"Eeeekk! Liana, don't be so mad!" Javier yelled, running as fast as he could. Behind him, Liana gave chase, her usual calm expression replaced by fierce determination.
"Why are you running, young master?" Liana called in a sweet, calm voice. She held a rattan stick firmly in her hand. "Aren't we friends?"
"Liana! I'm sorry!!!" Javier shouted, his face pale as he dashed down the cobblestone road.
"You shouldn't go outside without telling me or your parents!" Liana's voice was gentle, but her smile was anything but friendly. She swung the rattan menacingly through the air. "Now come back here, young master!"
"I just went to sell some monster parts to get extra gold! That's all!" Javier shouted, dodging around a merchant's cart and leaping over a small fence.
"Oh? Then why didn't you tell me before?" Liana asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Uhhh... I forgot?"
"Wrong answer." Her smile widened as she raised the rattan.
"Eeeekk! Liana, have mercy!!"
Villagers paused to watch, chuckling and shaking their heads at the spectacle.
"Perhaps this will teach you a lesson about sneaking off!" Liana called, picking up speed.
"I was just trying to earn some money! You know my family doesn't even give me an allowance!" Javier whined, narrowly avoiding a stack of crates.
"And who takes care of all your expenses? Hmm? I've told you, young master, I'll handle everything!"
"Liana! You're too scary when you're mad!!" Javier cried, ducking into an alleyway, only to find it blocked by a stack of barrels.
He spun around to see Liana standing at the entrance, the morning light casting a shadow behind her. "Nowhere left to run, young master," she said sweetly, tapping the rattan against her palm.
"Can't we talk this out?" Javier tried, giving her a sheepish grin.
"Oh, we'll talk... after I teach you some manners." She stepped closer.
"Eeeekk! I promise I won't do it again!"
"Good to know." Liana raised the rattan.
The nearby villagers turned away, smiling knowingly as Javier's exaggerated yelps filled the air.
"Eeeekk! Liana!! Leave my face out of this!!" Javier wailed, dodging clumsily as Liana swung with perfect aim.
"Why? Are you afraid your 'handsome young noble' look will be ruined, young master?" Liana asked sweetly, landing a soft but effective kick to his shin.
"Eeeekk! My future wife won't like me if my face is bruised!!" Javier cried, stumbling and nearly tripping.
Liana paused mid-swing and raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And who is this mysterious future wife of yours, young master?"
"Errr... you?" Javier blurted out, flashing his most charming grin.
Liana sighed, her cheeks turning a faint pink. "Flattery won't save you this time."
"Eeeekk! Mercy! At least aim for somewhere less visible!!" Javier pleaded, ducking as the rattan narrowly missed his head.
By the time Liana finished her "lesson," Javier sat on the ground, utterly defeated. His hair was a mess, bruises covered his face, one eye was black, and a faint shoe print marked his tunic.
"You look fine, young master," Liana said, brushing off her hands and adjusting her skirt.
"Fine!? Liana, I look like I went through a monster stampede!" Javier cried, staring at his reflection in a nearby puddle.
"Consider it a lesson learned," Liana replied with a faint smile, grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet.
"This is abuse… I'm filing a complaint."
Liana's eyebrow twitched. "Did you say something, young master?"
"N-No! Nothing at all!" Javier stammered, shielding his already bruised face.
Behind them, a few villagers whispered to one another, laughing at the sight of the beaten young master. One old man chuckled, "That boy's got guts."
Javier held the large gold pouch high above his head, his laughter echoing through the air. "At least I earned a lot!" he declared proudly, despite his bruised face.
Liana trailed behind him, sighing. "You're still laughing after what just happened? Unbelievable."
Ignoring her, Javier clutched the pouch tightly to his chest.
"The old dwarf bought all seventy-two monster corpses, freshly from my magic storage! Not only will the villagers get cheap meat, but their income will rise too! A genius plan, truly!"
Javier tilted his head slightly as a low, eerie laugh escaped his lips. "Kekekekeke… Now… I've got my Pekko…"
Liana let out a long, weary exhale, watching his laugh grow even creepier. "Young master… you're scaring everyone… Stop that annoying laugh…"
He leaned his head back and laughed even louder, his eyes shining with the wild ambition of an eleven-year-old boy with far too much gold. "My Pekko! Finally! I got my own Pekko!! With this money! Kekekekeke!!!"
Villagers passing by paused, giving Javier confused looks.
"Isn't that our lord's son?"
"Shh! Best if we pretend we saw nothing."
Liana grabbed Javier's ear and yanked him out of his delusions. "Enough with the creepy laugh, young master! People are starting to think you've lost it!"
Javier rubbed his ear, pouting. "Liana! That's my 'evil genius' laugh! You're ruining the mood!"
She sighed and crossed her arms. "Forget the mood. Let's just get back before you start making weird rumors about the Armand household having a young lord who cackles like a villain in the middle of the street."
Javier hugged his gold pouch tighter, muttering under his breath, "They'll see… they'll all see when I ride into town on my majestic Pekko…"
Liana shook her head and exhaled.
Why do I have to be this lunatic's personal maid?
Now everyone will think he's weird. Lord Garius's weirdest youngest son.
What am I going to tell Lady Francesca and Lord Garius about him?
Javier suddenly turned to her, his bruised face lighting up with wild excitement. "Now's not the time to walk back! We should buy that Pekko right now!!"
Before Liana could respond, Javier bolted down the road.
"Young master! Wait!" Liana shouted, facepalming as she watched him dash toward the Pekko farm like a madman. She let out a long sigh.
Why do I always have to deal with this?
Oblivious to her frustration, Javier ran faster, his creepy laugh growing louder.
Villagers stopped in their tracks, staring as the noble boy rushed past them as if pursued by wild beasts.
One farmer whispered, "Is that the Viscount's youngest son? What's he up to now?"
Another shrugged. "Probably something crazy again."
Liana sighed again, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"This is going to be a long day..."
(End of Chapter)