IWS Chapter 14

Chapter 14

 

I usually don’t dwell on things too much.

After all, no matter how long I ponder, the first idea that comes to mind always turns out to be the best option.

But at this very moment, agonizing over this was inevitable.

‘If it’s going to be like this every time I leave, I’m in real trouble.’

How could I make the children understand that I’ll be fine even if I go for education and that I’ll return safely?

Of course, I couldn’t guarantee 100% safety, but given that I knew how to deal with nobles, it was true that I was the safest choice to go.

But no matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with an answer.

The reason was simple—it was way too noisy around me.

“I told you, that’s Lizzie’s spot!”

“I sat here first. Why should it be yours? Explain it logically.”

“Mary’s side has always been Lizzie’s spot…!”

“You don’t even know what logic is, do you?”

For someone half-reclining against a tree stump with her eyes closed, this was a major ordeal.

“Friends shouldn’t fight…”

And if you’re going to argue, could you please go somewhere far away…?

Lack of sleep from tending to Michael’s wounds last night, combined with my ongoing worries, made my eyelids unbearably heavy.

I rubbed at my drowsy eyes and raised a weary hand, trying to stop Lizzie, who was shouting indignantly at Michael, who was glued to my side.

“Lizzie. There’s space on this side too…”

“No! And we’re not friends…! I don’t even know him!”

“Then you should get to know him now. Michael. Is that okay?”

“You…!”

Are you two seriously going to keep acting like little kids…?

Then again, they are at an age where that’s normal, so I can’t really say much.

Lizzie’s face was flushed red, like a perfectly ripened apple, as she clutched her rabbit doll tightly, looking ready to burst.

I turned to Cecil, hoping she’d help calm Lizzie down, but instead of focusing on the argument, Cecil was staring at my shoulder—the one pressed against Michael.

Then, out of nowhere, she mumbled, trying to assert her own claim.

“W-We should all s-sit fairly… t-together… I-I also… want to…”

Did someone smear honey on the seat next to me or something…?

As soon as Cecil made her bold declaration, both Lizzie and Michael turned to look at her.

And just like that, I found myself completely surrounded by three overly attached children.

I blinked my exhausted eyes and let out a deep sigh.

‘Is this what they call pure and innocent possessiveness…?’

How did I end up playing the mother figure caught between bickering kids fighting over a seat…?

Now the three of them had seemingly settled on resolving their dispute through rock-paper-scissors.

‘How am I supposed to leave for training with them acting like this…?’

Oh dear. This is breaking my heart.

It really did pain me to leave behind these small, adorable children who were literally fighting over the chance to sit next to me.

Tearing up a little, I watched Lizzie accuse Michael of being late to throw his hand, before turning my gaze to Abel, who was sitting a little distance away.

“…..”

As always, Abel kept his distance, glancing this way out of the corner of his eye.

But the moment our eyes met, he flinched violently and quickly turned his head away.

Oh, this kid—!

“Michael was late! Do it again!”

“Where’s your proof? You’re all talk with no evidence.”

“W-what evidence?! Where is it?!”

As Lizzie and Michael abandoned their game mid-way to start arguing all over again, while Cecil looked visibly distressed between them, I quietly got up and approached Abel.

His back was still turned to me.

I waited silently, watching as he hesitated, slowly trying to turn his head back toward me.

At just the right moment, I raised a finger and placed it where his cheek would land.

“…!”

Abel turned—only for my fingertip to poke his cheek.

His eyes widened in an instant, and he jerked away as if he had just seen a ghost, even gasping for air.

“Hehe. Were you very surprised?”

I let out a small laugh at his reaction before settling down next to him.

Abel leaned back as if he was about to bolt, but in the end, he didn’t actually get up and leave.

“…..”

Instead, he just kept sneaking glances at me from the side.

‘Ah… it’s nice and quiet here…’

The peaceful silence made me feel even more drowsy.

The perfect distance between us, the background noise of the kids’ playful quarrel, the warm sunlight, and the gentle breeze—it all came together so perfectly.

