Translator: Nox
The Squirrel Will Raise the Tiger Cub
Episode 26
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Whether I intend to marry?”
I nodded vigorously.
I needed a concrete plan to reassure Hokan and earn his trust before the duke ever thought about taking a wife.
That was why I had asked. But…
“With you?”
Lulubell Durams
“Pardon? What on earth do you…”
What kind of absurd nonsense was that?
Mortified, I flapped my hands frantically.
Lulubell Durams ///
“N-no! I didn’t mean to ask if you’d m-marry me… Cough, cough!”
I was so taken aback that trying to stammer an excuse out in a rush ended in a coughing fit.
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“What is it that you wish to know, precisely?”
Lulubell Durams
“Only that… since there has been no talk of your marriage, Your Grace, I wondered when you planned to wed.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“And why does that concern you?”
Lulubell Durams
“Well, that’s…”
I bowed my head, my eyes darting frantically about.
‘Ah, what do I say?’
Was it really right to tell the duke what Hokan had confided in me?
The child had only just begun to open up to me.
If the duke scolded Hokan for harboring such morbid thoughts…
I might never earn Hokan's trust again.
Lulubell Durams
“N-no, never mind, Your Grace. It was idle curiosity on my part. Please forgive me. I no longer care to know.”
I flushed scarlet, reproaching myself for being so reckless and hasty.
Kuhn stared intently at me for a beat, clicked his tongue, and spoke.
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“I have no interest in political marriages.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Watching my elder brother made me resolve never to enter a marriage of convenience. That is why I neither send nor receive marriage proposals.”
Lulubell Durams
“Aha. So you prefer meeting naturally.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“What does that mean?”
Lulubell Durams
“Pursuing a romance that develops on its own. It's quite the trend among the empire's young knights and noble ladies these days.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“The ridiculous nonsense people come up with. Why shorten words so ungracefully? At any rate, is your curiosity satisfied?”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Now I have a question of my own.”
Lulubell Durams
“Yes, please go ahead.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Why were you so curious about that?”
Oh, dear. I knew he wouldn't let it slide, but I hadn't expected him to turn it back on me so directly.
Lulubell Durams
“Well, you are the most eligible bachelor in the empire, the epitome of a gentleman, and the finest knight of all, are you not?”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“And?”
Lulubell Durams
“So I simply wondered what sort of lady would marry a gentleman like you, Your Grace… I am sure every lady in the capital is just as curious.”
Kuhn Russell Blantiger
“Is that so?”
Lulubell Durams
“Yes, absolutely.”
When I gave an emphatic nod and offered a bright smile, the duke rubbed the back of his neck.
Seemingly satisfied with my answer, he offered a brief nod.
Lulubell Durams
“I shall head inside now.”
Offering a hasty curtsy, I scurried into the house.
I could hardly bear to meet his gaze any longer.
‘With you?’
I shook my head violently to banish the words echoing in my ears.
***
Lulubell's Mother
“Now that’s an employer from a grand manor for you, isn’t it? Simply magnificent, my girl.”
Baron Durams
“This much hamon will easily feed our family for a whole month. Lulubell, be sure to express our deepest gratitude to His Grace again tomorrow.”
Returning home from their work, my parents beamed at the sight of the hamon and tea leaves laid out on the table.
Father worked as a butler for House Roland, while Mother worked as a copyist transcribing books for the imperial court.
Lulubell's Mother
“Oh, my back and legs were aching terribly, but seeing my daughter’s face and these lovely gifts makes it feel as though the pain has completely vanished.”
Worn down from dragging her ailing body to work every day, Mother groaned every time she sat down or stood up.
Even so, a wide smile bloomed across her face.
Lulubell Durams
“Mother, my wages are increasing now. Please don't go to work anymore.”
Even when I was working at Viscount Lund’s estate, I had urged her several times to quit.
Yet every time, she would wave her hand dismissively.
Lulubell's Mother
“Nonsense. Why shouldn’t I work when my two legs still carry me? If I work, I can put another slice of meat into all your mouths.”
Lulubell Durams
“That's why I'm earning more—to pay for that meat.”
Lulubell's Mother
“That… should be saved for your wedding.”
How could I even dream of marriage?
Most ladies and matrons of other noble households did not work, prioritizing building a family above all else.
For the women and daughters of House Durams, however, heading out to earn a living had long been second nature.
We simply had too many mouths to feed.
Lulubell Durams
“Mother, you'll end up spending more on medicine than you ever make for meat. Please just rest. I beg you.”
