Collector’s Cage - Chapter 21

Even though morning had broken, when Hermie didn’t come out of her hideout house, Froy grew anxious and shook the cage.

“Hermie, what’s wrong? Come on out.”
“No!”
Hermie cried out fiercely from inside the hideout.
“I’m sorry, I won’t touch you again. So come eat breakfast.”
“I won’t eat it!”

He should have tried handling her more carefully. Having acted too hastily, Hermie was now completely sulking.

He’d heard sensitive small animals could even die from stress. Froy’s heart plummeted, worried something might be wrong with Hermie’s health.

Amidst his worry, a thrill bubbled up because Hermie’s mouth had opened. He knew he shouldn’t feel this way in this situation, but he found even her sulking so adorable he was beside himself.

“Come on. Today’s food is really delicious. It’s apple pie, a dessert with apples on top of pastry.”

Apple pie? Hermie’s eyes, which had planned to skip breakfast today, shot wide open. Apple pie was one of Hermie’s favorite desserts. When work was busy, she’d even eat apple pie instead of a proper meal.

Pretending to give in, Hermie crawled out of the hideout house.

“…….”

“Here, eat quickly.”

There was a small piece of apple pie on Froy’s finger. It seemed to have been baked small from the start so Hermie could eat it comfortably.

Hermie deliberately flinched as she approached Froy. She was feigning apprehension, acting as if worried he might touch her again.

‘Apple pie, it looks delicious.’

Of course, her mind was completely preoccupied with the apple pie. Eating only raw fruit and crumbly cookies every day had left her feeling hollow inside.

Taking a long time to finally reach the apple pie, Hermie ate it right on the spot.

For a moment, forgetting her fairy persona, she blurted out in admiration.

“It’s delicious!”

After shouting, Hermie thought Oops! and quickly scampered away. Watching this, Froy suppressed a laugh and asked.

“Tasty?”
“……”
“If you want to eat something, just tell me. Okay?”

Apple pie was good, but what Hermie needed was something else.

‘I want to wash up…’

It had already been a week since her last proper bath. She could manage a simple wash using the water dish placed in front of the cage, but that wasn’t enough to shake off the icky feeling.

Did he think that because she was a fairy, she didn’t need to bathe?

Froy put up with her tantrums and diligently provided food, so she figured a request of this level should be acceptable. Hermie poked her head out of the hideout house again.

She kept her mouth tightly shut and stared up at him for a long time. Her expression showed a mix of sulkiness and wariness. Froy tried not to smile, but he couldn’t help the subtle grin that escaped.

“Bath water…”

Hermie said in a voice that trailed off. It was embarrassing, but she had to say it now. She couldn’t endure this sticky feeling any longer.

Froy tilted his head, listening intently.

“Hmm? What did you say?”
“Bath water!”
“Ah.”
“I want to wash up…”

Froy’s eyebrows twitched with a completely unexpected expression. He stroked his chin as if pondering how to prepare the bath water, then nodded.

“Just a moment.”

Watching Froy retreating back as he left the room, Hermie let out a sigh of relief.

‘He doesn’t find it strange.’

Thank goodness.

***

Just a few minutes later, Hermie came to regret her decision.

“No!!”

Froy, who had brought a small bucket, proposed an outlandish bathing method. He would pour water from above the cage, and she was to wash herself then.

“The bucket is too big to fit inside the cage.”

“You could just open the cage door for a bit…”
“That…”
Froy seemed conflicted for a moment, but then shook his head.
“That won’t do.”
Dormi’s warning was weighing on his mind.
“It’s fine, I’ll clean the cage and replace the cotton while you wash.”
“……”

So, he won’t open the cage door, but expects her to wash naked right in front of his eyes?

Hermie, her face pale, could only shake her head from side to side.

“Let’s get you clean, okay?”