If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 89
Instead of returning to the Duke’s chamber, Ruby stepped outside for a moment. She couldn’t bear the frustration of being unable to go out when she wasn’t seriously injured.
Besides, there was something she wanted to ask Louis.
“Why did I put a barrier on the mansion?”
If it weren’t for that, she could have summoned Louis without having to go outside.
“Where else am I going to find him—down by the well maybe?”
He’d been here for a hundred years and lost quite a bit of his memory, but he hadn’t forgotten the curse doll.
“He must hold some sort of grudge.”
If that were the case, he could have become a vengeful spirit a long time ago, but he hadn’t. Maybe the level of grudge wasn’t that severe? Lost in thought, Ruby was approached by someone passing by.
‘Big sis!’
“Huh?”
It was Jack, who had suddenly appeared.
‘What are we doing today?’
“You do what you want.”
‘Yesterday, I saw you do a treasure hunt and play tag. Can I join you today?’
“You say you’re not a child, but you still want to play those kinds of games?”
‘Pfft, big sis, you were playing even though you’re not a kid.’
“This busy big sister wasn’t playing yesterday—I was being chased and running for my life. You’re quite naive, aren’t you?”
‘What? Was that what it was? Then, what about the treasure hunt?’
“That too—”
Ruby started to answer, but then a sudden thought occurred to her and she turned to look at Jack.
“Jack, do you know who the oldest spirit here is?”
‘Of course!’
“Yeah, I figured a sociable kid like you would know.”
‘Hehe, thank you for the compliment.’
“Sure, you’re welcome.”
‘…..’
Jack blushed and wiped the bridge of his nose. Most of his peers didn’t care what he did, so it had been a while since he’d gotten a compliment like that.
‘Then, should I go and get them?’
“Yes, bring them to the well please. And will you look for Mr. Louis as well?”
‘Oh, the old Duke?’
“Yep, him.”
‘Okay, I’ll be right back!’
Jack quickly disappeared. Ruby headed straight for the well, as promised.
She sat down nearby and waited idly, when Louis appeared in front of her.
‘Because that little one was making so much noise, I couldn’t help but notice.’
“Looks like Jack did his job.”
‘If it weren’t for the mansion’s barrier, I would have come and found you first.’
“Really? That’s good, because I wanted to talk to you.”
‘Oh, what is it?’
“I had an idea. We’ve only speculated that the cursed doll might be buried by the Serpent Tribe, right?”
‘Right.’
“But if there’s a spirit here who has been around longer than you, Mr. Louis? Wouldn’t they know the truth?”
At her words, Louis’s eyes widened briefly. Then, hesitantly, he spoke.
‘…I never thought there might be a spirit who has been around longer than me. Could there be someone who has stayed here for more than a hundred years?’
“A hundred years is a long time for a living person, not a long time for a spirit. The ash tree guardian you saw must have lived for a thousand years.”
‘Well, that kind of being never died in the first place.’
“Oh, I suppose you have a point.”
Louis chuckled at her unexpected response. Then he brought up what he wanted to say.
‘I have a favor to ask.’
“Don’t you think you’ve already asked for enough favors?”
‘Well, yes… but I want to hold hands with you again.’
“You said it so seriously that I was surprised. But if it’s just hands, well…”
Ruby casually extended her hand. Louis was the one who was nervous, and he took her hand cautiously, remembering yesterday’s incident.
