Chapter 25
That overwhelming sentence wasn’t just empty talk.
After Duke Schlieger publicly declared the family motto—“pretend to cherish and love your adopted daughter, Sol”—Elver took it upon himself to follow it with all his might from the very first day. He even followed me to my room at night and said:
“Sol, should I check if there’s a monster under your bed?”
Wow. I didn’t see that coming. This really is a different culture.
But I’m not a child.
“I’m fine…”
“…”
“…Actually, maybe not! Yeah, a monster could’ve snuck in while I was out! Would you check for me, Oppa?”
His eyes seemed to plead, “Please let me do something,” and I couldn’t say no. So I opened the door.
Elver trotted into the room and immediately dropped flat on the floor. His soft cheeks squished against the polished floorboards. Ugh, thank goodness the maids cleaned thoroughly.
“Hmm, no monsters!”
“Thanks! Now—”
“I’ll check the closet too!”
“…Okay.”
Having said that, Elver went on to check whether the window latch was properly locked, whether cold air was seeping in, and whether there was enough drinking water.
“All set! Anything else you need? Should I sing you a lullaby?”
“I’m good. And Elver, being kind to your little sister was meant for when other people are watching. You don’t have to go this far when no one’s around.”
“Should I ignore you when no one’s watching?”
“Huh? That’s not what I meant—”
“Then it’s fine! Oh, I was worried for nothing.”
He let out a genuinely relieved sigh, then started smoothing the wrinkles out of my bedsheets for no reason.
If I asked him to be my pillow all night, he’d probably actually do it. Of course, I’d never say that even as a joke—because jokes can come true.
Still… I was curious.
“Elver Oppa, were you afraid of monsters under the bed when you were little?”
“Well, uh, not exactly afraid—”
“If it were me, I’d have been scared too! If anything happened in a room this big, no one would come even if I screamed.”
“…Yeah, you’re right. I was scared.”
Elver finally admitted it and nodded.
“There’s a ghost story in the North. A young man who lost his ankle to frostbite and died appears at night and cuts off the ankles of children who leave them sticking out from under the blanket.”
“Ew, that’s horrible!”
“It’s probably meant to encourage you to sleep fully covered… But I always thought he was hiding under my bed, waiting to cut my ankle the moment I got out.”
“Oh…”
“That’s why I couldn’t get out of bed until a maid came in the morning. Even if I was thirsty. Even if the cold wind was blowing in through the open window.”
“…”
“If someone had just checked under my bed once… Or at least filled my bedside water bottle…”
So that’s why. Everything Elver did in my room tonight—those were all things he wished someone had done for him when he was little.
But Elver… you’re still kind of a kid yourself!
“Elver Oppa, want me to check under your bed for monsters too?”
“Huh? Ahaha! No, I’m good now. I’m too old to be scared of ghosts.”
“Still, it feels good to be cared for, doesn’t it? Weren’t you doing for me what you once wanted for yourself?”
“…”
Such a natural observation. But it seemed Elver hadn’t realized it himself until now. As the realization hit, a soft smile bloomed on his face.
“…You’re right.”
“Isn’t it? Hey, if you still want those things now, I’ll do them for you! I can even try to convince the Duke!”
“Father?”
“Yeah! I’ll push as hard as I need to!”
I’m the one who convinced the villain to act like a doting dad, after all.
I might not be able to make Rattiger into a good father overnight, but I can probably get him to check under his son’s bed.
“What do you want? A goodnight greeting? Warmed-up milk?”
“…Thanks for thinking of me. But I’m really okay.”
Before I knew it, Elver had stepped away from the bed and stood facing me. Well, towering half a head above me, technically.
His clear blue eyes shimmered faintly, like a spring well.
“I guess those were things I wanted a long time ago… but now, I think I’m at the age where giving them makes me happier.”
Wow, he’s really grown up. So admirable.
…Just as I thought that—
Smooch. Elver’s lips pressed lightly against my forehead. His slightly shaky breath tickled my skin.
“…Goodnight, Sol.”
“Uh…”
“Sl—sleep tight! If a ghost shows up, call me!”
He quickly turned me toward the bed and bolted from the room. Seemed like he didn’t want me to see his face.
His footsteps echoed loudly down the hall. I could’ve sworn I heard a little giggle in the distance…
Oh no. Did I just let Elver off the leash…?
* * *
The next day wasn’t any easier.
In the morning, Elver greeted me the moment I stepped out of my room after washing up. His black hair was still damp—he must’ve come right after washing, too.
“Sol, good morning!”
