Chapter 71
At those sudden, out-of-the-blue words, my eyes widened in surprise.
“Huh?”
“I’ve given permission for you to sleep with the children.”
“All of a sudden? But because of my background… you didn’t like that.”
“I started to wonder what background even matters. The servants of the Grand Duke’s household all have respectable status. But seeing what they’ve done… it makes me question whether status matters at all. Of course, I still don’t completely trust you yet.”
The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed.
“I know. I… won’t be greedy.”
If I had at least grown up under commoner parents—if that alone could have served as some kind of guarantee—he probably wouldn’t have rejected me this much. But I have no parents. I don’t even know who they are.
I could be the child of a criminal, or someone mentally unstable. So even though he thinks it’s fine for me to stay nearby, he still seems very worried about letting me mix with his own children.
“Greedy, huh….”
“I know my place. I know which lines I can cross and which I shouldn’t. So please don’t worry.”
I had only spoken the way I usually do, but the expressions on the Grand Duke’s and Rex’s faces were strange. What’s with these men today?
I was just stating something obvious to me—that I know my place well. Never crossing the line. Being friends with the twins but always knowing I am someone beneath them.
The Grand Duke reached a hand toward me, then withdrew it again.
“Right. That’s a relief. Until a maid is assigned, sleep beside the children. Well, thanks to you… it seems I’ve grown a little closer to my son.”
“Yes! That’ll be soon then.”
“Only until a maid I personally approve of is chosen.”
“Huh?”
A maid is just a maid—what does he mean by an approved maid?
But as always, once the Grand Duke finished what he wanted to say, he began moving toward the door.
“Then, for the time being, stay together even if it’s inconvenient. If anything makes you uncomfortable, tell me anytime. And… if anyone looks down on you like that again, you may tell me. I will step in personally. From now on, I won’t overlook such things.”
Was it because he spoke with Rohen? The Grand Duke’s voice was much gentler than before. It felt like he himself had softened.
‘At this rate, things with the twins should be fine too.’
I watched him quietly.
“Aisha.”
“Yes!”
“…I think it’s right to listen to what you say about the children.”
“Is that so?”
“So—come see me once a day.”
“Yes! …Huh?”
I answered first and then looked at him in confusion. Suddenly telling me to come see him—what does that mean? But the Duke looked quite firm.
“There were always people asking about the children. But it seems better to ask you. It always felt like the wrong answer before, but this time it seems like the right one.”
“Ah.”
“It may be ridiculous for me to ask something like this of a child rather than an adult, but please come once a day and talk with me. Tell me how the children are doing. How I can grow closer to them.”
A smile spread across my face naturally. He really wants to get along well with the children. He truly does. I had worried that maybe it wasn’t genuine, but now it felt absolutely certain. More than anyone, the Grand Duke wants to be close to them.
‘In the past, things went wrong between him and the children because of the Grand Duchess. This time too… there’s a high chance he acted after listening to her.’
I nodded quietly.
“Alright then, I’ll be going.”
“Yes. I’ll come every day!”
That was the last of it. Without saying when or where to come, the Grand Duke simply left—almost like someone flustered.
I was a little flustered too, so I forgot to ask.
“That’s really great news.”
Rex looked at me with a happier expression than ever.
“Yeah, it is… but he didn’t tell me when or where to come.”
“Ah…!! Hmm. Maybe it means any time that’s convenient for you, Lady Aisha?”
“I hope so.”
He chuckled softly and nodded.
“His Grace is paying a lot of attention to you, Lady Aisha.”
“Mm… w-well, anyway! Please take care of this!”
I awkwardly looked at the doll in Rex’s arms. Only then did he seem to realize he was holding it and gave an awkward smile.
“Yes!”
Actually, while handing it over, I had already taken a few seeds. If I figure out what they are before he does, this might be a chance to see his and the Head Maid’s true intentions.
Though there probably won’t be anything magical like what I’m hoping for.
“And that… it could be dangerous, so don’t put it in your mouth or anything!”
I didn’t forget to warn him, worried that such a kind person might get hurt.
“Lady Aisha. Please don’t do anything dangerous. If something like that might happen, you must always take me with you.”
