Chapter 14
A tinkling laugh and eyes so pure and clear.
Excessive self-deprecation coming from that innocent mouth.
Alcaide slowly held Lorre in his arms, shielding the child’s face from view.
With an incredibly gentle touch, he stroked Lorre’s back and then turned his gaze toward Amy.
The duke’s handsome face was icy, his eyes sharp and blue as blades. A stark contrast to how he looked at Lorre.
Amy’s spine chilled.
“Daughter…?”
Could this child really be the duke’s biological daughter?
The girl looked far too innocent and simple in manner and dress to be considered noble. She looked more like a commoner, or even a sponsored orphan.
How could someone so naive and unable to grasp context…
“…So it wasn’t a lie?”
Amy’s vision wavered.
Unconsciously, she stiffened and bit her lip hard.
Every action she had done toward the child flashed before her eyes.
She hadn’t used proper honorifics, had spoken carelessly, and her touch had been rough.
Yet… she had done that to the duke’s own daughter?
“Alright! I admit my mistake!”
Pale and terrified, Amy dropped to her knees.
Her trembling body mirrored the state of her mind.
“You expect my daughter to say ‘thank you’ for her status?”
“I-I was just…! Ah, I thought… I mean, I assumed the young lady was a commoner…”
“This child is my only daughter, Alcaide Atelleon’s sole heir, directly of the duke’s line.”
Amy felt as if she might faint—or perhaps she wished she would.
The man before her was no ordinary noble.
He was the emperor’s younger brother, the empire’s only duke, and a warrior with countless achievements on the battlefield.
The very Alcaide Atelleon.
The consequences of angering such a duke were unimaginable…
No excuse could help her in front of him.
All Amy could hope for was the daughter’s mercy.
“P-Please forgive me, young lady! I was wrong.”
In a voice filled with fear, Lorre tilted her head, not understanding the situation.
The kind sister who had helped her change clothes and taught her etiquette suddenly went pale, even as the room seemed to freeze.
‘Book, did sister do something wrong?’
[Oh! Lorre, here’s what happened…]
The book hovering by Lorre explained the situation: why Amy was trembling and why Alcaide’s face had stiffened.
‘Hmm… I see!’
Though Lorre didn’t fully understand, she grasped that the adults were angry because her sister had made a mistake.
Even as Lorre nodded seriously in her own way, the adult conversation continued.
“I deeply apologize, Your Grace. I will remove the child immediately.”
“Madam…!”
Amy turned sharply at Madam’s sudden statement.
But Madam paid her no attention. The important thing was to calm the duke’s anger.
‘How foolish…! Can’t even handle one child properly.’
In such a high-end boutique, it was standard for at least three staff members to assist when serving a noble.
Yet, the Atelleon dukedom, unused to protocol, hadn’t noticed Madam’s haughty service.
To Amy, sending just that one person implied Lorre could be treated as an insignificant guest.
Madam decided to sideline Amy entirely, ignoring her own fault—staff could always be replaced.
Under Madam’s icy gaze, Amy’s vision darkened.
‘After all the effort I made to enter this store…’
Having been expelled for an incident, no one would hire Amy again.
Then Lorre suddenly leaped from Alcaide’s arms.
“Wait!”
Though it was a considerable height, she landed gracefully on her feet like a nimble squirrel.
Alcaide watched with a pleased expression. His eyes were warm, as if the child had always been this lively.
‘Quick reflexes and good balance. Definitely takes after me.’
In the tense, frozen atmosphere, a doting thought crossed the duke’s mind.
Clearing his throat, Alcaide spoke:
“Why, Lorre?”
“You can’t leave, sister. I don’t want that.”
Shaking her head, Lorre dashed toward Amy and held her hand, who already had tears welling in her eyes, standing by her side.
“But young lady, that employee committed a grave mistake.”
Giselle interjected cautiously.
A commoner showing disrespect to the duke’s daughter—firing her was a mild punishment.
Still, Lorre shook her head resolutely, showing her refusal.
It was amazing to see such stubbornness from a usually obedient child.
“Darling, can you tell daddy why it’s not right?”
Alcaide bent down to meet Lorre’s eyes.
“Hmmm…”
She recalled the gaze of Amy, who had dressed her, and replied:
“Her eyes are just like mommy’s. They sparkle.”
Even while ill and sleepless from coughing, Elaine had always read storybooks to Lorre. That was her favorite time.
Mom’s clear voice. Her warm hands smoothing her hair…
But gradually, Elaine found even a short storybook hard to finish.
‘Mommy’s in pain. Lorre doesn’t need to read books.’
Elaine gently stroked Lorre’s tearful face.
‘I’m happiest reading with you. Look at my eyes. Don’t they shine?’
Truly, Elaine’s eyes had shone like stars as she spoke.
‘When people do what they love, they shine.’
‘Shine?’
‘Yes. That’s why I want you to do things that let you shine too.’
“You shine when you see clothes. I love clothes the most!”
Gripping Amy’s hand, Lorre beamed.
“Lorre will shine, and sister will too!”
Her eyes sparkled with joy and expectation.
From Amy, pale and trembling, a heavy tear fell.
Alcaide closed his eyes and exhaled.
“…Alright. I understand.”
Though his voice still carried displeasure, he could not refuse when the word “mom” was mentioned.
‘Elaine.’
What kind of eyes had you looked at Lorre with?
Suppressing the thought, Alcaide gently lifted Lorre in his arms.
“Giselle.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Overjoyed by Lorre’s words, Giselle’s voice cracked slightly as she replied quickly.
“Handle it yourself. Luckily, many in the slums lack clothes.”
With that, Alcaide left the store with Lorre.
‘He wants to maintain his image in front of his daughter.’
Giselle, a capable aide who could interpret vague orders perfectly, understood what was required.
“You’re aware the emperor has been focusing on aid for the poor, correct?”
She smiled warmly at Madam.
“Supporting them with clothing and sponsorship—what a wonderful decision. Applause for that.”
A bright, sincere smile, full of disapproval at the previous plan to fire a child without proper apology.
“Uh… yes…?”
“The young employee earlier—Amy, wasn’t it? Madam promised to take responsibility and teach her properly. That’s a good thing too.”
Overwhelmed, Madam’s face turned pale.
“I trust you’ll handle it so His Grace needn’t worry. I’ll stop by sometimes, Madam.”
A cold gleam flashed over her cheerful smile.
Phew.
It had been fine leaving the boutique with Lorre in his arms.
But there was no clear place to go next—Giselle had planned the entire outing.
The brain’s alarm went off, but Alcaide quickly relaxed.
The warmth of Lorre in his arms was comforting.
“Wow! So high!”
Enjoying being carried, Lorre laughed.
Then—
Flap!
A book suddenly appeared beside her in midair, opening its pages.
