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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: A Squirrel and a Diary
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But I had no idea what this other Disaster, the Snake, could be.
S-surely it couldn’t be exactly what its name suggested, right?
It must have at least a little bit of good in it, right?
The possibility that Kivrin’s past life was mistaken…
—*I was looking right at you the whole time I was talking, Cheria. I never said anything confusing.*
Ugh!
As I squirmed by myself, the diary bumped against me.
…I should just read this to clear my head.
I decided to escape reality and opened the diary.
[My wife's rabbit, which she cared for so diligently, ran away. I said I hoped it wouldn't come back in one piece and got scolded again. I should say the opposite next time.]
I’d thought it before, but while the handwriting was neat, the way of thinking seemed closer to that of a child just starting to develop social skills.
Why write a diary on a stone tablet in the first place?
I tilted my head, then remembered what was written on the first page and understood.
He said he gave food to the person he called his wife, thinking she was human, right?
That means she wasn't human.
And he was trying to imitate a human, but not doing a very good job of it.
For a moment, I thought of Viscount Rose, another non-human being, and my vision blurred.
Any vague fear I’d had of non-human beings had been shattered long ago.
The owner of this diary and Rose were simply not human.
“My first life might have been a Disaster. What’s another non-human being at this point?”
I flipped through the pages without any tension.
There were no dates, so the timeline was all jumbled.
The tablet was thin, either because the entries were never long or because this was all that had been found.
Should I show this to Kivrin later?
I yawned as I read a part about how he was annoyed because he could hear certain things better in the winter.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but I must have dozed off without realizing it.
In my sleep, I heard the faint sound of voices.
“…I’ve always had this fantasy about a family portrait.”
It was Menelik’s voice.
Kivrin’s cool voice followed.
“I don't have a-any fantasies like that.”
“But Cheria might.”
“D-don't use Cheria for your own selfish desires, Father.”
“So you'll refuse until the end? Even if Cheria wants it?”
“…”
There was no reply from Kivrin.
Was this a dream? Or was it real?
Whatever it was, this man… no, my father-in-law had no intention of mending his relationship with his son.
Just then, I felt a hand stroking my head.
The touch was so careful, as if I were the most precious thing in the world, and it made me feel all tingly.
I don’t want to wake up. I wish he’d keep doing that.
I instinctively snuggled into the person’s embrace.
“Why don't you breathe? It's not like that will wake her.”
“You're s-still here?”
“I'm usually not busy.”
I thought I heard Kivrin sigh.
I drifted off again and then came to my senses.
I felt something furry pressed against my face. And I felt Kivrin’s hand quickly pull it away.
“D-don't be annoying.”
This time, my eyelids lifted obediently.
A squirrel was right in front of me, staring with a little *kyu* expression on its face.
“Ack.”
The squirrel dodged Kivrin’s hand and leaped onto the sofa.
But then it climbed back up and settled on Kivrin’s shoulder.
Kivrin was also very close, which made me freeze.
The terrifying legends of Del that Winter had told me flew far away the moment I saw its large, clear golden eyes.
Instead, I sat up in shock.
“Aah! The Young Lord's lap!”
“…What?”
I quickly wiped the corner of my mouth, worried I might have drooled, and cried out.
“How long have I been using your lap as a pillow? My head is super heavy!”
“I-it's not heavy at all.”
Kivrin rolled his eyes as if he’d just heard something ridiculous.
The squirrel, startled by my outburst, began to bounce around.
…What is that thing?
As befitting a noble family that flaunted its wealth in every way imaginable, they did keep animals at Crescent Castle.
Like the leopard Daniel had brought, or the hunting dog that was so affectionate it was adored by all the servants.
But I’d never seen a squirrel before.
“This thing is heavier.”
Kivrin said, nonsensically, as he placed the squirrel on the table.
Several walnuts were scattered across the table.
