I Belong to House Castielo

Chapter 4

“Eek!”

I shrieked and hastily tried to flee, but then the figure called out to me.

“Estelle.”

I turned to find Karl standing there.

“Karl!”

I was so happy to see him that I scurried toward him.

He glanced down at me and said, “Why were you going in circles?”

“I wasn’t.”

“I saw you from above. You were clearly walking in circles.”

“I told you, I wasn’t.”

“Idiot.”

“I’m not an idiot.”

When Karl reached his hands out and lifted me, I was so surprised that I stiffened.

“Relax,” he said.

“R-relax?”

I’d never been carried like this before, so I had no idea what to do with myself.

Karl nodded toward his shoulders and said, “If you’re uncomfortable, put your arms here.”

I carefully did as I was told. Then he began walking and, to my surprise, it didn’t seem like he’d drop me at all. As my body relaxed on its own and found a more comfortable position, Karl lifted me and helped me adjust.

He hadn’t taken many steps before we were out of the maze.

“Wow,” I said.

“What?”

“You got us out so quickly. That’s amazing. You’re incredible!”

“This garden isn’t actually a maze. It’s just a walking path.”

“But it’s still a maze. You’re awesome,” I said enthusiastically.

His expression grew complicated.

Glancing off into the distance, he said, “I told you, it’s nothing. Here.”

He set me down on the ground.

“Thank you,” I said with a bow before starting to walk away.

Hearing footsteps behind me, I looked back and found that it was Karl.

Is he going the same way?

I tilted my head and began walking energetically again. Now that I had finished exploring the maze, I was planning to head over to the bridge I saw up ahead. The small brook running under it also made me curious.

“What’s wrong with your legs?” Karl suddenly asked.

“Pardon?”

“You’re limping.”

Limping? When I tilted my head, he gestured to my feet.

“Ah,” I said, lightly turning my ankle, “it must be because of my shoes.”

“You’re wearing new shoes with your play clothes?” He lifted me up in an instant. “You really are an idiot.”

His teasing words made my cheeks flush.

“I’m not an idiot!”

“But you are.”

“I’m not!”

“Are too,” he reiterated. He was even snickering now.

An idiot?! His words angered me because they hit too close to home. I didn’t know anything about this place.

“I-I’m not an idiot,” I said, my voice smaller this time. When Karl made a puzzled expression, I glared at him, fighting back tears. “I’m not an idiot. I’m not. I’m just... not educated...”

He fell silent for a moment and then said, “Um, no, uh... Sorry.”

I lifted my head, surprised by his apology. He was gazing at me, his red eyes troubled.

“Sorry.”

I shook my head, knowing if I tried to speak, I might cry. Nobody liked a crying child. I clenched my hand that was on his shoulder and shook my head once more. He stroked my back gently and let out a small sigh.

“You can learn the things you don’t know.”

“Okay...”

“To be honest, I’m not that good at studying either.”

“Really?” I asked.

My curiosity was piqued, and I raised my head as he continued.

“At the academy―”

“Academy?” I asked quizzically.

He glanced at the sky briefly before explaining, “Well, there’s a school called the Imperial Academy. It’s a boarding school that technically accepts everyone, regardless of class. But in reality, only nobles can attend because the tuition is extremely high. Anyway, if you don’t graduate from the academy, you’ll have trouble building connections and such. That’s why all nobles attend from age thirteen to sixteen.”

I nodded at his explanation. So it was a boarding school for secondary education.

“I’m a third-year there. My grades are just average, so I still have a lot to learn.”

I nodded again, acknowledging his words.

“Rabbit,” Karl said.

“Pardon?”

“You’re a rabbit.”

“I think you’re more of a rabbit than I am.”

“What?”

“Your eyes are red.” Rabbits had vivid red eyes, not a substandard shade of pink like mine. “Oh, but your eyes are prettier than a rabbit’s,” I added. “They’re like jewels.”

His eyes were a darker, more captivating shade of red than a rabbit’s. Karl looked at me incredulously.

“Red is the color of demons,” he said.

“But you’re not a demon.”

“You’re quick to assume.”

“Am I wrong?” I asked, my eyes widening.

Wow! Is he really a demon? Is he?

I’d never seen a demon before.

Karl flicked my forehead.

“Ow!”

“Why are you staring at me like you’re hoping I am? Of course I’m not a demon.”

“I see. So I was right.”

“Well, aren’t you bold. Most people shake in fear and can’t even look me in the eye.”

“Really?”

What a shame. They were missing out on seeing something so beautiful.

As I was thinking this, he said, “Honestly, I want to crack open your tiny head and see what goes on in there.”

“I’ll die if you do that!” I shouted, covering my head in a panic.

Karl’s eyes widened, and then he burst into laughter. It was a boyish, refreshing sound.

“Lord Karl?”

“I’m not going to open your head,” he said, snickering and trying to swallow his laughter as he set me down.

Before I realized it, we had crossed the garden and arrived in front of the house. A boy would need to be quite strong to carry someone all that way, even if they were as light as me. I was genuinely impressed.

“Go upstairs and ask Annie to take off your shoes and change into different ones.”

But I felt it’d be a shame to take them off. They were sparkling new shoes, beautiful ones with silver buttons. Even so, they were making my feet hurt. Reluctantly, I took off my shoes and walked into the house in my socks.

“Annie,” I called, dashing through the corridors in search of her.

She wasn’t in my room, so I began checking other places until I finally found her in the kitchen. Was she having tea with the kitchen maids? I spotted teacups and other such things.

