Translator: Nox
The Squirrel Will Raise the Baby Tiger
The instant I thrust the sack of tea leaves into Thor’s hands, I sprinted breathlessly back to the carriage.
Jackjack was dozing beside me, while Hokan merely stared out the window.
Lulubell Durams
“Um… Hokan? By any chance, did you overhear what Teacher and those ladies were talking about?”
“…”
Lulubell Durams
“Even if you did, don’t pay it any mind. Those people don’t know you, and…”
Hokan Russell Blantiger
“I don’t care.”
Judging by his reaction, he had heard everything.
A pang of heartache struck me, and I bit down on my lip, lowering my head.
I couldn’t just sit by and watch the child’s heart get crushed like this.
Swallowing hard, I clenched both fists.
Meeting Hokan’s gaze, I put all the resolve I could muster into my eyes, desperate to convey just how deeply I meant my next words.
Lulubell Durams ♥
“Those people spoke without knowing how clever and brave our Hokan truly is. Teacher can say with absolute confidence that Hokan is in every way worthy of being heir to the imperial throne.”
Hokan Russell Blantiger
“I know all about it too.”
Lulubell Durams
“Pardon? About what?”
Hokan Russell Blantiger ☁
“There’s never been a flawed emperor.”
Hokan Russell Blantiger
“They said that in the Blantiger family, since long ago, if a defective child is born, they’re stripped of their place in the succession. Unless it’s an injury sustained in life, it’s only natural.”
Lulubell Durams !
“Who said that? And besides, Hokan, there is nothing wrong with you.”
Hokan Russell Blantiger
“It’s not just someone talking. It’s written in the history books, and I heard it from people back in Blanders.”
Lulubell Durams ☁
“Oh, Hokan. You’re simply growing a little slower, that’s all.”
Hokan Russell Blantiger
“Teacher. I still can’t take on beastfolk form, and sometimes I turn wild. So I’ll never become the emperor. And I don’t want to, either.”
Lulubell Durams ☁
“Hokan, no. You—”
“When Uncle marries and has a baby, that child will be the heir. I’ll either be killed or thrown away.”
Lulubell Durams ☁
“What?! Hokan, what are you saying?”
At words so shattering, uttered without the slightest ripple across his face, my voice shot up in spite of myself.
A sudden jolt of sheer terror sent my heart pounding relentlessly against my ribs.
How could such a tiny child speak so casually of his own demise?
‘Has he lived all this time carrying such terrible thoughts…?’
It was far too cruel a burden for a child to bear.
Hokan Russell Blantiger
“I heard everything the people working at the castle said. They said once Uncle has a child, I’ll be a threat to the heir, so they’ll kill me.”
Lulubell Durams !
“Merciful heavens… Who could have said such a thing…!”
What foolish, despicable cretins could have spun such vile gossip?
And to let it reach the ears of the very child himself!
A sudden rush of searing fury left my temples throbbing with pain.
Lulubell Durams ☁
“Hokan, did you actually believe those words?”
Hokan merely looked up at me with dull, vacant eyes.
It felt as though my heart had plunged through the floorboards to be trampled in the dirt outside.
The child seemed to have swallowed those horrific remarks long ago, sinking into grim resignation.
Left like this, how could Hokan ever trust and lean on his uncle?
How could he ever accept the uncle he believed might murder him as a father?
To think he believed his uncle’s wedding would be his own death sentence…
Hokan Russell Blantiger ☁
“It’s okay, Teacher. My papa is up in heaven anyway.”
Now my heart truly felt hitched to the back of the carriage, dragging through the mud.
‘What am I going to do…?’
This tiny, tender child was wishing for death.
Tears pricked my eyes, and I pressed my lips tightly together, choking down a sob.
Lulubell Durams ☁
“Hokan. The late duke up in heaven would never want you to join him there so soon.”
Hokan Russell Blantiger !
“How would Teacher know that?”
All at once, the boy glared up at me.
The bond we had slowly built throughout our journey north felt as though it had snapped and drifted miles apart in an instant.
Lulubell Durams ☁
“Teacher knows. I know it for certain. So please, Hokan, trust me.”
Hokan Russell Blantiger ☁
“Teacher is a liar. My papa loves me more than anyone in the whole world. So of course he misses me. And Mama…”
The stubborn intensity in Hokan’s gaze suddenly dimmed.
Hokan Russell Blantiger ☁
“Mama… I don’t know. I never saw her.”
Come to think of it, I had never heard a word about Hokan’s mother either.
I had simply assumed that since Hokan lost both parents and was adopted by his uncle, Her Grace the Duchess Consort must have passed away before the former duke.
Perhaps Hokan had been an infant, or perhaps she passed the very moment he drew his first breath.
Lulubell Durams ♥
“The former duke wants Hokan to live a long, happy life here. Any parent would want that.”
