After giving the order, Estelle still couldn't simply let the matter go.
Worried that there really might be an intruder, she entrusted Duren's morning preparations to a maid and inspected the interior of the castle together with Pippin.
But they found nothing.
"There are no signs of intrusion anywhere, not just in the kitchen."
"Then it must be someone truly meticulous—or perhaps an inside job."
Since such a bizarre incident had taken place, Estelle considered it likely to be the work of an insider.
However, Estelle herself was, strictly speaking, an outsider. She held back her words, fearing she might plant the idea that she was only trying to sow discord among the household staff.
"Just in case, I'll tighten discipline among the servants once more."
"I'd appreciate that."
Pippin seemed to be of the same mind as Estelle. Perhaps that was why he was intent on finding the culprit from within.
"This really isn't something you need to trouble yourself with, my lady, yet you've chosen to help. Thank you. It's already lunchtime—surely you must be hungry. Please, leave the rest to me and go inside."
Estelle nodded and made her way toward the kitchen.
Just then, the maid who had prepared Duren's breakfast in her stead approached.
"My lady, the young master refused to eat his breakfast. I beg your pardon."
"Didn't he eat at all?"
"No, ma'am. He still seems very shy. He wouldn't even look at me and ordered me out."
Estelle had thought his wariness had eased considerably, but it seemed he still needed more time.
"You did well. I'll take care of his lunch myself again."
Since he had skipped breakfast, he must be quite hungry by now.
Estelle quickly prepared a hearty lunch and hurried to Duren's room.
Knock, knock—
She knocked, then opened the door.
"Duren, I'm quite late today, aren't I?"
Stepping carefully inside, Estelle felt a pang of puzzlement.
"Duren?"
Just yesterday, he had heard her approaching and rushed to the door to greet her.
But today, instead of running to her, he lay completely still under the blanket, pulled up over his head.
Was he sulking because she had come late?
"I couldn't make your breakfast today because something came up. I'm sorry."
It seemed as though he thought he was hiding.
On the bed, however, a rounded mound beneath the blanket was all too visible.
"Duren."
Estelle pulled back the blanket to see his face, where he was squirming faintly.
And there she found Duren, drenched in cold sweat.
"Duren!"
His hair, wet and plastered to his forehead, showed how long he must have been feverish.
Startled, Estelle hurried to wipe away the sweat streaming down his face.
He's burning up.
His body was searing hot.
"Ah… it hurts…"
Recognizing Estelle, Duren forced the words out with difficulty.
"It hurts so much…"
As though a dam had burst, sorrow welled up and finally spilled over.
Duren broke into tears.
"Wh-where does it hurt? Tell me, hmm?"
"M-my head…"
Duren lifted both hands to clutch at his head.
Could it be… did he catch a cold because I didn't dry him properly after his bath?
She had tried to be thorough, but perhaps her inexperience had left him damp.
Or maybe, in trying to be as gentle as possible, she had taken too long with the bath, and that had led to him catching a chill.
Estelle's mind went completely blank.
"Just close your eyes and wait a moment! I'll bring a doctor!"
Rushing out of the room, Estelle broke into a run.
Why was it that at times like this, when she needed them most, not a single servant was in sight?
Just as frustration welled up, she spotted Pippin, who had been overseeing the discipline of the staff.
"Pippin!"
"My lady? What's the matter?"
"Duren is sick! I think he caught a cold after his bath yesterday. It's all my fault!"
Her head was spinning, and the image of Duren's large tearful eyes kept flashing before her.
"Please call a doctor. Right away."
"Understood."
Pippin immediately ordered a servant to fetch the doctor as quickly as possible.
"In the meantime, let's go check on the young master. No—before that, my lady, I think you should take a deep breath first."
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine, my lady."
Pippin spoke firmly.
"The way you're so quick to blame yourself shows you need to calm down."
"I'm only stating the truth. I bathed him, and the very next day he's sick. Of course it must be my fault."
"Even if one goes without bathing for a long time, one can still fall ill."
"..."
"If it weren't for you, the young master might have faced an even worse situation. And even if this truly were your fault, then it's simply a matter of being more careful in the future. Please, don't blame yourself too much."
"…Thank you, Pippin."
"It is I who should thank you, my lady."
Pippin gave a faint smile.
Only then was Estelle able to release a deep breath.
Before long, the doctor arrived and examined Duren.
Normally, he would have bared his teeth at a stranger and run away at once. But in his weakened state, Duren didn't even have the strength for that.