Lulubell's Mother
“No, no. I hardly hurt at all. It's only because it hasn't been that long since I had the baby. Give it time, and I'll be fine.”
She truly was as stubborn as a mule.
Lulubell Durams
“Father, please talk some sense into her.”
Baron Durams
“Have I ever once won an argument against your mother?”
Father merely shook his head in resignation.
Lulubell Durams
“I didn't know His Grace would give us hamon, so I bought some as a present too. Mother, could you share the hamon I bought with our neighbors? Blan Hamon is truly delicious.”
Lulubell's Mother
“That works out wonderfully. I'll share some with Madame Riolus and my fellow copyists at the monastery tomorrow.”
Lulubell Durams
“How has Dima been doing?”
We used to be quite close as childhood friends…
I realized it had been a very long time since I had spoken his name aloud.
He and I had been friends since entering the academy.
Ever since we both began working, we had hardly crossed paths.
Lulubell's Mother
“Dima is always doing well. So diligent, so handsome, and such an upright lad. Looking at him always brings a smile to my face.”
Lulubell Durams ✧
“Hmph. You always dote on your friend's son more than your own daughter.”
Lulubell's Mother
“My friend's son?”
Lulubell Durams
“Yes, Dima.”
Lulubell's Mother
“Lulu, stop throwing around silly slang. Your mother is a copyist by trade; it hardly looks dignified for my own child to toss words about so carelessly.”
Lulubell Durams
“Fine… Understood.”
I pouted.
Why did she sound exactly like…
‘The ridiculous nonsense people come up with. Why shorten words so ungracefully?’
In that moment, the duke flashed unbidden into my mind.
Naturally, another memory followed right behind it.
‘With you?’
‘Gah! Why am I thinking about that again?! Stop it!’
When I suddenly began shaking my head as though my hair were on fire, my parents stared at me with wide eyes.
Lulubell's Mother
“What's the matter, daughter?”
Baron Durams
“Did an insect get into your eye?”
Lulubell Durams
“N-no, it's nothing. Just a random thought.”
Lulubell's Mother
“That aside, Lulubell, will you be all right staying at Blan Castle from now on? We'll only get to see you on the occasional weekend…”
Lulubell Durams
“I'm more worried about Jackjack and the other children than myself.”
Lulubell's Mother
“Don't worry about them. They'll be just fine. You must be exhausted, so hurry and get to sleep. You'll need to wake early for work tomorrow.”
Lulubell Durams
“Yes. Good night.”
After planting a gentle goodnight kiss on Mother and Father's cheeks, I picked up a candle and headed toward my bedroom.
The night was quiet, filled only with the soft, steady breathing of my sleeping siblings.
I walked over to my bed by the window and placed the candlestick on the sill.
Whoosh. As I blew out the candle, a deep, pervasive darkness settled over the room.
Time to sleep, for real.
‘With you?’
Aargh. Stop popping into my head!
Seriously, what is wrong with me…?
***
The next morning, I woke at dawn to pack my belongings.
Knowing that I would be living there for most days of the week, I found there was far more to pack than I had anticipated.
I also carefully folded the dress His Grace had bought me and tucked it into my bag.
I made up my mind to save it only for truly special occasions.
Jackjack ☁
“Lulu… take me too.”
Jackjack had woken before I noticed and waddled over, rubbing his eyes.
Lulubell Durams
“Jackjack, why are you awake already? You should go back to sleep.”
Jackjack ☁
“Hnn… Lulu, you’re leaving me behind again… I wanna go too…”
Lulubell Durams
“If you stay here and play nicely with our brothers and sisters, I’ll be back before you know it.”
Jackjack ☁
“I wanna be with Lulu.”
I gathered the whimpering boy into a tight hug.
Lulubell Durams
“Just wait five nights for me, okay?”
Jackjack ☁
“I miss Brother Hokan too… Waaah!”
Burying his forehead into my shoulder, Jackjack finally burst into loud sobs.
Lulubell Durams
“When there's a banquet at Blan Castle, I'll take you along as my partner, Jackjack.”
Jackjack
“Jackjack gets to dance with Lulu?”
Lulubell Durams
“Yes. But only if you practice hard at home, eat your meals well, and play nicely with our brothers and sisters. Deal?”
He nodded.
Jackjack gave a slow nod, but his sorrow had yet to fade, and he clutched my collar, hiccuping through his tears for a long while.
Jackjack
“B-but Lulu, I can do it now…”
Lulubell Durams
“Do what?”
Jackjack
Jackjack held up three tiny, chubby fingers and gazed up at me with tear-filled eyes.