Hokan Russell Blantiger ☁
“Why? Papa misses me too.”
Lulubell Durams ♥
“No parent in the world wants their child to die. Dying is an agonizing thing for the body and the soul. Would the former duke ever want Hokan to hurt like that?”
Hokan Russell Blantiger ☁
“No… Papa hated it when I was sick. Whenever I hurt, he stayed up all night worrying about me.”
Lulubell Durams ♥
“See? Do you believe Teacher now? The person who would hate seeing Hokan hurt more than anyone else is the former duke.”
With a downcast face, Hokan nodded.
Though it looked grudging, only then did I feel like I could breathe again.
The wounds gouged into Hokan’s heart ran far deeper than I had ever imagined.
They were certainly not scars that would simply fade with time.
‘What should I do…?’
How could I mend Hokan’s shattered heart?
Without letting Hokan notice, I took a long, heavy breath and let it out.
The road ahead was steep and treacherous.
Even so, I would see it through.
After all, I was a seasoned teacher.
***
Before long, the carriage began to slow.
It seemed we had arrived home.
Gathering Jackjack into my arms and collecting my bag, I looked over at Hokan.
Lulubell Durams ♥
“Hokan. I had such a lovely time traveling with you.”
Hokan Russell Blantiger
“Yeah.”
Lulubell Durams
“You’ll go on another trip with Teacher next time, won’t you?”
“…”
Hokan didn’t answer.
The heavy conversation we had shared just moments ago had clearly dragged his spirits down.
Lulubell Durams ♥
“Let’s meet with smiles tomorrow. Let’s do our best together from now on, all right?”
Nod, nod.
Hokan offered only a slow nod of his head.
I caressed his cheek once by way of farewell.
Stepping down from the carriage, I saw Gale and His Grace had already dismounted.
Gale Onca
“Teacher Lulubell. It looks like you won’t be able to carry all this by yourself, so we’ll carry it up to the door for you.”
Both Gale and the knight named Halo had their hands completely full.
Lulubell Durams
“What is all of this?”
Gale Onca
“Gifts prepared by the commander.”
Gale Onca
“These are gifts from His Grace the Duke to House Durams to commemorate your employment at Blan Castle, so please accept them without any burden.”
Lulubell Durams
“Goodness… this much?”
Dazed, I glanced back and forth between Gale’s and Halo’s loaded hands.
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“I heard you had a large family.”
The duke’s deep, low voice cut in abruptly.
Lulubell Durams
“Yes, but still…”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Do you intend to keep the knights standing here any longer? Their hands are quite full.”
The duke gestured with his chin toward Gale as he asked.
Snapping my head up, I saw Gale grinning, his eyes crinkling as if the parcels were genuinely heavy.
Lulubell Durams ///
“Ah! I hadn’t thought of that. Forgive me. Please, come inside quickly.”
As I swung the iron gate open, Gale and Halo strode inside.
I moved to follow them, but a deep voice caught me in my tracks.
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Teacher.”
I turned back to face His Grace.
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Let us say our farewells here, so you need not come back out.”
Lulubell Durams ///
“That feels far too impolite of me… I will see them in and come right back out.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“The little one is asleep.”
Pointing toward Jackjack, fast asleep in my arms, the duke looked at me with an impassive expression.
After a moment’s hesitation, I nodded.
Lulubell Durams
“Thank you for your consideration. Then I shall arrive early for work tomorrow.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“I will send a carriage here tomorrow morning, so load your belongings and ride over.”
Lulubell Durams
“Pardon? A single bag will be more than enough. And if I leave early, I can easily walk.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Why do you insist on constantly turning down my good intentions?”
Lulubell Durams ///
“It’s not that, I only wished to avoid being an imposition…”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“The consideration shown to someone employed by Blan Castle reflects directly on the family’s honor. Keep in mind that persistently declining my goodwill tarnishes my reputation.”
Lulubell Durams
“Understood. I will keep that in mind.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Go on.”
Lulubell Durams ♥
“Please travel safely, then. For the journey, the carriage, and for hiring me—thank you for everything.”
With the faintest upward curve of his lips, he acknowledged my farewell with a single nod.
I bowed once more in parting, then stepped past the iron gate.
The journey north—filled with both fluttering excitement and dread—had finally come to an end.
Yet after encountering the profound wound carved into Hokan’s young heart at its conclusion, I couldn’t stop my own heart from sinking.
Suddenly, I spun around and hurried back toward His Grace.
Heading toward Baltan, the duke must have sensed my approach, for he paused and turned to look back.
Lulubell Durams
“Um, Your Grace.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Why have you returned?”
Lulubell Durams ///
“Well… Your Grace. May I ask you something?”
“Mm.”
He gave a curt nod.
Lulubell Durams
“Do you happen to have any intention of getting married? Or rather, do you intend to have children?”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“What…?”
