Ch. 21 Munchkin – Chapter 21
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 21
Since there was still some time before the banquet began, Ed took Lucy to the garden.
He wanted to show her around.
The garden was in full bloom with all kinds of flowers.
Red roses and white lilies blended beautifully on the green grass, and water gushed refreshingly from the fountain.
“How is it? Isn’t it pretty?”
When Ed asked, Lucy nodded quietly.
She didn’t seem particularly interested.
The garden was beautiful, but it wasn’t something that captured Lucy’s attention.
If Ed had been a bit older, he might have noticed Lucy’s disinterest.
But Ed was still young, and he simply assumed that since Lucy was a girl, she would naturally like flowers.
“Over there, I planted some flowers too. Let me show you!”
Ed walked energetically with a bright smile, while Lucy followed slowly with a bored expression.
From a distance, Theodore, who was watching the two, couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Ed seemed eager to make Lucy happy, but it probably wouldn’t be easy.
From Theodore’s perspective, Lucy wasn’t an ordinary girl.
If he wanted to make a girl like Lucy happy…
‘…I have no idea.’
Theodore didn’t know either.
◈
“Ron, look over there.”
A girl pointed out the window as she spoke.
She had soft golden hair tied up elegantly and was wearing a bright dress.
The girl’s name was Ellie.
She was Ed’s half-sister and Michela’s daughter.
“That must be the commoner Ed invited.”
Ellie pointed to where Ed and Lucy were.
Ed was smiling brightly, talking about the flowers, while Lucy nodded expressionlessly.
“Ron, that girl has white hair and red eyes. Aren’t those the traits of a witch?”
At Ellie’s words, Ron, who had been quietly reading a book, looked up.
Ron glanced out the window for a moment before returning his gaze to the book in his hands.
“That’s a misconception. White hair and red eyes are just genetic traits.”
“But that girl, for a commoner, she’s quite pretty. Of course, not as pretty as me… What do you think, Ron?”
“She’s prettier than you.”
“…What?”
Ellie frowned.
“No, I’m prettier! Mom said there’s no one prettier than me in the world!”
“That’s Mom’s opinion. Objectively, that girl is prettier than you.”
“Ugh!”
Angry, Ellie reached out to snatch the book Ron was reading.
But Ron, as if he had anticipated it, quickly turned his body to avoid Ellie’s hand.
Ellie pouted in frustration.
“Say I’m prettier!”
“Fine, you’re prettier.”
Ron replied half-heartedly.
To Ron, who was prettier didn’t matter.
The book he was reading was far more important.
Ellie said,
“Ron, let’s go over there. We need to teach that girl a lesson.”
“Why?”
“She’s just a commoner, yet she’s wandering around the garden. I don’t like it.”
“She’s here because Ed invited her.”
“Ed’s acting all giddy. That girl must be a witch. She’s probably bewitched Ed with evil magic.”
“That’s not…”
“Just come on!”
Ellie shouted.
Ron let out a deep sigh.
He knew he couldn’t win against Ellie’s stubbornness at times like this.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Reluctantly, Ron followed Ellie to the garden.
“Hey!”
Ellie stomped over to Lucy as soon as she entered the garden.
“Commoner!”
Lucy turned her gaze to Ellie.
“What? When a commoner sees a noble, they should show respect! Why are you just staring like that?!”
Lucy didn’t react at all.
Even when Ed’s guard knight, Hoff, had yelled at her, it hadn’t fazed her. A little girl like Ellie shouting wouldn’t scare her either.
“What’s with that look? You want to fight or something?”
Ellie stepped closer, as if she was about to attack Lucy.
Just then, Ed stepped in front of Ellie.
“Ellie, what’s wrong? She’s my friend.”
“I know, she’s the commoner you invited. But I don’t like her.”
“What’s not to like?”
“She has white hair and red eyes! Those are the traits of a witch!”
Ed chuckled at Ellie’s words.
“Ellie, that’s just a genetic trait. It has nothing to do with being a witch.”
Ed said the same thing as Ron.
Of course, Ed knew Lucy was a witch.
But it was because she could control undead, not because of her hair and eye color.
Ellie crossed her arms.
“Hmph, but you’ve already fallen for her.”
“I’ve fallen for her?”
“You’ve been grinning like an idiot next to her this whole time. I saw it all from the window.”
“…”
Ed’s face turned red.
“Th-that’s not true. Who’s grinning…”
“Then answer this. Who’s prettier, her or me?”
Ed froze at Ellie’s question.
“Well, of course… both of you are pretty.”
“No, who’s prettier? Ron said I’m prettier!”
“…”
Ed turned to look at Ron, who was standing nearby.
Ron just shrugged and continued reading his book.
“Ed, answer me. Who’s prettier? Her or me?”
Ellie pressed for an answer.
Ed was in a tough spot.
No matter who he chose, the other would feel hurt.
And in Ed’s eyes, Lucy was prettier.
But if he said that…
“Why… why can’t you answer? Ed, you always said I was pretty!”
Ellie’s voice trembled as tears began to fall from her large eyes.