The squirrel ignored the walnuts, which were likely its emergency food for the winter, and clung only to the back of Kivrin’s hand.
“Go away.”
The squirrel looked up at Kivrin with a pleading *kyuuuuu*. Even I started to feel soft.
Kivrin muttered, half-resigned.
“I-it seems to have come from the garden, but it d-doesn't listen to me.”
I chuckled and said.
“I think it likes you, Young Lord.”
Kivrin tilted his head.
“M-maybe it's because it doesn't care what my face l-looks like?”
No way! I cupped Kivrin’s cheeks.
“You're so cute, Young Lord! I love your face the most!”
Even in the novel, the descriptions of the grown-up Kivrin’s face were so elaborate!
A-although there were also descriptions of his somber aura and slightly unhinged gaze…
Anyway, I mean it! You're really, really cute!
Kivrin’s eyes crinkled as he smiled.
Only then could I relax and look around.
Winter’s private study was occupied by just me, Kivrin, and one squirrel.
“Oh, where’s Mother?”
“Sh-she received a report that monsters were trying to leave the Waning Moon Forest, so she left. My father wanted her to let his troops there handle it, but… my mother isn't lazy l-like my father.”
As always when he talked about Menelik, Kivrin wore a slightly displeased expression.
“She said to tell you she's s-sorry… and that she'll be back as soon as she can.”
I thought the subjugation was over last time.
Still, with Kivrin by my side, I didn’t feel a great sense of emptiness.
I watched the squirrel move about and asked.
“I have a question. When the Duchess or the Duke aren't in the territory, how do you deal with the monsters?”
“Then they don't flock to the duchy l-like they are now. They either stay inside the forest or a-attack other territories.”
Huh? Really?
“S-some monsters react to my father. The a-aura of a transcendent being… like my father… attracts monsters with a certain level of intelligence.”
“…”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
Then shouldn't Menelik be the one to take care of them?!
And he’s more than capable of doing so!
As if reading my mind, Kivrin tilted his head.
“If my m-mother… wasn't here, our family would have been ruined.”
“…”
It was a thought I sometimes had myself, but hearing it from Kivrin’s lips gave it a different weight…
Kivrin deftly changed the subject.
“H-how was the tea party?”
It was the sixth time I’d heard that question.
But this time, since it was Kivrin asking, I answered honestly.
“It was boring, even though I heard a lot of new things. To be honest, I have much more fun just being with you like this.”
Kivrin froze at my words.
I recalled the situation from earlier.
Scarlett had been waiting for me to make a mistake in etiquette or a slip of the tongue.
Sophia, who was overly conscious of others, and Marin, who wanted to use me for her own benefit, were just as uncomfortable.
Perhaps it would get better if I saw them more often, but my first impression of them all was, *exhausting.*
Hmm, but I was satisfied that I got to brag a lot about Mother.
Kivrin thought for a moment before suggesting.
“M-my lessons for today are all done. Sh-shall we go out? It should be fine as l-long as we're back before dinner.”
“Is it a date?”
“…No.”
Hey, if you deny it so seriously, you'll make me feel awkward.
Of course I was just kidding!
I had inadvertently succeeded in all the missions Mera gave me, but I was left with a small wound.
As I pouted, Kivrin stood up.
“I-I'll go get Rose.”
Once Kivrin left, I was alone with the squirrel.
Its chubby cheeks were quite cute.
I slowly reached out my hand.
“Want to come to me?”
But the squirrel was wary of me and began to hide its walnuts one by one.
“I’m not going to steal them!”
What do you take this Cheria for!
Nevertheless, the squirrel hid its walnuts in a fluffy cushion and glared at me.
It was the complete opposite of how it had been when it was desperate to cling to Kivrin.
Feeling unfairly treated, I emptied my pockets.
“See this? I have lots of food too.”
I found myself in an impromptu competition with the squirrel to see who had more emergency rations.
Just then, Kivrin returned with Rose.
