DFCWD 54

Chapter 54

Sensing something was off, a chill stirred beneath his body. Latiger ground out his words like he was chewing them.

“I’m fine. Sit still.”

The Silver Dragon’s aura burrowed once more toward his heart. That coldness cleared his mind, cooling down his flushed face bit by bit.

‘When Iren was alive, she sometimes danced at the festival finale, so the older vassals probably weren’t too surprised.’

Iren had truly loved festivals.

When she first came as a bride, the people of Flogel didn’t welcome her warmly. She was from Lafrand, and many held rivalrous feelings toward that land.

But with just two things—her saying, “This festival is even more fun than Lafrand’s,” and dragging the solemn lord onto the stage at the finale to dance with her—she instantly won the people’s affection.

……Though now, looking back, it was a meaningless past.

‘Anyway. The older vassals would’ve understood……’

Back then he danced because his wife dragged him into it. This time, he could just insist, “My daughter dragged me, I had no choice.”

‘Yes. Absolutely. It wasn’t that I shamelessly clung to my daughter to dance. I’ll insist she asked for it!’

Even though no one was asking, Latiger stubbornly wove flimsy excuses to forget that he had been the one to first scoop up his daughter and spin her around in front of everyone.

He drank strong morning tea, washed, and dressed. Now, in the mirror stood the cold, disciplined lord—Latiger Olt Schlaeger.

When he descended for breakfast, he was already used to seeing three children sitting at the table.

The first face he checked was Sol’s.

‘Hopefully she didn’t get too excited from the festival and stay up all night.’

Luckily, she looked fine. The moment their eyes met, she greeted him first.

“Good morning, Father.”

“Yes. Nothing happened through the night?”

“Thanks to you, I slept well. Thank you for being with me at the festival.”

“Mm. About yesterday’s dance—”

“My neck hurts. I won’t dance with you again until I grow at least two handspans taller.”

“……Is that so?”

Good. At least he wouldn’t have to embarrass himself with clumsy dancing in public again for a while.

……Yet, unknowingly, Latiger’s eyes lingered on the crown of Sol’s small head.

Smaller than even little Elber. Just how much longer until she reached his chin, at least?

‘They say there are magic jelly supplements that promise quick growth. Should I order some of those?’

But then, seeing his daughter eat well and without being picky, even those small worries vanished.

It wasn’t bad either, seeing Benen always wipe Sol’s face when she spilled something, or Elber refilling her water himself instead of calling a maid. To think he’d ever grow used to such a sight.

‘Hm? But……’

Something was off with his sons.

“Elber, Benen. Did you not sleep well last night?”

“Huh?”

Both boys had dark circles under their eyes.

Sol looked well-rested, so clearly they hadn’t all been playing together. But Elber and Benen weren’t the type to spend the whole night together either.

Elber looked away into the distance. Benen avoided eye contact more skillfully, answering while glaring down at his soup.

“Nothing happened.”

“Yes. I slept great! Absolutely nothing to hide!”

“……”

Judging by how Benen was clearly suppressing irritation, something must have happened. A quarrel, maybe?

Still, if his children were alive and unhurt, that was enough. Latiger looked away.

He expected a busy morning.

With the festival over, all kinds of incidents and accidents it spawned would pile onto his desk. Street brawls, tavern fires, adultery accusations……

But the paperwork stack was surprisingly low. The worst case was just a tavern customer reported missing after drinking all night with the owner.

Latiger asked his secretary,

“Did the watch patrol last night? It’s unusually quiet for the day after a festival.”

“Ah, well, yesterday was in effect the young lady’s first official public appearance. I imagine that’s why.”

“……”

A flood of negative thoughts raced through Latiger’s head.

Because of that? Because of what? Was the sight of the Duke shamelessly dancing with his daughter so laughable? Did people think Flogel had no future and sneak away in the night? Is that why the territory is so quiet?

Fortunately, before his thoughts spiraled further, the secretary elaborated.

“Some had claimed the adoption was for show. But the affectionate side Your Grace displayed yesterday seems to have dispelled those rumors.”

“That alone doesn’t explain it.”

“Those who realized the young lady is now part of the Ducal House likely wanted to show Flogel’s best side.”

“……”

It explained things, but he still didn’t understand. Why would gaining another child be a good thing? More children only meant the estate’s inheritance would be split thinner……

The secretary simply bowed his head instead of speaking further.

“Everyone is welcoming the young lady.”

“Let’s hope no unpleasant incidents occur. What of the deputy mine manager?”

