~Chapter 17~
The sparks flew at Knox even though he had been standing quietly, but he obediently knelt at the Duke’s order.
“I’m kneeling, but may I ask why?”
“The kid who used to hop around like a frog suddenly turned into a dung beetle. How did you brainwash her?”
“I did brainwash her, but not to the extent of harassing….”
Oh my God.
“Uncl—!”
Realizing the situation, I threw myself into his arms with the strength of a frog.
“By the way, where are you going? Your clothes look extremely warm.”
Quickly changing the subject, I looked up at him, who was staring down at me quietly, and he let out a faint sigh.
“Monster subjugation.”
I had already guessed it by looking at the wolf fur and armor that were good for resisting the cold.
At this time of year, the Crost Duchy heads usually went on monster subjugation missions.
He didn’t seem free enough to have long conversations with me.
“It will take about a week. After that, I’ll introduce you during the successor trial, so prepare yourself mentally.”
“…Introduce me? But I don’t have the ice ability.”
I widened my eyes in confusion at the strange statement.
Although the Duke had told me to focus on the successor trial, I had originally thought it would be impossible.
Because I didn’t possess the ability required to take the test.
“It just means I’ll introduce you as a direct member, not that I’ll make you a successor.”
“…Oh.”
I nodded slightly, unable to respond properly.
‘It’s ruined. I was planning to prepare various things as a noble daughter….’
Like swordsmanship suitable for the Crost direct line… or proper greeting manners to impress the vassals….
But being introduced during the successor trial right away meant there was too little time.
Regardless of my worries, the uncle looked extremely busy as he stood up while holding me.
“Knox. Come outside for a moment. Before the subjugation, I need to hold an urgent council meeting regarding Marquis Lilis’ problem.”
Knox sighed and looked at me.
“Are you going to bring that little kid too?”
“She’s well-behaved. She won’t be a disturbance.”
Ah. This is my chance.
“Yes, I’ll stay quiet!”
I didn’t know much about Marquis Lilis and his eldest son, but I knew enough. They were quite troublesome father and son.
So I thought I could help.
I quickly joined the conversation.
“Maybe not. She might be smiling and stealing our confidential information.”
Knox narrowed his eyes.
“…Is that something you should say to a child?”
Right. Is that something you should say to a child?
No matter how I was a former spy and had no trust, I had shown him all the dispatch reports from the Poes Duke family!
‘Still, it’s reassuring that uncle is here!’
I must stick to uncle no matter what. Then Knox won’t touch me.
Swoosh—
Pressing my palm against his solid chest while being held, I glared at Knox.
“…….”
Oh no. I made eye contact with Knox.
After confirming my gaze, Knox adjusted his glasses with a “hmm.”
Then he spoke slowly.
“…Your Grace should also fix this habit.”
“What habit?”
“The habit of bringing a child into working spaces. It’s said to be psychologically bad for children… I think I heard something like that from some tavern somewhere.”
“……!”
The arm holding me twitched.
“…Uncle?”
Surely he wasn’t believing that tavern rumor, was he?
I blinked desperately and looked at Calips.
But—
“…Aisha. Finish your meal.”
Overcome by the rumor, he put me back on the chair.
“…Uncle?”
Then he added one short apology.
“…Sorry.”
And then, clenching his eyes shut, he left the room.
“Uncle—!”
The triumphant smile of Knox and my despairing scream filled the duke’s castle.
But the next day—
“Oh, you’re the child of the Duke, right?”
“…Yes?”
The moment I saw the middle-aged nobleman smiling ominously at me, I realized it.
The real reason Knox didn’t recognize me.
* * *
Knox was watching me as usual that day.
From the high-ceilinged corridor came the small, adorable sound of a child walking.
Dododo—
It was the sound of me, who had filled my daily intake of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, moving diligently toward the garden.
“…Is that walking like a baby duck common for children that age, or is it just that little kid?”
At Knox’s question, the head maid Mai answered flatly.
“That’s normal for kids that age, I guess.”
“Right? But there’s a reason for it.”
