OSKV | 09

OSKV

~Chapter 9~

I’m doomed.

I just called the head of the duke’s family “the gardener.”

This was a situation where I’d have no right to complain even if I were punished for insulting a noble.

Calips seemed just as taken aback—his eyes were flickering slightly in surprise.

My short legs trembled in midair, unable to find a place to stand.

“…But the gardener even hugged me like this.”

“…….”

“P-people from the Crost Duke’s family must be really kind, cool, tall, and strong, huh.”

“…….”

“Hehe.”

I was ruined.

My awkward smile twitched uncontrollably, and cold sweat began to pour from my scalp.

It would’ve been better if he had just gotten angry.

Was it because he was so bewildered that he couldn’t even respond?

‘Well, I did just call a duke “the gardener.”’

Would he lock me up now?

Or… execute me on the spot?

‘I don’t want to die like this again. My dream is just to live peacefully until I become a hoho old lady and die of natural causes!’

Unable to endure the pressure, I squeezed my eyes shut.

“The gardener, huh? That was a slip of the tongue.”

Unexpectedly, a deep sigh came from across the room.

“Huh?”

“Open your eyes and take a look at this paper.”

Cautiously, I opened my eyes—

Calips handed me a sheet of paper before I even realized it. Then he sat across from me on the sofa.

It was strange.

Normally, a duke would have stayed in his seat, but he seemed to treat me as an equal.

“…This is….”

I looked at the paper he handed me.

It was the contract I had written before.

“The contract is still valid, little one.”

“Huh?”

“So there’s no need for you to shake and tremble in fear. Bring me the direct-line young lady, and she will be adopted as a daughter into the Crost family.”

My eyes gradually widened at his words.

“…But I’m a spy from the Poze Duke family?”

“I know.”

“But you’re treating me so well?”

“Didn’t you want to survive? And you uncovered the identity of the spy named Dorothy yourself.”

“Uh… u-uh…”

So… the fact that I discovered Dorothy’s identity came out of the duke’s own mouth?

“Duke.”

“Yes?”

I needed to stay calm in times like this.

“…You’re my savior.”

Against my intentions, the words slipped out naturally.

The red eyes hidden behind his mask slowly widened.

“…….”

He was silent for a moment.

Slightly flustered, his gaze wandered to me before dropping to the paper again.

“Stop the unnecessary chatter. Rest now.”

Returning to the desk in his office, he transformed into the head of the Crost Duke family.

“Yes, sir!”

I answered cheerfully and left the office.

He seemed a little surprised by my words.

Or… maybe that was just my imagination.

That evening.

“Gardener, you know… Duke Calips isn’t as bad as I thought. I think I might have misunderstood him.”

My legs dangled cheerfully in the air.

The “gardener” watched me excitedly as I talked.

Since I had eaten the sandwich he gave me last time, I often had meals with him. Visiting the garden during meals had become part of my daily routine.

Leaning on the outdoor table and fiddling with his temple, he took out a handkerchief.

“Really? In what way?”

Even wiping the crumbs from my mouth with his handkerchief had become a daily routine.

I recounted the afternoon’s events to him in detail.

“-So, I called you the gardener, and you forgave me. Even though I did an even bigger mistake, you still trusted me.”

“Bigger mistake?”

He quietly listened without interrupting, then asked softly.

“What kind of big mistake?”

“That’s a secret! It’s a secret just between the Duke and me. Even if you’re a gardener, I can’t tell you.”

I crossed my arms and answered cheekily.

Of course, revealing that I was a spy was forbidden. Even though I wanted to tell the gardener since we were close, some things just couldn’t be shared.

“…Really?”

“Yes. Secret. Shh.”

“If it’s a secret between you and the Duke, I suppose there’s nothing I can do.”

Surprisingly, the gardener no longer pressed me for details.

Maybe it was my imagination, but the moment I mentioned the “secret” with the Duke, he seemed to smile faintly.

After that, things moved quickly.

When Duke Poze heard that Dorothy had been discovered, he denied that she was his spy.

Eventually, only after Crost sent back her body along with the fabric marked with writing did Poze officially apologize.

Because of this, Calips decided, under the pretext of not trusting the Poze family, to head to the Doctia Kingdom with fifty knights.

It wasn’t a request—more of a warning.

Poze could do nothing in response to Calips’ unilateral declaration.

After Calips left—

“You must be Aisha, right? Aren’t you hungry?”

Rumors spread that I had uncovered Dorothy’s identity, and the servants’ attitude toward me began to change.

