Collector’s Cage - Chapter 19

An unexpected accident damaged his spinal nerves. The doctor diagnosed that it would be difficult for him to walk again, and so he was unable to rise from his bed for a full two years.

It is said his stepmother was overjoyed upon hearing the news of the accident. A person with a disability, even if they were a noble, would not be treated as one, and even the eldest son would be pushed out of the line of succession.

But Froy did not give up. Despite the doctor’s diagnosis that he would never walk again, he devoted himself fiercely and tenaciously to rehabilitation.

They say he received treatment with such vicious tenacity that even the doctor helping him with rehab marveled.

As a result, he miraculously rose from his bed after three years. With his legitimacy restored, he regained his place as the heir.

Later, when his father died, Froy kicked his stepmother out of the mansion even before the funeral ended. His two half-brothers also had to leave the mansion empty-handed.

Some gossiped afterward that Froy’s actions were un-noble and inhuman.

It was all in the past now, but at the time, his life was fiercer than a typhoon and more brutal than war.

To think that Froy, who had survived such a cruel and vicious life, was now melting with that fool’s expression! Just why? The question wouldn’t fade.

“Why a hamster, of all things?”

Among all the many animals one could grow attached to, why a hamster? Jobern was curious.

“……When I was young, my mother used to read me a fairy tale book. No matter how hard I rack my brain, that’s the only good childhood memory I have.”

His mother, who began to fall ill when Froy was around five, was always bedridden. Going to see her in that state never put him in a good mood.

There was one fairy tale book his ailing mother would read to him. It was a story about a fairy who accompanied a boy on his journey.

His mother would read the fairy tale with great excitement. She even acted out the parts. Her embrace smelled bittersweet of medicine, but it was warm, and her voice was soft.

That was Froy’s one and only happy childhood memory.

That was his only good memory. No matter how hard he tried to recall other memories, none came to mind. They were all bad memories.

That’s why he wanted a fairy.

A fairy who would watch over a pure, lonely boy setting out on a journey.

At Froy’s words, Jobern furrowed his brow.

“Why are you changing the subject? Among all the animals in the world, why a hamster?”
“Because it was in a fairy tale book.”
“……What?”
“I wanted it. Everything that appeared in the fairy tale book.”

Jobern, having given up on understanding him, brushed himself off as he stood up and muttered.

“……You’re not exactly lacking in issues either. You’re thoroughly messed up.”

“HAHAHA.”

Froy burst into laughter as if he’d heard something funny for the first time in a while. Jobern was right. He had overcome being a leg cripple in three years, but the crushing of his spirit remained exactly the same even after ten years had passed.

Now, he was living under the assumption that this broken mess was his true self.

***

The day after accepting the cookie from his hand.

Today as well, Froy warmly gave his morning greeting and offered a piece of fruit. Hermie hesitantly approached him and snatched the fruit away.

And today, she stood before his hand a little longer. Then, Froy offered another piece of fruit. This time too, Hermie snatched the fruit from his hand and looked up.

“Is it tasty?”

Should she nod? Honestly, she was getting tired of fruit by now. She wanted things like bread or soup.

But since she wasn’t at the stage of conversing with Froy yet, she gave a small nod. Seeing Hermie’s tiny action, Froy covered his mouth with his hand again.

‘He likes that, doesn’t he?’

It seemed a bit over the top, but it appeared he was doing it out of fondness. Contrary to his appearance, Froy had a surprisingly foolish streak.

‘He looks so cold, why does he act like that?’