Chapter 14
Her aunt had always called her “Lin-ah.”
Her master, Rubia, had called her “Ail” or “my little one.”
Now that she thought about it, her aunt and her master were strangely similar.
They both used affectionate nicknames overflowing with warmth, and they held her hands and hugged her several times a day.
Even as a fully grown adult, it should’ve been embarrassing—
But their unstoppable affection always made her feel safe and happy.
Ellie is the childhood version of me.
And Thermion… is the aunt who raised me.
Even reading about them in the novel had sometimes brought tears to her eyes.
Watching them in person made her truly want to cry.
Eleanor was always bright, always smiling.
She was full of affection and surprisingly clingy for a child who’d lost so much.
Because that’s how she keeps herself from crying.
She doesn’t want anyone to notice.
Aylesia immediately recognized the truth.
That little girl had been watching the adults around her very closely, trying hard not to be a burden.
The only difference between Ellie and her past self was that Aylesia had buried herself in studying instead of acting cute.
“Haa…”
Aylesia lay back on the sofa and let out a soft sigh.
* * *
Dinner, which started a little early, should’ve been warm and pleasant.
It… wasn’t.
Thanks to Lady Hermann’s extra attention, a luxurious feast filled the table.
Eleanor’s eyes sparkled as if she’d just discovered paradise.
Up to that point, things had been perfect.
And that was where perfection ended.
“Teacher! Say ‘ah—’”
“Ah—”
“Tasty, right?”
“It is. Maybe it’s because Ellie fed it to me?”
Eleanor giggled sweetly.
And Aylesia wondered if her face might disintegrate from how hard she was forcing her smile.
Just challenge me to a duel already, you Duke.
All she’d wanted was to enjoy the heartwarming sight of uncle and niece eating together.
But Thermion had been staring at her silently the entire time—
not sulking, not pouting, but looking about one wrong move away from stabbing someone.
His hand trembled visibly on the table.
And that flickering glow around his knife… Wasn’t that an aura?
She was pretty sure the steak and the plate were being sliced at the same time.
“Uncle!”
“Hm? Y-yes, Ellie?”
It seemed her turn had come.
Thermion flinched like a guilty man caught red-handed.
The moment he looked at Eleanor, his expression melted into a bright smile as if nothing had happened.
“Give me that salad. I’m going to share it with Teacher!”
“…Alright.”
His anger evaporated instantly. He passed over the salad with a defeated, droopy expression.
“Ellie, you eat vegetables so well.”
“Mom said eating lots of different foods makes you prettier!”
“Your mom was right. Good girl.”
Aylesia made her voice extra cheerful and exaggerated.
Did Ellie know she no longer had a mother to say nice things to her?
A pang of emotion twisted in Aylesia’s chest.
“Mom can’t tell Ellie pretty things anymore.
So Ellie has to remember the ones she already heard.”
… Had Ellie somehow read her thoughts?
No—
The words themselves were the problem. Aylesia almost dropped her fork.
It wasn’t just her.
Thermion froze like a statue.
“Uncle, Uncle.”
“…Yes?”
“I want meat!”
Thermion reached for the steak, but Eleanor puffed her cheeks, resting her chin on her hands.
“Uncle has to feed me.”
“…Come here.”
“Hehe.”
Thermion pulled back his chair slightly and tapped his knee.
Eleanor climbed right on, settling comfortably.
“Meat! Meat!”
“Chew slowly.”
“Okay!”
The little bird ate bite after bite from the big bird’s beak—
No, rather, the small girl munched happily on the steak her uncle cut for her.
“Let’s eat some beans together. Say ‘ah.’”
“Ahh.”
“Good girl.”
“Uncle, you too! Ah—”
“Ah.”
A boy who barely understood what it meant to be a parent
and a child who’d lost hers—
The sight of him caring for her so gently was beautiful and painfully sad.
Watching them up close is wonderful… but also heartbreaking.
Aylesia quietly returned to her meal, not wanting to intrude.