Especially after hearing that I had been personally called by the Duke, they became even more favorable.

Thanks to this, I occasionally got strawberry tarts from the maid sisters.

“Is the gardener not here today either?”

But the problem was…

“Yeah. Today’s another day off for him.”

“Again?”

“I don’t think he’ll be back soon… just stay indoors for now.”

Since Calips left, the gardener had disappeared as well.

Once again, my shoulders slumped at the announcement of his absence.

‘If you’re going on a long vacation, at least tell me before leaving!’

We were supposed to have lunch together.

By now, the gardener had become someone very special to me.

He was the first adult to help me and, since possession, the only person who had become somewhat like a friend.

‘But I guess to him, I might just be a passerby.’

Dragging my feet, I muttered to myself.

“…The young lady’s lucky. She has a father who searches the entire world to find his daughter. I never had that kind of parent.”

In both my past and current life, I had never had such parents or family.

Shivering from the sudden sense of emptiness, I went inside and ate my sandwich alone.

No, things had actually gone well.

So why was I feeling so glum?

“Cheer up, cheer up!”

Slapping my forehead, I snapped out of it and picked up a newspaper nearby.

There was no time to be depressed because of the gardener. Today was important.

‘Today’s the day I get adopted by the Frisia Viscount family!’

With laser-like focus, I read through the newspapers I had collected so far.

I had gathered the newspapers the maid sisters had discarded one by one, and they contained plenty of useful information about the viscount family.

‘Isn’t this exactly the basic knowledge a prepared daughter should have?’

While the maid sisters braided my hair, I reviewed the Frisia Viscount family’s information.

Then, shortly after—

“Pleased to meet you. Your name is Aisha, right? His Excellency spoke highly of you and said he wanted me to meet you. I’ve come for lunch as well.”

As promised, the Frisia Viscount couple arrived.

“Oh, yes, ma’am.”

“What a lovely name. I’m so glad to meet you.”

Their kindness seemed genuine.

As soon as we sat down, the viscountess carefully extended her hand for a handshake, her fingers trembling slightly.

Calm brown hair. Green eyes.

Not just their appearance, but their smiles were gentle, giving off a kind and benevolent impression.

Quickly scanning them, I clenched my fists under the table.

An opportunity to live with wealthy, loving legal guardians had arrived.

I couldn’t let this slip.

“…Hello, Viscount Frisia, Viscountess.”

First, I shook their hands, then lifted the hem of my dress.

Naturally, I had thoroughly learned noble etiquette during my spy training.

“Already taught etiquette to a noble?”

“I didn’t learn separately, but I studied hard in preparation for meeting you, Viscount and Viscountess.”

Saying this with determined eyes, the viscount expressed admiration.

“His Excellency said you were clever, and he was right. Don’t just stand there—sit down quickly.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Phew. First impression: check.

I calmed my racing heart and sat down.

“How old are you?”

“Five years old.”

“I see. Have you heard about the Frisia Viscount family?”

So this was the beginning of the real interview.

“Yes, of course.”

‘I’ve spent the past month gathering information about the viscount family for this moment.’

I smiled politely, the kind of smile adults liked.

“The Frisia Viscount family was the first in the Frozen Kingdom to grant noble titles to commoners. His Excellency Calips personally gave them the land as well.”

“Oh my.”

“The land, called Frendia, is a fertile agricultural area along the river. Their main export is wheat, I believe.”

“…Oh.”

The viscount couple’s eyes widened as I spoke in a steady stream.

Was this enough to pass the interview?

No, I needed to drive the point home.

I kept smiling.

“If I am adopted, I want to learn swordsmanship in the Frisia Viscount family. My original goal was to become a mercenary, but if you permit, I also aim to become the captain of the knights. Of course, I also intend to marry for the glory of the Frisia family.”

“……?”

“But all of this is just my personal plan to become Frisia’s golden wheat, so if you have any requests, please feel free to tell me.”

Slurping milk like tea, I smiled brightly.

“Goals can change anytime.”

“…….”

The silent viscount stared at me curiously, then whispered to his wife.

“…Maybe His Excellency planned to raise her, but since we don’t have children, he introduced her to us out of pity.”

“…Exactly.”

Most hidden compliments are true. It seemed like I could live smoothly in the Frisia Viscount family.

Then—

A knock sounded, and a maid entered, bowing her head.

“Viscount, sorry to interrupt your meal, but His Excellency has returned. Perhaps you should greet him.”