“They’re out of their minds, they probably aren’t, they shouldn’t be.”

After defining Belluna and Benjamin in that way, Oliven turned around. First, he had to follow his master’s words to apologize to the Duke and Young Lord of Ambrosia. He grabbed one of the servants watching Belluna’s match and asked.

“Where is the room of Young Lord Ambrosia?”

“Ah, Young Master Claude’s room is over there.”

Oliven looked back once more as he moved toward the direction that the servant had told him. His eyes that did not hide his displeasure were focused on Belluna and Benjamin.

‘What’s good about trying to look good in Duke Ambrosia’s family?’

He knew why the two were doing such an unsuitable thing. It was to win their favor to be with their master who was staying here somehow. But he could guarantee it. They were all in vain.

‘The Duke of Ambrosia and Master don’t want to leave us here. What’s the use of capturing the hearts of the lowly knights and servants?’

Oliven hated this place. He hated this place where he felt like he was spending his daily life peacefully. He didn’t like the bright faces of the servants walking around, he didn’t like the fact that they were polite to them because they were guests of Countess Millen, and he didn’t like Belluna and Benjamin hanging out with them.

“Oliven, come and help too.”

“Hmph. You do it”

Benjamin, who found Oliven, called for him, but he snorted and walked away. It seemed that it would be better for him to apologize and go along with Master’s will than to do that kind of thing.

‘Am I finally seeing that damn little kid’s face?’

Just the thought of seeing that damn little kid’s face next to Master made his stomach boil. He was the owner of the power Master was studying, the source of the power that always made Master sick, and the power that killed Master’s soul in another world. And above all else, it was the power that took Master away from Oliven. Just because he had inherited such power simply through his bloodline, the way he was occupying Master like that was almost to the point of making his guts twisted.

“Here it is.”

Ambrosia’s servants led Oliven to Claude’s room as if they had already heard from Sarah. Oliven, standing in front of the door, repeatedly raised and released his hand, contemplating whether to knock or not. At that moment, clear and sweet laughter leaked from inside Claude’s door.

“Our cute Young Master Claude! Our baby!”

It was his master’s voice that exuded a sense of happiness. Hearing that unfamiliarly sweet voice, Oliven stood still for a moment. The only voice of his master he had ever heard was the cold voice that pushed him away. It was the first time he had ever heard a voice so full of happiness.

‘Why should I feel unfamiliar with Master?’

Oliven was both resentful and upset about the fact. The child who would be listening to his master’s affectionate voice in there would not know how blessed he was. Even if he was next to his master like that child, he would have lived without knowing her face or voice. He hated that child who would have taken for granted what was precious to Oliven.

“Master, this is Oliven.”

“Oh my? Come on in.”

Oliven opened the child’s door with strength and went inside. He shrank his shoulders to the fullest with a sullen face. It was an act he put up hoping that his master would somehow think that he was reflecting on himself.

“I’m here to apologize as you said.”

“Well thought about it. I’ll give room for you, so you should do it properly.”

“Yes.”

He nodded quietly and looked at Claude, who was talking with Sarah about something. He was small, soft, and fragile as if he was going to break.

How much strength do I have to use to immediately end the life of that fragile thing?

A very tiny, small, and simple strength could easily take that child’s life. He was such a weak creature. To the point where he couldn’t believe that that child had that power, too.

‘You’re just giving Master a hard time. You’re just like that.…….’

Oliven knew how to swallow the words inside, and fortunately, his master got up, perhaps not noticing.

“Then let’s talk and I’ll come back later.”

Saying so, Sarah walked towards the door. Then she pressed Oliven’s left shoulder and whispered in his ear.

“Stop glaring at Young Master Claude.”

“……!”

Oliven stared at his master for a very long time as she passed him by and walked out of the room. For the first time, he felt afraid of his master, who could notice the brief glance he had made for a moment.

“Who are you, Uncle?”

“……”

He took a crooked posture, looked at Claude with cold eyes, and spoke with a smirk.

“Are you the ‘our baby’?”

If he reached out and used his strength at any moment, he would be the only baby to his master. While thinking such a fruitless thought, Oliven struggled fiercely with the urge to put that thought into action. Like Oliven’s heart, the murky olive mana swayed and disappeared in his hand, swayed and disappeared.

“……”

Claude was a little scared of the atmosphere emanating from Oliven, but he lifted his head more rigidly. Then he remembered what Sarah had just asked him to say before she left.

‘Never be discouraged, Young Master Claude. What did I always say?’

‘I have Father and Nanny behind me.’

‘Again?’

‘My father is very strong and my nanny is strong. So I can overcome everything.’

‘Good.’

The person in front of him was eventually a disciple of his nanny and weaker than her. So he didn’t have to be scared. Claude decided to be a very confident person.

“That’s right. I’m Nanny’s baby. I’m not just a normal baby, I’m a very cute and lovely baby.”

“What?”

Oliven asked back as if he had heard it wrong. Then Claude replied kindly once again.

“I’m Nanny’s cute and lovely baby. Uncle is Nanny’s troublesome disciple.”

“I’m a troublesome student? My master loves me so much!”

“But that’s what Nanny said. Uncle is a pain in the butt.”

“Really?”

Claude felt the victory when he saw Oliven’s stunned face.

I won.

Sarah’s voice came to his mind, saying, As expected, shameless is the best.

‘I heard from Nanny that there’s nothing bad. As expected, Nanny only says the right things.’

The child once again engraved the truth of life that he had learned from Sarah in his mind.

“Uncle, you’re here to apologize, so apologize. I’ll forgive you because I’m nice.”

“……That little rascal is really!”

Oliven went berserk because of Claude’s cheekiness.

What an impudent little brat!

He was determined to reveal the true face of the brat when Sarah returned, but Sarah, who returned later, heard all the circumstances and praised Claude greatly. And,

“I asked you to apologize to Young Master Claude. Did you have a fight with Young Master Claude? I’m really disappointed.”

Oliven was scolded.

* * *

This time he came to follow his master’s instructions to apologize to Ethan Ambrosia. Oliven sighed inwardly, feeling like the day was too long today.

“……So will you accept it?”

Oliven sat at the desk, watching Ethan perusing the papers and slowly flipping through one page and then another. He had only listened to Oliven silently since earlier but had not given a proper answer.

“If you’re going to accept my apology, I’d like to go out, and if you’re not going to accept it, I’d like you to tell me quickly.”

“Apologize. Are you saying you want to apologize now?”

At Ethan’s action of opening his mouth without even making eye contact with him, Oliven clenched his fists for a moment then released them.

“Yes, I’ve been saying that since earlier.”

He was keeping a forced smile to make up for the mistake he had made earlier. Now it felt like there was a cramp in the corner of his mouth.

“It’s up to me to accept it or not, but it seems that you have already decided on my own answer.”

“……You can think like that.”

After hearing Oliven’s words, Ethan finally raised his head and looked at him.

“But what should I do? I have no intention of accepting an apology.”

“……!”

“Only then will Sarah be disappointed in you and kick you out of here.”

At Ethan’s next words, Oliven’s smiling face collapsed miserably.