The Hunchback's Perfect Family ✔

17 NIGHT

Pest's face remained beet red as he gathered a good amount of hay from one area and put it to the side. In time, two haybeds appeared, though thinner.

As fairies used no tools, not even candles, his night vision must have surpassed even that of an owl, Fanli decided.

Fanli stopped herself from singing his praises more than once. When in her human form, she could barely see in the dark. Pest moved unhindered.

But as an ogre saw life differently, and therefore, Fanli perceived him clearly. She also saw something else but hesitated in sharing.

"There. And don't worry. The hay is fresh. My father's good about that at least. But he says it's just a left-over habit from when I was a child and would do my business anywhere and everywhere."

The grit in his voice came from a mixture of anger and humiliation.

Fanli risked prodding that. "So which corner of the room do you do your business in now?"

He slowed in picking up a blanket.

His anger mounted but Fanli smiled. If he could see her, she hoped he'd also see that she did not care how he lived.

Finally, he pointed. "That one."

Fanli choked back a cough. "What?"

But then she focused on him and saw his smile instead. They both laughed and he picked up a second blanket and spread it above the hay. He'd given Fanli's more.

"Here. Do you still have your chicken?"

She had. Even now, she held it in both hands. She made her way to the window. "I was going to put it out and let it run free—"

"Best if you didn't. Father's always said it's bad luck to reject a gift. It'll attract brownies, or some such nonsense."

Hands now bare, Fanli turned to him. "Um...."

They stared at one another until he chuckled. "If anyone asks, just put the blame on me. Here, I'm all set."

A minute later, they stood before the two beds of hay. The distance separating them was a concern. On the floor between the beds, the orange dress rested—shining brighter than ever.

He wouldn't speak. A flood of relief washed over her once the orange turned yellow. It wasn't as bright as her proper treasure, but...but it was something.

At first rigid, she risked glancing at him. He only watched her treasure.

"I'm so much trouble," she admitted.

"Just don't cry anymore. I didn't want to leave you here, but I had no way to help you stop. Having my mother give you false joy was terrible of me. I've had that false joy for years and hated it. I'm sorry about that."

His words tore her in two.

No, it hadn't felt good bawling alone, but considering the lengths he'd gone, she was touched. He interlocked their fingers and stared at her hand for some time. "Yesterday left me gutted. It was stupid what I'd said and I'm sorry for that." With a brush of his thumb on her skin, he admitted, "I wasn't sure what to do or how to respond but I'm not proud of how I finally did. There's no perhaps. Because I don't want to lose this or lose you. And yeah, I went to those dragons but...."

He was talking nonsense. These were dragons, not people easily trifled with.

The fact that he walked away with his head still attached was more than she could hope for. But ogre treasure attracted such things and it was something an ogre'd always compulsively seek to create. Now, more than ever, she sought to fix this—to be human.