For some reason, upon hearing those words, the other person laughed.
'Oh my, oh my'—was that what came to mind?
'But I like "my baby" the best.'
Every time they were called that, only good things happened. Eating something delicious, or being hugged tightly by Grandma.
"There have been many pretty names for you. But from now on, 'Duren' will be added to your name."
"Duren?"
"Yes, it has a meaning similar to 'pretty.'"
When called "Pretty, my puppy," even more good things happened than when it was simply "my puppy."
For some reason, Duren felt happy.
"Duren, like it!"
"Then, Duren, would you like to go out and play today?"
"Go out and play?"
A walk! It meant a walk.
This was a strange place.
It was full of unfamiliar people too.
So Duren was afraid, but if it was with this person, he could be brave.
'She's beautiful and kind, so I'll protect her!'
Resolving firmly, Duren proudly stretched out his "front paw." It was the brave first step for a walk.
"Duren."
"Hm?"
But the moment he took that first step, she called him to a stop.
"Shall we try walking on two legs?"
Two legs?
Tilting his head in puzzlement, he felt her slip her hands under both his sides.
Heave-ho.
"Like this."
Duren stood up awkwardly.
He had tried walking on two legs before, imitating Grandma, but it was uncomfortable, so he quickly went back to walking on all fours.
'Huh?'
As he carefully set down his hind foot, Duren's mouth opened wide.
Unlike before, walking on two legs actually felt more comfortable!
Waddle, waddle.
Though it felt comfortable, it was still unfamiliar, so Duren walked clumsily, like a baby taking its first steps.
He staggered a few times, but thankfully, he didn't fall.
"Not that way—let's go this way."
But as Duren slowly followed Estelle, before long, his eyes filled with betrayal.
'Liar.'
The place she had led him to wasn't outside at all.
It was a giant bathtub.
"Shall we try going in here?"
Duren stared fixedly at her face, then plopped right down where he stood and squeezed his eyes shut.
Whenever Grandma made him do something he didn't want, Duren often pretended to sleep like this.
This time too, he clenched his eyes tightly shut—until he heard the sound of her laughter.
And then—
Beep, beep.
A strange sound caught Duren's ears.
His ears perked up, and he cautiously opened his eyes.
"Duren, don't you want to play with the duck?"
She was holding a yellow duck.
Beep, beep, beep—
Duren grew interested in the duck.
But he still didn't want to touch the water.
"The water's warm too."
As he hesitated, she first touched the surface with her hand, then even dipped her foot in.
Danger!
Startled, Duren rushed over.
He leapt into the tub to pull her out—but slipped.
Unlike usual, the floor was far too slippery, and that's what caused the accident.
Ahhh!
Duren nearly crashed onto the bottom of the tub, but she caught him just in time.
"Duren?"
"We have to run away! It's dangerous in deep water!"
He bit at the hem of her clothes, trying to pull her away.
But she didn't budge.
Why?
Confused, Duren lifted his head—only to see her eyes curved like a crescent moon as she held his paw tightly.
"It's okay, there's no need to run away."
Only then did Duren realize that his own feet were touching the bottom of the tub.
As he stood there dumbfounded, the hand holding his was gently pulled down into the water.
"See? There's nothing dangerous, right? Duren can just relax and play."
Somehow, it felt a bit like the shallow stream he sometimes visited.
Splashing around there or rolling his body in the water had always been the most fun.
This looks fun!
Realizing the tub was safe, Duren began to play with the toys—until he felt something trickling down his cheek.
Bubbles.
Without thinking too much, he stuck out his tongue to lick them up.
"Don't!"
Startled, she grabbed his shoulders.
It was the first time her voice—usually always so soft—had ever risen sharply, and Duren instinctively shrank back.
"You mustn't eat bubbles."
"...Oohng…"
Realizing her slip, she quickly offered something else to the dejected Duren.
"Instead—since you stayed so well inside the tub, I'll give you this."
It was a treat.
Happily munching on it, Duren suddenly felt bubbles sliding down his neck, tickling him.
Brrrrr—
Instinctively, he shook his head violently.
The foam that had clung all over him scattered.
Of course, some of it ended up splattering onto the woman right beside him.
Ah—did he make another mistake?
Sensing he had done something wrong, Duren tensed up.
But—
"Puhaha!"
