I flopped onto his broad torso.
“……?”
When I raised my head, I locked eyes with pitch-black pupils brimming with confusion.
“S-sorry… I didn’t mean to… It just…”
“…….”
“I was hiding to watch over you… in case danger struck again…”
His lips fumbled awkwardly as a deep, resonant voice emerged. I suddenly noticed the thick palm pressed firmly against my back.
Oh.
So Blaine Wintervalt had leaped out like a startled squirrel.
“I’m sorry. You… must still fear me.”
“…….”
“Are you… unharmed?”
The grandfather—whose intimidating appearance contrasted comically with his flustered expression—adjusted me on his lap.
Huh?
Maybe it was the angle, but…
He’s not scary at all.
On our first meeting, I’d feared he might devour me whole. Blaine’s imposing frame, bushy eyebrows, sunken eyes, and beard gave him a stern, fearsome aura—the kind that would make strangers cross the street to avoid him.
But up close, his eyes…
…look like a teddy bear’s.
They were as gentle and clear as Theo’s, reminiscent of the bear-shaped wooden doll he’d once gifted me.
And…
I clutched the hat threatening to fly off my head.
This outfit…
I’d begun suspecting Blaine himself had prepared these clothes.
“Did you receive my note?”
“I… did.”
His reply creaked like an unoiled wooden puppet. I wriggled closer until my face hovered beneath his chin.
“Then… will you forgive me for fleeing without greeting you last time?”
“……The fault is mine. To have frightened a fragile child into tears…”
Blaine shifted slightly. I hopped off his lap and crouched beside him, meeting his gaze.
“……More importantly, child. I heard you endured an ordeal.”
“The parade incident?”
“Are you… recovering? You needn’t speak of it if—”
“Hm.”
“This isn’t a demand. Clamp your lips shut and turn away if you wish. I’ll… understand.”
The awkwardness of his reassurance made me realize:
He’s timid for someone so large.
His nervousness surpassed even Theo’s. The contrast between his hulking arms and anxious demeanor bordered on comical.
“I’m perfectly fine!”
“A relief…”
His pouting lips trembled. Tears glistened in his eyes, threatening to spill.
“A relief indeed…”
“Oh dear.”
Pat pat. He must’ve been terrified.
As Blaine steadied his breathing, he pulled out Theo’s naptime blanket—no, wait, a giant handkerchief—to dab his eyes.
At least he’s holding back tears befitting his size.
Of course, I didn’t know then—he’d already wept himself dry over Elisa’s accident.
Theo’s approach with Aisa interrupted us.
“Lord Blaine! We’ve been wondering when you’d appear!” Aisa chimed. “This embroidery on Lirin’s dress—might I ask about the technique?”
“Hah?”
Blaine made these clothes?
I yanked off the sun-shading hat for inspection. Theo, spotting the mountain-sized man, lit up like a firefly.
“Grandpa made this? And Theo’s clothes?”
“Lirin, Lord Blaine is Wintervalt’s finest artisan,” Aisa explained.
“Wooooow!”
Incredible!
I assumed he’d commissioned them from a guild craftsman!
But the craftsman was here all along!
Well, except for the wooden doll—that must’ve been store-bought.
My mental defenses crumbled. Whether it was meeting his earnest gaze or imagining this giant hunched over delicate embroidery, Blaine no longer seemed threatening. His efforts to meet my eye level helped too!
He clearly adores me.
Theo seemed equally convinced, already clambering onto his knee.
“Dangerous if you fall…”
Blaine panickedly hoisted her onto his forearm.
“Whee!”
Theo gaped at the sudden elevation.
“…….”
Soon, his expectant gaze turned to me.
I blinked. “There’s no space, though?”
Theo occupied his entire lap.
“The premium seat remains…”
Premium seat…
My eyes narrowed in realization. I shot both arms upward.
“…….”
Without hesitation, Blaine plopped me onto his shoulders and stood.
“Whoaaaa! Shoulder ride!”
“Excessive movement risks falls.”
“Theo! It’s so high! I see the whole forest!”
From my perch on Blaine’s rigid shoulders, I surveyed the sprawling woods and lake.
Just like Dad’s piggybacks in Repi Village.
My spirits skyrocketed.
Later, we played in the dirt—Blaine included.
“Let’s make mud houses! Pat dirt on your hand, then—”
Slip!
“Ta-da! A toad cottage!”
Theo became obsessed after I taught her this game.
Who knew dirt could be fun?
“…….”
Plop plop.
Blaine, after observing, constructed a toad mansion beside us.
“Whoa… Theo could live in that!”
“Huh?”
Post-cottage construction, we gathered glossy pebbles.
“Let’s skip stones!”
Plink! Plink! My pebbles danced across the lake.
Blaine hmphed and lobbed a boulder.
KER-SPLASH!
“Seventeen skips? With a rock?!”
“Four-leaf clovers next!”
Rustle rustle.
“Only three leaves… but look!” I modeled clover jewelry. “Rings! Bracelets! Tiaras!”
“No mushrooms—achoo!”
Clutching Blaine’s calloused hands with Theo, I realized how I’d missed playing with adults.
“Grandpa… play with us forever? Like…”
“…….”
“Be my friend!”
So fun!
A crusty exterior hiding a marshmallow heart!
Blaine’s trapezius muscles tensed. His reddening face dipped in a grave nod.
–––––
Days later, nighttime.
Callek massaged his temples en route to his study, exhausted from managing the parade fallout and Four Dukes’ Summit preparations.
That Summerrain imbecile…
Hosting the summit already gave him migraines.
What’s that fool searching for?
Officially, Duke Summerrain was “indisposed by illness.” Unofficially? Everyone knew he was obsessively hunting something.
Unfathomable.
The memory of that zealot’s grating voice worsened his scowl. No two people clashed more.
His decision to host had another motive:
The Magic Tower’s attendance.
Mages would observe the autumn hunt—and this summit offered a chance to investigate their rumored parade involvement. Progress had stalled due to the Tower’s secrecy.
Compiling their guest list could flush them out.
As he strategized, Callek halted mid-stride.
“Wait.”
Butler Albert stepped forward.
“My lord?”
