<Chapter 64>
#7. Journey (3)
Melty, annoyed at Calix who was obviously pretending to be asleep, shook him while wiggling his bottom. Even as Melty grabbed him by the collar and shook him vigorously, Calix didn’t open his eyes. Calix endured the rampage of the small and ferocious hamster until Melty eventually tired himself out and fell asleep.
He had moved so busily in his arms that even with his eyes closed, Calix hadn’t felt bored or dull at all. The sound of Melty shouting “Fraud!” was still vivid. Calix smiled slightly as he looked at Melty’s face, who was breathing heavily with his cheek resting on Calix’s chest. Carefully extending his arms, he wrapped them around Melty’s waist and pulled him closer.
He didn’t forget to pull out the blanket he had brought and tucked away in the corner, covering Melty with it. Whether it was because he was still a child or because it was a characteristic of hamster beastpeople, Calix couldn’t tell, but the body pressed against him was warm.
“You scare people and then sleep so well.”
Calix grumbled in a voice tinged with laughter, pressing Melty’s soft cheek. His ears, which looked as soft as his fluffy hair, trembled slightly. At the same time, Melty’s lips moved in his dream, mumbling.
“Gluttonous hamster.”
Chuckling, Calix belatedly remembered something and rubbed his lips with the back of his hand. He let out a low sigh at the trace of chocolate left on the back of his hand.
This was the remnant of Melty’s final tactic to wake Calix, who hadn’t slept at all and had no intention of getting up obediently. Calix had almost laughed when Melty, who had been rustling around for a while, pulled out his secret weapon.
– I’ll give you two if you wake up!
His desperate declaration was also amusing. Calix tried his best to keep the corners of his trembling lips from rising. And Calix’s effort continued until Melty pushed a thick chocolate cookie into his mouth.
Looking at Melty sleeping in his arms with honey-dripping eyes, Calix lightly tousled his hair. Smiling at the brown hair slipping through the gaps between his fingers, he also gently touched Melty’s plump ears.
“Mmm.”
With a low grumble, Melty burrowed deeper into Calix’s embrace. Quickly withdrawing his hand, Calix laughed softly. For the first few days after starting their temporary relationship, Melty had diligently avoided Calix. Recalling how Melty had run away with a flushed face, Calix let out a hollow laugh. Even now, he found it incredibly ridiculous and frustrating.
“This hamster, really. I was the one who confessed, so why are you the one being shy? And why does such a timid creature have courage in the strangest places?”
Calix lightly pinched and wiggled Melty’s chubby cheeks with two fingers. Melty, who somehow always sensed when someone was bothering him, made a sad face and shook his head. Loosening his grip for fear of waking him, Calix sighed and pulled Melty firmly into his arms.
– How could you not consider that? They say it’s the most important thing in a relationship.
Melty’s words, spoken with a deliberately stern expression, were still vivid in his mind. Calix, who couldn’t help but smile, gently stroked Melty’s hair.
“When the time comes, I’ll take care of everything. If you have any courage to spare, just come over to me. Don’t try to think too hard when you can’t even think straight. Understand?”
Even though he knew perfectly well that Melty was deeply asleep and couldn’t hear, Calix conveyed his message. But he felt that Melty seemed to miss him after Calix had deliberately kept some distance for a while. Recalling how Melty had stroked his own head when they first boarded the carriage, Calix laughed quietly.
Sleep filled Calix’s eyes as he held Melty tightly, who was emitting a warm heat, resting his cheek on Melty’s head. He closed his eyes while rubbing his cheek against Melty’s hair.
***
Melty, who had just speared the last thick piece of meat with his fork and brought it to his mouth, fell into thought. Having been chewing and eating vigorously until just a moment ago, he suddenly went silent, prompting Calix to ask with a puzzled expression.
“What is it?”
“Calix-ssi. I’ve been thinking…”
“About what?”
Looking perplexed at this sudden statement, Calix rested his chin in his hand and stared at him. They had only just arrived at a nearby village after a full day of travel. Since the schedule had immediately moved from arrival to finding lodging and then to dinner, there didn’t seem to be anything that would pique Melty’s curiosity.
