Chapter 4

I am nine years old. The young lady is in her fourth season.

"Hey, Jūboku! Read a book!"

As usual, the young lady appears by parting the bushes. When she is led back by the maid who comes to fetch her, she passes by the side of the bushes, but for some reason, she always comes through the middle of them.

I wish she wouldn’t. Even a small scratch increases the number of lashes...

"Read this, this one!"

While removing the twigs and leaves from the young lady's clothes, which has become a routine, she thrusts the book she is holding at me.

Hmm, what is it... 'The Knight and the Dragon.' Wow... this book even has colored illustrations. I've heard of it from Jurelle. It's a picture book.

I avoid touching the picture book that the young lady thrusts at me, saying "read, read." This is not something a slave should touch.

The young lady's eyebrows furrow. She looks like she's about to throw a tantrum.

"Hey! Um!"

"Miss, what happened to that lovely book?"

"Huh...? This?"

I nod with a smile at the young lady, who looks puzzled. It's best to change the subject. Besides, it's the first time she's brought something, so I'm genuinely curious.

I need to think of a strategy.

The young lady seems pleased that her book has been praised. She holds it proudly and smiles as she tells me.

"You see, it was my birthday! Father gave it to me because it was my birthday!"

Hey, kid.

This isn't just a lashing case; it's a beheading case. Ah... the cover is already damaged...

My limbs feel weak. This is what Tataru often talks about, the feeling of being hit on the head. Is this it? I need to put strength in the base of my big toe.

My eyes twitch, but since the young lady is smiling, I force a smile to avoid ruining her mood. A slave cries inside. Tears well up, but I don't let them fall. Because I am a slave. Damn.

"That's wonderful, Miss."

"Yep!"

The young lady, a true noble, doesn't notice that my legs are shaking. She holds out the picture book she was hugging to deliver the final blow.

"Read it!"

You have the talent of a knight.

"As you wish."

Naturally, as a slave, I can't refuse the daughter of the master. Especially as a slave. If a noble commands me to die, I am destined to die.

But I don't want to die.

"Miss, you should turn the pages."

"Why?"

"If I turn the pages, the pictures will be upside down for you."

"Hmm... I see!"

"Thank you."

This way, I don't have to touch the book. I've managed to save my life somehow.

I want to let out a sigh of relief, but I hold it in and sit in front of the young lady, waiting for her to open the book.

"Heavy..."

She places the picture book on the ground from her lap. Without caring that it gets dirty, she flips to the first page.

"..."

"From here? Jūboku, read it!"

The master surely didn't expect the book he gave his daughter as a gift to get dirty so quickly. He probably thought she would read it leisurely with a maid in her room, or at most, outside on a neatly trimmed lawn with a chair, a footman holding an umbrella to provide shade.

Lying on the ground in a corner of the garden is a situation that requires someone to take responsibility.

I hope it ends with a lashing.

"Jūboku?"

"Yes, Miss. I will read it."

From my perspective, the text is upside down, which would normally make it hard to read, but I've been studying letters with Jurelle every night, so I'm used to it.

I read smoothly without hesitation.

The content of this picture book is a common story about a knight who goes to slay a dragon by the king's command. The stories I usually tell the young lady are more likely to warn or encourage children to reflect, or have a strong entertainment element with humor, so this is a bit different.

"---The king was troubled. Then the king said, 'Who will slay the dragon that lives in that mountain?' In response to the king's words, three knights stood up."

"Is the dragon bad? Is it bad?"

"Yes, it is."

"Why?"

"Probably because it does bad things."

"What? What bad things?"

"What kind of things would you not like if someone did them to you?"

"Um... I don't like vegetables! But Mother says I have to eat them. Father says it's okay, but they're red. Red vegetables are scary..."

"Then the dragon must have tried to make the king eat red vegetables."

"Bad! The dragon is bad!"

"Yes, the dragon is bad."

I answer the young lady's questions as I continue the story.

"The third knight slew the dragon. The king said to the third knight who returned to the castle, 'Well done. I will give you a reward. What would you like?'"

"Reward?"

A lashing, maybe.

"A gift."

"Hmm..."

The young lady, whether she understands or not, listens to my story while kicking her feet.

The story reaches its final chapter, ending with the knight marrying a princess who has not appeared in the story until now.

"---And that's the end."

"Interesting! Again!"

"Then please go back to the first page."

"No, not this one."

The picture book is thrown aside.

"..."

"Tell me the usual story. I want to hear the usual one."

"As you wish. Then---"

While the young lady laughs, I make up a unique story with some modifications. Unlike reading from the picture book, I add gestures and movements. Using the techniques I learned from a former bard slave, I sing the story, and the young lady is delighted, though I don't know why.

"---Heave, heave, the rabbit runs. A wolf bites at its feet. But the rabbit doesn't notice and keeps running. 'Hmm? My body feels heavy?'"

"Hahaha! Heave! Heave!"

I wish she wouldn't step on the book when she gets excited and stands up... I hope someone prays for my exposed neck.

The maid in charge for today arrives at a good time. I've never seen her before; she has long, wavy blonde hair and is beautiful. Her sharp eyes show disdain. She looks like a noble.

"Wha...?"

But now she stands speechless. Her gaze is directed at the young lady's dirty clothes and the soiled book, and I can understand her feelings.

Was she perhaps politely pushed into this role?

"A, we got caught. Let's go."

The young lady, who picks up the heavy book with a 'hoist,' is led away by the maid.

Or rather, she leads the maid by the hand. The maid looks pale and goes along with it.

"See you later!"

The young lady waves and smiles.

For the first time, I might wish for a "see you later."

Unlike the maid, I don't show it on my face and wave with a smile.