All he could do was curl up in pain.
Watching him closely, the doctor finally spoke.
"He's got indigestion."
The doctor gently pressed on Duren's upper stomach.
And then—
Hiccup.
Duren let out a small burp.
Now that she looked closely, Estelle saw that his belly was unusually bloated.
But even seeing it with her own eyes, she could hardly believe it.
"But… he didn't say his stomach hurt. He kept saying his head hurt…"
"When indigestion is severe, it can cause fever and even headaches, much like a cold."
"And since he's just a child, it would've been difficult for him to describe exactly where it hurt."
"But Duren skipped breakfast. And he didn't even eat dinner yesterday. He went the whole day without food—so how could he…"
He had fallen asleep completely exhausted after his bath, and so hadn't eaten dinner.
Then what on earth had he eaten to upset his stomach?
"Couldn't it be that someone gave him a late-night snack?"
"No. This child doesn't allow anyone near him but me."
"But I noticed a yellowish stain around his mouth. It looked just like… sweet potato…"
"No way."
The incident of someone sneaking off with nothing but the sweet potatoes.
Duren, who hadn't even eaten dinner the night before, yet still suffered from indigestion.
And the unmistakable trace of sweet potato left at the corner of his mouth, though there was supposedly no one to bring him a late-night snack.
All the scattered pieces suddenly came together.
To understand the full story, one had to return to the early dawn.
After being bathed and completely worn out, Duren had fallen asleep early—only to wake just as early.
He opened his eyes at the break of dawn.
With a sudden jolt, Duren sat up and glanced quickly around the room.
"She's not here."
That beautiful person was gone.
Just before closing his eyes, he had been nestled safely in her arms.
Though he knew she always came to him at mealtimes, the absence of someone who had been with him only moments ago filled him with unease.
He wandered in circles around the room again and again.
Then he stopped at the door.
If I turn that, I can get out!
He had seen people grab that little piece sticking out in the middle and turn it whenever they opened the door.
When he lived with his grandmother, it had been set much higher, far out of reach for his front paws.
But now—now it seemed just within his grasp!
I can do it!
Duren seized the doorknob and leaned all his weight against it.
Creak—
The door opened easily, and Duren slipped out of the room, following the trace of her scent.
Strangely, his sense of smell wasn't as sharp as before, but he furrowed his brow and focused.
It should be this way…
Sniff, sniff.
But then, mid-trail, his head suddenly turned in another direction.
Before he realized it, his little body darted off, as though pulled by something.
A delicious smell…
The mission to find that person was quickly forgotten.
Duren soon arrived at the kitchen.
Gulp.
There, up on the shelf, were sweet potatoes.
Normally, he might have hesitated.
But having skipped dinner—and with his fast lasting far too long—
Duren's patience finally reached its limit.
Hop!
He leapt lightly and smacked the bowl of sweet potatoes with his left hand.
Clatter!
The bowl crashed to the floor, and the sweet potatoes scattered everywhere.
Chomp, chomp, chomp.
Right then and there, Duren devoured every last one.
His reason only returned once there were no sweet potatoes left to eat.
Ah! That's right!
He had been looking for that person!
But Duren was clever.
He knew that if he went back to where he had been, he would see her again the next morning.
So, with his belly swollen full, he retraced his steps.
And yet—
All of a sudden, his head began to spin, and his stomach felt as though someone were poking it over and over.
After suffering for a long while, a "doctor" came, and Duren was forced to swallow a bitter medicine said to make him better. But the relief only lasted a moment.
Curled up in bed, aching all over the whole day, Duren grew more and more miserable.
Sniffle.
I want to see Grandma…
As he cried, someone gently stroked his back.
Grandma?!
That touch—it was Grandma's!
His eyes flew open, and in the darkness he saw a pair of golden eyes shining brightly like light itself.
"You took the medicine the doctor gave you, so you'll be feeling better soon."
…It wasn't Grandma.
It was Estelle, who had stayed by his side late into the night after the doctor's visit, nursing him with care.
In a gentle voice, she soothed Duren, who had faintly dozed off and then woken again.
But instead of calming him, her soft whisper only stirred up the emotions roiling inside.
"I… I want to go home…"
Hiccup.
Along with a burp, Duren let slip his true feelings.
And that wasn't all that came out.
His stomach churned, and he suddenly vomited up sour bile.
Hrk!
Realizing instinctively that he had done something wrong, Duren's eyes darted nervously toward Estelle, gauging her reaction.