— "Oh dear, why is there a young boy lost deep in the forest?"

I'm covered in mud and dirt from the countless times I've ran and ran. I became familiar with the trees I ran past. I'm so tired that I swore I saw eyes watching with a mocking gaze.

I could barely hear her voice. It's been days since I ran away from home. I don't know where I ended up. This is the first person that has talked to me after three days of aimless running and walking. The last words I remember someone said to me was...

— "...You- Sigh I just can't be mad at you, Owens. Just listen to your mother, okay? Your father and I wanted us to live here because we're... Let's not talk about that, Owens."

She said with a motherly smile at me. Oh... It's my mother. The last words I heard someone say to me were from my mother's. I didn't listen to her. She didn't want to talk to me about why we're living in the boonies. All I know is that she's hiding something.

I'm so tired. I'm so hungry. I shouldn't have run away from home.

I can't take that back now. I'm already knee deep in this forest. I just want to be free and live outside for once-

— "Are you listening to me? Can you stand? I will take that as a no, then."

She offered her hand to me to help me stand up.

— "Now, now. You mustn't be shy when taking a maiden's hand."

She said jokingly. How can she seriously joke at a time like this?! You found a young child, way deep in a random forest, starving and thirsty and you still have the heart to joke around?! Cruel...

— "Come on, don't give me that look. You're in serious pain."

Somehow she changed her tone from joking into a caring and calm tone of voice. Seriously, how can you be this calm when someone is dying in front of you.

I can hear one of her butlers from the carriage whisper to her in a condescending way. I bet he's looking down on me.

— "Ms. Florenza, you shouldn't even think about saving this young boy. Look at him, he's dirty and ridden with despair. He's hopeless."

— "Oh don't be like that. Besides... He's his."

A small sad smile forms on her lips. It doesn't suit a maiden like her...

— "His what, Ms Florenza?"

— "Don't give that much of a thought, it's nothing of importance."

She repliked calmly. Ms. Florenza is a woman clearly saddened by the past by the way she talked about me "being his." What does she mean by this?

— "Let us get back to the topic. I cannot and will not let this young boy stay in this forest. "

She's firm with her decision. She has an air of gentle authority around her. But I think there's a deeper meaning to why she's firm on taking me in.

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I then went inside of the carriage. The ride to the destination wasn't much interesting apart from her knowing my name without me saying anything.

The carriage stops at a manor in the forest, deeper in the forest when I first was. The road to the manor was rocky but narrow. The manor itself is as elegant as the people residing in it.

A maid outside from the carriage opens the door for Ms. Florenza, her butler, and me. But like the butler, she was looking at me with narrow eyes, but I could tell that she doesn't hate me personally, if it makes sense.

I then see a middle-aged man tending to a land dragon that is carrying a travelling merchant's carriage with shop windows on one side of the carriage and another carriage tethered to it which has crates full of wares.

The land dragon carrying the carriage I was in and the carriage of a travelling merchant's carriages was way different in a sense that the latter's land dragon was more majestic and strong-looking. The land dragons look like giant lizards with small wings.

— "Hm? Are you interested in the land dragons, dear?"

Asked Ms. Florenza, still keeping her gentle tone when talking to me. I don't know why she's so formal with me for no reason.

— "I-I was just curious... You see, I've always wanted to be a travelling merchant just like that man over there."

I point at the man tending to the land dragon he is taking care of as if they were majestic stallions.

— "Oh? I believe your parents have a good reason if they are stopping you from pursuing what you wanted. But that does not matter now, now that you are under my care."

She said as if she was already familiar with me... I don't get her at all.

— "Anyhoo, the man taking care of the land dragons is my father, Edwards. He has grown old and has yet to be weary, as you can see. He moves like he's still in his prime! How whimsical, my father is."

Ms. Florenza said in a light and playful tone before lightly chuckling and returning to her usual calm expression.

— "But no matter how many times I laugh in front of him, I am thankful for the way he has raised me. Even without my mother by his side, he has built the family's name from the ground up."

She noted whilst making her way to his father. Midway she came to her, she turned around as if to beckon me to come with her to introduce me to him. I reluctantly walked with her...

...And as soon as I came to his view, he looked at me from head to toe as if sizing me up. Seriously, what are their problems? He's looking at me as if he expects something from me.

— I"s this the runt that-"

Before he could comment further, Ms. Florenza glared at her to shut him up. She has a cold and irritated glare, as if looking down on his father in disdain. It's completely opposite from her soft-spoken nature that it's sort of entertaining.

— "Alright, alright. You know I hate seeing that glare; it always reminds me of your mother."

— "You do not need to remind me."

She replied in a sarcastic tone before switching completely to a playful small smile. I can't believe she could switch her emotion that quickly.

But what bothers me is that she was reluctant to address something, it kind of almost reminded me of how my mother would stop herself from speaking further about... Some things that I'm curious about—the outside besides the boonies and my older siblings that I have yet to see.

— "For now, this young boy should be my concern."

Ms. Florenza noted before looking for the maid that had opened the carriage door for us only for her to have been listening to her and Edwards bicker.

— "Don't scare me like that, Amaelia!"

— "I wasn't planning to."

Amaelia was blunt and brutally honest. It didn't matter who she was talking to, she would still be cold and unexpressive when it comes to her tone of voice and responses. It might come off as rude and ill-mannered but I feel as if this is her way of showing affection... If it makes sense.

Sigh

— "Just show him his room, Amaelia."

She commanded. You can tell that Ms. Florenza is getting tired of Amaelia's blunt and uncaring attitude .

— "Do you mean the guest room? This small shrimp shouldn't stay in an actual room; he's staying in the guest room."

And so she forcefully took my hand and rushed to the manor without saying another word to Ms. Florenza as if she was in a rush or hurry.

I didn't even get the chance to take a bath and get some food first... But at least I have a shelter now. Although, I still don't know why she took me in without hearing my consent first. Who am I to complain?