OSKV | 16

~Chapter 16~

For a moment, my accident-prone circuits froze, my body stiffening like ice.

“…Then, I’ll be going.”

Mai also spoke, seemingly without realizing it, lowering her head with a flustered expression and hurriedly leaving.

A chilling silence pressed down on my shoulders.

“…….”

Mai was right.

After all, I was the one who had broken the contract in the first place.

At that time, in the study.

The space where the child’s sweet scent had lingered was now stripped even of the last trace of playfulness.

Especially after Aisha had left.

Calips’ eyes, freed from the need to maintain a gentle expression, instantly sharpened.

So sharp, in fact, that even Knox flinched slightly.

“You can’t even tell what to say and what not to say in front of a child.”

At that piercing question, Knox finally realized that Calips had returned to his usual state.

He automatically straightened into attention, but that was actually fortunate.

It didn’t mean His Grace had gone mad.

“So that’s why you fed her strawberries. Honestly, Your Grace, what do you see in that little girl?”

“See in her? Taking in a little girl with nowhere to go and raising her—how is that a big deal for the Duke family?”

“If that’s the case, you could have sent her to an orphanage sponsored by the Duke family, or to a noble family that wanted a child. That would have been the right thing to do as an adult, as you yourself said before.”

In fact, Aisha was not the first orphan to enter the Duke household.

After the disappearance of the Duke’s sons and daughters, the kingdom’s people had become obsessed with finding the Crost princes and princesses.

Or more accurately:

“They were obsessed with making a Crost princess.”

The publicly recognized princes were unavoidable, but the princess had been missing for five years—vanished without the Duke seeing her even once.

All that could be predicted was that her hair and eye color resembled those of the Duke or the Duchess. That was all.

Orphanages and minor nobles all over the kingdom went into a frenzy.

If they saw a baby even slightly resembling the Duke couple, they insisted it was the princess.

Calips took the children who had nowhere to go and placed them in good homes.

Gradually, many people began leaving crying infants deliberately at the gates of the Duke’s mansion.

Knowing how bitter Calips felt each time, Knox’s anger grew even stronger.

‘After losing his children, he even started wearing a mask.’

Knox knew.

He knew what face and emotions Calips had hidden behind that mask.

“What exactly changed you, Duke?”

Because of that, Knox risked being rude and objected.

Calips was a human being before he was a hero.

He could break.

He could make mistakes.

And the purpose of a steward was to prepare for exactly that possibility.

“…….”

A tense silence followed.

Calips leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking thoughtful.

His expression suggested he was carefully choosing the words he could give as an answer.

Finally, he exhaled and quietly spoke.

“Nothing has changed.”

“Then why…”

“To save that child. There’s no other choice left in my life.”

“…Huh?”

Knox’s eyes narrowed as he tried to interpret the Duke’s cryptic words: choice left in life… saving.

Which meant:

If he hadn’t saved the child…

“…Your Grace!”

Knox’s face paled as he finally realized the meaning behind Calips’ words.

Still, Calips did not waver.

As if this had been a decision he had contemplated for a long time, all that showed in his crimson eyes was a slight weariness.

“The only result of all this hard work is a medal. What reason would I have to live?”

“So that’s why you asked for the poison of death back then?”

Calips closed his eyes.

“Figure it out yourself.”

“Figure it out myself? Your Grace, even if the earth swallowed me…”

“Ugh.”

This was why he didn’t want to explain.

Knox, watching the Duke disgusted with himself, knew that sometimes Calips cared more about others than about himself.

Knox let out a deep sigh.

In the end, the steward had no choice but to make one decision.

“…I’ll take care of this girl named Aisha myself.”

“……?”

Calips, half-playfully, half-seriously covering his ears, slowly opened his eyes.

Knox nodded emphatically at his surprised face.

Reluctantly, he had to accept it.

This child had saved the Duke.

“I’ll keep an eye on whether Aisha has truly abandoned her spy role.”

