Chapter 09
Even in front of swarming enemy soldiers, Alcade had never so much as blinked. But now, showing emotion like this, made Giselle snap even straighter into a rigid stance.
“Please ask, Your Grace.”
“What do little children usually like?”
Alcade asked carefully, thinking of Lor.
A daughter he had never even imagined could exist had literally fallen from the sky.
And with a face that was the very image of Elaine.
My child.
Elaine’s and my child.
The mere thought made his heart tremble.
The idea that somewhere Elaine had given birth to his child and raised her made his heart pound. The thought that the child had grown and come to find him filled him with pride and tenderness.
Her way of speaking with such a clear, organized manner—so unlike a child. The way she had called him “Dad” without the slightest hesitation… all of it made Alcade feel emotions unfamiliar to him.
And when she stretched out her tiny hands as if asking to be held, he had been completely at a loss.
This small, delicate, fragile child—he felt that even a slight touch of his large hands might break her. He had been afraid to lift her.
Afraid? Me?
The feeling was so foreign. Among the princes and imperial bloodlines, there had never been such a weak-looking child. Where had she even come from?
And then she collapsed.
At that sight, Alcade had felt another alien sensation. For the first time in his life, his heart had raced madly out of fear.
His fingertips had gone cold, and the thought that she might not wake up had filled him with terror and worry.
Yet even then, he had not forgotten to dispatch knights to the place Lor mentioned.
But he had not been able to follow them himself. He felt he could not rest easy until he saw the child wake safely.
Instead, he had sent Hagens along, so that not only Elaine’s child but Elaine herself might return to his side.
The doctor had said the child was merely exhausted. But the thought of how much this tiny little one must have suffered to come find him made his heart ache.
Tomorrow… she’ll wake up, he said.
It was only after hearing the doctor say not to worry that he noticed the child’s clothes.
The clothes were finely made, showing the maker’s skill, but the fabric was what commoners typically wore. That his child had worn such clothes—it was unbearable.
Everything the child had been denied while separated from him, everything she should have enjoyed, he wanted to give her.
And when she received everything she was rightfully owed, he wanted Elaine to see it. And then be by Elaine’s side as well.
That was how he would become a good parent.
Together, with Elaine.
But the truth was—he had no idea what ordinary children liked.
For example, when the Crown Prince had been this child’s age, he had enjoyed taming beasts. But such a tiny, frail girl could hardly be like that.
So, he decided to ask Giselle, who had many nieces and nephews.
“…Excuse me?”
Had he heard wrong?
Giselle stared in shock at Alcade. But Alcade’s expression, waiting for an answer, was completely serious.
Surely… surely I didn’t hear that right.
Why would His Grace, Duke Alcade Atteleon, suddenly ask what children like?
“Giselle, I know you’re fond of children. You mentioned you had nephews.”
“Uh, yes… I do, but…”
Those little troublemakers.
At the thought of his nephews, Giselle smiled reflexively. But then he realized something.
Ah!
Sure enough, as if to confirm his suspicion, Alcade let out a deep sigh.
“…It’s because… I suddenly have a daughter, you see…”
At those words, Giselle nearly jumped out of his skin as if doused with ice water.
Good heavens!
The cold, heartless Duke… asking such a question because he wanted to look after his child?
What in the world?!
Overwhelmed by this shocking realization, Giselle slapped his hand over his mouth.
After blinking for a moment, he finally lowered it.
“…Then just leave it to me!”
And so it happened.
Giselle drew up a perfect schedule for a sweet little “date” between Alcade and Lor.
The first stop: this dessert shop!
The staff welcomed Lor, Alcade, and Giselle with flawless coordination.
As prearranged, they brought out the shop’s most popular desserts and placed them before Lor.
“…Woooow…”
Lor still hadn’t touched any of the desserts on the table.
What is going on?
All she had done was hold her father’s stiffly outstretched hand and follow him obediently… and now the table was full of sparkling, princess-like treats!
But why had her father brought her here?
Unable to understand the situation, Lor just rolled her big eyes.
“Eat.”
At last, Alcade spoke. His face was stiff and expressionless as usual, but strangely, he looked faintly satisfied.
Hearing him, Giselle nearly leapt out of his chair and hurriedly hissed at him in a low voice:
“No, Your Grace!”
Glancing at Lor, Giselle quickly added,
“You can’t say it like that! You’ll scare the young lady! You need to be gentler, kinder! As soft as down feathers!”
Alcade flinched.
He had only urged her to eat because she was just staring at the desserts. But now that he thought about it, his tone had indeed been too harsh.
What if she’s frightened?
He glanced at Lor.
She looked like a dandelion puff—soft and fluffy, yet so fragile that a single breeze might blow her away.
Of course, to anyone else, Lor was an adorably chubby-cheeked child. But in Alcade’s eyes, she seemed absurdly frail.
…Is that why she collapsed?
If she was so delicate, it was a miracle she had managed to come here without being blown away by the wind.
When she had collapsed, he had been utterly shaken, as if the sky had fallen. He had never before felt his heart sink so heavily.
That was why Giselle’s idea of letting her eat well had sounded so perfect.
But still—how exactly was one supposed to speak “soft as feathers”?
Frowning slightly, Alcade studied Lor.
Giselle kept urging, “Look at her with warm eyes!” but his words barely reached the Duke’s ears.
Lor, however, was in much the same situation.
It didn’t matter to her what expression or tone her father used.
Her wide green eyes flicked back and forth between Alcade and Giselle, then finally settled on the table full of desserts.
Can I really eat something this sparkly and beautiful?
Well, Daddy said I could, so it must be okay!
Then, let’s eat well!
Gripping her fork, Lor scanned the table like a hawk. Then—
“Yum!”
She scooped a big piece of whipped cream cake with a fat strawberry on top and stuffed it into her mouth.
Her wide green eyes sparkled like starlight.
“It’s dewicious!”
Seeing this, Giselle beamed.
Her chubby cheeks bulged adorably as she chewed, her little mouth smeared with cream—it was so cute that if she were his niece or the neighbor’s kid, he would have scooped her up, kissed those cheeks, and ruffled her round head without restraint!
Trying hard to remain composed, Giselle turned to Alcade.
“See, Your Grace? She’s eating well. She’ll be in a good mood any—”
“…Uuuugh…”
Lor slowly put down her fork.
The tangy strawberry flavor, the sweet creamy softness—it had been dazzling at first bite.
But maybe she had taken too big a piece? As the cake melted in her mouth, the sweetness became overwhelming, almost painful on her tongue.
Looking teary-eyed, Lor turned to Alcade.
“Daddy… I can’t eat this anymore…”
The sparkling, beautiful cake had tasted just as sparkly—but it hurt her mouth and tongue!
Like when something spicy makes your tongue tingle, she stuck out her tongue and shook her head.
Mommy always told me not to eat too many sweets… now I know why.
Sweetness… is dangerous!
“Young Lady, if it’s too sweet, drink this. It’s warm milk.”
Sliding a cup toward her, Giselle let out a long sigh of relief—then quickly corrected himself.
“…I-I mean… not too sweet at all… haha…”
Alcade simply watched him quietly.
Silence settled over the table, broken only by Lor’s soft little whines of “Uuugh.”
