“Pfft!”
Kalz burst out laughing involuntarily, quickly glancing around to make sure he wasn’t seen. Thankfully, Almond wasn’t nearby to scold him.
His own laughter still sounded strange to his ears—it had genuinely been that long since he last laughed. But, though the first laugh had been difficult, once it started, it wouldn’t stop, erupting at the slightest provocation.
Eating, reading, or even lying down to sleep, the image of Briel dancing away, cheerfully hanging out blankets, would pop into his head whenever he least expected it.
What extraordinary greed. Truly a hopeless materialist.
“Yet oddly loyal.”
Despite his obsession with money, Briel hadn’t blamed Marianne even when faced with losing two years’ worth of wages. It seemed he had a generous streak, yet he became ridiculously timid about minor things.
“Seriously? You really want me to pick them? Like, just rip them all out?”
He trembled over plucking a handful of roses, acting as if he were committing grand theft.
Besides, those roses in the glass greenhouse couldn’t even be removed like that.
If that had worked, they’d be long gone.
Even when the greenhouse had been entirely engulfed in flames, the next morning, the rose bushes regenerated as if nothing had happened.
Considering the garden was once ordinary, these roses clearly had something to do with the curse on the castle. It was impossible not to notice when the flowers, which regenerated endlessly, inexplicably wilted and dropped one bloom exactly every week.
Yet Kalz deliberately ignored it. Unless the roses threatened his life or could lift the curse, he had no interest. Even if they held the key to breaking the curse, he would likely pretend ignorance.
If it hadn’t been for Briel’s duties in the greenhouse, Kalz would’ve never set foot there again.
“…I wonder how he’d react if he heard about this.”
“Wait, really? No matter how many you pick, they grow back?! Can’t we sell these?!”
“Pfft.”
Kalz now found himself not only recalling Briel’s antics but imagining his reactions. Just picturing Briel’s eyes sparkling greedily made him laugh again.
If Kalz said no, Briel would instantly pout, muttering a sarcastic “Yes, yes,” with no enthusiasm. Or perhaps he’d surprise him again, like he had during the Marianne incident.
Truly unpredictable. He seemed straightforward but always ended up acting differently than expected. It kept Kalz curious, always tempted to provoke him again.
“Honestly, such an amusing guy.”
Now he understood why Almond constantly praised Briel as “adorable.”
Wait, no. That was simply understanding Almond’s perspective; Kalz himself certainly didn’t think that way. To him, Briel was more like an amusing toy, the first he’d encountered in ages. Naturally, that meant paying attention to him. Kalz nodded confidently, satisfied with his own accurate analysis.
***
“Good morning, Butler Squawk.”
“Good morning, Briel. Excuse me a moment.”
Politely seeking permission, Butler Squawk flew over and perched lightly on my arm.
“Ah, I thought it was just some lint, but your sleeve thread has unraveled. Let me fix it.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Butler Squawk skillfully tied the loose thread with his beak and claws. However, upon closer inspection, it wasn’t just the sleeve—the entire garment looked worn.
Since I’d never planned to stay this long, I hadn’t packed much clothing. With constant wear and frequent washing due to daily work, the clothes naturally deteriorated quickly. Embarrassed, I gave a sheepish laugh, half-explaining.
“Haha, these clothes were brand-new, but I suppose rotating them repeatedly wore them out faster than I realized.”
“That’s my oversight. You must be short on clothing, and I failed to notice. My apologies.”
“Oh no, please don’t apologize. I hadn’t even realized until you pointed it out.”
Still, now that I noticed, I couldn’t just ignore it. It might only be worn now, but at this rate, I’d soon look like a beggar. By then, it would take more than Butler Squawk’s quick fixes to save me.
Just then, Butler Squawk flapped his wings energetically, as though struck by a good idea.
“Perfect timing! Your gardening duties ended yesterday, so how about helping out in the sewing room from today onward? You can get measured, and make some clothes. I’ll introduce you to those folks myself.”
“Thank you!”
Sewing room, huh? I wasn’t exactly confident in sewing. More importantly, one detail caught my attention.
Did he just say ‘those folks’?
In a castle with so few residents, it was odd to think sewing would require more hands than gardening or cleaning. But my curiosity was quickly satisfied by Butler Squawk’s introduction.
“These two are Mr. and Mrs. Pitt. They handle all clothing matters in the castle—measuring, sewing, mending, and ironing. This is our new recruit, Briel. Please involve him whenever you need human assistance and teach him the basics. Also, please make a few outfits for him; five sets, including a uniform, should do.”
The Pitt couple nodded eagerly at Butler Squawk’s instructions. They were tiny squirrels, their round, sparkling eyes so adorable that I nearly reached out to pet them immediately.
