Chapter 12
“That’s because Polaris was in the wrong.”
“Then Uncle didn’t do anything wrong?”
Aylesia let out a small laugh and pressed a gentle kiss to Eleanor’s forehead.
“On the contrary—I think he was impressive. How much must he love you to get that angry?”
“Then Teacher doesn’t hate Uncle?”
“Hate him? Of course not. I really like both you and your uncle.”
The moment she answered, Eleanor threw both arms up and shouted:
“Ellie likes Teacher the most!”
“Who are you to be so pretty like that?”
“Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Uncle!”
A shame.
If Thermion had heard that with his own ears, his smile would’ve reached all the way to his ears.
His expression when smiling at his niece could easily be a magazine cover.
For now, Aylesia had to settle for enjoying Eleanor’s cheerful face. She stroked Eleanor’s soft cheek with her finger and smiled back warmly.
* * *
Right after Aylesia carried Eleanor out, the meeting room was wrapped in heavy silence.
“Your Grace.”
The one who finally broke the atmosphere was Baron Gavin, the council chair.
“In any case, the young lady has returned safely. The journey must have been tiring for both Your Grace and the young lady. I believe rest should be your priority.”
“…I agree.”
Thermion, who had been staring blankly at the door, finally responded.
The heat in his voice had cooled; his usual tone had returned.
“And as for Lady Milenoff… There’s no need to decide anything today. I believe it is acceptable to host her as an honored guest while we take time to think.”
“Indeed. I may have been too hasty.”
Baron Gavin’s ability to smooth over conflict was impressive.
He didn’t take anyone’s side, yet still soothed Thermion’s pride perfectly.
No wonder he remained council chair for so long.
“Would Your Grace consider a small banquet this evening?”
Thermion thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“I don’t believe that would be appropriate. For the time being, my focus will be solely on Eleanor’s comfort.”
“As you wish.”
“Sir Dayfold, make sure the knights who accompanied us to the Chernil Forest receive a special reward and extended leave.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“We’ll discuss the remaining issues another time. This meeting is adjourned.”
With that, Thermion rose.
Barely acknowledging the retainers, he headed quickly toward the hallway.
***
“Why is Ellie sitting here? Don’t tell me this is some ‘responsibility’ of the duchess. She’s five.”
Her words echoed in his mind over and over.
Whatever his intention had been, the result was the same—
He had stressed Eleanor and been discourteous to Aylesia.
Self-blame later.
Right now, he needed to apologize.
He had been so overwhelmed with worry that he neglected how exhausted Eleanor must have been.
He thought he needed to summon the retainers immediately and observe their reactions to find who was responsible.
And indeed, Baron Beighton and a few others had already looked suspicious.
… But I was still too rash.
Aylesia was right: there was no reason to drag Eleanor into the meeting room.
And it wasn’t even impulse—
He simply wanted Eleanor somewhere he could see her.
Only then could he feel safe.
Only then could he protect her.
Because of a single careless thought—it’ll be fine—he almost lost her.
He would never risk that again.
“Lady Milenoff, thank you again for earlier.”
Just as he turned a corner, Lady Hermann’s voice echoed nearby.
Thermion quickly stepped back into the shadows.
“What you said to me earlier…?”
“That part… I apologize.”
“Madam—”
“Let’s continue to the young lady’s room first.”
Their footsteps drifted away—down the stairs, it seemed.
Thermion leaned against the wall, releasing a long breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
“Haa…”
So that’s what happened.
Aylesia overturned the atmosphere boldly, and Lady Hermann responded perfectly.
They were both a step ahead of him.
… It’s hard.
He used to think growing from a child into an adult was difficult.
But raising a child as an adult was far harder.
“Father… it’s difficult…”
For the first time in a long while, he quietly called out to someone who was no longer here.
* * *
“Teacher.”
“Hm?”
“Is Ellie not too heavy?”
“You’re as light as a feather.”
“Really?”
“Really. I could hold you all day.”
Aylesia had already reached the first floor, still carrying Eleanor.
“The young lady’s room is in the west wing.”
“The west wing?”
Direct heirs usually stayed in the main building.
Seeing her puzzled expression, Lady Hermann added:
“She originally lived on the third floor of the main residence, but His Grace moved her to the west wing.”
“Why?”
“He judged that it would not benefit such a young child to constantly encounter adult nobles. I agreed.”
“A wise decision.”
If the former duke and duchess were still alive, it might be different.
But as an orphaned heir left alone, Eleanor was nothing but tempting prey to other nobles.
Thermion didn’t yet have full control over the household.
This disappearance incident proved that clearly.
But he also couldn’t keep Eleanor right next to him at all times.
She needed a place hidden from prying eyes, where she could rest comfortably.
… So that’s why he brought her into the meeting room.
He probably felt he could only relax if she was within sight.
Thinking about that made Aylesia’s heart ache for him.
“Sweetie, are you cold?”
“No.”
“Still, your ears might get chilly.”
She pulled up the hood on Eleanor’s coat and adjusted her collar when—
Someone suddenly came running.
“L-Lady Hermann! Lady Hermann!”
“What is it?”
A sturdy servant skidded to a stop, looking pale.
“I—it’s the wolves that pulled the carriage!”
“Wolves?”
Lady Hermann looked back at Aylesia.
“What about my boys?”
Realizing who she was, the servant trembled even harder.
“M-Madam Mage! I apologize but… Could you move those wolves somewhere else?”
“I told them to stay put. Did something happen?”
“They’ve been wandering near the stables, and we can’t get the horses inside! And the horses are panicking!”
“Oh my…”
Aylesia scratched her cheek awkwardly.
They must’ve gotten bored and decided to stroll around.
But to ordinary people, wolves the size of bears were a nightmare.
“Well, alright. I’ll call them.”
“C-call them?”
“Whitey! Blanky!”
Aylesia cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled in a random direction.
In the forest, the wolves always came running no matter where she called.
No matter how big the mansion was, it couldn’t be bigger than the woods they lived in.
“KYAA!”
“Mother of—!”
“What in the—?!”
Screams echoed faintly somewhere in the distance.
Lady Hermann looked over with a dizzy expression.
“…This will be fine… right?”
“P-probably?”
Her uneasy gaze made Aylesia’s smile turn even more awkward.
“Woof woof!”
Whitey came charging in and rubbed his huge head against Aylesia’s waist.
Blanky, quieter as always, sat politely beside her.
“Heavens…”
Lady Hermann couldn’t say anything else.
Her hands shook as she tried to steady herself.
She hadn’t noticed when the wolves were pulling the carriage.
But up close, they radiated overwhelming pressure.
Sitting down, their eye level was already higher than most grown men.
“Whitey! Whitey!”
“Rrr?”
“Y-young Lady!”
Eleanor had already climbed down and was tugging both hands through Whitey’s soft fur.
Lady Hermann lunged forward in panic—
Only to witness something unbelievable.
Lick.
“Kyaaa! That tickles!”
