Chapter 90
The day I was adopted by the Duke, I threw away my pride.
I didn’t want to die. If acting like a ten-year-old would help me survive, I was fully prepared to do it. So I called this villain “Father,” and I called children much younger than my real age “older brothers.”
…But seriously.
“This is my daughter, Sol Schléger. She’s turning sixteen this year.”
“Ah! What an adorable young lady. It must be a joy to return home to her.”
“…”
“…She looks intelligent.”
“…”
“…Quite the beauty.”
“Tha—”
“Th-thank you!”
I hurriedly replied and yanked the Duke away by the hand. My face was burning.
Aaaahhh, I’ve never been this embarrassed in my entire life!!
At last we reached a corner of the hall. The Duke looked down at me, utterly clueless why he had been dragged away.
“Father! It’s really embarrassing, so stop doing that!!”
“What do you mean, ‘that’?”
“Staring at people until they compliment me!”
“…Was it that obvious?”
I want to throw myself off a balcony.
If someone asks why the 99th-ranked villain in history is so despised, I’ll absolutely bring this incident up.
He went around with his adopted daughter demanding people say “Isn’t she pretty?” like he was collecting taxes!
Calm down. If I explain it one step at a time, even he should understand.
“Father, everyone here is of lower status than you. Of course they can’t say anything but compliments to me.”
“…That may be. But confirming whether there is sincerity in—”
“And most importantly.”
I debated whether to say it, but—I had to. At least once.
“Father, you’re handsome, right?”
“I am.”
“But no one ever tells you that directly, right?”
“…Correct.”
“Honestly, I’m just human too. If someone complimented my looks, I would feel good. Not that anyone’s ever done it…”
“Are you saying you thought all my compliments were just symptoms of sleepwalking?”
“Anyway! Maybe someday I’ll come to appreciate it. But having someone of higher status evaluate me to my face… I hate it.”
Ugh. Even I don’t understand what I’m saying.
I like hearing I’m pretty, but I hate hearing it? What kind of paradox is that? Am I supposed to put it in writing or what?
My face burned hotter than before.
He’s supposed to interpret my nonsense perfectly like some kind of mind reader. How unfair is that?
Then, the Duke’s hand touched my face. Did he use cooling magic? His palm was pleasantly cool against my cheek.
But his voice was warm.
“I only understood half of that, but I think I know what I should do.”
“…Sir?”
“I shall continue cherishing you.”
“…I don’t think you understood even ten percent.”
“No, I understood eighty percent. I’ll keep cherishing you until the statement ‘Sol is pretty’ becomes an undeniable truth within you.”
“Say it simply—it just makes you sound like an overbearing, embarrassing father! Which was the original goal anyway!”
“Oh? So you’re not denying that you’re pretty anymore. Remarkable progress.”
“Fatherrr!!”
Something’s wrong.
Even though I know his past and future inside out… why do I keep getting swept up by him?
Why am I… punching his chest with my fists yet smiling at the same time?
While I was internally flailing, someone approached us. A boy around my age, along with an older man—likely his father.
The boy peeked nervously from behind his father like a sack of barley dumped on the floor. The man gave a smooth smile and greeted us.
“Have you been in good health, Your Grace? It has been nearly two years.”
“…Ah, were you at the Albion special ore auction?”
A businessman, it seems.
They exchanged a few quiet words, then—
“The adults shall discuss business for a moment. Would you two chat here in the meantime?”
With that, he led the Duke away to a small distance.
What are they talking about?
They murmured something too quietly to hear.
Left alone, the timid boy finally spoke.
“G-good day. You’re Lady Sol Schléger, right?”
“Ah, yes. That’s me.”
“T-The weather is very nice today—no, was nice!”
“It was. Clear skies all afternoon, perfect for a stroll. Though I couldn’t go in the end because of the banquet preparations.”
I can manage small talk.
But this boy acted like it was his first time being dragged to a blind date.
“D-Do you have any younger siblings, my lady?”
“No. Only older brothers—”
“Ack! I-I beg your pardon! You couldn’t possibly have younger siblings, uh—”
“Haha, it’s fine. Do you have any siblings? Somehow you look like you’d have a younger sister.”
“I have two older bro—wait, no! Excluding half-siblings!”
“…”
I’m losing my mind.
I’ll keep playing along for the sake of social harmony, but what does this boy even want? Is this a formal introduction? Or am I here to babysit him while our fathers talk business?
