’t know.
We thanked the coach briefly and turned around. Low blue rooftops came into view. I spoke cheerfully on purpose.
“So, where shall we go first?”
Though we were away from the sea, the commercial district still smelled of it. The buildings were plastered with white walls.
It was midday, so no shops were closed.
Dorian asked me in return,
“What would you like to do first?”
“Let’s walk around a bit first.”
I had something in mind.
First, I wanted to check if items I was considering were already being sold. Finding the right plot of land could wait.
At the same time, walking through the shops could create happy memories for Lewin.
“Lewin, is there anything you want to eat?”
I asked lightly. But Lewin, holding my hand, looked odd. His face was pale.
“…Hmm.”
“Are you not feeling well?”
He hadn’t complained on the wagon, so I assumed he was fine. But maybe he had been too gentle to say a word.
Motion sickness? Or sore muscles like me?
Dorian’s expression while looking at Lewin was serious. His face stiffened.
Dorian lifted Lewin and whispered softly to comfort him.
“I’ll hold you. That way, you won’t fall, Lewin.”
His voice was soothing.
Lewin nodded. Looking closely, his eyes were red. Only then did I understand why he looked unwell.
‘…He was found in a market too.’
Coincidentally, there was a fish shop in that market.
Even though the capital and this market differed in building design, roof colors, and even the intensity of the sea smell, it was enough to trigger the child’s trauma.
His small hand held onto Dorian’s shoulder. I took it gently.
“That’s right. You won’t fall this time.”
Lewin sniffled. He hadn’t cried but had come close.
In wanting to give him fun experiences, I had overlooked the potential triggers for his trauma. It was completely understandable.
The child’s small, restless back gradually relaxed. Dorian’s hand stroked his back. The sight of Lewin safely in his arms was vivid.
I said brightly,
“Shall we all go explore together? I’ll buy you as many treats as you want, Lewin. We can even get new toys. Just tell Mom or your brother what you want.”
I deliberately emphasized ‘we’, ‘the three of us’, ‘together’ repeatedly. Lewin nodded slightly.
I nudged Dorian’s side with my elbow. He replied cheerfully in a surprisingly bright voice,
“Let’s go. Look, there’s something tasty over there, Lewin.”
I followed his gaze and saw an ice cream shop not far away.
Wait, hadn’t Lewin cried when he had ice cream before?
I looked at Dorian skeptically. He didn’t notice at all.
He gave a faint, somewhat bittersweet smile. I sighed.
“Alright, let’s have some ice cream first and then decide what to do next.”
