#8
“My goodness, is there anything our young master can’t do? Today it looks like you’ll stack them all on that block.”
“What the young master can’t do… exercise.”
“He writes his own name without being taught, and he speaks much better than children his age. But when it comes to physical activities, he seems quite a bit slower than his peers.”
Noah, who had been carefully placing a block with his hand raised high, dropped it at the mention of exercise. Looking at the blocks that came crashing down, his mouth drooped downward like the Korean letter ‘siot’.
How am I supposed to know what a three-year-old is like? You all carry me around all day and never let me do anything, saying it’s dangerous whenever I try to do something.
“Oh dear. It’s okay, young master. We can stack the blocks again. Should I do it? Should I stack them for you?”
One of the employees who had been chatting while tidying the room rushed over to comfort him, but Noah turned his head away sharply.
Honestly, they hadn’t been talking loudly enough for Noah to hear properly. Even though he had been straining to listen, there were parts he couldn’t quite make out, but he understood the gist of what they were saying.
“No!”
Noah yelled at the employee who was quickly gathering the scattered blocks. But she continued stacking the blocks she had collected.
“I do it myself!”
Annoyed, Noah kicked over the blocks she had stacked.
“Young master, shall we go look at something fun?”
Noah, who had been taking his frustration out on the innocent employee, stretched both arms toward Elisa, who appeared as the door opened.
“Why is our young master so upset?”
Contrary to his earlier determination to walk by himself and develop his motor skills, Noah clung tightly to Elisa’s embrace. When she reached into her pocket and pulled out a candy, he stretched out his hand for it.
Right. When you’re feeling down, something sweet is best.
Noah, holding the lollipop tightly in his hand, let out a deep sigh. He wished he could grow up quickly.
Nestled in Elisa’s arms, licking the lollipop that was bigger than his face, Noah looked around at the mountain of items piled up.
Through the wide-open door, he could see knights who had been training now carrying in goods.
Summer, when the roads weren’t frozen and travel was active, was shopping season in Austen. During summer, they diligently purchased and stored necessities to last the entire year.
Unlike his previous life, where he spent most of his time dancing the waltz to 2/3 rhythm in the capital, Noah was finally experiencing life in Austen properly.
Noah’s family consisted of three people, but one-third of the castle employees lived in a smaller castle behind the main one. When you added the knights who were always stationed in shifts and those who commuted, the amount they purchased was truly enormous.
Even in the middle of winter, when it was extremely cold, they could urgently purchase items from the capital and bring them via warp, but considering the cost of using the warp, it was more economical to buy everything in advance.
“Young master, shall we go look at toys?”
Noah’s eyes lit up at Elisa’s words as she skillfully navigated between the employees carrying loads. Life at Schwein Castle was incredibly boring for Noah.
Wake up, eat, stack a few blocks, have a snack, take a morning nap. Wake up, eat again, look for chances to escape but get caught soon after, sometimes going out briefly. Take an afternoon nap, have a snack, idle around, eat dinner. Then go to sleep.
Eating, sleeping, and idling around summed up Noah’s entire life.
“Did you enjoy stacking blocks?”
As they entered the largest reception room on the first floor, Noah waved his small hand at Loren, who greeted him with a bright smile. There were no secrets in this house. Loren already knew that he had been stacking blocks until just now.
“Yes.”
As soon as Elisa put him down on the floor, Noah answered briefly and headed toward the area filled with colorful items.
“The young master is absolutely adorable.”
The fact that so many goods were coming in meant that the guild master had come as well. Ignoring the unfamiliar voice, Noah charged straight into the pile of toys stacked higher than his height.
“He seems to have become much more curious lately. I’ll make sure to purchase everything Noah likes.”
Half-listening to Loren and the guild master’s conversation, Noah first grabbed colorful pens and papers. Elisa quickly picked up everything Noah touched and passed them to the nearby employees.
“Would you like to see some newly released blocks? They have adhesion magic on them, so when you bring them close like this, they stick together. They won’t collapse easily even when stacked high. To separate them, you just need to apply a little force like this, so they can be used permanently.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Mother, I don’t think we need any more blocks. Please dim that light in your sparkling eyes.