Such a good person. Even in the novel, he was described that way. He was so kind that he often got swayed by those around him, but his heart was purer than anyone’s—like a child’s.
“Okay.”
“Then I’ll step out for a moment.”
“Alright.”
With that, he left. I went back to Rohen. Rohen, whose cheeks were puffed up in dissatisfaction, stuck out his lips when I entered.
“I thought you weren’t coming back. Someone who said they’d be gone just a moment—why did you take so long?”
“Oh—uh—the conversation got a bit long… It looked like you talked well with His Grace?”
“Uh… it’s not like it was anything special. We just talked a bit.”
Looking slightly shy, Rohen pointed toward the window.
“Th-the thing that was over there—where’d it go? You couldn’t resist touching it again, could you!”
“Oh. I left it with someone trustworthy. Ah, I gave it to Rex.”
“Someone trustworthy?”
“Yeah.”
“If you say they’re trustworthy, then they are. But when you did that… you didn’t touch it again and get hurt, right?”
Seeing Rohen’s worried look, I quietly slipped what I had been holding into my pocket.
“Of course not!”
“Alright….”
After that, I washed my hands thoroughly and came back to stroke Lari’s hair.
“Her complexion definitely looks better. Is it just my imagination?”
“Her body feels a little warmer too. I’ve been waiting forever to tell you that.”
Rohen quickly placed his hand on Lari’s cheek. Following him, I touched her cheek too—it really was warm.
“Really… there’s already a change…!”
“She probably won’t wake up right away… but still….”
The child’s face slowly brightened. She looked truly happy—truly joyful. Seeing that, I smiled along with her.
“We should find more dolls to send for requests elsewhere. There are probably more.”
With that, Rohen and I began pulling out the dolls near Lari.
“From what I saw, some of them are weird. They’re clumsily finished compared to the others. Those are probably the ones with something extra put inside.”
Rohen jumped up and brought several more dolls. Just as he said, the dolls’ necks were crudely stitched.
We were in the middle of sorting through more than just one or two of them—
Knock knock.
“Yes?”
Is it Rex?
Is he already back? I stopped what I was doing and looked at the door with Rohen.
But the one who entered was a maid.
“I greet Lady Aisha, the Young Lord, and the Young Lady.”
The maid, speaking very formally, slowly bowed her head.
A different person from the maids who had been kicked out of this room—someone whose name I couldn’t even remember—finished greeting us and stared straight at me.
“Her Grace the Grand Duchess requests your presence.”
“Whose?”
“The Young Lord. Her Grace the Grand Duchess is looking for Lady Aisha.”
At the mention of the Grand Duchess calling for me, Rohen’s expression turned even more irritated. Before he could speak, I opened my mouth first.
“I don’t think I can go today.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m a bit busy today.”
“Ah… but Her Grace the Grand Duchess is requesting you….”
Apparently not expecting that response at all, the maid looked flustered. Rohen also blinked, seemingly surprised by my reaction.
“Just because Her Grace calls for me doesn’t mean I have to go, does it?”
“Ah… but… if you’re busy, I will wait until you finish.”
It seemed she had no intention of backing down easily as she suppressed her embarrassment and continued.
“Well… I’ll be taking care of Lari today. Is there really such a thing as ‘finished’ when it comes to caring for someone?”
At the same time as I spoke sarcastically about the maids who had been kicked out earlier, I made my intentions clear.
“But Her Grace the Grand Duchess… is waiting….”
“Lari comes first.”
“……”
Her gaze shifted toward Lari lying down.
“Would you consider coming, even just for a moment?”
“No.”
I answered firmly while looking at the maid, and Rohen backed me up.
“She said no—why are you being so persistent? Leave.”
“Ah….”
Only then did the maid read the room and step back.
“Understood.”
Eventually, she left the room. Watching her go, I let out a small chuckle.
‘What will you do when things don’t go your way even once?’
Just thinking about how distressed she must be made me smile. After that, we stayed right beside Lari and talked about various things for a long time. Rex didn’t return until late at night.
No one from the Grand Duchess’s side came again.
Instead, Rex arrived late at night—bringing a woman with him.
