31. Are You Teaching Me How to Work? (3000 words)

Yaser Ross, nicknamed Ross. If Lin Ke, this “relative’s child,” could be as cute as her name, I would have no complaints taking care of her. With her innocent and adorable smile, white hair, and red dress, she exudes a hint of “nobility” amidst her cuteness. This midget could easily be mistaken for a little princess come to play, and at least when standing still, she definitely looks like an angel.

However, this little brat is anything but an angel; she’s a genuine “little devil.” Is there really an angel in this world whose first words to someone are “You useless bum living off your wife’s earnings”? And when it comes to Kephiel and Nilu, this little brat knows how to charm them. She tells Kephiel, “You’re like a mom,” and to Nilu, “You’re my second wife?” She completely sinks them!

Clearly, we had never met, yet how did this little brat manage to judge our “family status” at first glance? Regardless, it was no use trying to explain to Kephir and Nilu that “this little brat is quite troublesome.” I could only carry the burden of taking care of her, filled with frustration at being labeled as a “useless man.” After all… Kephir and Nilu had absolutely no resistance to this “sweet-talking little angel.”

The next day, after various troubles had come to an end and peace was restored in the capital of the Meri United Kingdom, Lin Ke seemed to have taken up permanent residence in the Black Palace office, refusing to return. The responsibility of taking care of the little midget, Rose, fell upon us.

In the morning, with nothing to do and wanting to properly explain my “head of the family” status to Rose, I volunteered to wake the little midget. At that moment, having tidied up the room for her the night before, I thought to myself that I was just dealing with a little brat. So, without any reservations, I opened the door, only to discover…

“Whoosh…”

Even though the sun was already high in the sky, this little brat was still fast asleep. Moreover, her sleeping style was quite unique: she had drawn all the curtains tightly, not allowing a single ray of sunlight to seep in. As for her sleeping posture, it was even worse: it was the first time I had seen someone sleep so soundly that they managed to lose their clothes. Her clothes and pants were thrown aside, and only that white pair of panties barely kept her from exposing her little bottom in front of me.

With her sprawled out on the bed, head resting on one pillow, hugging another, and with one more pillow under her feet, it was hard to reconcile this sight of a little white-haired sprite, as if she had fallen from the heavens, with the image of an angel, especially considering her terrible attitude from last night.

And then, the next moment… I realized this little brat actually had a morning grumpiness!

“!”

In no time, she sensed my presence and, like a zombie, bounced up to sit, instinctively baring her teeth and claws at me!

“You disturbed my beauty sleep, I’ll kill you!”

“Kill you? What nonsense! Do you even know what time it is?”

Saying this, I walked toward the window. “Even a child shouldn’t sleep in. Do you want me to show you that the sun is already warm enough to roast your bottom?”

At the mention of “bottom,” the little midget finally realized something, hurriedly clutching her pillow to her chest as if to cover herself, glaring at me with eyes that seemed ready to chop me into pieces.

What are you staring at? How could I possibly be interested in a body that could serve as a cutting board in the kitchen?

Just as I was about to pull back the curtains, this little midget, no longer concerned about whether I would see her “cutting board,” immediately shouted out in a panic and excitement!

“Don’t open it!”

“Ah?”

【Rose doesn’t want Euclid to open the window.】

With the script laid out like this, not wanting to provoke the little midget, I complied. After that, she finally let out a sigh of relief, then… yawned.

“Anyway, don’t open the curtains. I… um, I have a bit of a strange condition. I’ve always rested during the day and only come out at night. I can’t be exposed to light without any protection. If you dare to open the window, I’ll bite your hand off!”

Are you a dog?

【Rose cannot be exposed to sunlight for long periods.】

I pursed my lips. Could this “strange illness” that Rose mentioned really be something like albinism, which makes one sensitive to light? Coupled with her seemingly delicate, porcelain-like body, it did seem plausible. I came here to take care of her after all, despite the argument with this little brat. Whatever she wanted, I would comply. Sigh… this is why troublesome kids are so hard to raise.

By the time this yawning little midget, who could fall asleep while getting dressed, finally finished her outfit, donning a black veil and with me holding the umbrella, we stepped outside while I yawned too. Breakfast time had long passed.

The place Rose wanted to go was the garden in Lin Ke’s castle. I thought this little brat would ask for toys to play with, but surprisingly, her preferences were quite elegant.

“If you’re hungry, just wait. Meal time has already passed, and Nilu will prepare something for you separately. The servants at Lin Ke’s place are pitifully few; it’s not like you can just call for food and have it delivered immediately.”

