Chapter 34
He’s probably making that “I don’t get it” face again. Thinking that, I looked up—and locked eyes with the Duke.
“……!”
The Duke was also watching my expression. We quickly looked away.
Fortunately, the retainer didn’t notice our secretive eye contact, which looked more like a covert spy exchange than anything father-daughter. As he continued wiping his daughter’s knee, he said:
“Your Grace might think of it as a trivial joke… but honestly, that’s how I feel.”
“……I see. That was quite helpful.”
“Oh, are you leaving now?”
“Yes. I’ll send compensation for today’s visit later. Let’s go, Sol.”
With those words, he naturally scooped me into his arms. What annoyed me was that I settled in his arms like it was my designated seat.
The retainer stifled a laugh.
“Compensation, Your Grace? If our humble home has helped in inspecting the lives of the citizens, we couldn’t ask for more!”
“Ub-ge-sseu-mi-da! Bye-bye, Mister Candy!”
Flora and the retainer bowed deeply. An inspection, huh. That’s a generous interpretation.
Once we were in the carriage, we spoke more freely.
“Did you learn a lot today?”
“Not really. What’s the use of playing the horse?”
“……Then, what did you think about what he said earlier?”
The Duke didn’t ask what I was referring to. He must have been mulling over the last thing the retainer had said as well.
“Happiness is being able to make someone else happy right away… huh.”
“Did you relate to that?”
“No. I’ve never made anyone happy.”
But didn’t he get along well with his wife? I didn’t ask. They say all you can remember about the dead is what you failed to do for them. I didn’t want to bring up painful memories.
Then, the Duke looked down at me.
“Besides… I betrayed you once.”
“Huh?”
Betrayed? Did he do something behind my back?
“You mean the present? You gave it to me later.”
“When we went to Marquess Godell’s banquet. Didn’t I lure you out with a promise of ice cream?”
“……Ah!”
Right. He suddenly asked me to go out for ice cream that day!
“I only got up because you said we were going somewhere. I wasn’t tempted by the ice cream!”
“No need to lie. You were excited, weren’t you?”
“I really wasn’t! Who cares about some silly ice cream!”
Sure, ice cream might be rare in this world, but not in mine! I could’ve picked one up on my way home from work, no big deal.
But the Duke wasn’t joking. He continued with a serious face.
“Then why did you cry when we talked about ice cream that day?”
“…What?”
“The day I forgot your present. Didn’t you mention ice cream in the closet?”
“Oh.”
I remembered. That day when he forgot my present, I sulked in the closet, muttering food I wanted instead of cursing.
The last thing I had said was “ice cream.”
…Back when I was ostracized in the factory, the team leader would bring ice cream and give it to everyone but me. My mouth would feel so parched.
Since then, I always said I hated ice cream. Not because I was left out—but because I didn’t like it. Pathetic, really.
But still—
“You like ice cream?”
“……Yes.”
I nodded.
“I do.”
“I see. I’ve ordered an ice cream machine. It should arrive soon. I’ll have the kitchen make some then.”
“You ordered it because of me? I feel bad now.”
But honestly, I was more curious—
Can’t you make ice with your power? Isn’t that enough to make ice cream?
Of course, I wasn’t bold enough to tell the final boss-level duke, “Use your powers to make me dessert.”
“You’re not going to ask if I can make ice cream with my powers?”
Apparently, someone bolder than me had already asked that question.
“Pfft! I mean… I was kind of wondering…”
“Ice cream isn’t like sherbet. It needs cream and constant churning. You need a machine to make it well.”
“Wow. How do you know that?”
“Ignatz and Benen asked when they were young.”
“Oh…”
Ignatz… that was the eldest son, right? Despite saying his name, the Duke’s face didn’t show regret. No sadness either.
“When the machine arrives, I’ll make some.”
“……Okay. Elbert and Benen too, right? We’ll invite them?”
“If you want.”
“Of course we have to! Ice cream is meant to be shared!”
“I’ve never heard of such etiquette.”
“It’s a rule! Absolutely!”
Ice cream is non-negotiable. Everyone will eat it together!
The Duke looked a bit startled at my firm tone, then quietly smiled and patted my head. His touch is becoming more natural now.
“All right. We’ll share it.”
…Yeah. Then I’m sure I’ll be happy.