“Annie?”

“Oh my, miss, you’re early.” Annie greeted me with a smile.

“My shoes hurt.”

“Ah,” she replied with a nod, “It must be because they’re new.”

“Oh, is this the new lady?” a large, middle-aged woman standing next to her asked.

Annie nodded and said, “Yes.”

The woman, wearing an apron covered in flour, let out a booming laugh, almost like a man’s.

“Name’s Janet, miss.”

“I’m Estelle,” I said, curtsying and lifting the edges of my dress.

Janet laughed again, scooped me up, and set me down on a tall, three-legged chair.

“Here, have a donut,” she said.

“Oh my, it’s not good to snack before meals,” Annie protested.

“What does it matter? She’s so skinny that she doesn’t even look her age. I was shocked when I lifted her just now. I could feel all her bones.” Janet looked at me and said, “You said you were eleven?”

I nodded, but I wasn’t entirely sure of my age. I only assumed I was eleven because that was what my mother said.

Janet clicked her tongue and shook her head.

“I’d believe you even if you said you were seven. Now, you’ll eat your donut and your meal, won’t you?”

“Yes,” I said.

“See?” she said to Annie.

I fell into bliss as I calmly ate the sugar-sprinkled donut.

“All right, just this once,” Annie said with a smile.

A moment later, Janet handed me a glass of cold milk. Holding the glass in one hand and the donut in the other, I felt even happier. It was such a joy to be able to eat whatever I wanted and however much I wanted without worry. Now that I had food, clothing, and shelter, my life felt like it was going incredibly smoothly.

I might be driven out of this house though.

If red eyes were the defining trait of House Castielo, it was only a matter of time before I was forced to leave. I suddenly felt awful for deceiving these kind people.

What will happen when they realize I’m not the duke’s child? Will I have to go back to my mother? I really don’t want that to happen. Anything but that.

I drank my milk and made up my mind to beg the duke to let me stay here, even if it was just as a kitchen maid.

Once I finished my milk and donut, Janet set me down on the floor and said, “Feel free to drop by whenever you feel hungry, miss. All right?”

“Okay.”

“My goodness.” She rubbed my cheeks with both hands. When I froze in surprise, she thumped my back and said, “All right, kids should go out and play.”

“Okay, thank you.”

As I said my goodbyes respectfully, Annie got up from her seat.

“Let’s go up together. Come here, miss.”

“All right.”

Annie extended her hand, so I hesitantly did the same. When she grabbed mine gently, it felt like it warmed my heart as well as my hand.

After we went up to my room, Annie gave me another pair of shoes. Although they weren’t my shiny shoes, they enveloped my feet softly.

“Your feet will feel better in these. How are they?”

I walked around in them before nodding and saying, “They don’t hurt.”

“Good. I think they fit you well.”

“Annie?”

“Yes?”

“When is His Lordship coming back?”

“I’m not sure, but he’ll be back soon. Perhaps a week or so.”

“I see.” That meant the life I was living now would be over in a week. “Annie,” I called again.

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“It was nothing.” She smiled brightly, stroking my cheek as she asked, “Remember how you said you wanted to learn how to read?”

“Yes.”

“Should I read you a picture book? It’s almost lunchtime anyway.”

“I’d love that!” I said with a clap of my hands.

Annie smiled and quickly retrieved a large picture book filled with gorgeous illustrations. The pictures alone were mesmerizing, filling every inch of the ornate gold and silver borders.

“Once upon a time, there lived a woodcutter named Koby,” Annie read aloud, pointing to each word as she went.

I can’t make sense of this.

I couldn’t figure out the letters at all. They looked similar to the English alphabet, but they weren’t the same. Still, the story was interesting, and the pictures were beautiful. Annie took us through its pages skillfully and showcased her narration skills.

“And then the princess and Koby lived happily ever after,” she said, flipping the last page. Then she handed the book to me and said, “Here, look through this while I bring you your lunch.”

“All right.”

I carefully placed the large book on my knees. Turning back to the first page, I started studying the book—well, the pictures. The word Koby was repeated so many times, I could recognize it now.

I want to learn how to read quickly.

The desire grew even stronger.

What if I won’t be able to learn once the duke comes back?

I was suddenly afraid. As I became restless with worry, Annie entered, pulling a serving cart with food. Lifting the lid from a plate, she revealed a piece of meat glistening with fat.

“Come here,” she said, setting the food on the table.

I sat down and started to eat. I’d gotten pretty good at using the tableware now.

“You’re doing great.”

“Hey, Annie?”

“Yes?”

“What if...”

“Yes?”

“If I’m kicked out... I mean, if I have to leave...”

“Kicked out?”

Annie frowned at my hesitant question. I stammered, unable to bring myself to confess that I wasn’t truly a member of House Castielo.

Finally, I said, “If I’m made to leave, I still want to learn how to read.”

“Miss Estelle.”

“Yes?”

“That will never happen, so don’t worry.” I looked down at my plate silently and heard her let out a small sigh. When I flinched and hunched my shoulders, she said in a bright voice, “Very well. Even if that does happen, I’ll make sure to teach you how to read.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ll bring it up with His Lordship.”

“Thank you, Annie.”

“Now eat up, miss. Hold your knife at a higher angle. Yes, just like that.”

I wasn’t a picky eater, so I finished everything on my plate, even the roasted vegetables, without Annie having to nag me.

She looked pleased. “Now, go outside and play. It’ll help you digest.”

“Okay,” I replied.

After wriggling my toes in my shoes to make sure they were comfortable, I headed back outside.