Despite this, Ed hung his head and couldn’t say a word.
“Sniff… Ed’s been bewitched by a witch… Give him back!”
Ellie suddenly lunged at Lucy.
“You evil witch! Is this face fake too?!”
She then pinched Lucy’s cheeks and pulled them as hard as she could.
Lucy still didn’t react.
She just stared at Ellie with her cheeks stretched out.
“What are you doing! Leave my friend alone!”
Ed tried to stop Ellie.
“Ron, do something about Ellie!”
Finally, Ron closed his book and intervened.
Restrained by her two brothers, Ellie plopped down on the ground.
Sitting on the ground would dirty her dress, but that didn’t matter right now.
“Sniff… Ed has changed…! Give him back…!”
Ellie burst into tears, her sobs filled with sorrow.
Amidst this, Ed kept glancing at Lucy.
Lucy’s cheeks, which Ellie had pinched, were now red.
Ed was at a loss for what to do.
“I-I’m sorry, Ellie’s not usually like this…”
“It’s fine.”
Lucy spoke nonchalantly and then approached Ellie, who was sitting on the ground, crying.
“Sniff… you evil witch… give Ed back…”
Lucy crouched down in front of Ellie.
“You’re really pretty.”
“…?”
Ellie’s eyes widened at Lucy’s words.
She hadn’t expected such a comment.
Ellie spoke up.
“D-don’t lie… you’re prettier… for a commoner, you’re so pretty…”
“No.”
Lucy shook her head and wiped the tears from Ellie’s cheeks.
“You’re much prettier. Your brother thinks so too.”
“…”
Ellie was momentarily speechless.
“R-really?”
Ellie looked at Ed with tear-filled eyes.
Beside her, Lucy gave Ed a meaningful look.
‘Say it’s true.’
Ed, catching on, nodded.
“Y-yeah, Ellie. You’re prettier…”
“…Really?”
“I mean it!”
“Heehee…”
Ellie’s face brightened.
Lucy held out her hand to Ellie.
“Come on, get up now.”
“Okay!”
Ellie took Lucy’s hand and stood up.
Even after that, they didn’t let go.
They held hands tightly, like friends.
“Hey… can I play with you too?”
Ellie asked cautiously, and Lucy nodded.
“Let’s play together.”
“Yay, awesome!”
Ellie jumped up and down, laughing.
Ed finally let out a sigh of relief, and Ron, who had been quietly flipping through his book, spoke up.
“The banquet will start soon.”
◈
Knock knock—
“It’s Groose.”
“Come in.”
Groose entered Michela’s room.
The banquet was about to begin, and Michela was standing in front of the mirror, having finished her preparations.
Dressed in a crimson gown, Michela had carefully styled her hair and adorned herself with lavish jewelry.
She smiled with satisfaction as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
“How did it go?”
When Michela asked, Groose bowed his head and replied.
“I’ve confirmed it. The child has strikingly white hair and red eyes.”
“Oh? How peculiar. In the past, she would’ve been accused of being a witch and burned at the stake. What’s her personality like?”
“She barely speaks. Probably intimidated since it’s her first time at the castle.”
“A timid child, huh? That makes her easy to manipulate. What’s she doing with Ed?”
“They were touring the garden and are now heading to the banquet hall. Young Master Ron and Lady Ellie are also with them.”
“Ron and Ellie too?”
Michela’s face twisted slightly.
She didn’t like the idea of her children mingling with a commoner.
Groose continued.
“It’s probably because of Young Master Ed. Lady Ellie has always been fond of him.”
“True, Ellie strangely adores that brat Ed. And Ron pretends not to care but secretly follows Ed around… We need to get rid of Ed quickly. That way, our children won’t be as hurt when he’s gone.”
“The preparations are almost complete. I’ve instructed the mercenaries to capture the commoner child’s family, and I’ve also prepared the means to eliminate Young Master Ed.”
Groose pulled out a small vial from his pocket.
Inside the vial, a suspiciously colored liquid sloshed around.
“It’s a specially crafted poison. It has no taste or smell, but its effects are potent. Even a small amount will cause the victim to bleed from every orifice and die a gruesome death.”
“…Make sure Ron and Ellie don’t see that.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
Michela approached Groose and took the vial.
She held it up to the light and asked.
“Are we putting this in Ed’s food?”
“No. It’s too difficult to poison the banquet food. Especially now, with security heightened.”
“Then how do we get Ed to ingest it?”
“That’s why we need the commoner child. She’ll put it in her own drink and then offer it to Young Master Ed to taste.”
“Oh ho, that way, no one will suspect a thing. Who would think the commoner child would poison her own drink? Especially since Ed himself invited her.”
“If the poisoning succeeds, the child will be executed. The mastermind will never be uncovered. All they’ll know is that a suspicious figure threatened her family and forced her to put the strange liquid in the drink for Young Master Ed to consume…”
“Hoho, perfect. Groose, you’re a genius.”
“Thank you.”
Translator Note
T/N (Translator’s note):
Children are easy to manipulate, Lucy is a great example of that.Well, the adults here are bad examples though. If they can even be called adults, heh.
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