“You mean the kidnapper? We’ll have the interrogation report in thirty minutes. He was sent to the jail at dawn.”

“But?”

“Word spread that he was the one who tried to kidnap the young lady. He was beaten up by the other inmates.”

“……”

That, too, was incomprehensible. Why would common prisoners be enraged over the Duke’s daughter? Well, to be fair, Latiger himself was itching to stomp the man flat whenever he had time.

‘Do others feel the same way I do when they look at Sol?’

That pang in his chest whenever he saw her small hunched shoulders, the desire to protect her and gift her only joy—was that how “ordinary people” felt?

……It was a sensation he hadn’t felt in ages. Not unpleasant.

Still, a selfish part of him hoped he was the only one who felt it.

When his morning work was mostly done, he heard laughter from the kitchen. Elber and Sol.

Peeking inside—

The two stood in aprons soaked red, looking panicked.

“……Did you execute someone?”

Those gentle children wouldn’t hurt anyone without reason. There must be an explanation.

How to deal with it? The snow’s melting, so burying bodies in the mountains is risky……

Latiger’s dreadful imagination was cut off by a sweet aroma.

“Strawberries?”

“Ah, yes. The ice cream machine arrived, so we’re preparing ingredients.”

“……I see.”

So the ice cream machine he’d ordered had arrived.

The children clutched a ceramic bowl full of finely crushed strawberries. Beside it were bowls of cream and sugar.

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“Huh?”

The children exchanged glances, surprised at his words. Sol stammered.

“You can eat after it’s made……”

“You think you can manage it alone?”

“The maids said it’s easy, just need ice and salt!”

“No need.”

Ice cream wasn’t complicated.

Fill the bottom compartment with ice and salt. In the middle container, mix fruit, cream, sugar. Stir constantly as it freezes.

Alternate freezing and churning, then later serve from a glacière.

For warmer or poorer regions, acquiring ice itself was hard. But here, with the Silver Mountains at their back, the Schlaeger Duchy had no such issues.

And furthermore—

“Pour in the mixture.”

“What? But we didn’t get the ice yet—wait. Are you going to be a portable dry-ice generator? No, a portable ice cream machine?”

“……Whatever you call it, just put it in.”

Latiger’s adopted daughter sometimes spouted strange terms. He figured they were remnants from her rough past and didn’t ask.

The mixture went in. Elber turned the handle furiously until his face reddened, while Latiger wrapped the device in his icy aura.

“Wow!”

Soon, they had a very decent-looking ice cream. Elber collapsed, his arms trembling.

“My arm’s dead……”

“Good work, brother! I’ll scoop yours first!”

“Thanks!”

“And Father!”

At his daughter’s voice, a little flower seemed to bloom in Latiger’s heart. What sweet words would she say now? His anticipation fluttered.

“Go call Benen.”

“……”

“I told you. Ice cream has to be eaten together. No one’s allowed to be left out!”

Sol’s voice was firm, more than ever. Latiger had no choice but to nod.

“Very well. I’ll fetch him.”

Benen, reading in his room, was startled at his father’s summons. “Eh? Come down now for a snack? Could this be…… the final mercy granted in my life?”

When he nervously arrived at the dining room, Sol proudly handed him a spoonful of ice cream.

“We made it ourselves. Please enjoy!”

“Ah…… thank you.”

“This one’s Father’s—two scoops, special! And this is for Elber!”

Soon, all sat with bowls of ice cream. The ice crystals were a bit large from the strong chill and short freezing time.

But Sol smiled as brightly as ever, taking a bite.

“Ah, it’s delicious!”

In that genuine moment of her happiness,

Latiger, Benen, and Elber all felt a sweetness in their mouths even before tasting.

If only days like this could continue.

But then he noticed—the book in Benen’s hands was administrative science. Since he couldn’t inherit, he was probably thinking of a future after Elber became Duke.

And Elber too—though now he lived freely in Flogel, someday he would have to go to the capital for education.

And Sol, of course……

‘The day will come when I must send that little girl into society……?’

Latiger’s fists clenched before he realized it.

“Alkaios Lafrand, did you enjoy the festival?”

“……Ah, yes.”

Answering curtly to the Cardinal Dragon, Kai leaned on the balcony, gazing toward the Silver Mountains.

All he could see was the wide plains of Lafrand, but in his mind, Sol’s image was vivid.

The child in her sky-blue frilled dress, running across the stone paths. The girl twirling like a fairy in her father’s white jacket……

The Cardinal Dragon snickered beside him.

“Hurts a lot to be rejected, huh?”

“That’s not it.”