“What…?”
Morgana’s shocked eyes trembled slightly. She had clearly heard that Mangeum was rescued from a mansion in the Caledonian Forest.
Just in case, she studied Kellive’s expression. He wore a polite smile.
‘What an empty look.’
Though he seemed less than pleased, he maintained a formal demeanor in such a setting.
It felt like he was pointlessly relying on charm to win the exchange.
“Since when have you been raising him?”
Kellive, armored in kindness, quietly repeated the question to the old man.
Yes, that exact expression—the look of someone listening with one ear and letting it slip out the other.
The old man, who had been eyeing Morgana dismissively, squinted one eye and asked back.
“What was that?”
“I asked since when you’ve been raising him.”
“Can’t hear you! Speak up.”
Unable to stand it any longer, Morgana took a deep breath and stepped closer to the old man. She nearly shouted right into his ear.
“Mangeum! When did you lose him?”
“Mangeum?”
“Mangeum! I named the puppy!”
“Who in the world gave the poor thing such a materialistic name?”
Is it that obvious…?
At a glance, it just sounded like a regular dog’s name. No one else had ever guessed the origin of Mangeum’s name before.
Struck by the strangely sharp insight, Morgana’s eyes widened.
The old man casually waved his hand.
“Whatever. Stop bothering people in their own mansion. Everyone, go home!”
As the old man turned away, Mangeum—who had been panting and sticking out his tongue while watching—quickly turned his head back and forth.
He seemed torn between following the old man or staying by Morgana’s side.
Part of her wanted to return Mangeum, especially since he didn’t seem to dislike her.
‘But he was lost once before.’
This was the same puppy who had nearly starved in the Caledonian Forest.
The fact that the old man watched Man-geum walking on water without surprise meant he already knew the puppy wasn’t ordinary.
If she fell back into Merlin’s hands, there was no telling what might happen.
‘How on earth did Man-geum end up in the Caledonian Forest?’
Unanswered questions lingered in her mind.
Just as Kellive was about to step forward to persuade the old man, Morgana smoothly cut in, flashing a bright smile as she followed behind him.
“Ah, you’re being too harsh, Grandpa. I’ve been hiking all day—I’m completely exhausted.”
“You expect to roll your way down?”
“Just for today. Let me rest at the manor for one night, and I’ll leave first thing in the morning. Please?”
Morgana raised her index finger pleadingly, gazing at him with desperate sincerity.
But the old man was firm, “No!”
If charm wouldn’t work, then she had no choice.
Morgana plopped down onto the ground and pulled Man-geum into her arms. Pouting up at him with teary eyes, she immediately burst into loud sobs.
“Oh, Mangeum! After all we’ve been through, how can we part like this? I can’t bear to leave you!”
“She’s spayed.”
The old man bluntly corrected her mid-performance.
“This sister can’t go back because she can’t get you out of her mind!”
Even through her theatrics, Morgana swiftly adjusted her wording under the old man’s sharp glare.
‘Wait, was he just clarifying she’s neutered?’
Still cradling the oblivious Man-geum—who licked her chin affectionately—Morgana put on her best pitiful expression.
Finally, the old man turned his head with a sigh.
“Night travel is dangerous. You can leave at dawn.”
“Thank you!”
“I’m only doing this because I don’t want to end up making a coffin if you wander off for a walk later. And don’t even think about taking the dog.”
Though his tone was prickly, at least he wasn’t kicking her out immediately.
Morgana sprang up and signaled Kellive with a glance to follow.
Kellive stared at the calm, retreating figure of the old man before lightly helping her up and whispering, “Seems like the elder hears quite well.”
Morgana, glancing sideways at the old man’s back, tilted her head.
“Really? Earlier, he kept mishearing even Man-Geum’s name.”
“When you pretend not to hear, it’s easier to choose how to respond.”
His confident tone suggested he had a point.
Nodding slightly in understanding, Morgana smiled brightly again and chased after the old man, calling out,
“Grandpa, let’s go together!”
