Jener was recovering.

At first, he couldn’t even drink water, but now he was eating fairly well.

“Eat lots.”

When I moved the feed closer, Jener rubbed his face against me and made a soft sound.

I patted Jener’s face gently.

“Wow. It’s the first time I’ve seen the King God Ultra Generation Wild Horse act like this.”

According to the Monster Encyclopedia, Snowfield Horses are particularly sensitive to human emotions.

They tend to attack first those who carry fear or murderous intent.

On the other hand, they behave very gently toward positive feelings.

“I like Jener.”

Balzac frowned but didn’t look upset.

Well, no one hates someone who loves their own pet.

“Other cousins ignore it because it’s small.”

Balzac grumbled.

“The King God Ultra Generation Wild Horse runs so well. It’s way faster than those thoroughbreds they have.”

That made sense.

Snowfield Horses rank among the top five fastest horses, or rather monsters, overall.

“Jener’s going to grow a lot now. It’s still a baby.”

Balzac’s face brightened instantly.

“Right? Because of the big feet, I thought it’d grow big!”

‘Ponies don’t ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) really grow big.’

But since it’s a Snowfield Horse, it’ll grow immensely.

When it becomes an adult, no ordinary horse dares to challenge it.

Balzac cleared his throat loudly.

“Before it grows big, maybe I could... burn it a bit?”

“Huh?”

“Well, if it gets big, little things like you won’t be able to ride it.”

“But babies are dangerous to ride.”

I did want to try riding a horse.

There was no stable in the Twelfth Tower, and at the factory, I had to behave and couldn’t get close.

After coming to Daymond’s domain, I thought about trying,

“Ah, oh no...”

“You can’t even reach the stirrups yet...”

People fussed and didn’t know what to do, so I gave up.

‘Three years old is way too young to ride.’

Even if Jener is smaller than other ponies now, that’s pushing it.

While thinking so, Balzac said,

“The King God Ultra Generation Wild Horse is special. Even little ones like you can ride it.”

“How come?”

“It’s enchanted. You know magic?”

Of course.

It’s indispensable in fantasy worlds.

I once dreamed of going to HoXwart.

Anyway, magic in this world is special.

‘It’s closer to alchemy.’

You can’t create something from nothing.

For example, to use fire magic, you need firewood.

Most mages apply complex formulas to blessing stones that contain Gaho to activate magic.

‘So Gaho is special.’

Because Gaho can be manifested without anything else.

“When Jener was born, I put a protective spell on him. So even if a child rides, he won’t get hurt.”

That kind of magic must be extremely difficult, yet it was done well.

When I blinked, Balzac excitedly said,

“Duke Lissian wanted to give it to me as a gift...!”

But Balzac stopped mid-sentence.

His face stiffened noticeably, as if remembering something.

Of course, it must be hard to talk about his biological father (Lissian), who tried to poison his stepfather (Daymond).

Especially here, in Daymond’s domain.

‘A child would have a hard time dealing with that.’

I understood that feeling well.

When I was Yoo Hyemin, I never brought up my biological father, even by accident.

For fear of upsetting my stepfather.

“I loved Uncle Lissian, Balzac.”

“...Huh?”

“That’s why I put the spell to keep him safe, right?”

“......”

Balzac was silent.

After a long hesitation, he slowly spoke.

“It’s not really like that. He’s just a weirdo. Probably just used me as an excuse to experiment on the horse.”

“But look, magic is hard.”

“......”

“But I worked really hard. Hoping Balzac wouldn’t get hurt.”

“......”

“Don’t be hurt, don’t get injured, kid. That’s how it will be.”

I laughed softly as I spoke, and Balzac looked at me blankly.

‘Why is he looking at me like that?’

Did I say something wrong?

Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.

Then Balzac frowned.

He scratched his chest and said,

“It’s weird.”

“Huh?”

“Why does it itch?”

Balzac and I exchanged confused looks.

Maybe I got fleas from going in and out of the stable too often?

“Should we put on some medicine?”

“Yeah!”

“Okay!”

We ran off again to apply medicine.

Balzac and Erilot sat facing each other.

Erilot opened the bottle’s cap.

Then dropped a drop of medicine on Balzac’s chest.

Balzac rubbed it in with his fingers.

“How is it?”

“It still itches.”

It was a strange feeling, something I’d never felt before.

The itch seemed to get worse.

Especially when that tiny thing wriggled in his small hand.

Even the waddling while running seemed to itch a bit.

And the plump cheek that seemed to have something inside was the worst...

While thinking that—

“What’s going on?”

Daymond entered the greenhouse.

His eyes narrowed when he saw the medicine bottle Erilot held and the medicine on Balzac’s chest.

“Mom!”

“Where are you hurt?”

When Daymond asked, Balzac answered.

“No, it’s just itchy.”

“Did you see a doctor?”

“It’s nothing. Must be a bug bite.”

Balzac looked at Erilot, still holding the bottle.

“Give me more medicine.”

“Okay.”

Erilot diligently applied more medicine.

She dropped a little and rubbed it gently while Daymond watched closely.

Erilot was so focused she didn’t even notice her surroundings.

Daymond cleared his throat loudly.

“I think I’m a bit itchy too.”

“Then scratch it.”

“......”

Applying medicine is something even children need help with. Adults can do it themselves.

Erilot didn’t look at Daymond and asked Balzac,

“Are you okay now?”

“Uh...”

Balzac answered with a slightly shy expression.

‘He seems to like me.’

The strongest in Daymond’s domain was the general, yet he only applies medicine to me.

