If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 69
“Hey, shouldn’t we go and help a bit?”
“Oh, come on, how can we assist when the maids have taken charge?”
“Anyway, the jealousy among the females is terrifying.”
“That’s true.”
The four male servants who were cleaning the garden and the courtyard sat huddled in a corner. They whispered among themselves, watching Ruby doing laundry.
“Is it okay for someone sharing a room with the Duke to do that? Shouldn’t we stop her?”
“Well, she’s the Duke’s lady, so we should treat her well, right?”
“It seems cold… Should we set up a little bonfire next to her?”
“Wait there. Have you ever seen anyone roast sweet potatoes over a bonfire?”
“Oh, bring some sweet potatoes then?”
“Yeah, let’s also get some firewood.”
The four servants moved quickly so Ruby wouldn’t notice. One by one, they stacked the firewood, brought in baskets of sweet potatoes, and even grabbed thick coats for her.
“But, can we give such shabby clothes to the Duke’s lady?”
“Hmm… maybe not?”
“Still, it’s better than being cold.”
“Yeah, you have a point.”
Whispering amongst themselves, they cautiously approached Ruby, who was so focused on the laundry to notice them.
“Uh… excuse me…”
At that moment, one of the servants called out to Ruby. Thinking it was a spirit, she absentmindedly turned her head, only to startle herself when she realized it was one of the human servants.
Ruby was terrified as she watched the tall, sturdy wolves approach her like a pack cornering prey. Moreover, their hands held peculiar items, each as suspicious as the next—a club made from cut wood, thick fabric for binding, and finally, a large basket presumably for carrying her away after rendering her unconscious.
Ruby clutched the empty bucket in her hands and started backing away.
Sensing her wariness, the four servants proceeded more cautiously. They shifted their feet silently and spread their arms, bowing slightly at the waist to show her they meant no harm.
The four sturdy wolf men closed in on her.
“Uh…?”
Their large, intimidating shadows covered her, taking on the shape of wide net.
“If you come any closer… I won’t stay still!”
Though her legs stiffened from fear and her voice trembled, Ruby shouted defiantly, doing her best not to show her fear.
It didn’t stop the bunny ears and tail, which Ruby had worked so hard to tuck away, from popping out.
“Uh…”
“Why, are you upset?”
“I-I think she’s just surprised!”
“We’re not trying to harass you, though…?”
They briefly imagined the Duke getting angry about them harassing his lady and shivered at the thought. However, Ruby shouted even louder.
“I told you not to come any closer!”
In this standoff, the servants were stuck, unable to move, and were sweating profusely. Until one of the servants gathered the courage to speak up.
“W-We brought firewood in case you’re cold!”
“I brought a warm coat you can wear!”
“I-I, um… I didn’t bring anything?”
As each of them blurted out what they had brought, only one of them said something wrong, and everyone stared at him disapprovingly. Under the intense glare that told him not to b******t, he hung his head low.
The servant standing at the far right, trying to lighten the mood, held out a basket and said,
“Have you ever tried roasting sweet potatoes over an open fire?”
“…Sweet potatoes?”
Ruby’s guard dropped at once. The servants breathed a sigh of relief as Ruby slowly lowered the hand holding the bucket. This was a woman they had never seen on the Wolf Tribe’s territory.
“Yes! The sweet potato harvest this year was excellent! They are incredibly sweet, and roasting them makes them even sweeter!”
“…Sweet potatoes grew in my village too.”
“Yes, sweet potatoes are a root vegetable that even commoners like us have access to. They are a great winter crop.”
“Give it a try! We’ll roast them for you!”
As one of them interjected, Ruby’s eyes lit up. She eyed the sweet potatoes in the basket with curiosity.
“They may be small, but they taste really good.”
“…I’ve never tried roasted sweet potatoes before.”
They nodded enthusiastically in response to Ruby’s answer.
“Give it a try, then!”
In unison, they stacked firewood, lit the fire, and threw the sweet potatoes into the flames.
Ruby, watching the scene in a daze, forgot her caution and moved closer to the fire, mesmerized.