I was being kind to her, yet this little midget seemed quite displeased with me.

“Eh? Nilu? Is she your second wife?”

No, not really a wife, right? But if I deny it here, it might lead to even bigger trouble. Forget it, I’d better not explain.

Rose turned her head, and what I saw was her face, clearly unhappy with me: “Clearly a useless person, why do you have such a good wife?”

Damn! Why do you even care about whether my wife is good or not!?

“I have money, I married a legitimate wife and took a concubine, what’s wrong with that!?”

I replied helplessly. On the way to the United Kingdom of Meili, I had discussed with Ke Fei Er and Nilu: our public persona was to be “a wealthy gentleman with a wife and a concubine.”

This explanation should be fine, right? However, the next moment, the little midget Rose turned her head, as if telling me something strange, or perhaps just talking to herself.

“Money cannot buy what one is not worthy of possessing.”

“?”

At first glance, it seemed like an odd statement, yet it sent a shiver down my spine. Moreover, just as I was trying to understand why I suddenly felt so “tense,” a script suddenly popped into my mind, startling me even more!

【Ogilid has been killed!】

The death script that had previously vanished after we drove away the white-haired elf reappeared! Hiss… although the capital has been peaceful lately, could it really be true, as Lin Ke said, that the white-haired elf would be hired again and come back for revenge!?

No, that’s not right. I’ve “experienced” a lot with the white-haired elf’s script. If a death script appears, it wouldn’t be as vague as just now.

Thus, there was only one explanation: the recent death script was new! A certain unknown threat!

“…Rose.”

Thinking of this, for the sake of “insurance,” I glanced at the little midget beside me. “Just a reminder, you should stay at Lin Ke’s house for now. Don’t sneak out alone or anything like that. I’ll keep an eye on you.”

“Ah? Are you teaching me what to do?”

The little midget shot me a glare.

“It’s to let you know how dangerous the adult world can be, you little brat! I’m telling you, Lin Ke sent you here because you might be targeted for revenge by some of her enemies.”

And… being “involved” by staying next to me. However, I didn’t plan to tell Rose this; she probably wouldn’t understand anyway.

“And besides, there might really be some danger lately. If you don’t want to be kidnapped by some evil bad guys and then end up in the hands of some creepy uncles with strange fetishes, you’d better stick with me and not run around. Got it? Kefir and Nilu probably didn’t think to remind you, and you’ve been tricking them around in circles, but… just how mischievous can you be? You can’t fool me.”

Scaring this little brat… that’s what I thought.

However, the next moment, I realized that Rose didn’t seem to buy it at all. Moreover, compared to my scare tactics, she was more concerned about something else.

“Recently? Do you, you pretty boy, know of any danger?”

Stopping in her tracks, Rose asked me. I couldn’t tell if it was my imagination, but for a moment, I felt that the little midget beside me seemed a bit different from her “angelic appearance, devilish inside” image.

I shook my head. The appearance of the recent death script also confirmed that Rose was likely caught up in this new death script as well. Thus, unable to stay out of it, she could only be slightly reminded by me.

“I don’t know, but Lin Ke has offended quite a few people lately, and sending you here is one of the reasons. By the way, stop calling me a pretty boy! I’m a man too, and I can protect you, alright? Hah~ Forget it, anyway, you’re just a little brat who probably wouldn’t understand what ‘protection’ means… gurgle!”

Before I could finish, this little midget actually bumped her head against my stomach to express her displeasure! Luckily, I was also empty this morning; otherwise, I would have thrown up everything I just ate!

“Hey! Little brat! If you keep being naughty, I’ll spank you!”

“Come at me!? Then I’ll go tell your two wives that you’re being handsy with me and that you took the chance to peek at my butt this morning!”

“You!”

“Hmph, and you say you’re not a scaredy-cat pretty boy~”

Being scared of my wives and being a pretty boy are two different things! And you, little brat, so small yet so clever, actually know what “harassment” means!?

“Yasai Rose! You’re not here on vacation!”

I was about to seriously remind this little girl not to be so unruly. But then…

“Annoying…”

The little girl turned to glance at me with a look of displeasure, and the content of the script momentarily eased my worries.

[Rose is temporarily obedient.]

Temporarily, huh… But that’s enough for now.

After all, the death script appeared on the first day we were taking care of the little girl, Rose, so I had to do something for “insurance.”

“Insurance” in every sense of the word, I had to take care of.

——

This chapter is a lengthy 3,000 words, so everyone remember to give it a good read.