Chapter 14: Nina
1272 Words
[WARNING : WARNING WARNING : WARNING WARNING : WARNING]
[WARNING: Update had been stopped and is unlikely to continue serialising new chapters. Due to personal reason I feel that I cannot continue writing new chapters. I sincerely apology for any inconvenience caused.]
[WARNING : WARNING WARNING : WARNING WARNING : WARNING]
"Caine!"
When I returned to the city, the guards were ordered to escort me back to the Lord's Mansion and as soon as I arrived, Mother immediately ran out in tears.
"Caine, where did you go?" She asked while tightly embracing me.
…
"Now Caine Von Rustichel, I think you have some explaining to do." Mother asked, while glaring dagger at me.
I explained to Mother how I managed to save Nina from the pursuit of low-level beasts and found out that she became lost with her grandparents on her way here. I then further explained how we managed to find her grandparents, but they have already passed away.
I have already told Nina about this fabricated story beforehand in case Mother ask her to verify it.
"What?! So not only did you leave the city, but you also went into the forest?" Mother shouted in anger then added, "Caine, even thou the forest had been cleared off high level beasts, but it still considered dangerous especially for five years old!"
"I-I'm sorry." I hung my head low, avoiding Mother's scary gaze.
Mother's expression then turned solemn, "Your Father had received a report of a wyvern being spotted near the forest. The army had already been sent to investigate it. Do you know just how dangerous it was, if you were unlucky then you would have already become food of the wyvern."
Well I agreed that it was lucky that I didn't end up having to kill the wyvern. I didn't want any more bloodshed to happen.
"Mhm? You don't look surprise thou…"
Flinch!
Right! If anyone were to hear this news for the first time then they would have been shocked by now.
"No, I am. I was shocked to the point of not knowing what to say. I guess I really was lucky to come back alive." I scratched my head as I smiled wryly.
"Yes, you were indeed lucky! Caine Von Rustichel, I hereby inform you that you are grounded for an entire week, you are not allowed to step out of your room during this period and no puddings!"
"Yes~" I can't refute or else the punishment will be doubled!
...
A week had passed by, but what meant to be a week felt like a year.
I'm free!
I lazily stretch my arms as I left my room.
I really wanted to eat puddings right now but there something more important that I need to check first. It was Nina, the beastkins girl that I bought back.
Before I was grounded, Mother told me to leave Nina to her and so I did, but ever since then I haven't seen or heard of her.
When I asked the maids, they told me that Mother ordered them not to speak to me, so I'm really worried about her now.
After trying to search around the mansion for ten minutes, I gave up and bought up the GUI to pinpoint her location.
Huh? She is in Raine's room with Mother?
…
"Mother! Raine" I called out as soon as I entered the room.
"Huh? Why is Nina here?" I pretended to be surprise, ha… I learnt my lesson last time for not acting surprise.
Nina who was wearing a maid's uniform is sitting on the floor next to Raine.
"You came. Ah right, Nina had been playing around with Raine while you are locked away in your room." Mother chuckled.
My eye suddenly twitched. Locked away?
"Raine, did you miss your brother?" I asked while rushing over to sit next to her.
"Hmph! Bad brother! Not playing with Raine!" Raine crossed her arm as she turned her head away from me.
Ehhhh!
My expression became twisted as I quickly looked towards Mother.
Mother shrugged and avoided my gaze in response.
Damn you!
Let see how I will counterattack…
"Raine, it's not that brother doesn't want to play with you. It's because brother was locked up by a certain demon." I made sure to emphasis the word 'demon'.
"Really?"
"Yes!"
He-he, how is that Mother?
I turned around to glance at Mother.
Hieeeh!
D-Demon! She really is a demon!!!
"Mother brother lying?" Raine asked with an innocent looking race.
After being asked the question by Raine, Mother's expression instantly lit up with a gentle smile.
Just how can one's expression changes so quickly?!?!
"No, your brother is right. He was captured by the DEMON, that is why he need a lot of rest now, so he must rest now."
"Okay… Brother rest!" Raine instructed while trying to pat my head.
"No no, it's alright Raine. Your brother would do anything for his beloved sister." I proudly exclaimed while clench my small little fist.
"Brother…" Raine embraced me with her tiny arms.
Mother, who was watching at the side chuckled, "Fu-fu, seems like you two siblings got back together."
"Alright then, I will be taking Raine to see how your Father is doing in the office." Saying that, Mother picked up Raine and left the room.
I and Nina both glanced at each other before we both simultaneously averted our gazes. The atmosphere quickly turned awkward.
If I remembered correctly, I haven't spoken to her much, I haven't even introduced myself yet.
"Let's me formerly introduce myself, I am Caine Von Rustichel." I place one hand against my upper chest and slightly bowed down.
"Hie! I-I'm Nina… I'm a commoner, I don't have a family name."
"…"
Damn it! The atmosphere turned awkward again!
What should I ask her? Right!
"Nina, have you gotten used to living here yet? If there is anything that you need, then please do feel free to tell me."
"I-I'm alright, th-thank you."
I didn't say anything and just nodded my head.
"Alright then but do remember to come to me if you require anything."
"Ah, yes Ca… young master."
"Nina, it's alright to call me Caine."
"N-No, that's improper." Nina shocked her head.
Mhm, I won't insist then, plus if she did start to call me Caine. The other servants working here properly would start to alienate themselves from her.
They are properly already dissatisfied with a beastkins working with them, so I shouldn't add oil to the fire.
After that, I asked her a few more questions relating to her past. Apparently Nina used to live with her grandparents in a nearby barron land where humans don't often visit.
The only reason they decided to come to the city was because Nina wanted to see what it was like. She kept blaming herself for what happened that day.
"Nina it's not young fault."
"B-But if I didn't selfishly insist on going to the city then grandpa and grandma would have still been here." Tears started to flow down Nina's cheek.
I should be more careful in the future when speaking to Nina.
"Nina, it's alright. It wasn't your fault, no one could have predicted that." I caressed her hair like how I normally console Raine when she is sad.
If anything, it was my fault, I should have paid more attention to the map. From now on I will always have the Local Map active on the GUI and ensure that I will be immediately notified of any threat within the proximity.
- Writer
