As always, when I reached the study, the door was slightly ajar.
That was odd. This place was almost never used and usually left buried in a film of dust.
"Huh…?"
I was sure I'd closed it properly a few days ago.
Wearing a puzzled look, I stepped inside—and saw a stranger leisurely browsing near the shelves.
…Who's that?
Having black hair here means he's either from a cadet branch or the main line.
I've never seen him before.
Anyone from the cadet branches or the main line can use this annex.
But a direct descendant wouldn't bother with an annex. The main mansion's study—and its rooms and amenities—are on a different level.
Sensing my gaze, the man slowly turned his head.
He tilted it ever so slightly, as if sizing me up in return.
"Do you happen to know where the books on holy magic are?"
His voice was soft and warm, and the faint smile on his lips felt genuinely kind.
Even I, of all people, spaced out for a second.
When I froze and didn't answer, he seemed to lose interest at once and casually turned away.
Oh! I should answer.
"Ovuh thewe—Section One, fiwst bookshelf, second shelf fwom the top."
Snapping back to myself, I managed to reply.
His eyes slid back to me, but since I needed to leave before Maila came, I started for the exit.
I wouldn't have stopped—if a line from the novel hadn't flashed across my mind.
He was so beautiful you could say a heavenly god had carefully shaped every ingredient that made him, yet no one dared approach him carelessly.
"By the way—did you enjoy what got cut off? You seemed to like getting things nailed in, so I hammered them all over your body. I do hope it was to your taste."
That gentle tone—hard to tell if it was an insult, scented with subtle mockery—was the hallmark of the last heir candidate of House Etam, the problem child, Erno Etam.>
At that, my eyes flew wide and my feet stopped cold.
Erno Etam!
He was called a peerless genius of House Etam; despite being the youngest son, he was its most likely heir—the brat of Etam.
But that wasn't the real reason he was famous.
His only exceptions were his two sons.
Erno Etam's worst habit was to play with what he had to his heart's content, then, once bored, break it so no one else could have it.
People said his fickleness and cruelty proved he carried the dragon's blood the thickest.>
He might look the gentlest in He also suffered the worst case of the Etam chronic affliction—"Berserk," when mana rampages.
He wore several mana-suppressing accessories—yes, it was that bad.
…Not that it has anything to do with me.
Whatever brought him here, I'm getting thrown out tomorrow anyway.
I traced the orphanage list with my finger, sounding out the words.
Ah, found it!
Just as my eyes lit up, a long shadow spilled across the page.
"What are you looking at?"
Erno Etam.
He had two books tucked under his arm, as if he'd found what he wanted.
I gulped, nerves stretched taut.
"…A b-book."
I stammered, then forced a bashful smile so he wouldn't mistake me for being scared.
He hated people who trembled in front of him.
Erno's eyes narrowed, languid, like he was sizing up prey.
"An orphanage list?"
At his reasonable question and suspicious gaze, I quickly cocked my head.
"Wh-what's an owphanage…? I'm just pwacticing my letters!"
I decided to play dumb. Since I'd been tracing the letters with my finger, it wasn't that hard to sell.
"Is that so? Thanks—I found the books. Still, these stacks are pretty big. You seem to know your way around."
"I come hewe often."
"Do you."
Thankfully, he didn't keep tugging at the thread.
He won't be interested in me.
If he isn't interested, he won't lift a finger—even if someone is dying right in front of him.
"Yeth, I come hewe often."
At my flat answer, he gave a doll-like smile, lost interest, and turned away.
Click.
As the door shut, I buried my face in the book.
"Ugh…"
Guess I was more on edge than I thought.
It felt like my heart had dropped with a thud.
I let out a long sigh, ripped out the page with the orphanage addresses, stuffed it in my pocket, and closed the book again.
The orphanage's name was—
…a name that made my fingers curl in secondhand embarrassment.
Staring at the name finally shook loose the info I'd forgotten about the place.
Come to think of it, wasn't the future Master of the Magic Tower there…?
And that future Tower Master was a child lost from some noble house…
'Who was it again…?'
Mm, no idea.
Is this really the time to worry about someone else's backstory when my own neck might be on the chopping block tomorrow?
I'd just finished putting the books back properly and was about to leave the study.
Ting—!
Roll, roll.
Something caught my toe. I looked down: a plain silver ring.
A tiny red gemstone was set in it, and the fine, elegant engraving said it was anything but cheap.
This is…
Erno Etam's face popped into my head—the one who'd just been here.
Don't tell me…
Is this one of those rings that suppress Berserk?
I'd heard he wore several accessories to keep it in check, earrings included.
A cold sweat trickled down my spine.
Isn't this… kind of dangerous?
I snatched up the ring and hurried out of the study. Luckily, he wasn't far, walking back at an unhurried pace.
"Um, excuse me—this…"
Afraid he might go berserk, I scurried up and thrust the ring out to him.
"Ah, I was looking for that."
"It was unduh the book stack!"
"Was it?"
Erno Etam smiled faintly and held out his hand to me.
Careful not to let our fingers touch, I set the ring lightly on his palm and yanked my hand back.
He was notoriously fickle and had a serious cleanliness streak; he hated being touched by anyone he hadn't permitted.
He took the ring, started to turn away—then paused. He frowned down at the ring I'd given him, glaring at it.
Is… is it that dirty?
I did wipe it with my sleeve so I wouldn't leave fingerprints…
"Th-then I'm busy, so I'll just… g-goodbye…"
With him saying nothing and still staring at the ring, I bobbed a little bow and began to sidle off.
"Hah. Amusing."
Just when I felt like I'd gotten a safe distance away, a low laugh drifted from behind me—one that didn't sound amused at all.
It took everything in me not to sprint down the corridor.
If you run, beasts will chase you…
If you run, beasts will chase you…
If you run, beasts will chase you…
By the time I reached my room, my jaw ached from clenching my teeth.
And the next day, the long-awaited New Year's Assembly arrived.
So sleepy…
From early morning, I scrubbed at my eyes with the back of my hand, half-asleep.
I'd been up all night, weaving around the night-shift maids, scouring the annex for anything I could sell.
Even if it was "just" an annex, this was still that family—finding valuables wasn't all that hard.
Still, I'm perfectly prepared.
Even if today goes the way it's supposed to, I've run all the simulations.
Like I said, I'm a lizard beastkin, and I'm still young.
Young beastkin sometimes lose their human form when their emotions run high.
In the novel, it never went into detail because I was just an extra, but this was where I'd lose my human form.
Anyway, I'd made plans for every scenario.
First: the best case—my human form doesn't break, and I get to keep my head attached.
Second: if I do revert, don't panic—take the escape route I scouted, grab my stash, and bolt from the estate.
Third: tell them I'll leave on my own—just give me one day's grace.
#1 is ideal, but #2 and #3 aren't bad.
"My lady, shall we go?"
"Mmm… yeah!"
Maila and I headed for the great conference hall attached to the main mansion.
At the doors, she crouched to meet my eyes.
"My lady, I can't go beyond this point. Find the seat with your name and sit quietly—do only what you're told and then come out. You remember the greeting, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"I'll wait right here. Be careful in there, our lady."
"See you latew, Maila!"
If I can see you…
Buoyed by her pep talk, I clenched my little fist and went in.
And once I was inside, I couldn't help but stop dead.