I Hit the Back of the Tower Master’s Head - Chapter 16

Episode 16

Maybe because I had been keeping an eye on Ruth’s weaknesses, I started to worry that even small things might hurt his feelings. As I sat in the studio, working alone late into the night, Lily came up to me, clearly not happy, and put down a cup of hot chocolate.

“Just ignore it, Lunar. You’re doing what you can.”

I replied to her in my mind.

“But it feels like… I’m raising a child out in the open.”

“I know, but we’re living under the same roof. Seeing him groaning all the time doesn’t make me feel good.”

Lily snorted.

“As I’ve said before, if I knew it would make you this miserable, I would’ve never told you that someone was hurt!”

I took a sip of my hot chocolate and gently patted Lily’s head. Lily perked up, flicking her ears as she enjoyed the petting.

“Pinocchio was the one who hit him, not you, right? And it was because he tried to attack you first!”

I gave a bitter smile.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re right.”

“Sorry for being such a bother.”

But that doesn’t change the fact that Ruth lost his memory.

“Thanks for listening to me complain.”

I carefully patted Lily’s bottom as she was about to protest.

“Listen, Lily. You all are my children. I still clearly remember the day I made you. I chose the best fabric and thread, poured in all the magic I had. You were bathed in magic that fell like snowflakes, and that’s when you opened your eyes. From the moment you all lifted your heads and moved your little hands and feet, you became under my care. I’m responsible for what happens to you.”

Lily crossed her short, chubby arms and slowly flicked her ears. I looked at Lily’s triangular eyes and smiled softly.

“Is it hard to understand?”

Lily shook her head.

“I just don’t like seeing you suffer, Lunar. I don’t want you to go through all this pain.”

I answered.

“I’ve never suffered. I’m just feeling responsible.”

I looked at my mother’s closed door and spoke to Lily.

“Take a little more care of Ruth. He’s going to leave when he gets his memory back. Until then, stay with him.”

Lily was still sulking, but slowly nodded.

“Go to sleep now, Lunar.”

Lily gave me a little shove on the back. I was about to get up, but suddenly heard a rustling sound from my pocket, and I sat back down.

Right, the letter from my uncle. I pulled out the thick envelope I had shoved into my apron pocket earlier. I had been so worried about Ruth that I hadn’t even thought about the letter. “Sorry, Uncle.”

I carefully peeled off the wax seal, and gemstones poured out. The letter that fell with a thud was seven pages long. The sparkling gems were all the perfect size to decorate doll eyes or clothes.

Lily, sitting next to me, was playing with the jewels and swinging her legs happily. I gently patted her back and unfolded the letter.

Lunar,

I’m glad to hear that you’ve been doing well. But I worry every day, knowing my precious niece is far away. I wish you would write me more often.

The capital is still the same. Things are busy as usual. There’s nothing particularly special to report… but we did hire a few new knights and servants for the mansion, and they’re currently teaching sign language (there was a messy drawing of hands here).

About the jewels in this letter, I’m sure you were surprised, right? I wanted to send more, but the envelope kept tearing, and Benjamin scolded me. Since the Star Night is coming soon, I thought it would be nice to give each of the dolls a beautiful accessory. (A drawing of a bunny doll wearing a ribbon was included.)

Coincidentally, this year’s Star Night coincides with the birthday of the Second Princess, and there’s going to be a party at the palace. I was planning to relax and have some wine at the mansion, but alas, it won’t happen.

(Part omitted)

I heard someone at your house has lost their memory. I’m sure you were very distressed. But don’t worry, Pinocchio is no fool, so it’s probably the other party’s fault. Don’t feel too guilty, and when the time is right, you should send them away. Maybe the memory loss is just an act.

I might seem cold, but there are bad people out there who will try to take advantage of kindness. I don’t want you to be hurt.

If anyone tries to harm you, don’t worry. Just contact me, and I’ll take care of everything.

And about the person you described—blonde hair and navy eyes—sounds like a pretty common combination. But when you add in the powerful ice magic, it’s a rare combination. I can think of only one person who fits that description, and that’s Evan Ruskanel, the Master of the Tower. You’ve never been to Mellow, so you don’t know his face, but he’s a private man, and not many people have seen him.

The first and last time I met him was four years ago, and he had blonde hair and navy eyes. His personality was rather eccentric, cold, and hard to get along with. Let’s just say he wasn’t very social.

But there’s no way someone like him would lose his memory just because he got hit on the back of his head, so it’s probably someone else. If I don’t know, it’s likely a foreigner.