Hold it together, Briel! Didn’t you almost lose your hand with Marianne? Control yourself!
“Well, I shall leave you to it. Do your best today.”
“Yes! See you later, Butler Squawk.”
After Butler Squawk left, I bowed deeply toward the Pitts. First impressions mattered greatly.
“Hello, I’m Briel. I’ll be in your care!”
I lifted my head energetically, checking their reactions. The squirrel couple narrowed their eyes and simply nodded. They seemed welcoming enough…?
Then, one squirrel scurried quickly across the floor and stood directly before me. I immediately crouched to meet my senior’s gaze directly.
Wow, they’re even cuter up close.
Those glossy black eyes, fluffy nose and mouth, and the soft, snow-white chest fur—it was almost irresistible.
—Swish.
Hypnotized by the tiny paw extended toward me, I instinctively reached out to hold it. It was so small it fit between my thumb and index finger. The paw looked fragile enough to break with even the slightest pressure, yet the pink pads felt delightfully soft, and the fur on its back was silky and smooth.
Since Senior Squirrel had offered his paw first, surely it wouldn’t hurt to gently play with it a little? Just as I surrendered to my inner temptation and moved my finger slightly, the senior squirrel slowly opened his tiny, pink, V-shaped mouth.
“So, little one, where did you come from?”
“Huh…?”
Those words carried the weight and dignity of countless years.
***
“Puppy, want a peanut?”
“How many times must I tell you? He’s not a puppy; he’s someone else’s precious child! Honestly, old man, have you finally lost your mind?”
“But he’s adorable.”
“True. It’s been ages since we’ve had such a young guest. And goodness, his face—he’s so pretty I nearly jumped when he first came in! I thought someone had installed new lighting in the sewing room.”
“I felt the same.”
“You too, dear? Hoho, I suppose everyone thinks alike when it comes to beauty.”
Listening to the elderly squirrels’ warm-hearted conversation, I couldn’t help but smile, though I was deeply unsettled inside.
This gap is too extreme! Their appearances and their speech don’t match at all!
Such cute squirrels, using words like “old man” and “lost your mind”? Their faces suggested adorable squeaks and sweet chatter instead.
“Little one, don’t you like peanuts?”
“Oh, no, I like them very much. Thank you.”
But the reality was that these squirrels were my eldest seniors, who treated me like their own grandson. If they detected even a hint of my disrespectful thoughts, I’d probably face severe consequences. Humbly, I accepted the peanut offered.
“It’s delicious and savory, Senior.”
“Just call me Grandpa.”
“Huh? But that feels…”
“Nonsense. We’re nobody special, just old folks who’ve lived a bit longer. Feel free to call him Grandpa Tail and me Grandma Rosie.”
“Alright then… Grandma Rosie.”
“That’s a good boy.”
“Me too.”
“Yes, Grandpa Tail.”
Seeing the satisfied nods of these two tiny squirrels made me feel like a dutiful grandchild praised for good manners. It was somewhat embarrassing, but I played it cool, placing another peanut in my mouth and chewing carefully.
“Hohoho, you’re eating so nicely. Want more?”
“Don’t keep feeding him snacks, old man. You’ll spoil his appetite, and he’ll never grow taller.”
Um… I’m a grown adult, so a couple of peanuts wouldn’t even register as a snack. Besides, I was well past the age where height mattered.
Apparently, in their eyes, I was still nothing more than a young child. Perhaps it was natural, considering they’d lived nearly a hundred years longer than me.
“Enough playing around—let’s get to work. Almond said this child’s clothes need to be made quickly.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Child, stand up and spread your arms for a moment.”
I promptly stood up and stretched my arms wide.
“Stay still just like that for a moment.”
Grandma Rosie bit onto the measuring tape and swiftly climbed my body. She skillfully darted around, rapidly measuring various parts of me and calling out the numbers.
“Dear, did you get everything?”
“What about the neck measurement?”
“Oh, dear, I missed that.”
—Swish.
Grandma Rosie gently danced over my shoulders, her fluffy tail brushing lightly against my neck. The silky-soft touch felt like a luxurious scarf against my bare skin, making my heart flutter at the heavenly sensation.
“He’s much too thin.”
“Exactly. His face is already thin enough, and his body is practically a twig! This won’t do. Child, if you ever feel hungry, come see me. Grandma will share her food with you.”
“Haha, thank you…”
I was genuinely grateful, though it would never happen. No matter how hungry I became, I couldn’t bear to take Grandma Rosie’s squirrel-sized portions. I’d sooner forage outside for roots or gnaw on tree bark instead.
