Chapter 25

25

Judging from the bright smile and the wide grin, it seems he brought this without knowing what it is.

‘Why is my book here?’

Not only that, but it’s the book I made for fun.

"Black Magic Picture Book for Beginners ~Curses Edition~"

Sure, it’s called the Curses Edition, but it took so much out of me to make just one that I couldn’t even produce a second one.

It’s a book entirely made of pictures, with not a single word, containing information about basic curse-form black magic.

For example, it has a series of pictures like a manual, starting with a drawing of straw, then an arrow, and finally a straw doll.

‘Why is this here?’

I made it for fun, but because it was so dangerous and I thought many people might easily dabble in black magic, I didn’t even print a few copies.

I thought they would all be disposed of...

"Doesn’t this doll look like the one the baby made before he got sick?"

Yes, because I made it.

"But this one looks uglier. The baby’s doll was prettier."

I’m grateful for the words spoken with a bright smile while leaning close to the baby’s crib, even though it feels like visiting a prisoner in jail.

But, more importantly...

‘Is that scrawny doll prettier than my drawings?’

Honestly, it’s embarrassing to even call it a doll. It looks more like a clump of straw. Is it really worse than my drawings?

Thud, the bottle fell from my hand and rolled on the floor. Shocked, I hastily put the pacifier in my mouth and sucked hard.

Sucking with all my might, the discomfort in my mind gradually subsided.

"Here, I’ll give it to Serena."

I didn’t refuse what the son of Sharant Clown offered.

It’s been a while since I saw this book, and I can read it secretly when I’m bored.

I held the book with both hands and pushed it under the blanket, then waved my hand.

It was a gesture to go away, but the son of Sharant Clown smiled brightly.

I glanced at the little one wiggling closer and turned my head away.

"The baby looks cute."

The son of Sharant Clown poked my plump, round cheek with his finger.

To touch my precious cheek so casually... I really don’t like it.

"By the way, do you know there’s a garden party in the garden tomorrow?"

"Ow-ow?"

"Yes! Pa. Ar. Ti."

It’s not "pa-chi" but "party."

With his short tongue, his pronunciation is a mess. Who is he trying to teach? Life is truly unpredictable. I never thought I’d end up in such a situation.

‘A party, huh.’

Here, only I find it hard to survive.

‘How long will I be in this state?’

At least, now I can walk, albeit wobbling. Once my mana stabilizes a bit more, I can use it from tomorrow.

If I can gather enough mana to run around, I can escape from this house.

I can hunt animals in the forest for food. Actually, hunting animals in the forest isn’t that difficult.

If I can control my mana, survival won’t be hard.

‘In this situation, no one will look for me anyway.’

Whether I leave or die, the Clown family won’t care about me.

It’s convenient for them if a troublesome person disappears. They can just file a missing person report and be done with it.

The Clown family will pretend to search for a while, then give up.

I just need to survive. Thinking about it, it’s a pretty satisfying plan.

"A party is where many people gather, eat delicious food, and make friends. Only the best people chosen by Father are there."

Oh, that sounds like a perfect place for a half-rolling.

If Sharant Clown chose them, they are probably of good bloodline, with long-standing family traditions or high titles.

If I get involved...

"Ah, and many mages are coming to repair the magical items in the house."

I forgot to suck the pacifier and mulled over the childish words several times.

Then, I kicked the rolling bottle with my foot and pressed the pacifier in my mouth with both hands.

Bowing my head, the son of Sharant Clown whispered that it was time to start his lesson and left. It was a short visit, not even 30 minutes.

I raised my wobbling arm in a casual salute and sat still.

‘He’s coming here.’

I didn’t expect to meet so quickly.

Of course, I thought I would meet him eventually, but now I’m too young and weak. In this state, no one would recognize me.

No, before that, Melaine won’t come here.

Since I was originally the head of the magic tower, Melaine, who was right below me, would have taken my place.

The head of the magic tower wouldn’t move just to repair magical items.

Thinking realistically, my mind calmed down. I stretched out and lay flat on my back.

"Miss, you didn’t drink much milk. I brought apple puree today. If you eat your baby food well, I’ll give it to you."

Apple puree!

I opened my eyes wide and quickly sat up.

Being a baby is definitely clear, and the gloomy mood I had vanished.

The sweet apple puree was the most delicious food I had eaten since becoming a baby. It melted in my mouth so deliciously.

Baby food is always somewhat peculiar. It’s not tasteless, but it’s not exactly flavorful...

Moreover, it’s always green or yellow, so just looking at it makes my appetite disappear.

"Paa!"

I called her name with all my might. Vera, the best!