* * *
“Ellie.”
“Hm?”
“Sorry for scaring you earlier.”
Eleanor, about to lie down, stopped and stared at him.
“You weren’t mad at Ellie, right?”
“Never.”
“Then it’s fine.”
As if sensing the bitterness hidden in his eyes, Eleanor reached out and rested her chin on top of his head.
“An uncle who apologizes is a good uncle. Good boy, good boy.”
“…This little rascal.”
Who was treating whom like a child?
Still, Thermion laughed softly as she patted his head.
Then he hugged her tightly and rubbed his cheek against hers.
“Good night, Ellie.”
“You too! Good night, Teacher!”
“Sweet dreams, my baby.”
“Okay!”
Once she was tucked in, Thermion pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“…Thank you for coming home safely.”
“And thank you for bringing Ellie home, hehe.”
Eleanor smiled sleepily and closed her eyes.
Thermion’s hand continued patting her shoulder long after she fell asleep.
He finally stood up after several quiet minutes.
So this is what it means when people say your heart tingles.
Watching them, Aylesia instinctively pressed a hand against her chest.
“Do you always put her to sleep like that?”
“I try. I’d like to read her storybooks too, but I’m not very good at it.”
Even after stepping into the hallway, Thermion seemed unable to walk away.
He stared at the closed door as if still trying to process what had just happened.
After a long moment, he turned to Aylesia.
“…Let’s go.”
He opened the door to the room next door—the temporary room prepared for her.
“I’m glad everything looks fine. They put it together quickly, so I was worried.”
“Really?”
Aylesia was about to sit when she suddenly stood up again.
“What’s wrong?”
“Sorry. I said something too harsh in the meeting room earlier.
No matter the reason, I shouldn’t have said it.
It’s late, but… I want to apologize.”
Seeing her bow her head startled Thermion.
He waved his hands urgently.
“It’s alright. I know you didn’t mean it.”
“But I know how much you care about Ellie… That must’ve hurt.”
“… I did lose my temper for a moment.
But please, sit first.”
After a small back-and-forth, Thermion finally managed to get her seated.
He let out a faint sigh.
“I meant to speak with you earlier, but many things delayed us.”
“It’s only a little past nine.”
“It’s fine. The night is long, after all.”
Oh?
So he was trying to be charming now?
Did he even know what that phrase usually implied?
“You know, saying ‘the night is long’ is usually something people with mutual interest say.”
“What?”
“So you were interested in me?”
“What kind of thought process leads to that conclusion?!”
Wow.
His face turned bright red.
He was about to explode.
Better stop before he flips the table.
“Well, I am pretty, right? Not surprising if you fell for me.”
“…”
Sorry—no, I’m not sorry.
His reactions were too good to pass up.
Who knew teasing a handsome man could be this satisfying?
“…Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Pffft—”
Seeing him bury his face in his hand made her burst out laughing.
“In the meeting earlier—”
After glaring at her once more, he finally calmed down.
“I intended to ask what your goal was.
You didn’t have to bring Ellie into it.”
He had every right to be upset.
Even if it was acting, she’d publicly embarrass him.
He had only endured because he prioritized Eleanor over his pride.
“It annoyed me to just watch.
Ellie was exhausted, and yet they kept her there.
You know she got scared of your aura, right?”
“… When it got blocked, I realized too late.
I was too tense.”
He sounded genuinely remorseful.
“I only wanted to get Ellie out quickly.
I didn’t like her seeing her uncle angry.
Thankfully, Lady Hermann stepped in at the right moment.”
“I’ll have to thank her properly too.”
He probably anticipated a scolding or two.
It had been a messy situation all around.
“…Anyway, there’s something I’d like your opinion on.”
He hesitated slightly before continuing.
What he was about to bring up might be uncomfortable for an outsider—
But for Eleanor’s sake, he didn’t mind the rudeness.
“What do you think of Baron Beighton, the head butler?”
