Chapter 113 …
It had already been six years since Angelica became a member of the Lespel family. During that time, there had been many changes within the Lespel household.
“Good, I’m glad you slept well.”
Changes like this—Aiden smiling at Angelica, gently stroking the child’s hair—were small, yet meaningful. Compared to the first time Angelica had met him, these changes were enormous.
‘When I first met Dad, he was just… scary…’
The day she first met Aiden was the day she and her grandmother went to the Archduke’s mansion for the first time. Aiden, her grandmother’s son, had come to meet them.
Back then, Angelica had cautiously offered him some food. Of course, he had refused it outright.
But that now felt like a memory from a long time ago. Thinking of that day made Angelica smile without realizing it. Celia and Aiden, who were nearby, exchanged curious looks.
“Rica, what are you thinking about that makes you smile so beautifully?”
Celia asked with a gentle smile. Angelica’s cheeks flushed slightly; she was embarrassed to realize she had been smiling so unconsciously.
“Ah, um…”
“What? What are you thinking about~”
Celia, unable to contain her curiosity, urged her. Angelica then looked at Aiden and spoke.
“Ah… I was just thinking about the day I first met Dad.”
“The day you first met Aiden?”
Celia asked again, as she didn’t know much about that day. Angelica had never brought it up herself before.
“The day I first met Rica…”
Aiden gazed at Angelica for a moment, recalling that day in his mind. The moment his missing mother had asked him to go and fetch her. The forest he had personally led the knights into to bring her back. And there, he had met a small, young girl.
“…Yes. In that forest. That’s where I met Rica.”
“Ah! That forest… the one where Rica saved your mother? You were there too?”
Celia asked, recalling a story she had vaguely heard before. Aiden nodded and gently stroked Angelica’s hair.
“Yes. I was there. To bring my mother. And that’s when I first met Rica.”
“Ah… Dad, you remember too?”
Feeling Aiden’s hand on her hair, Angelica asked. Aiden gave a soft smile and nodded.
“Yes. Of course I remember.”
“Hehe…”
Angelica couldn’t help but grin. Her father back then and her father now were completely different. Back then, he had seemed like a frightening duke whom she only wanted to avoid…
“Rica. I’m sorry for refusing the food you offered me that day.”
Aiden spoke to Angelica with slightly serious eyes. She was a little surprised by his sudden apology.
‘Dad back then and Dad now are completely different.’
Over time, Angelica had come to understand this perfectly. All her previous resolve to avoid male protagonists and villains in order to survive now seemed almost meaningless.
“It’s okay, Dad!”
Angelica replied brightly with a smile. Celia, watching the scene, asked in a playful tone:
“Hmm, Aiden. You refused what our cute, lovely Rica wanted to give you?”
Celia barely held back her laughter. Aiden, sensing her playful tone, shrugged.
“Well, it might sound like an excuse… but it was the first time I met Rica.”
Aiden straightened his posture and naturally placed his arm around Celia’s shoulders. Still playful, Celia said:
“Hmm, but what if our little Rica had gotten hurt!”
Angelica was taken aback. She immediately shook her head and waved her hands.
“Ah, Mom. I’m fine! I completely understand Dad’s actions. At that time, I was a complete stranger, and trust hadn’t been built yet!”
Angelica spoke with maturity. Celia’s playful expression immediately disappeared, and she pulled Angelica into a warm embrace.
“That’s our Rica. Kind-hearted and understanding. How did such a good and beautiful daughter come to me? Isn’t she a gift from God? Right, darling?”
Celia looked at Aiden, seeking his agreement. Aiden smiled and nodded.
“Yes. That seems to be the case.”
Angelica’s cheeks flushed at the praise from her parents.
‘Mom and Dad…’
Even after six years with them, she still felt embarrassed by such affection, yet her heart always felt warm.
‘It’s really amazing…’
One major event had happened during these six years—after Celia had fully recovered.
Originally, the Lespel Archduke and the Dukes each had their own estates, and they interacted maybe once or twice a year. But after Celia regained her health, she suggested to Aiden:
“Let’s live together with mother! Rica can come too, all of us together!”
Aiden immediately accepted her proposal. There was no reason to refuse. Although estates were involved, it helped that both families’ lands were close.
The process then went smoothly. Olivier and Aiden worked together to resolve the estate issues. They purchased land between the two families and petitioned the Emperor directly. The Emperor, who owed much to the Lespel Archduke, gladly approved.
As a result, the Lespel family’s estate expanded even further. The Duke family’s belongings were then moved to the Archduke’s mansion.
Olivier was overjoyed to have his children and grandchildren living together with him. While he enjoyed spending time with Angelica alone, having the whole family together was far better.
So Olivier invested a large sum to build an additional building in the Archduke’s mansion to make their stay more comfortable.
Of course, the mansion already had many buildings, but Olivier wanted to pay extra attention for his grandchildren.
The building, combining the empire’s new technology and various magic arts, was like a state-of-the-art library. Each floor was lined with books, and every floor had research labs, experiment rooms, and magic practice spaces. Though only four stories tall, the interior was vast.
Angelica and the Lespel siblings were thrilled to receive this building as a gift. Helion, who visited the Archduke’s mansion every few days, was also delighted.
The reason was simple. After the building was completed, Olivier had prepared a room specifically for Helion.
Helion could stay there whenever he wanted. Since he might cause trouble at the Dorter Marquisate, Olivier even sent him a personal letter.
Over time, the Dorter family gradually gave up trying to control Helion. When the Lespel Archduke spoke about Helion, there was nothing they could oppose.
Thus, Helion occasionally spent the night at the Archduke’s mansion.
Through this, he slowly built a bond with the Lespel siblings. At first, the siblings hadn’t taken a liking to Helion, much like their reaction when they first learned Angelica would become Olivier’s granddaughter. But having seen how Angelica was, they didn’t mistreat Helion.
Instead, they asked Angelica:
“Why does he sleep here even though he has a proper home?”
Teiren pouted, asking curiously. Angelica explained a little—not everything, just enough to let them know that the Dorter family wasn’t as good as they seemed.
Teiren, understanding, said:
“…In that case, I guess we can accept him as part of the family too.”