Noah glanced briefly at Loren, who was listening attentively to the guild master while attaching and detaching the blocks, and let out a small sigh. Following the blocks, the guild master was now recommending a complete set of fairy tale books to her, and her eyes were shining even brighter.
Regardless of era. Regardless of place. Regardless of situation.
Mothers in all worlds showed tremendous interest in their children’s education.
Noah, who had been busily selecting toys, stopped and approached Loren. She promptly picked him up and sat him on her lap. In front of Noah, a fairy tale book filled with cute illustrations was opened.
“Noah, aren’t the pictures so cute?”
“I know.”
“This book is about a brave knight who goes to defeat a dragon.”
“I know.”
“Really? Then how about this one? It’s about a little child who goes on an adventure.”
“I know.”
Noah tapped the book firmly each time a new one was opened before him.
What use are these books when I already know how to read?
Mother, please stop this excessive spending.
“The young master doesn’t seem interested in books. How about this?”
Not missing such timing, the merchant promptly presented other items.
Judging from the atmosphere, Loren and the guild master would likely remain interested in these things for quite some time, so Noah slipped out of Loren’s embrace.
Something more innovative and creative was needed.
If there’s nothing I like, can I place a custom order?
Noah placed the colored pencils and paper he had just selected on the table and picked up a black pencil.
Thinking of what he needed most right now, Noah gripped the pencil tightly.
“Oh, how adorable. The young master must be imitating what he sees in the Duke’s workplace.”
With the table at an awkward height, Noah knelt down, firmly held the paper with one hand, and boldly drew a line across the white paper.
Disobedient hands and feet!
This was certainly not what he wanted to draw.
But his weak hands kept dropping the pencil, and his arms, unaccustomed to controlling their strength, produced only strange lines.
A child whose fine motor skills had not yet developed could only draw squiggly lines, and Noah, frustrated, wildly swung the pen around.
“Thiiis… thiiiis… argh!!”
Seeing the mess on the paper, Noah collapsed onto it in frustration.
When compliments about how cute and well-done it was poured in from all around, he became even more depressed. Noah clenched his fists, stood up abruptly, and pushed aside the ruined paper.
“Here we have something good for children’s writing practice…”
Hey mister, close that mouth. Stop trying to sell strange things.
With his lips tightly pressed in concentration, Noah began to draw lines as carefully as possible.
“Aunchi.”
After drawing something that seemed to have a recognizable shape, Noah held the paper in one hand and approached the guild master. If he had been from the family of Loren’s second husband who had run off with the money, Noah would have thrown a fit on the spot.
But seeing that the guild master’s face and the guild’s name were different, Noah wanted to establish a close relationship with him. With an uncertain future ahead, it was important to build good connections with a major guild that traveled the world and could procure any item.
“Yes, young master.”
“Thiiis…”
When Noah handed him the drawing, the guild master’s expression became peculiar. At the same time, everyone in the reception room focused on the child’s drawing.
“Young master, what might this be?”
“It looks like a snow sled.”
“Noah, snow sleds are outside, aren’t they?”
“Snow shed. No!”
After drawing so diligently. With these hands and abilities, he thought he had drawn exceptionally well.
Noah pouted his lips.
“It does look like a snow sled. What are these round things below?”
“Wheew!”
When the guild master, perhaps due to Noah’s noble status, politely asked, Noah quickly answered.
“Round, round. Circle.”
“Wheels?”
“Yes!”
As the guild master, perhaps accustomed to seeing various items due to his profession, seemed to understand the drawing, Noah grew urgent.
“Wheew. Here, here. Four!”
Pointing at the drawing with his plump little fingertips, Noah spread four fingers to show, trying to explain as thoroughly as possible.
“You want wheels on a snow sled?”
“No!”
Was explaining a kick scooter really this difficult? Noah, who was trying to explain the kick scooter that children typically rode as soon as they learned to walk, sighed. He had thought of a kick scooter for quick movement since walking around this vast house was exhausting.
“Handle!”
After trying to explain the handle too, Noah saw that no one understood. He hung his head low and trudged back to the table with heavy steps.
I’ll just eat some snacks instead.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
