You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 41

Karhan gently took my hand, seemingly worried, and turned it over, examining it from various angles. He flipped it, tilted it sideways, and after a thorough inspection, let out a small sigh.

“That child’s behavior is a bit… eccentric. Being in the office, he must have misunderstood. I’ll have to tell him firmly about this.”

Ah, the mention of the office reminded me. I had gone there to boast. Even if he had already seen me standing on two feet, he probably didn’t know I could move this well. I flashed Karhan a silent, beaming smile and carefully stood up from my seat, placing my feet on the ground.

I spread my arms wide, lifted one foot, and spun around in a full circle. The white sleeves fluttered with my movement. I safely completed the turn and came to a stop. With a proud face, I confidently declared, “Ta-da! I can do this now!”

I grinned ear to ear, feeling immensely proud of myself. Karhan, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, had a brighter glint in his silvery-white eyes than usual. Seeing his slightly surprised expression, I felt triumphant and placed my hands on my hips.

“How’s that!”

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “Hehe.”

The silvery-gray eyes gazing at me softened, curving into crescents, and the slightly parted lips widened into a refreshing smile. It wasn’t the light smile he occasionally wore, but a truly radiant one. Seeing that, I abruptly halted my movements with a clatter. The strength slowly drained from my hands on my hips, leaving me in an awkward pose.

Karhan’s laughter, always solemn with a faint smile, was now etched into my mind. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his beautifully curved, silver-gray eyes. As I stood there like a malfunctioning robot, Karhan’s lips, which had been prettily curved into a lovely shape, parted slightly.

“You’re pretty.”

Pretty…? Ah, no. Well, when animals do something cute, they are indeed adorable. But… is it okay to say such things when I’m in human form? I had never been called pretty by anyone before, and my face flushed red.

Not knowing what to do, I leaped onto the bed. Burying my face in the fluffy pillow, I fumbled and reached out, grabbing the blanket and wrapping myself up like a cocoon.

‘Embarrassing.’

My mind was filled with the word “pretty.” As I lay there quietly, I heard Karhan’s soft laughter above my head. I didn’t understand why even his laughter made me feel shy. I felt him pat my head, and soon, I heard him getting up.

“If work finishes early, I’d like to have dinner together again today. Would that be alright?”

Of course, it would be alright. I wriggled under the blanket, expressing my agreement. Understanding my response, Karhan said, “See you later,” and left the room.

Pretty. It was such a lovely word. However, I had never heard it directed at me before. While living at my aunt’s house, only her son received such compliments. It was natural. I was just a burden, a guest with nowhere else to go, so from their perspective, they couldn’t tell me I was pretty or praise me.

The image of my envious aunt’s son grumbling as he left for school suddenly came to mind. I now somewhat understood why he grumbled so much. It’s quite embarrassing, isn’t it? Unable to contain the laughter that oddly burst forth, the corners of my mouth quivered.

I spent time looking at picture books, but Karhan’s beautiful smile and the word “pretty” continuously lingered in my thoughts. I had never seen him laugh so brightly before. A handsome man’s smile is truly dangerous. I worried if I would be able to properly look at his face later during dinner.

My heart pounded with a mix of emotions, but I hoped the time to have a meal together would come soon.

However, that evening, Karhan’s work seemed to be heavy, and we couldn’t dine together.

***

Arc 4

A few days after witnessing Karhan’s smile, I sneaked into his office. I hid behind the large sofa and sat on the floor. Shortly after, Karhan entered, unaware of my presence, and sat at his desk, sorting through documents.

I peeked out from behind the sofa, stealing glances at Karhan as he reviewed the papers on his desk.

As if supernaturally sensing my gaze, Karhan’s eyes precisely met mine as I peeped out from behind the sofa. Before our eyes could lock, I quickly lowered my head, concealing myself. I repeated this a few times, and soon, a subtle smile played on Karhan’s lips. I quietly observed it.

The smile on his lips. The laughter filling his eyes.

On the day I boasted about my legs growing stronger, Karhan’s smile was breathtakingly beautiful. Perhaps due to his usual sternness, that smile was even more vividly imprinted in my mind.

I used to think people were exaggerating when they said a halo shone behind a handsome celebrity. However, after experiencing it firstly, I believed every single testimony. A genuine halo indeed radiated behind Karhan.

Resting my hands on the sofa, I gazed at Karhan. He was still scanning through documents, scribbling something. From quite a distance, I hugged a cushion and stealthily approached him. Standing beside him, I peered down at his desk. I couldn’t comprehend the complex writings on the papers. What could they be? Curiosity piqued, I released one hand from the cushion and pointed my index finger at the document.