She burst out laughing loudly.
"It's tough, isn't it? Don't worry, it'll be over soon. Just try not to shake yourself until then."
She gently wiped the bubbles from Duren's cheek.
As for the foam that got on her own clothes, she didn't seem to care at all.
"Good boy. Good boy. Just hold on a little longer—it won't take much more."
When Grandma washed him, she scrubbed so hard his fur nearly came out.
And the red-eyed giant too! He scrubbed me even harder than Grandma!
Recently, Duren had been washed by an enormous giant with black fur and crimson eyes.
Even half-asleep, Duren still remembered how rough those hands had been—it was enough to leave an impression. That's why he disliked the words "time for a bath."
But today was different.
After the bath—which wasn't bad, though he didn't want it to last too long—his body was wrapped snugly in a huge towel, like a burrito.
His paws couldn't move at all.
Strangely enough, that made Duren feel even more comfortable.
Uuum…
Cradled in the woman's arms, Duren's head was gently dried. Somehow, his body grew heavy with drowsiness, his eyelids drooping.
"Duren, are you sleepy?"
Duren blinked slowly. Before he knew it, he must have dozed off.
For the first time in so long, he didn't even have a bad dream. He sank into such a deep sleep, he didn't even realize he had fallen asleep at all.
"Madam—!"
"There's no one but Madam!"
Having successfully given Duren a bath, Estelle became the hero of Winterlen Castle.
"You must be exhausted from washing him! How on earth did you manage it with those slender arms of yours?"
"That's right! From now on, we'll make sure to help as well."
The servants had honestly worried that Estelle's arms might break while bathing Duren.
To the eyes of Northerners, Estelle looked so delicate she seemed as though she might topple over with a single gust of northern wind.
"But I'm sturdier than I look, so it was no trouble."
"Pardon?"
Estelle's remark sent ripples through the crowd.
"Was that… a joke from the Capital?"
"Were we supposed to laugh just now?"
Murmurs spread.
Everyone was seriously debating how they ought to respond.
Realizing clearly how others perceived her, Estelle quickly redirected the conversation, pretending it had just been a light joke.
"In any case, starting tomorrow, I want everyone else to slowly grow closer to Duren too. We'll keep creating opportunities for that."
"Thank you, Madam!"
"Madam has saved the child!"
All those who had worried for Duren expressed their gratitude to Estelle.
It was the day Estelle firmly established her position as the mistress of the household.
But the very next day—
Estelle ran into an unexpected problem.
The next morning.
As she had done for several days now, Estelle went to the castle's kitchen to personally prepare Duren's meals.
"Is that true?"
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"No, you've nothing to apologize for. Haa…"
But the atmosphere was unusually tense.
The head chef sighed heavily, while the other kitchen staff couldn't even lift their heads.
"Why is everyone like this so early in the morning? Did something happen?"
"Ah—Madam."
The head chef hurried to smooth over his expression, but Estelle had already overheard their exchange.
With no way to cover it up with a convenient excuse, he finally explained the situation.
"The truth is, some of our ingredients have gone missing, and we were trying to find the culprit."
"Ingredients, gone missing?"
"Yes, all of the steamed sweet potatoes we prepared last night have disappeared."
"Sweet potatoes? Only the sweet potatoes went missing?"
"Yes. And not even the raw ones—the steamed ones we set aside disappeared."
It wasn't as though sweet potatoes were especially rare, so for only them to vanish was strange indeed.
"After questioning everyone, they all swore no one touched them."
"..."
"It's not as if a thief would sneak into the castle just to steal sweet potatoes. Honestly, it feels like a ghost came and took them. It's unsettling."
Of course, sweet potatoes could simply be steamed again, but the head chef's position had become very awkward.
The kitchen was a place where outsiders were never allowed.
No one would grant casual entry, knowing someone might tamper with the food people would be eating.
That was why, even over something as trivial as missing steamed sweet potatoes, everyone's nerves were on edge.
"For now, strengthen the guards around the area."
Estelle, deciding this could not be dismissed as a mere accident until the culprit was revealed, spoke firmly.
"Today, make sure to inspect the ingredients more thoroughly before cooking."
"Yes, understood."
Naturally, Estelle carried herself as the mistress of the household.
And not a single person objected or criticized her.
For they had already accepted her as the true mistress.