(Part omitted)

Whenever you feel like it, come to the Count’s mansion. I’ll always have the door open for you.

Your lucky uncle, Cloud Cheyenne.

It seems like my uncle wrote this letter while doing paperwork. I smiled faintly as I touched the messy drawings. My uncle wasn’t one to make special designs—he would just place wood and roughly carve it to make a doll. He didn’t really draw much except when we exchanged letters, and then he would add little drawings here and there.

When I saw that the Star Night coincided with the Second Princess’s birthday, I sighed. Neither my mother nor my uncle liked parties. Every time a party was thrown, there were always whispers about the Cheyenne family. For that reason, I wasn’t a fan of parties either.

But even though I didn’t like them, I couldn’t skip a party hosted by the royal family. With a bittersweet feeling, I read the next part of the letter.

“Why, Lunar?”

As I trembled slightly, Lily tilted her head. Then she pointed to the part about the jewels and giggled.

“Are you going to make me a ribbon? Then give me a big jewel!”

I covered my mouth to stop myself from laughing. Lily tilted her head again.

“Lunar?”

Evan Ruskanel.

I stopped reading the rest of the letter. The Master of the Tower? Ruth? My cheek trembled. Hearing that the Master of the Tower’s outward characteristics matched Ruth’s made everything click into place.

My uncle had written that there was no way the Master of the Tower would lose his memory, and it was probably a foreigner, but the description seemed to fit Evan perfectly. Was it Ruth who hit the Master of the Tower on the back of the head? I frantically tapped the desk with my fingers. Was the Master of the Tower going to use magic against Pinocchio after he regained his memory?

“What if Pinocchio gets hurt?”

At my question, Lily pretended to clean her ears.

“He’s probably fine even if you throw him off a cliff, right?”

No, that’s not what I meant. Pinocchio was the one who caused Ruth to lose his memory…

…Should I treat him better?

I had been thinking of treating Ruth better anyway, but if he really was the Master of the Tower, I should treat him extra well. I need to treat him so well that when he regains his memory, he can think, “That happened too,” and brush it off.

“Lily, bake some extra cookies tomorrow.”

At my request, Lily crossed her short arms and sighed.

“Can’t I just go and hit that guy again? I’ll make sure he never remembers anything.”

“Absolutely not.”

I pulled Lily’s soft cheek.

My uncle said that the Master of the Tower had a cold personality. Of course, that was just his opinion after meeting him once, so I couldn’t be sure, but it was something to keep in mind.

As for Ruth, he didn’t seem cold or eccentric. He seemed more like someone who gets easily hurt by small things. Maybe I could comfort him more in that way?

Ruth was probably uneasy about his memory because he had nothing to focus on. Since he wasn’t allowed to go on walks without Pinocchio, he wasn’t getting much physical exercise. I needed to help distract him.

He didn’t want to read the book, and I couldn’t take him for a walk while making sure he didn’t get hurt. So, what else could I do with Ruth? I frowned.

“Lily, what else can I do with Ruth besides making dolls?”

Lily answered innocently.

“Do you really have to do something? Just tell him to take a nap.”

I decided not to ask Lily anymore.

I called Lulu over. Lulu complained as she entered the studio.

“What are you doing up, Lunar? You’ll be tired all day tomorrow.”

I placed Lulu on the desk and asked.

“What else can I do with Ruth tomorrow?”

“You’re going this far for him?”

I decided not to ask Lulu anymore either.

Finally, it was Pinocchio. Pinocchio had been waiting outside the studio before I even called. He got up from sitting on the floor and entered the studio, sitting on a chair. I asked him.

“I’m planning to spend time with Ruth tomorrow, doing different things. Any suggestions?”

“He seems to entertain himself just fine.”

…No good suggestions from Pinocchio either.

Looks like I’ll just have to make dolls. At first, my fingers might get pricked and the stitches might be crooked, but I’d feel satisfied once the doll was finished. When I made the sofa, the stitches weren’t great, but I’d get better at it while working together with Ruth.

“What if you don’t make the doll?”

Lily asked.

“Well… maybe I’ll think about it tomorrow?”

I gave an awkward smile.

Pinocchio pushed me off the chair and nudged me toward the door.

“Now that you’ve finished thinking, go to bed.”

I yawned softly and replied.

“Okay, okay. Lily, don’t forget the cookies tomorrow.”

Lily shook her legs as she responded.

“Got it. I’ll make them.”

“Make them with lots of chocolate.”

At my request, Lily flicked her ears and said.

“Stop talking and go to bed!”