Yaaawn…

Failing to suppress a wide yawn, I found myself nodding off.

“…!”

Abel stiffened when he saw Mary’s head swaying back and forth before suddenly tilting toward him.

On instinct, he leaned forward, just in time for Mary’s to rest gently against his shoulder.

Startled, he tensed up, his body frozen in place.

The quiet sound of my breathing reached his ears, making him instinctively lower his gaze.

For a moment, he just stared at her.

“Mmm…”

As she unconsciously adjusted her position to get more comfortable, pressing in closer, Abel unknowingly held his breath.

His heartbeat pounded loud and fast in his chest.

Thump, thump, thump.

The unpleasant sound of his heartbeat pounded in his ears, growing louder with each passing moment. The warmth resting against his shoulder made him anxious—what if she woke up?

‘It tickles…’

Every time the wind blew, Mary’s soft, light brown hair brushed against his cheek, causing Abel’s fingers to twitch unconsciously.

A ticklish sensation spread from the pit of his stomach, impossible to suppress. It almost felt like he was submerged underwater, wrapped in a surreal, floating feeling.

“Ah!”

His moment of distraction was interrupted by a small exclamation nearby. Abel lifted his head and saw a group approaching him.

Among them, Abel couldn’t help but look troubled at the sight of Lizzie, her cheeks puffed out with frustration as she stomped toward him, eyes filled with grievance. 

“Not fair! Lizzie won!”

“Wait. Since there’s a new competitor, we have to restart the match from the beginning. That’s the fair thing to do, right? Cecil?”

“H-huh? Oh, u-uhm, y-yeah…! I-I think that… makes sense…”

“That’s ridiculous…!”

Lizzie pouted in exasperation, glaring daggers at Michael. But Michael didn’t seem to care about her at all. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Abel, as if he had a lot to say but decided against it. After a moment, he let out a quiet sigh.

“It can’t be helped…”

After checking on Mary, who was still sleeping soundly on Abel’s shoulder, Michael took the empty seat beside her with a resigned expression.

“Agh, that’s so unfair!”

Following Michael’s lead, Lizzie also sat down beside them, and Cecil, seemingly flustered, settled nearby as well in an attempt to keep the peace. With all of them gathered so closely, the area suddenly became noisy again.

“…..”

Abel took them all in.

The way they approached him so naturally—it was strange how it didn’t feel strange.

‘I shouldn’t be greedy…’

He had already received more warmth and kindness from Mary than he ever expected. Wanting more would be unforgivable.

Understanding his place, knowing his limits—those were the first and only lessons he had learned since the day he was brought here as a slave.

They had made sure to teach him in detail what happened to slaves who dared to desire things beyond their station.

“Alright! Walk time is over! Everyone, return to your rooms!”

The caretaker’s loud voice marked the end of this fleeting moment of peace. Abel felt the warmth on his shoulder disappear as Mary stirred and got up.

“Yawn… Let’s go in now. You all got along while I was sleeping, right?”

“…..”

“Guys?”

Did you fight after all…? In the end…?

Mary looked at them with a bewildered expression before turning away and heading back. Abel watched her retreating figure, then slowly placed his hand over his shoulder, where her warmth still lingered, as if trying to hold onto it a little longer.

‘I can’t be greedy… I have to know my place… I must…’

“What are you doing? Hurry up and come along.”

“…Ah.”

Startled, Abel flinched as his wrist was suddenly tugged.

“I, I….”

“Hurry up. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

Everyone.

The word caught his attention.

A small hand held onto his wrist, pulling him along. Sunlight shone through Mary’s brown hair as it swayed in the wind, and her dark eyes sparkled under the golden rays.

They looked like tiny pebbles, soaked in water, glistening as they caught the light.

‘Beautiful…’

Abel was momentarily entranced by the thought.

He didn’t know why he felt this way—why his emotions spilled out like scattered pieces of an unfinished puzzle.

For the first time, this isolated little haven felt warm.

He realized—He had fallen for Mary.

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