Looking at Calix, who was waiting for his words, Melty opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“Isn’t what Calix-ssi was going to do actually a very urgent matter? You said everyone is suffering because of the drought. Is it okay for us to be doing this?”
Calix was dumbfounded at Melty’s question. Melty, who already had a good appetite, had already cleaned two plates of steak. The fact that he had put the last piece of meat in his mouth without hesitation and then seriously brought up such a topic was so funny and cute that it was absurd. Reaching out his hand, Calix wiped the sauce that Melty had left at the corner of his mouth with a napkin, perhaps saving it for later.
“Now that you’ve filled your stomach with meat, you start thinking about that?”
“W-well… I was hungry.”
Seemingly embarrassed, Melty mumbled while covering his protruding belly with both hands. Calix laughed quietly at the complaint contained in his words. He had no particular intention of scolding him.
“It’s not like the drought will disappear just because I go there, so what does it matter?”
“No, but… Don’t you need to investigate quickly to resolve it quickly?”
At Melty’s question, Calix lightly shrugged his shoulders. While there was reason in his words, Calix had no intention of agreeing. Still wearing a relaxed smile on his lips, Calix added an explanation in a gentle tone.
“Anyway, each region has to handle what they’re responsible for. I’m only going to investigate because they say it’s spreading. It’s unclear whether any alternative solutions will emerge just because I go.”
Though he maintained an indifferent expression, Calix calmly continued his explanation for Melty, who didn’t understand the situation well.
“Moreover, if it’s due to a famine, it’s the Botenta family that should resolve it, not me. They have the largest harvest yield.”
Of course, even for the Botenta family, resolving a famine across all regions would be too much. However, Calix didn’t feel the need to explain that much to Melty. The Spangky family had been the main source of drought rumors, and it was only at this exchange meeting that there had been mention of such occurrences in other regions.
No reports had come in from Padrian branches in each region regarding the supply of medicinal herbs. If it had been an urgent matter requiring immediate attention, they wouldn’t have enjoyed the exchange meeting so leisurely before returning.
‘It’s strange enough that a drought occurred when there had been rain forecast.’
Calix judged that at least two or more families were involved in this affair. If the purpose of this incident was to drive him out of the mansion, he calculated that there would be those who would infiltrate the mansion while he was away.
“Besides, you said this is your first long journey by carriage? If you push yourself on your first trip, you’ll get sick. This is the only suitable village to rest in along our route, and we’re supposed to rest as we go.”
“Ah… I see.”
Calix listed lies fluently without even wetting his lips. The entourage, who had taken seats a little away from them and were having their meal, looked at their master with a disgusted expression. It didn’t feel real that Calix, who would normally frown at the waste of time in a place like this, was saying such considerate things.
Detecting their expression changes, which were close to shock, faster than Melty could, Calix gave them a stern look. At Calix’s gaze, they shuddered greatly and, though no one had instructed them to, they all lowered their heads as if they were about to bury them in their plates of food. Satisfied with their synchronized movement, Calix smiled contentedly and turned back to Melty with a kind gaze, adding more words.
“And while externally it’s to assess the situation, in reality, I’m just going to see my parents, so there’s no need to rush.”
The decision to bring Melty along on this schedule was purely for his safety. It was to prepare for any possible attacks, but also to prevent any health issues that might arise during the journey.
The Padrian mansion, where the likelihood of an attack was highest, wasn’t a place that just anyone could approach. The image of Angel’s crying face flashed briefly in his mind, but Calix easily erased it with a slight smile. There was no one among the people at the mansion who was frail enough to worry about.
‘Unless it’s someone specialized in raids like the Crosel family.’
Melty, who had been staring blankly at Calix as he snorted with a relaxed face, emptied the drink in front of him cleanly. Calix smiled gently at him as he finished his meal neatly.
“Are you done eating? If you’re not too tired, shall we go out for a look around?”
For now, it was time to focus on their date.