If she was truly that important to him, it warranted observation.

To see if she had genuinely saved His Grace—or if she was preparing to betray him.

And then.

Unaware of all this, I went into emergency mode.

‘I absolutely must earn his trust.’

Thanks to Mai’s sincere advice, I realized one thing:

‘Being adopted doesn’t mean it’s over.’

Uncle didn’t adopt me because he liked me. He took me in out of pity.

If even the one person who could trust me was in this state, how would others think of me?

There was no need to think deeply about that.

After all, Knox was still here bothering me.

“Is it normal for a five-year-old’s cheeks to puff up like freshly baked bread when they eat?”

“…….”

While I was diligently chewing my steak, a long finger poked my cheek.

Again.

Again, he was watching me.

‘No reaction should be the answer.’

I rolled my eyes like some strange creature under his observation.

Then Knox, resting his chin on his hand, spoke in a deadpan voice.

“Or… could it be that this little one is a spy?”

“I’m eating meat!”

I hastily shoved the fork with food from my mouth into his mouth.

But—

“Mm. Delicious.”

Of course, the Crost steward was unfazed.

Even after a sudden attack from a former spy five-year-old, he remained unshaken.

He was instead savoring my steak attack.

‘I can’t let my guard down. He’s someone who’s keeping an eye on me.’

For some reason, after that day, Knox watched me all day.

Knox Ilyas.

Calips’ closest confidant and a vassal of the Crost Dukes, the second son of Marquis Ilyas.

Long blue hair neatly tied back.

A monocle adding to his intellectual image, the other unmonocled teal eye as beautiful as sea winds and greenery.

From an aesthetic perspective, he was quite handsome.

But only outwardly.

In reality, considering he was a monster enthusiast and his MBTI was extreme T, plus he teased a five-year-old ex-spy, he was nothing but a childish adult.

Aside from that, he was indeed good-looking.

‘The reason he opposed Calips’ execution wasn’t because he pitied me, but because he worried it would tarnish the Crost family’s image.’

His outwardly perfect, intellectual image was entirely fabricated.

Solely for the Crost household.

‘The author of the original story hardly cared about people. I thought I’d just linger and disappear, but he’s giving me this much attention.’

He swallowed the food after teasing me with the steak for a long time.

Then—

“…Miss Aisha is a spy,”

“Daemon!”

“This little one is a sp—”

“Massage is my hobby!”

“…What’s Spider-Man and spy massage?”

“There’s such a thing!”

He continued to provoke me.

The reason was clear.

“Hmm. Even at five, being a spy gives you extraordinary crisis-handling skills.”

He was probably curious about my abilities.

I appreciated the compliment, but suspicion was unwelcome.

“You too, for someone your age, your skill in teasing a five-year-old is impressive.”

“…Uncle?”

Then it happened.

At the familiar low voice, I turned my head to see a man as large as a mountain standing there.

“Little one. Come, get in my arms.”

“Yes! …Oof.”

I wanted to leap into his arms like a frog martial artist, but—

‘He may have adopted me out of pity, but he still won’t trust me. I was the one who lied first anyway.’

The uncomfortable truth struck my heart, freezing me for a moment.

“…Little one?”

Ah. He was calling me.

I hid my blank expression and smiled sheepishly.

But Uncle had already noticed my hesitation and bent his knees to bring his gaze level with mine.

And then he opened his arms.

“…….”

It was clear he meant for me to be held.

“…Aisha.”

Even his low voice, urging me, carried both surprise and a hint of reproach.

‘No, I can’t afford to slack off. I need to act cute…’

I hurriedly shook my head and plastered on a bright smile.

“Ahahaha, Uncllllee~!”

I called him in an exaggerated tone and winked once.

Creaking—

I awkwardly walked into his arms.

…Technically, I didn’t really jump in; more like pressing my head against him.

“…….”

He looked down at me, his gaze rising toward my eyes.

“Knox.”

“Yes.”

“Kneel.”

“Eh?”