“…Huh?”
Knox adjusted his glasses.
“The reason living beings look cute when they are young has been proven by research.”
“It’s because they cannot hunt food yet in their early stage, so they try to gain favor through cuteness because they need care.”
“…Ah?”
“So the reason that little kid is cute is— no, I never said she was cute. Anyway, be careful.”
“U, understood….”
Here it started again.
The madman Knox’s ‘Aisha observation journal.’
After Calips left for monster subjugation, Knox literally monitored me 24 hours a day.
When I woke up, when I ate, when I blankly waited for uncle, when I walked in the garden.
He stuck to my side all day like I had a surveillance camera, except when I was in my bedroom.
‘If it continues like this, I can’t live.’
Even now, Knox was whispering something to Mai while glaring at me. I could only sigh.
I had to gain Knox’s recognition as soon as possible.
No— I didn’t even need recognition; I just had to make him feel there was no need to monitor me.
‘…How do I do that?’
At that moment—
“Knox sir!”
A servant who found Knox ran over in a hurry.
“What is it?”
“Th-the Marquis Lilis has suddenly visited….”
Marquis Lilis?
My ears perked up at the same time Knox’s eyebrows furrowed.
“The regular meeting is still a week away. Tell that man to come again later.”
“No! That’s not it…”
“He’s already entered and wants tea, I suppose.”
Behind the troubled servant appeared a slender middle-aged man, sneering.
That man was probably…
‘Marquis Lilis.’
I quietly observed the marquis.
‘He really looks greedy in person.’
Frilly clothing suitable for social parties. Jewel rings on every joint of his fingers.
Unlike Calips, who was more like a knight than a nobleman, this man looked like someone who had just come out of the center of high society.
The Lilis Marquisate was a branch family derived from the Crost Duchy.
The reason this branch family could visit the duke’s castle without permission was because of the ice ability user.
I stared at the boy standing beside the marquis with one leg raised lazily.
‘That kid must be the ability user, Tex.’
If you trace the branch family’s roots, it eventually connects to the Crost Ducal house.
When an ice ability user was born in the Lilis Marquisate, which was thought to be the only domain of the direct line, the marquis started acting as if he were a duke.
And he tried desperately to push his own son to become the next heir of the Crost Duchy.
“Just passing by, I came to greet His Grace. Where is he?”
There was a brief silence at the marquis’ question, but Knox sighed and answered reluctantly.
“…His Grace has gone to subjugate monsters.”
“Oh, I see. I had absolutely no idea.”
“You didn’t know?”
“Of course I didn’t. I’m not a stalker. How would I know the Duke’s schedule? Anyway, since I’m here, I’d like to drink tea here.”
The more I listened, the more absurd it sounded, so I muttered without thinking.
“…I know the monster subjugation season in the North.”
Poking my head out between Knox’s trousers as a shield, everyone’s eyes turned to me.
“If father doesn’t know, then his son should know too. I need to study a lot when taking the successor trial.”
“…What?”
“Monster subjugation is usually in the middle of every month. The royal palace also doesn’t send messages to the Crost Duke during this period—”
I didn’t want to interfere, but—
‘Marquis Lilis is really terrible. How can he come here not knowing the subjugation schedule? Such a blatant lie.’
I couldn’t stand that shameless face that looked like iron—or rather, like railway tracks had been laid in it.
I hid behind Knox’s trousers and murmured.
“During the Duke’s monster subjugation, Marquis sir is drinking tea in the Duke’s castle. I’m sure the Duke would be happy if he heard that.”
“……?”
The marquis’ face turned bright red, and the maid sisters turned their shoulders away, trying to suppress laughter.
“That… what does this mean….”
The marquis, at a loss for words, looked around.
Everyone here had heard what I said just now.
He probably thought someone would scold me, but since no one did, he finally exploded.
“W-who is this brat! How dare you frame me like this, and why is nobody punishing her!”
Then Knox, who completely shielded me behind him, lowered his head.
“This is the direct-line young lady.”
“…Di-direct what?”
