Chapter 20
“Anyway, kids grow up so fast. I’ll even give you a pat-pat.”
Pat-pat?
The Duke placed his hand on my stomach and began to slowly move it up and down.
“Pat-pat.”
“……”
Wow, this is so awkward.
I’ve never received something like this before, but I could tell something was off about the way he was doing it.
“Pat-pat… Why are your eyes still open? Close them.”
As I closed my eyes, the Duke’s hand patting my stomach became more noticeable.
“Pat-pat.”
It was out of sync.
And the rhythm was getting faster.
Is this how you’re supposed to put someone to sleep? Are you really supposed to say it out loud?
Aren’t you just supposed to move your hand quietly?
And is patting the stomach even correct?
Since I didn’t know anything, even though it felt off, I couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was wrong.
Still, the Duke had a nice voice, so it wasn’t unpleasant to listen to…
“Pat-pat.”
I thought there was no way I could fall asleep like this.
Maybe it was because the blanket was warm.
Or maybe it was the Duke’s hand patting my stomach.
My mind slowly started to drift off.
As my vision blurred, I suddenly remembered something I had to say to the Duke.
“Thank you… for saving me that time.”
Even if the Duke hadn’t come, I probably could have taken care of the assassin.
But still, it was true that I received help from him.
It was something I should’ve said long ago, but the Duke had been busy flipping the mansion upside down, and I only just now got to see him.
The Duke’s hand, which had been patting my stomach, paused.
“It was something I had to do, so there’s no need for thanks.”
Then he resumed patting my stomach gently.
Why did he say it was something he had to do?
Even if I died, it wouldn’t really matter to him, would it?
I thought about it, but I couldn’t figure it out.
So the Duke stayed by my side, gently patting me, until I fell asleep.
* * *
A week after the match, the Duke finally gave me permission to get out of bed.
“Yay!”
Excited, I ran around the training grounds, prompting Swell to comment.
“Miss, if you run like that, you might get hurt.”
“I’m fine!”
“Still, you just recovered from an injury, so you should be careful. How about practicing swordsmanship today?”
“Should I?”
Having stayed still for so long made me want to swing my sword freely.
As I was training with Swell, a group of knights entered the training grounds.
‘Ah, it must be their training time already.’
We had crossed paths a few times, but we’d never really talked.
Most of them either ignored me or looked at me with hostility.
Still, maybe because Swell was with me, they hadn’t caused any trouble.
So, like usual, I decided to ignore them and continue practicing…
‘Why does it feel like I’m being watched?’
I could feel their gazes piercing me from afar.
They weren’t even training—they were just staring.
Dozens of eyes were locked onto me, and the intensity was enough to prickle my skin.
‘Why are they all staring at me? Did I do something wrong? Is someone still trying to pick a fight?’
While Ariel was wondering what the issue was, the knights whispered among themselves, stealing glances at her.
“Damn… she looks so cool. She’s only been learning for a month and her movements are already that clean?”
“She must be a genius.”
“No wonder she was able to take down a monster.”
“Hey, don’t forget how we treated her when she first came here. No way she likes us.”
At that comment, the knights collectively looked down in guilt.
“I mean, back then she seemed so fragile…”
“Who would’ve thought she was that skilled with a sword?”
“At least we didn’t side with the chamberlain and get kicked out.”
As they continued talking, they kept sneaking glances at Ariel.
“The Duke must have had this all planned.”
“Imagine how great of a swordswoman she’ll become over time.”
“She’s not just skilled—she’s kind and brave too.”
“That Denson guy used to cause us so much trouble, and she still spared him…”
“Do you think we could talk to her?”
“You? She’d be scared of you. You look scarier than the monsters.”
“I want to talk to her too.”
“But if we just go up to her, won’t she hate it?”
At that, they all looked at Ariel and nodded in unison.
They felt awkward about suddenly changing their attitudes, and worried how she might react.
Objectively speaking, Ariel was quite pretty.
But maybe because of her sharp, catlike eyes or her indifferent expression, there was something hard to approach about her.
It felt like if they tried to talk to her, she’d just ignore them—or even run away.
Just then, Ariel finished her training and lowered her sword.
“Uh, looks like she’s done.”
“How about we all greet her as she passes by?”
“Good idea. She might respond if we greet her together.”
“She’s our lady now—we should try to make a good impression.”
With hearts pounding, the knights waited for Ariel to pass by.
