Chapter 63
Instead of the corridor I had taken on the way to the nursery, I headed toward the formal entrance.
Standing there was the same doorkeeper who had loudly announced my arrival earlier, wearing his usual impassive expression. A man who looked like you couldn’t draw a drop of blood from him even with a needle was now flustered right in front of me.
“Y-you want me to announce your entrance again?”
“Yes. That’s what I said.”
“B-but you already entered earlier—”
I widened my eyes as if I couldn’t understand what he was saying.
“Oh my. What do you mean? Me?”
“Yes, yes.”
“That’s strange. I don’t remember entering at all.”
“N-no, that is—”
I tilted my head with a genuinely puzzled expression. Then I looked down at Axion in my arms and asked,
“Isn’t that right, Axion? Our Evanroir hasn’t entered yet, has it?”
Normally, an entrance announcement was made only once. It was understandable that the doorkeeper was this confused.
But I wanted—no, I needed—my name and Axion’s name to ring out together in the banquet hall.
“Then… shall I shout it for you instead? I have a very loud voice.”
“T-that goes against protocol…”
The doorkeeper stammered as he blocked my way.
Just as I was about to roll up my sleeves and force the issue, an elegant voice came from behind us.
“How odd. Didn’t Marquis Lupen re-enter during His Majesty’s last birthday banquet as well?”
“…Huh?”
It was a familiar—and rather irritating—voice.
Perhaps because I knew how rough and blunt he usually was, his attempt at sounding refined only made it more obvious.
When I turned around, Dazar was standing there with Vanilla in his arms, looking utterly dignified.
“Cecilia!”
Vanilla, who had been sulking in his arms, brightened when she saw me. I gave her a small wave in return.
Why is this man out here?
He should have been inside the banquet hall already.
Dazar smoothly set Vanilla down, straightened his posture, and spoke.
“Marquis Lupen exited and re-entered with his family. This seems no different from that situation, does it?”
“Pardon? But—”
The doorkeeper scanned the list in his hands, then glanced at me.
“Only Lady Cecilia Evanroir is listed under the Evanroir household.”
“And?”
Dazar, who had been listening with a noble nod, casually crossed his arms. The doorkeeper blinked at the suddenly imposing tone.
“W-well… Baron Sylvestain isn’t present, and—”
“So?”
At Dazar’s curt reply, sweat began to bead on the doorkeeper’s forehead.
“This is… somewhat different from Marquis Lupen’s case—”
“Is it?”
“Yes, yes.”
Dazar suddenly turned to me.
“That’s what he says, Lady Cecilia. What do you think?”
The question was thrown at me out of nowhere. While patting Vanilla, I shamelessly answered,
“Then re-entry should be allowed, of course.”
“…What?”
The doorkeeper blinked.
“My family is right here.”
“…!”
His eyes shook violently as he looked at Dazar—
No, why are you looking at him?
He looked back and forth between us as if wondering whether Dazar and I were family.
How could someone be this dense?
“Here. This child’s name is Axion. Axion Evanroir.”
“…Ah!”
The doorkeeper’s face turned pale, then he exclaimed as if he had finally understood and hurriedly nodded.
“He’s my son.”
“…!”
“Please announce it exactly like that.”
“Y-yes. Understood.”
After staring at my face for a moment, the doorkeeper seemed to steel himself and nodded firmly.
Thanks to that, despite it being a re-entry, the announcement rang out loudly.
The doors to the banquet hall opened, and our arrival echoed through the hall.
“Lady Cecilia Evanroir of the Evanroir barony and her son, Young Master Axion Evanroir, now enter!”
I stepped forward.
“W-what? Lady Evanroir’s son?”
“Did you hear that? Her son?”
“L-look over there!”
Faces filled with confusion instantly shifted to shock and disbelief. Holding Axion tightly, I walked forward with my head held high.
I was never one for the stage, and being the center of attention wasn’t pleasant—but I endured it and kept walking.
“Hey. Relax your face. Your face.”
The sound of footsteps following right behind me—and that annoying, teasing voice—strangely put me at ease.
I didn’t know why.
“Be quiet.”
“If you don’t relax, the kid’ll get scared.”
At that, I startled and looked down at Axion.
Surrounded by so many people all at once, he looked anxious, burrowing into my arms and glancing up at me repeatedly. Because my expression was stiff, he hadn’t made a sound, clinging to me as if frozen.
“I’m sorry, Axion.”
When I smiled gently at him, he finally loosened his grip a little. He still looked scared, but it was better than before.
“So. What got into you all of a sudden? Weren’t you hiding the kid on purpose?”
“And why are you suddenly so interested?”
“Well, he’s unusual. Weren’t you worried something might happen if he became known?”
“……”
“He’s carrying something terrifying in his heart. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten who put up that barrier?”
Of course I hadn’t forgotten.
As we passed through nobles parting like waves, I replied bluntly,
“You’ll protect him.”
“…!”
Dazar didn’t answer right away.
By now, he should’ve been grumbling back at me.
“You’re the one who put it up. I trust you’ll take responsibility.”
When I deliberately teased him, his sulky voice finally came.
“Honestly. You act like you’ve entrusted something to me.”
“I’ll let your earlier mistake slide.”
“…That wasn’t my mistake, was it?”
Rapid footsteps followed, and Dazar moved up beside me.
“Seriously, you’re making me out to be the bad guy.”
“Hmmm?”
“Ha…”
As if giving up, he pressed a hand to his forehead.
Whether he did or not, the fact that he was beside me made the empty, cold space next to me feel a little warmer.
Just because one more person was there.
Maybe it’s because, compared to earlier when they avoided me like I was a cockroach, their glares are even sharper now.
The nobles’ gazes had grown noticeably colder once I entered with a child, and they were whispering among themselves—no doubt spreading strange rumors.
Hmph.
I had already prepared myself. My heart didn’t waver.
“People are ridiculous.”
“…Pardon?”
Dazar whispered quietly, helping Vanilla reach out to pat Axion’s head.
“You and I both suddenly showed up with children.”
Ah. Right.
Dazar was in the same position as me.
He hadn’t revealed Vanilla’s mother either.
Neither had I—despite both children being blood relatives.
“With me, since I’m a transcendent being and a duke of the Empire, they can’t say anything to my face. But behind my back, rumors are flying.”
“And I’m just the crazy daughter of some insignificant barony, so they’re worse with me?”
“Well, probably.”
Dazar shrugged and gave a faint smile.
“Don’t mind it.”
“…I know.”
I wanted to snap back that I didn’t need such clumsy comfort, that I was handling it just fine—but when his hand awkwardly patted my shoulder, the words wouldn’t come out.
“If I stay here with you, stranger rumors will spread. I’ll take my leave.”
“…Ah. Yes.”
Already?
The words nearly slipped out.
Without realizing it, I had leaned on his presence more than I thought. I almost reached out to grab his sleeve.
“What’s with that expression?”
“Pardon?”
He glanced back at me and laughed softly.
“You look like someone being abandoned with a child. I’ll come if anything happens. Take care.”
I returned Vanilla’s wave and watched him leave.
As soon as Dazar stepped away, people began to crowd around him again. He returned to his elegant, dignified duke persona as he dealt with them.
“…What’s wrong with my expression?”
Muttering to myself, I turned toward the corner seat I had claimed earlier—
That was when I saw them.
Those bastards from earlier.
The two attendants who had spoken vilely about Axion in the corridor were staring at me with pale faces. When our eyes met, they quickly looked away.