For several days after that outing, sherbet started appearing as dessert. Must’ve been made with ice from the Silver Mountains. The Duke didn’t make it himself, right?
Benen grumbled.
“Still chilly these days, but sherbet keeps showing up. I should talk to the chef…”
“Mmm, it’s delicious!”
“……”
I cut him off mid-sentence, shoveling sherbet into my mouth. No way I’d let the chef get in trouble! It was tasty too.
Benen’s complaints stopped cold.
“…Right. Spring strawberries are in season. We should enjoy sherbet now. Here, have some more.”
And just like that, one spoonful of sherbet earned me another serving of Benen’s performative affection. What if I get a stomachache?
When I finally emptied the bowl, the Duke said:
“If you’re done, come here.”
“Huh? Wait—aren’t you eating your sherbet?”
A full scoop of pink sherbet still sat untouched before him.
I wondered why he even took it… but then he scooped up a spoonful and said:
“It was for you.”
Still sticking with the “feeding” concept, huh, Dad?
In the end, I obediently accepted the spoon. But what stuck in my mind more than the sherbet was Elbert’s lonely expression—he hadn’t said a word during the meal.
This tsundere act. Sounds easy, but for someone like Elbert, who’s always kind, it must be exhausting.
A few days later, while the Duke was busy with estate events, I bumped into Elbert while running an errand.
His eyes landed on the notebooks in my arms—guest lists from past events. Bound in leather, they looked heavy just from the covers.
He frowned.
“Hah, trying to help Father with those scrawny arms? You’ll drop them before you’re halfway.”
“I can carry this much!”
“I’ve seen you eat like a bird at every meal. Why are you the only one who doesn’t realize it? If you don’t gain 5kg, I won’t trust you with anything! Give them here.”
He took the notebooks from me with the gentlest hands imaginable. Two older maids walked past us, smiling brightly. They didn’t bother lowering their voices.
“Aw, look at him fussing over her. So cute.”
“Honestly, it’s reassuring. You know how some kids can’t accept a new sibling right away.”
“Totally! Sweet in front of the parents, then pinch them when no one’s looking.”
“Compared to that, this is so much better.”
Maybe they were saying it on purpose. Trying to pressure him into being nice.
Elbert pretended not to hear, standing tall as he walked a few more steps. But the farther he got from me, the slower he moved—until finally, in an empty hallway, he turned back with a face that looked ready to cry.
“Um… Sol.”
“Yeah?”
“I know your ideas helped. Father says things are going smoother. Even Benen seems happier.”
“…But not Elbert, huh?”
“Gah—th-that’s not what I meant!”
Even though he was clearly emotional, he didn’t seem to realize it himself. Flustered, he continued.
“I mean, I’m happy just because you’re here. But…”
As if it was hard to say, Elbert closed his eyes tightly—
“There are so many nice things I want to say to you!”
“Huh?”
“The weather’s good. I want to go on a walk. Your hair looks pretty… But instead, I have to turn it all into prickly words. I really, really hate that.”
…Seriously, which heaven did you fall from?
Then he added, very much like a teenage boy:
“Also, I hate it when I try to play with you and Benen steals you away.”
“Ahaha, I get it. Must’ve been hard.”
“Yeah. I might get used to it eventually… but I don’t want to.”
“…So what should we do?”
“Wait, can we change this whole ‘tsundere’ concept?”
“I’ll think about it.”
In the original story, Elbert’s personality gets ruined because of his father. But now, I might be the one corrupting him. I need to help our angel grow up like the angel he is.
As I was thinking, a group of maids came around the corner.
Elbert immediately snapped back into tsundere mode—hugging the notebooks and striding ahead.
“If you really want to help Father, learn to read reports first. You can’t even do math.”
“I can at least carry some books!”
“It’s not that I care about your studies or anything!”
The maids passed us with warm smiles, and before we knew it, we’d arrived at our original destination: Father’s private study.
The heavy door closed quietly behind us. We were now alone in the peaceful room.
When I lifted my head toward the sunlit window—
For some reason, with sunlight at his back, Elbert had a surprised look on his face, like something had just dawned on him.
“…You followed me.”
“Huh?”
“Just now… you came after me of your own will.”
“What are you saying? You stole my work and provoked me—of course I followed you.”
“Exactly.”
With a bright, satisfied grin, Elbert said:
“Come to think of it, I’m the only one in this whole roleplay who can get you to follow me voluntarily.”