“Since you have medicine, it’s okay to try riding today.”

“Ride?”

Daymond raised his eyebrows.

“Riding is still too much for Erilot.”

“If it’s the black pony, it’s fine.”

“You mean the protective spell?”

“Yes, so it’s safe.”

“Now that I think about it, I had a little horse with a protective spell too. I used to ride it...”

“No, I’ll ride my own horse.”

“My horse is better.”

“It’s mine.”

“My horse!”

“Mine!”

Their gazes clashed fiercely.

Erilot sat between them, looking back and forth.

Then—

“Miss, the picture books have arrived.”

“Wow!”

Erilot jumped up excitedly.

“......”

“......”

Balzac and Daymond exchanged glum looks while watching Erilot rush off happily.

I quickly flipped through the books Heidi and Betty brought.

‘Wow...’

This book is even prettier.

One of the good things about coming to this world is that.

‘The books are really beautiful.’

Maybe because these are books for noble children.

Some books have illustrations embroidered in gold thread on black paper, others have pop-up illustrations that seem three-dimensional.

I flipped through the pages quickly, when the maids spoke.

“You’ll read the books, right?”

“Yes.”

“Where will you read? Shall we prepare snacks?”

I pondered.

Usually, it would be the greenhouse or my room...

‘The weather is nice, so maybe the garden.’

I like books, but I also really love our estate’s garden.

Roses bloom fresh all year round, and the air smells fragrant there.

“Jungeon!”

“Yes. I’ll bring snacks to the gazebo.”

Heidi smiled brightly.

I tucked the book under my arm and went outside to the garden.

The cold snap of early spring was passing; the days were warm.

The sky was clear blue with white fluffy clouds here and there.

The breeze blew gently, tickling my curly stray hairs.

‘I feel really, really good!’

I sat on the gazebo bench and placed the book on the table, but something was odd.

Why weren’t there any gardeners?

Recently, there’s been a big temperature difference between day and night.

‘It must be hard to control temperature with magic alone, so they’re paying extra attention.’

It wasn’t lunchtime yet...

I tilted my head, when a gardener suddenly came running out of the garden.

His complexion was pale like dirt.

Something happened.

“Hey!”

When I shouted, the gardener stopped and turned sharply.

“Miss...!”

“Where?”

“Well, um, there was a summons...”

“Who? Mom? Michelan?”

“No...”

The gardener’s tie was red.

It meant he was a high-ranking employee.

But if it wasn’t Mom or Michelan calling, why was he in such a hurry?

The hesitant gardener said,

“It’s a summons from the evaluation team.”

Evaluation team?

They were staying in Daymond’s domain.

But why summon a gardener?

I jumped up from the bench.

“I want to go too.”

“What?!”

“I want to go.”

“Oh... okay.”

The gardener reluctantly answered, looking troubled.

I followed quickly.

The place they summoned me to was very remote.

I could faintly hear horse noises around the corner.

“They want the garden dug up...!”

“Oh no, that’s nonsense. The flowers raised with magic tools are fragile, once overturned they’re ruined...”

“How dare they talk back—”

Then a thud!

I was startled and quickly peeked around the corner.

An older gardener was curled up after being kicked by Baron Jahabang, one of the evaluators.

“If they want it dug up, then dig it! What’s with all this—!”

Thud!

A stone hit the head of the evaluator who’d forced the gardener to kneel.

“Ah!”

Baron Jahabang screamed and snapped his head toward where the stone came from.

“Who dares—! Miss?”

“It’s me.”

“Eh?”

“Who would do such a thing without the owner’s permission?”

Baron Jahabang, with a swallowtail mustache, looked flustered and stared at me.

“Well, this isn’t something for a young lady to worry about. It’s Master Joshua’s orders!”

Joshua?

From what I heard, it seemed they wanted the garden dug up.

Why would Joshua order the garden dug up?

I looked suspiciously at Baron Jahabang.

Then—

“Already playing the master?”

A soft voice came from behind.

I turned to see Joshua.

His mouth curled kindly, but his eyes were cold as they stared at me.

“Stop hitting the gardener.”

“But?”

“What?”

“Punishing servants is normal here. Is that a reason to throw stones at my proxy?”

Father had been away on the battlefield for five years, so Balzac and Joshua were assigned guardians among the vassals.

Balzac had Marquis Kronetz.

Joshua had Baron Jahabang.

Now that I think about it, it was strange.

“Balzac came here to treat the horse. Why did Joshua come?”

Joshua wouldn’t have followed all the way here just for Balzac.

It was obvious from their manner that the brothers didn’t get along well.

Joshua glanced at Baron Jahabang.

“Baron, you may leave.”

“Oh, yes...!”

Baron Jahabang hurriedly left.

Joshua and I looked at each other.

Joshua gave me a quick once-over and smiled gently.

“Erilot.”

“......”

“Even if you’re the general’s biological daughter, you’re still a bastard. A child born from a commoner’s blood, not welcomed.”

“......”

“This is a request. Please don’t be annoying. I still want peace.”

Joshua smiled at me and then turned his back to leave.

I just watched him go.

Gardeners came running to me.

“Miss...!”

“Don’t listen to what he said. He’s just saying whatever comes out because he’s young.”

Saying whatever comes out because he’s young?

‘No.’

Something was off.

Joshua is not the type to openly show hostility like that.

He’s the snake type—acting kind in front of others while scheming behind their backs.

But why would Joshua say that to me in front of all the gardeners?

‘What if Father hears?’

I furrowed my brows.

I definitely felt there was something going on.