And as she approached—
“One, two—”
“Enjoy your lunch, my lady!”
They shouted in unison and bowed deeply.
Ariel stopped in her tracks, surprised.
Her red eyes widened in shock.
Still bent over, the knights glanced sideways at each other.
‘Crap, we screwed up.’
‘Did that sound like some kind of gang chant?’
‘What if she’s scared of us now?’
They were knights who fought monsters—just standing still, they exuded overwhelming presence.
All bowing at once? The atmosphere was intense.
Ariel’s confused eyes darted around.
Then, with flushed cheeks from training, she gave them a slightly awkward smile.
“Uh… hi.”
Her sharp eyes gently curved as she smiled, and the knights clenched their fists.
It was like a dignified cat, usually aloof, had acknowledged them.
This feeling—they were going to explode if they didn’t punch something.
‘Cute.’
‘She’s so cute.’
‘Way too cute.’
As Ariel walked off after greeting them, the knights huddled together and murmured.
“Our lady… she’s a sword genius and adorable too. Is there anything she lacks?”
“With how I’m feeling now, I could slay a hundred monsters!”
“When do we meet the other dukes again? I want to brag that we have a lady like her.”
Swell clicked his tongue as he watched the excited knights.
They should’ve been nice to her from the start.
‘Well, I’m not in a position to judge either.’
At first, he wasn’t sure someone like her could become the heir of the Clasta Duchy.
But now, everyone hoped Ariel would become the next Duke.
The sudden greeting from the knights had startled me.
I thought they were picking a fight, but there didn’t seem to be any malice.
‘At least I don’t have to worry about dying in the mansion anymore. And the Council of Elders has been laying low ever since the head was kicked out.’
Between taking down the monster and the Duke removing the people the council sent, the atmosphere had changed a lot.
So much that it almost felt unfamiliar.
‘Now that I don’t have to worry about dying, the only thing left is to improve my skills.’
And finally, one day, I’d chop off the neck of that so-called Pope, Rigan.
Just thinking about getting my revenge on Rigan made every day feel amazing.
As I walked down the corridor with light steps, the Duke swooped me up in his arms.
“Why is my daughter so happy today? Did something good happen?”
“It’s a secret.”
I couldn’t exactly say it was because I was excited to kill Rigan.
“I see. You’re not busy, right?”
“Nope!”
“Perfect. I got some really good apples in—want to eat them together?”
“Yay!”
The apples the Duke provided were more precious than gold—and incredibly tasty.
When I clapped my hands, the Duke smiled in satisfaction.
Just then, Mary came running over.
“Miss, there you are!”
“Mary!”
Mary bowed to the Duke and said,
“Miss, I just baked some cookies. Would you like to try them?”
“Cookies?”
“Yes! Chocolate chip cookies!”
Chocolate chip cookies?
Mary’s cookies, filled with chunks of chocolate and almonds—crispy on the outside, sweet and crunchy when you bite in?
And fresh out of the oven?
My mouth started watering.
But the Duke, still holding me, said,
“My daughter already promised to eat apples with me.”
“…Right. I’m eating apples.”
I nodded, looking gloomy.
Apples were delicious, sure. But today, I really wanted cookies.
Why did the Duke always insist on feeding me apples?
I wanted those chocolate chip cookies so badly.
But to live long in this mansion, I had to listen to the Duke.
I’d become too accustomed to the delicious food here—I didn’t think I could go back to eating moldy bread at the orphanage.
Noticing my expression, the Duke looked into my eyes and asked,
“Do you want cookies more than apples?”
“No, I like apples.”
I tried to lift my energy, but he clearly saw through me.
“If you want cookies that badly, then of course you should have cookies.”
“Really?”
The Duke’s expression turned strange.
Wait, was this a trap?
He asked seriously,
“I thought apples were your favorite?”
What’s with the apples?
I do like apples, but I like other things too.
No one lives on just one fruit.
“I even told them to prepare so many apples thinking it was your favorite… never mind.”
The Duke let out a hollow laugh.
“If you want cookies, eat cookies. You can be honest about things like that.”
“Really?”
When I asked again, the Duke smiled.
But it was clearly a trickster’s smile.
Then he turned to Mary.
“But not the cookies made by that maid.”
“Then…”
“I’ll get you cookies far more delicious than those.”
What is he planning now?
I definitely walked into one of the Duke’s traps again.