By the time I had learned that he had two older brothers, two younger siblings, his father was an earl and in a nineteen-year affair as extra information—
The Duke strode straight back to me.
“Sol. Do not speak with him.”
“Huh? …Eh?”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me far away from the bewildered boy.
The boy just stared blankly like a dog watching its bone get stolen, before getting smacked on the back by his father. What on earth?
“Father, what’s wrong? Did he say something obscene?”
“I heard something extremely revolting.”
This man who’s done all kinds of brutal things on the battlefield is this shaken? What did he hear?
Oh. He’s a nobleman. Maybe he’s weak to bugs.
“What? Did bugs come out of the food or something?”
“What nonsense? That timid brat said he fancied you.”
“…Excuse me?”
That was… the most unexpected direction.
The Duke pressed his fingers to his forehead.
“He asked if I could give them time to get to know each other…”
“You refused, right?”
“I said I could allow him five minutes. Just enough to write a will.”
“…”
Please don’t escalate so hard.
He bit his lower lip.
“If—truly, only if. If you fancied the boy, I would allow you a few more minutes to talk, but—”
“Nope. Not interested.”
“As expected. You have good taste.”
His oddly twisted expression relaxed. I stared back at the boy with complicated feelings.
Even as his father scolded him, he kept sneaking glances at me with lingering regret. Um… so I guess…
“…That means he thought I was pretty.”
“I told you you’re pretty.”
“…Fine. I’ll acknowledge it. Slightly.”
“Good. I’ll reconsider parading you around for praise. I didn’t expect weirdos to flock to you.”
Hold on.
“You have been parading me around?”
“…I have not.”
“You literally just admitted it earlier!”
“I was merely stating facts to a few Albion clients while making rounds.”
“FATHER!!”
Seriously, what am I going to do with this man?
The Duke, looking clueless as ever, took a cup of blackberry punch and a biscuit from the nearby standing table and handed them to me. I obediently ate them. At least food is trustworthy.
Then, I realized—
Standing silently next to the Duke wasn’t uncomfortable.
…We just casually checked if each other’s cups were empty, or randomly handed each other tasty-looking snacks.
Moments like this… weren’t bad.
Occasionally, nobles approached the Duke, speaking cautiously while glancing at me. Judging by their looks, I could guess their intent.
Their lips mouthed “friend,” “introduction,” and such. But once they saw how the Duke’s brows pressed together like sandwich bread, they retreated.
“What are they saying?”
“They ask if you’d be friends with their daughters, or meet their sons. Nonsense. Pay them no mind.”
“Hm~ I suppose people who couldn’t build connections with you saw me as their opportunity. Don’t you need connections, Father?”
“I do not. …Do you?”
I’m scared he’ll drag them back if I say yes.
I shook my head.
“No thanks. I’m fine with just school friends and the ones I meet at the temple.”
Plus, I got an ally in Eugene-oppa.
And for no reason, I added—
“Besides… you alone are more than enough.”
“…”
His large hand reached for my head. My hair accessories might get messed up. Should I let him just this once?
I lifted my heels to make it easier for him to pat me, but suddenly he withdrew his hand.
Someone was approaching us. For the Duke to act this way, it must be someone significant. Who?
The answer came from his own mouth.
“…The Lord Chamberlain is here.”
“Invited, of course. Though I never imagined I would see His Grace here.”
The Lord Chamberlain—responsible for overseeing the entire palace. A position only held by high-ranking nobles.
I looked up at the stern-faced man. Probably in his fifties. There was clear hostility in his gaze toward the Duke.
Well, the King hates the Duke. Naturally, his staff would too.
“Duke Schléger. If I may take advantage of this coincidence—I request a moment of conversation.”
“…I will not leave my daughter alone.”
“The young lady appears fully grown.”
“I’m asking whether your words are worth my time. Surely you’re not here to say, ‘How dare you come when it’s not summer!’ or some such pettiness?”
“I won’t deny it.”
“…Ho. You’ve done well raising that cowardly King.”
“Loyalty never shrinks. It only grows.”
The provocation didn’t land at all. A formidable opponent.
I want to help the Duke… should I stay? Or excuse myself?
Let’s observe for now.
<Ah, I can already predict the cliché.>
…And yet, what unfolded before my eyes was—
Beyond the Duke and the Lord Chamberlain, who were locked in an expressionless stare-down, I saw—
Lady Fina slapping Seraphina across the face.
