Baby Squirrel Is Good at Everything

‘Does she want to take the Duke's estate?’

He tried to make sense of what he had just heard.

Normally, the Duke’s estate would be inherited by the family head. If his daughter wanted to claim it for herself, that was something he could understand.

"Even if it's not the best room, I’ll be fine with a lower floor or a corner room!"

But that wasn’t it.

"Really! Or even a basement with no windows would be fine!"

His daughter was simply asking for a room in the castle where her family resided.

The Duke was dumbfounded.

‘What does this mean?’

Why was his daughter asking for something that she should have had as her right?

She had been prepared for a space even before she was born.

The brightest room in the mansion, one with soft sunlight streaming through every window and overlooking the garden lake. It was all hers.

"Wasn't she shown to her room?"

"I believe she was shown around with Master Carl, but I’ll double-check."

Thinking there may have been a mistake, the aide confirmed, but he could only respond with a puzzled expression.

The Duke's questioning had accidentally shifted to someone else, and Beatty, startled, hurriedly intervened.

"No, I was shown properly!"

"Then why..."

The Duke's furrowed brow deepened as his confusion grew.

"I mean, I don't need a particularly nice room."

Beatty placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heart race. She hoped to hide the sound of her growing heartbeat.

"I want to stay here, not in the capital."

"Stay here...?"

"Yes. If I could stay here until my coming-of-age ceremony."

Upon hearing this, the Duke’s expression twisted.

Beatty flinched at the sudden change in his demeanor.

‘What does this mean?’

The Duke’s expression was unreadable.

Was he angry because of something in her words? Or...

‘Maybe he’s in pain?’

Having just returned from the battlefield, Beatty wondered if he might have sustained an injury.

His distorted expression seemed almost pained.

"No."

Beatty, lost in thought, missed the Duke’s response.

"...What?"

No. It was probably something she unconsciously ignored because she didn’t want to hear it.

"Leave. This is not a place for you."

‘A flat rejection... why?’@@novelbin@@

Beatty was momentarily stunned.

"Then, I'll think of something else. I'll come up with a reward you'll be satisfied with!"

She spoke in a rush, not expecting the Duke to reject her proposal.

"It doesn’t matter."

But the Duke’s stern expression didn’t waver.

"I have plenty of other plans. I can offer something else to stay in the castle. A reward you’ll definitely like..."

The longer she spoke, the deeper the lines on the Duke’s forehead grew.

Sigh.

The deep sigh from the Duke made Beatty flinch.

‘What should I do? Even solving the food shortage issue isn’t enough to sway him...’

Unconsciously, her small fist tightened, her nails digging into her palm.

‘I need to think. There must be a way to solve this...’

Her young body trembled, and she could feel her eyes welling up with tears.

Beatty bit her lips to hold back the irrational tears.

‘Stay calm. I’ve practiced a lot. Stay composed... show him the demeanor of a steady business partner.’

As Beatty tried to gather her composure, preparing to speak again with a firm expression, the Duke spoke first.

"You don’t need to pay anything to stay in your own home."

"...Huh?"

His words sounded strangely kind, causing Beatty to pause, forgetting what she was about to say.

For a moment, she just stood there, stunned, before shaking her head.

‘No! Don’t get swept away!’

But by the time she regained her focus, the Duke had already stood up.

"Ah! Wait..."

"Enough."

The Duke firmly interrupted as Beatty hastily tried to speak again.

"Aide."

"Yes, Your Grace."

With just a gesture from the Duke, the aide understood the order and brought in the waiting servants.

"Now, go back to your room."

"But...!"

Beatty opened her mouth in protest, but as she saw the Duke’s brow furrow even more, she instinctively closed it again.

"It’s time for bed."

His words, oddly gentle despite the stern expression, went unnoticed by the confused Beatty.

With that last remark from the Duke, Beatty was reluctantly led back to her room by the maids.

***

‘I’ve completely failed!’

Her first deal.

Returning defeated, Beatty knelt on the bed, hands pressed against the covers in frustration.

"Miss...?"

The maids, worried about her odd posture, one by one, spoke up.

"Would you like me to sing you a lullaby?"

"I’ll light a scented candle for you."

"How about warm milk? But you’ll need to brush your teeth again after."

Startled by the flood of suggestions, Beatty quickly waved her hands.

"No, no, it’s fine."

The overwhelming kindness now felt heavier on her shoulders.

‘Everyone... they sound like fluffy blankets.’

Beatty had yet to adjust to the soft, gentle tones of those around her.

The kind and caring attitude she had never experienced before. The atmosphere felt like being submerged in warm bath water.

She didn’t want to lose it.

Unconsciously, Beatty thought that, but then stiffened her expression and lowered her head.

"Tailfur."

"Master, young master is here to see you."

"Huh?"

Carl tilted his head as he saw Beatty.

"What’s up? Tailfur, why do you look so down?"

"Huh?"

Beatty, confused by his sudden words, couldn’t make sense of them.

"Hmm."

Carl grabbed her face with one hand, turning it this way and that, and spoke.

"Let me know if anyone’s bothering you."

"...."

"I’ll take care of it."

With no regard for her carefully styled hair, Carl ruffled it up with his hand.

Pressing down.

Beatty had to bite her lip again as the tears almost came out once more.

***

In the quiet bedroom.

After the maids left, taking with them the last of the calming items like herbal tea and the small dagger from Carl—she had to admit it was soothing—Beatty fiddled with the little dagger Carl had given her.

‘Just until the coming-of-age ceremony.’

A safe place to hide until the danger passed.

That had been her only reason for coming to the Duke’s residence.

‘I thought that’s all it was...’

But now, it wasn’t just that anymore.

"Tailfur."

Though he called her strangely, with his voice still warm, Carl was there.

"Where our lady is!"

The place where people called her with that teasing tone.

Living in the Duke’s estate, she had learned so much. It was all things she had never experienced before.

Though she felt uneasy at times, like she was wearing someone else's clothes by mistake, she couldn’t ignore it.

‘It’s not just because it’s safe here.’

It was the people here. She wanted to stay in ‘this’ place.

Beatty suddenly jumped up and clenched her fist firmly.

"Right. I can’t back down."

She might not have succeeded with her first deal, but that didn’t mean she was going to give up her prize!

"I won’t let this be a waste!"

With determination shining on her face, Beatty was resolved to make sure she would get what she deserved.

"How do I get permission to stay here...?"

Tap tap.

Beatty tapped her chin with a little finger, deep in thought.

‘But...’

Suddenly, she couldn’t shake the Duke’s words from her mind.

"You don’t need to pay anything to stay in your own home."

Tightly.

Her fist on her lap tightened further.

‘What did that mean?’

For some reason, those words stuck in her mind, refusing to fade away.

Beatty found it impossible to sleep that night.

Meanwhile, the Duke had trouble sleeping as well.

He didn’t plan to leave his office until the night was deep.

With a stern face, the Duke stared off into the distance, while his aide approached with a report.

"Miss Beatty has gone to bed safely."

"Mm."

"Your Grace, you need not worry anymore..."

Johanna, who had come along, added her input.

"Master, we’ve kept a close watch on her sleep. Ever since we arrived here, she’s always gone to bed early and slept soundly until morning without any other disturbances."

A long sigh escaped from the Duke, as if he had finally let go of his worries.

"She’s a delicate child."

His furrowed brow reflected the depth of his concern.

"Miss Beatty..."

Johanna, who had been looking for words to comfort her master, couldn’t continue. The nightmares from their past still haunted them.

The Duke, remembering those painful times, spoke in a bitter tone.

"This harsh winter here, this delicate child can’t endure it."