“Good morning…”
At my reply, Elver’s eyes widened. Huh? Why that reaction?
“Wow, it’s my first time exchanging this kind of greeting with someone…”
“….”
“So this is what a good morning feels like…”
He stuck by my side the whole way to the dining room, testing out every greeting and small talk phrase he’d ever learned but never used—like he was reviewing the basics of life. And he smiled happily with each one.
It was adorable… and kind of sad.
Meanwhile, the servants and maids who passed us looked… a little horrified. They tried to keep a professional poker face, but Linda said it outright:
“Did the young master commit some grave sin against the young lady? Why else would he be acting like this…?”
Yeah. His crime is not having met the heroine yet.
Soon after, we ran into Benen in the dining room, who forced a smile.
“Morning, kids. Good morning.”
That’s it? Shouldn’t you be putting in a little more effort, Benen?
Elver, the Duke, and I all turned to stare at Benen.
Come on, try harder.
Benen’s lower lip trembled before he finally forced out:
“Sol, seeing you this morning makes me happy.”
His voice was dead inside. But even that was enough for the Duke, who seemed satisfied, while the servants looked like they were about to faint.
Still, that moment of shock quickly passed when the Duke personally pulled out the chair beside him.
“Sol, come here. You should let your father see your face in the morning.”
…This time, even Benen and Elver looked horrified. Like they’d just seen the devil himself.
Honestly, I was shaken too. But this was my doing…! I’ll take responsibility for this man!
“Okay, Daddy!”
I scurried over and sat in the chair the Duke had pulled out for me. His chiseled jawline was right in front of my face.
Honestly, I thought there’d be shaving stubble in the morning, but his skin was flawless, like a statue. I couldn’t help but admire it.
“Wow, you’re so handsome even in the morning, Daddy.”
“…”
Now the Duke froze.
Excuse me, say something?
I nudged his shin under the table, and a response came out reflexively.
“Maybe just about as pretty as Sol.”
“…”
Kill me. I’m going to lose my appetite before I even start eating.
For a moment, everyone—me, Elver, Benen, even the Duke himself—was stunned by what had just come out of his mouth.
Thankfully, the awkwardness was broken by a maid dropping a spoon in shock.
She’d been about to move my place setting to the seat beside the Duke. Now she bowed deeply in front of me, apologizing profusely. She really didn’t have to go that far.
“It’s okay! I can eat just fine without a spoon. You don’t have to bring another.”
I mean, there’s bread. I can skip the soup.
But I never got the chance to skip it—because Elver ran over with his own spoon.
“I’ll feed you! I haven’t used it yet!”
“…”
“Elver.”
The Duke’s stern voice echoed. Elver flinched like a rabbit hearing a wolf’s growl.
Right. A ten-year-old doesn’t really need to be spoon-fed.
“Yes, Father…?”
“I’ll do it.”
“…Huh?”
“…What?”
Elver and I both made dumbfounded noises at the same time, but Duke Schlieger solemnly lifted his spoon like a knight drawing his sword.
Honestly, from this angle, it looks like he’s about to stab me.
But the Duke misread my look.
“I haven’t used it.”
“That’s not the point—”
“Oh, it’s a teaspoon. Perfect for your mouth.”
That’s not the issue here, Duke!
But fate’s spoon had already been stuck firmly into my soup like Excalibur.
“Say ‘ah.’”
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh…”
My voice rang out like someone who had given up on life.
* * *
…After just two meals like this, I collapsed onto the sofa, feeling like I’d been through a war. And no one had won that war.
The servants whispered worries like “Did a ghost possess the Duke?” or “Is the Schlieger family doomed?”
Benen looked like he was constantly on the verge of gagging from his father’s and brother’s antics.
He tried to show affection too, in his own way, but he couldn’t outdo Elver—and Elver couldn’t outdo the Duke.
When Elver offered to carry me piggyback earlier, I almost fainted from shock.
Because of that, the already distant Benen seemed to build up even more emotional walls.
This can’t go on. I know they’re all trying their best, but the balance is completely off. I might need to tweak their “roles” a little.
As I holed up in my room, struggling to think, Elver peeked his head in.
“Sol, what are you doing?”
“…Nothing.”
“Want me to read you a fairy tale? Ah, wait, we don’t have fairy tales. Should I read you one of my textbooks? Want to go see the hunting dogs?”
“Calm down first. Sit.”
Elver obediently plopped down like a well-trained puppy. And at the word “textbook,” I finally remembered what I needed Elver’s help with—
I have to write a letter to Kai!
