CHAPTER 33……..
“…Pardon?”
“She’s the one who dared to beat my granddaughter. Even rotting in prison for the rest of her life wouldn’t be enough. Not that I expect to get any decent answers out of her, so just leave her be.”
“…”
The man could never quite understand this person called Priscilla.
Never mind that she treated Lloyd’s adopted child as her own granddaughter—she would act as though her own child’s rights didn’t exist, but the moment someone else harmed him, she would become this furious.
It was almost as if…
She sees him as property…
Sometimes he truly wondered if Priscilla even possessed maternal love at all.
“Anyway, knowing Lloyd, he’ll probably rush over here immediately. I doubt he’ll leave Ayla alone at that house. Do you think he’ll bring her along this time?”
There was a strange sense of anticipation in Priscilla’s words.
She had gone so far as to send people to drag along a granddaughter who wasn’t even related to her by blood, and yet here she was, eager to see her again.
The man gave up trying to understand her and answered,
“No. I heard the young lady will be placed somewhere else.”
“Somewhere else?”
Priscilla’s eyes widened for a moment.
But only for a moment—her brows soon furrowed as she asked,
“He’s leaving his own child with someone else? With whom?”
“According to the coachman, it’s a noble within the Mente viscounty.”
“A noble? There’s another noble holed up in a place like that?”
“Since they didn’t even give a family name, the coachman guessed they’re fallen nobility.”
“Hmmm.”
Priscilla sank back into thought.
Lloyd had entrusted Ayla to a noble who wouldn’t even reveal their surname.
Trying for a moment to guess his real intentions, Priscilla soon clicked her tongue and rose from her seat.
“Well, I can just ask him directly. Go.”
“Yes, Lady Priscilla.”
The man retreated quickly, almost as if he had been waiting for permission.
For a while, Priscilla remained in the empty room with her eyes closed.
Then, after a long pause, she opened them and stood up.
Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor.
Approaching the window, Priscilla took a tobacco pipe from her bosom, clamped it between her teeth, and lit a match.
Ssshh. The tobacco leaves began to burn, and the match’s flame quickly went out with a puff of her breath.
She inhaled deeply and exhaled.
“Hoo…”
As the hazy smoke blurred her vision, her mind became ever clearer.
After a while, she let out a sudden murmur.
Princess Minerva.
Eight years ago, when Lloyd inherited the grand ducal title, he had also been granted a forged identity and a territory by the emperor.
He must have given something in return.
So that’s why he accepted that marriage proposal without resistance.
She had thought he would throw a fit and cry about it, but surprisingly, Lloyd had gone along quietly.
However, due to the princess’s strong opposition, the engagement fell through, and Princess Minerva was convicted of a crime and placed under house arrest.
The emperor had cherished the princess deeply.
He must have wanted her kept somewhere safe.
It was possible that, as compensation for what Lloyd had not provided, the emperor had placed her within the Mente viscounty.
Or not.
It had been almost eight years since she had stepped down from her position as grand duchess, and her instincts were no longer as sharp as they once were.
I can just ask Lloyd directly.
She had a feeling there would be at least one piece of good news worth hearing.
Priscilla tapped the ash from her pipe, then brought it back to her lips.
Hooo—another long breath left her mouth.
She smiled faintly toward the distant direction from which Lloyd would be coming.
“I can’t wait to see you, my son.”
The next morning, bright and early, Id arrived with Ayla.
“Good morning, madam.”
“Come on in, Ayla.”
It was earlier than I had expected, but Ayla didn’t look sleepy at all—instead, she greeted me with an excited expression.
Id and the coachman unloaded her belongings, and the strong house servants carried them into the mansion ahead of us.
Ayla peered through the slightly open door, clearly looking for someone.
It was obvious who.
I chuckled softly.
“Aslan just woke up and is washing up. He’ll be ready soon.”
At my sudden reply, Ayla’s cheeks flushed pink for a moment.
“Um… does Aslan like playing with dolls too?”
“…Of course!”
I had hesitated only because I was debating how to answer.
Yes, he liked dolls.
The problem was, unlike other children, he liked to bite them with his teeth and kick them with his hind legs (well—now, toes, since he was human).
I did warn him this morning, so hopefully he won’t do that in front of Ayla…
Hopefully.
When I confirmed that Aslan liked dolls, Ayla’s face brightened even more.
Beside her, Id smiled in satisfaction.
“That’s good, Ayla. No wonder you brought so many dolls.”
“Ah—Father! It’s not… I didn’t bring that many…”
Her face turned scarlet.
It seemed she hadn’t wanted her father to find out.
Honestly, it was perfectly normal for a child her age, so I didn’t see why she was so embarrassed.
To spare her further awkwardness, I spoke about Aslan.
“Aslan’s been looking forward to seeing you since yesterday. He’s ready to give you all sorts of things.”
Including the birds and mice he’d tried to bring—which was a problem.
Not knowing that, Ayla seemed happy at the idea that Aslan felt the same way she did, and she wanted to head inside quickly.
I called out,
“Luisa, would you take Ayla to Aslan?”
“Yes, madam.”
Luisa bowed politely to Ayla.
“I look forward to serving you for the next month, Young Lady Ayla. I am Luisa, the housekeeper here. If you have any inconvenience during your stay, please let me know.”
“Yes, thank you, Luisa.”
A gentle smile curved Luisa’s lips at Ayla’s polite response.
Who would have guessed before that Luisa—the iron-blooded aide of Princess Minerva—was surprisingly soft toward children?
“Then, if you’ll come with me.”
“Ah—just a moment.”
Ayla asked Luisa for a moment, then trotted back to Id.
He looked puzzled.
“What is it, Ayla?”
With a shy smile, Ayla gracefully lifted her skirt hem and bowed.
“Please have a safe trip, Father.”
“…I will. You stay safe too.”
Id answered with a pleased smile.
Ayla beamed in satisfaction and followed Luisa into the mansion.
Now only Id and I were left at the front gate.
Looking slightly apologetic, Id said,
“Sorry for troubling you so early in the morning. I need to leave right away…”
“It’s fine—it’s not even that early.”
It was 8 a.m.
I had woken up a bit earlier than usual, but Id and his daughter had risen at dawn to prepare, so if anything, they were the ones who must be tired.
Id apologized cautiously.
“I was rude before. I’m sorry.”
“Well, I’m glad you realize that.”
I replied a little bluntly.
But what was done was done.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her while she’s here.”
“Thank you, madam.”
He bowed deeply, showing just how uneasy he felt about leaving Ayla alone.
Just when I thought he was about to leave, he hesitated and made a careful request.
“And… I know it’s shameless, but due to staff issues, I didn’t bring her maid. If you could assign one for Ayla, I’d be grateful.”
“I’ve already agreed to more difficult things than that—it’s nothing. I’ll do it.”
Honestly, it was better this way.
If he had brought a maid, it might have caused me trouble.
A maid who might quit at any time was the perfect person to leak information outside.
I couldn’t allow someone like that into the mansion.
Come to think of it, Id might have been pushy at times, but he avoided doing anything that would directly harm me.
Now that I think about it… we first met when he helped me find Aslan after he was kidnapped.
If it hadn’t been for Id, I might never have found Aslan—or it would have taken a lot longer.
It seemed I owed him a bit of gratitude after all.