The castle by the vast lake bore the marks of time. Though not particularly large compared to the lake, not a single servant was in sight.
Well, it is halfway up a mountain, so that makes sense…
Yet it was oddly immaculate.
It didn’t quite add up that an elderly man alone could handle everything from cleaning to maintaining the entire castle.
Morgana gave a light kick to a knight’s helmet and armor displayed as decorations in the hallway.
The thunk confirmed they weren’t armed knights pretending to be ornaments. Without a word, the old man walked down the hall and stopped in front of a room.
“Make yourself at home.”
With that, as if his duty was done, he turned to leave.
Seriously? He’s really just offering us a place to sleep and nothing else!
Panicked, Morgana clung to his arm.
“G-Grandpa! I’m hungry! Could we maybe get some food?”
She had to create an opportunity to talk. Batting her eyes shamelessly while holding Man-Geum in her arms, she watched as the old man’s brow twitched.
“Bold of you to demand so much after barging in.”
“I’ll feed Mangeum myself! Or I could ask the chef separately—”
“Go down to the dining hall on the lower floor. Feed the beast or don’t—your choice,” With another curt reply, the old man shuffled away.
Morgana watched the old man disappear into the distance before murmuring to Kellive, who stood beside her.
“Seems he hears just fine.”
She hadn’t shouted, yet the old man had pretended not to hear. She couldn’t understand why he was putting up such a wall.
Gently rocking the bundle in her arms, Morgana asked, “Mangeum, why is grandpa acting like that?”
Even at her question, Mangeum only tilted his head and whimpered.
💫
After lightly smoothing her clothes, she headed down to the dining hall, where food was already prepared.
Despite likely not expecting guests, the feast was lavish enough to rival a royal palace.
Yet, not a single servant or butler was in sight.
It truly felt as if no one else was there. The old man, the master of the house, sat at the head of the table.
Morgana, seated diagonally across, stabbed her fork into a juicy piece of meat and asked,
“When did you prepare all this?”
“What did you eat?”
Ignoring his feigned deafness, Morgana cheerfully waved it off.
“It can’t be easy to stock up on food halfway up a mountain…”
Instead of answering, the old man stabbed an entire chunk of steak with his fork, tearing into it with no regard for manners.
With a displeased grunt, he asked, “What, do I need your permission to eat in my own house?”
“N-No! We’ll eat well! Enjoy your meal!”
Quickly shaking her head, Morgana picked up her fork as if nothing had happened.
Kellive, sitting beside her, swapped her plate with his.
“Eat this one instead.”
On the new plate, the steak was neatly sliced into even portions.
Flustered by his kindness, Morgana lightly rubbed the fork handle before cautiously thanking him.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
He simply responded with a kind smile.
Morgana, taking a bite of steak, gushed excitedly toward the old man.
“Wow, this is so delicious! I would’ve been grateful even if you just gave me bread.”
“Lies. A girl like you must’ve grown up eating nothing but meat.”
At the old man’s curt reply, Morgana shook her head.
“No! Back then, I ate such hard bread I thought my teeth would break.”
“Can’t hear you.”
Undeterred by the old man’s stubborn act, Morgana kept chattering away.
Elderly people often struggle to express themselves. If even Mangeum likes him, he can’t be a bad person.
She believed there had to be a reason. Half-listening to Morgana’s words, the old man’s hand suddenly—thud—stopped.
Clatter—the fork fell from his trembling hand.
As a startled Morgana rose from her seat, the old man pretended nothing was wrong and picked up the fork again.
Even then, he fumbled several times before getting a proper grip.
“It’s nothing. Old folks get like this sometimes.”
But his face was pale as he denied it.
Morgana quickly assessed the old man’s condition.
Something was definitely wrong. Despite his trembling hands, the old man continued eating calmly.
‘Why would he stab the whole piece instead of using a knife?’
The trembling hand. The inability to properly hold the fork.
‘Fine motor control is impaired.’
Something about the old man seemed off.
Comments (0)