TMLOH 23

Chapter : 23

On Chuseok, my uncle—who had too many nieces and nephews—must have worried that giving out money openly would drain his bank account. So, he came up with a trick.

“I don’t have much money these days, so I’m giving this just to you. Only because I like you the most. Don’t tell the others, okay?”

“Wow, really? Thanks, Uncle!”

His trick was to pull each child aside individually and say, “This is just for you, so keep it a secret.”

It was a genius move—he could make a big show of his generosity without having to give more to the older kids or dish out cash fairly by age.

“Yuni, I’m only telling you this because you’re special…”

“That means I’m your number one maid, right?!”

“Yup!”

“Finally! I’ve been recognized! I’m going to tell everyone right aw—”

“I’m only telling you because I really care about you, Yuni. It’s our secret, okay?”

“Yes, my lady!”

In my opinion, the key to this method was secrecy and speed.

“You’ll keep this just between us, right? What if people get jealous and start giving me trouble? You’re my number one head maid, Yuni.”

“You can count on me, my lady! Yuni, the top maid in your heart, will handle it!”

Just like a silent assassin, I quietly called each one in and ‘took them down’ swiftly.

“What? I’m the lady’s number one maid?! Hah. I never thought this day would come.”

“A secret? Of course. I’ll take it to the grave—or even to hell!”

“To hell? That’s a bit much…”

“Sob… If I have to go to heaven instead, so be it. My lady, you truly are an angel descended to the mortal realm.”

And thus, peace was restored to House Halbern.

Uncle, thanks for the lie about giving me money “only because you like me the most.”

Just as I was savoring the peaceful memory of staying quiet for ₩50,000 after catching another cousin getting cash too…

“She said I’m her favorite!”

“What are you talking about? She said I was the most cherished one!”

“Hmph. I didn’t want to say this, but…”

A second round was brewing.

No, no—this won’t do!

“Uhh—what’s everyone doing?”

Luckily, I happened to be there in time. If I hadn’t been, this would’ve escalated into an all-out war and blown my whole scheme.

If I got caught, my credibility would hit rock bottom, and no other tricks would work again!

So, I desperately dug into my memory—back to when I was six—and whipped something up.

“Tada!”

Gathering the daycare squad, I unveiled my secret weapon.

“Huh?”

“What’s that?”

“This, my friends, is the mighty ‘Compliment Sticker Board.’”

It even came with “Great Job!” stickers in a set.

I declared:

“Starting today, anyone I’m pleased with will get a compliment sticker!”

This, I believed, was the only way to bring true peace to House Halbern.

The older kids’ eyes went wide.

“…!”

“A sign…”

“Of favor?!”

They buzzed excitedly as they looked at the sticker boards with their names written on them in wobbly handwriting.

“If you do well, I’ll give you a compliment sticker. Then you can show it off.”

It wasn’t widely used yet, so it was hard to get, but good enough to serve as compliment stickers.

Everyone’s eyes burned with desire as they stared at the stickers in my hand.

“What’s all this chaos?”

“Mehen!”

Apparently drawn by the noise, Mehen appeared, frowning. The daycare kids all flinched.

“I thought you were busy?”

“…Busy, yes. But not so much that I can’t check in.”

“I see.”

“So, what’s going on here?”

He glanced at the sticker in my hand and the board stuck to the wall and demanded an explanation. I gave him a quick summary.

“Did the daycare squad bother you, my lady?”

His voice turned cold and sharp.

“No! I wanted to do this!”

With the tension so thick you could cut it, I quickly stuck a sticker on Mehen’s leg.

“…?”

“Mehen gets a sticker just for existing.”

His stiff expression instantly relaxed.

“Ugh, I’m jealous!”

“No fair!”

“So unfair!”

The kids’ envy was just a bonus.

Compliment stickers brought peace to House Halbern.

“I got two yesterday!”

“Hah. I’ve gotten the most so far.”

But there was one problem…

“What? Want one too, Mehen?”

Every time the kids proudly compared stickers, Mehen would give me this weird look.

Usually, once they got a sticker, they calmed down.