“What kind of document is that?”

Noticing my finger, Karhan replied, “It’s a document regarding attendance at a social gathering.”

Wow. My eyes widened. A social gathering? Is it the kind of social gathering I know? A party where aristocrats dress up in suits and gowns, laughing and chatting? Unable to conceal my excitement, I squished the cushion in my hand. In a slightly elated voice, I asked, “A party where people wear dresses and suits?”

“Yes. A party where people wear dresses and suits.”

Sensing my excitement, Karhan playfully echoed my words in response. I repeatedly exclaimed, “Wow,” in admiration. They hold parties exclusively for high-ranking individuals. I had heard that even in 21st-century Earth, there were separate parties for the upper class, so how grand would it be in a fantasy world? With a pounding heart, I asked Karhan, “Will you be attending?”

I asked with an expectant face, but Karhan, his gaze fixed on the documents, coldly replied, “No. I won’t be attending.”

“Gasp. Why…?”

Why isn’t he going? Does he dislike parties? Given Karhan’s personality, it didn’t seem like something he would particularly enjoy. My excited expression instantly fell. I tightly clutched the cushion in my hands, now with a different meaning.

“It’s not a particularly pleasant place. It’s mostly for people who enjoy boasting.”

“Boasting?”

What do they boast about? Their status? Or their jewelry? Their clothes? As I pondered various possibilities, a low voice reached my ears.

“Well… these days, it would be animals.”

“Animals? Could it be animal boasting?”

As I conversed with Karhan, I recalled the discussion between the animal trader and the servant on the day I first arrived at this mansion. They had mentioned that boasting about animals was currently a trend among the nobility.

I see. The aristocrats are currently busy flaunting their animals. In a world where animal rights are low, it occurred to me that the nobility often purchases animals solely for the purpose of boasting. After all, that was the reason I ended up in this household. I looked at Karhan and spoke.

“Do you dislike such things, Karhan?”

“I’m not particularly inclined towards it.”

“I see…”

It was commendable that he wasn’t fond of inhumane animal boasting. You’ve grown up well, Karhan. You’ve become an excellent owner while raising me. However, apart from that, my mood turned gloomy. I trudged to the sofa with heavy, dispirited steps and plopped down.

I couldn’t attend the festival, and now I wanted to at least go to the social gathering, but if Karhan dislikes it…. I leaned against the backrest, losing strength in my neck. Like a person devoid of hope, I slightly parted my lips and blankly stared at the ceiling.

In the quiet office, only the sound of papers being flipped and the occasional scratching of a pen could be heard. Is he really not going? With my body slumped against the backrest, I slightly tensed my neck and glanced at Karhan.

Gasp! Our eyes met!

I had slightly raised my head to get a better view due to the papers obstructing my sight, only to discover Karhan looking at me. I quickly relaxed my neck and lay back down, pretending I had never lifted my head. I closed my eyes, feigning innocence, as if dreaming of the perfect crime.

A brief, quiet silence filled the room. The sound of flipping papers resumed. Believing it was safe, I slightly opened my eyes and glanced at Karhan.

Gasp!

I closed my eyes again. I clearly heard the sound of papers being turned, so why is he looking at me? The stack of documents had shifted a bit, providing a clear view.

Pressing my lips tightly together, I hugged the cushion in my hands. The cushion, continuously suffering due to me, was large and fluffy enough to conceal my body. I played dead until Karhan returned his attention to the documents. How much time passed like that? Karhan’s soft voice broke the silence.

“Do you want to go?”

At his question probing my intentions, I slowly opened my eyes and turned towards him. I rolled my gaze, contemplating, and then hesitantly nodded. I did want to go. A party. For someone like me who had never even had a proper birthday party, it sounded like a dream.

I sat up straight, lowered my head, and looked at Karhan with slightly raised eyes. After a brief exchange of glances, Karhan lowered his gaze to the invitation laid out on his desk. Then, with a somewhat troubled voice, he said, “Alright, if you wish, you can go. However, there’s a significant problem.”

“What is it? What’s the problem? Shall I solve it for you?”

I sat cross-legged on the sofa, placing my feet on top. Just as people puff out their chests to appear strong since birth, I pressed my ankles firmly with both hands and straightened my hunched back. The mention of being able to go if I could solve the big problem invigorated me.

My eyes widened with anticipation, and my body swayed from side to side. Observing my reaction, Karhan’s lips parted after a moment of hesitation.

“Even if you go, you can’t attend in human form.”

At those words, my swaying upper body came to an abrupt halt with a creak. Tilting to one side, I collapsed onto the sofa.

In human form… it’s not allowed…?