"Miss, you don’t know how good it feels when you call my name. I remember you liked it so much last time, so I asked the chef to make it specially."

Indeed, such things are more enjoyable with a reward.

I pulled the pacifier out of my drooling mouth and opened my mouth wide.

Vera sat me on her lap, blew on the baby food, and carefully fed it to me.

I quickly pursed my lips, chewed, and opened my mouth again.

It’s white today, but I don’t know what flavor it is. It’s so peculiar that I can’t describe the taste. Healthy food is always like this.

My liver isn’t even properly developed, so it’s bland. I want to tear into juicy meat.

I swallowed the tasteless baby food and waited for the delicious apple puree.

After swallowing hard, the next serving of puree came.

"Wow!"

I opened my mouth wider than before, and Vera, looking surprised, held me in her arms.

‘Ah, what! My apple puree!’

I’m going to faint from the sweetness! Sweet!

Vera, very skillfully, restrained me with one arm and started patting my back with the other.

Being restrained by a mere maid. A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

"Let’s let it digest a bit before you eat it."

I glared at Vera’s face with dissatisfaction and tried to match her as much as possible.

Anyway, after satisfying Vera, I could stuff myself with apple puree until my belly was plump.

‘Ah, I’m happy.’

Vera rubbed her forehead against mine, seeing my expression.

It was a strange thing Vera often did, but it didn’t feel bad.

"Miss, are you full?"

"Uh!"

I raised my right hand with all my might. I felt on top of the world.

"Then let’s go for a walk."

A walk?

What’s this? She tried so hard to keep me inside for a while.

I looked at her meaningfully, and Vera gently shook her body to calm me down.

"His Highness the Duke is calling."

"Ugh!"

I scowled, and Vera, smiling awkwardly, started to spin me around in the room.

Feeling dizzy, I tightly closed my mouth.

Thinking I had calmed down, Vera quickly left the room.

‘Vera shouldn’t be a nanny or a governess...’

She seems to have chosen the wrong career.

I thought, trying to hold back the rising apple puree and baby food.

She is kind and gentle, but she doesn’t seem to have much talent for handling babies.

* * *

"Go out now."

The Duke who called me, Deshar Clown, gestured to Vera to leave.

"Bu...t..."

Vera hesitated, looking between me and Deshar Clown, then finally bowed deeply.

I didn’t try to stop her.

She, at the bottom, can’t defy the order of someone at the top.

Of course, if she runs away leaving me behind in an emergency, I won’t blame her.

I’ll be angry, but I won’t blame her. It’s inevitable.

"Please take care of her."

Vera bowed deeply in front of Deshar Clown’s stern gaze and said a few words with difficulty.

She quietly retreated and closed the door.

I watched Vera leave and then turned to Deshar Clown.

His stern gaze, which could kill, was fixed on me.

‘What’s with that expression? Is he going to kill me?’

I glared at Deshar Clown, putting all my strength into my eyes, but I had to give up quickly because my eyes dried out.

‘I didn’t expect to lose in a staring contest.’

As I sighed and turned my head, Deshar Clown got up from his seat and approached me.

I lay flat on my back, stretched out my limbs, and rolled to the corner.

I realized that rolling is more comfortable than crawling, so I often roll to move when in a hurry.

Deshar Clown, who had reached out his hand, seemed embarrassed and crossed his arms, tapping his waist a few times.

"Ahem."

Deshar Clown looked around and then knelt down, taking a few steps closer to me.

I was cornered with no place to run and glared up at Deshar Clown with a pout.

"Se...Serena..."

A voice so soft it was barely audible called me.

It was so frail and small that it was hard to believe it came from Deshar Clown, who commands all the nobles.

I glared at him with a suspicious look.

"Ahem."

Seeing my repulsed expression, Deshar Clown started to pace around me.

Where did the charismatic elder, Deshar Clown, go? He repeated a few false coughs, looked around, and then slowly looked at me again.

He walked to the desk, opened the bottom drawer with a key, and took something out, approaching me.

I swallowed hard, tense, and glared at what he hid behind his back.

‘Is he going to kill me now?’

And in such a despicable way, locking me in a room?

Seeing me press against the wall, Deshar Clown approached me with a scary expression.

Then he suddenly extended his hand, revealing what he had hidden behind his back.

‘Dying like this again...!’

Overwhelmed by fear, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the impact.

"Do you like these?"

The voice that reached my ear was awkward and embarrassed.

I cautiously opened my tightly closed eyes and saw a strange, fuzzy object in front of me.

‘...A doll?’

I moved my bottom slightly to avoid the creepy-looking doll.