Does Mehen want a compliment sticker too?

No way. Come on. That couldn’t be it.

Thanks to my uncle’s allowance strategy and the sticker method, I had successfully handled the kids’ need for affection and competition.

I could now boldly declare my right to laziness.

“Ah, the bed feels amazing.”

How long had it been since I’d enjoyed true peace?

No one could stop me now.

There’s nothing I really need to worry about anymore…

Or so I thought.

“I’m here!”

The crown prince showed up.

“Arellin—!!”

Pession had arrived at the peaceful House Halbern.

“What? Arellin’s not coming again today?!”

It was shocking.

A bolt from the blue.

Literally like lightning from a clear sky—Arellin wasn’t coming.

“The butler from Halbern said the young lady is unwell and probably won’t attend the gathering today.”

“She skipped last time too!”

One day, two days, three, four…

Once, twice, three times. And now today.

At last, Pession’s patience shattered.

“Waaaah—!”

I want to see Arellin!

Watching the distressed prince, Gream clicked his tongue as if he couldn’t understand.

“She’s sick, what can you do?”

“But still!”

“You shouldn’t pressure someone who’s sick.”

“I mean, yeah, but still!”

Gream actually seemed relieved that the young lady was missing the gathering because she was ill.

The atmosphere of the playgroup had become strained lately due to the crown prince’s single-minded obsession with Arellin.

Maybe this’ll help things calm down a bit.

Gream didn’t think the young lady had planned it, but the timing was uncanny.

Maybe it’s because of what happened last time…

Thinking back to the chaos caused by Crown Prince Pession, the twin devils from Spherom, and Harun from Mubisk, Gream could understand why Lady Arellin might need a break.

“Since things turned out this way, perhaps Your Highness could take this opportunity to spend time with the others—huh? Your Highness?”

Gream’s brows furrowed.

Nope. He’s not listening anymore.

Whether Gream despaired or not, Pession’s thoughts were solely on one person: Arellin.

Why did she have to get sick now? Does this mean I won’t see her next time either? Maybe not for a while?

No way!

He’d already learned how fun it was to spend time with Arellin. Why was that?

Even though they couldn’t run around freely or play his favorite ball games, being with Arellin was still the most fun.

Now, he couldn’t even imagine not seeing her.

Isn’t there some way?

He couldn’t bring her here while she was sick. But he missed her! It had already been a week.

He’d never felt this way before—missing someone so much.

It was unfamiliar and strange.

But not scary. Being with Arellin made him happy.

And, if he had to name one more reason…

I’m worried.

Arellin, all by herself.

What if she’s doing that again?

Staring blankly out the window.

Pession frowned at the tightness in his chest.

“Your Highness?”

He turned at Gream’s voice.

“Gream.”

“Yes?”

“What does ‘loneliness’ mean?”

Pession had never been alone since birth—always surrounded by people. The word felt completely foreign.

Emotions aren’t something you can understand from books alone.

But even so…

He wanted to know.

He felt like he needed to.

“What is solitude, really…”

He remembered those hollow eyes staring out the window. That feeling of her existing in another world, so far away.

He was still young, inexperienced, and couldn’t fully explain the emotion. But if he had to name it—it was sadness.

Seeing Arellin like that made Pession feel sad.

Arellin…

She wanted to be alone.

Pession knew that, but he didn’t want to leave her by herself.

If she were left alone…

He felt like she might just disappear somewhere.

“I still don’t get it.”

Ignoring Gream’s dumbfounded expression beside him, Pession shook his head.

I really want to see Arellin.

The more he thought about it, the clearer his feelings became.

Maybe even twice a week wasn’t enough. He wanted to see her every day.

But it had already been over a week. Suffering withdrawal, Pession was desperate.

“What do I do…”

He missed her.

He missed her so much.

He paced frantically around the room—

“Ah!”

He suddenly stopped.

Arellin can’t come?

Then I’ll go to her.

“…?”

I’ll just visit her again!

“I’m a genius!”

“…So that’s why you’re here?”

“Yup!”

As Pession smiled brightly at me, I was at a total loss for words.