CHAPTER 38……………………………….
The original headquarters of the massive dark organization Drubel wasn’t in the West.
But after expanding its influence, they moved into the western region and established a base here as well.
Right now, they were in the middle of constructing a new building.
“Move it! Hurry up!”
The rough voice of a burly man echoed as he commanded the members.
The only way to handle newcomers was with force.
While the others left to eat, a boy who had been crouching slowly raised his head.
His bright red eyes scanned the surroundings.
For several days now, the young boy had been running errands—fetching water or organizing tools.
“Hey, you planning to skip your meal again?”
“……”
The boy nodded.
The man didn’t press further and simply walked away.
The boy was hungry, but he hadn’t gone to the cafeteria for days.
Even if he did, the adults there would just bully him until he couldn’t eat, rolling him around on the dirt floor.
It was better to endure now and eat the small piece of bread he would get tonight in his room.
Once he confirmed no one was around, the boy pulled out a sheet of paper hidden in his clothes.
He had read it so many times the edges had begun to tear.
[Hello, little lion. I’ve missed you.]
His heart thumped rapidly.
His small clenched hands twitched.
He liked the nickname little lion.
It felt warm—filled with affection.
Len…
The boy repeated the name written in the letter over and over in his heart.
He read it again.
[I’m sorry about that day.
I wanted to go back, but something came up.]
“You don’t have to be sorry…”
Len had apologized in the letter, but the boy wasn’t upset at all.
He felt it had been more than enough—Len’s existence alone was like a spark of light in the pitch-black world he lived in.
That small ember had been what kept him going even when he was found in the cave and dragged back to Drubel.
He carefully folded the letter again, noticing faint stains on the previously white paper.
He was worried his soot-stained hands might dirty it more.
“What if he doesn’t send a reply…?”
A gloomy expression settled on his face.
What if Len’s magical crow got confused?
What if it dropped the cloth while flying?
But worst of all—
what if Len was disappointed by the shabby scrap of cloth he had sent?
He remembered the day he received the letter.
Just wait a moment, crow.
Caw.
The crow replied as if understanding and drank water eagerly.
During that time, the boy had searched every corner of the room.
But there were only old furniture and dust.
Not a single piece of paper.
So, embarrassed but determined, he tore off a piece of his own clothing and wrote a single sentence on the scrap of fabric.
“Len, I miss you.”
***
At that same time, I was out in the busy shopping district picking out clothes.
“Kauts, don’t you think this one is better? If it’s too loose, it’ll be hard to run.”
“Yes, true. How about this one? It’s similar to what the kid from the general store was wearing earlier.”
Hearing us, Britta practically exploded as she ran toward me.
“Oh my goodness! My lady! These are boys’ trousers!”
“H-huh?”
Startled, I froze.
I was trying to choose clothes I might need if I had to disguise myself as a boy again someday.
But Britta, unaware of that, snatched the pants away instantly.
I looked helplessly at Kauts, then wiped my expression and said:
“Britta, these trousers are for magic classes.”
“These trousers?”
“Mm-hm. You need all sorts of things for magic lessons.”
“Oh dear, I see!”
Britta nodded, fully convinced, and returned the pants.
Still, perhaps unsatisfied, she brought two more pairs in colorful patterns.
“If you’re going to wear them, they should at least be cute, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“I’ll find more options!”
Britta always became strangely enthusiastic about anything related to me.
Her eyes sparkled as she rummaged through every pair of trousers on display—and even picked out several boys’ caps.
Watching her blankly, I lifted a neon pair of pants and held them against myself.
“If you wear that at night, it’ll be perfect for attracting monsters.”
Kauts whispered.
“Hmm, I thought so.”
“Do you really think the day will come when you meet Lord Ron?”
“…Yes. I’m waiting for it…”
I didn’t know when it would be.
But the thought made my heart flutter pleasantly.
***
“My lady! The messenger bird is here!”
Through the slightly open terrace window, the crow appeared.
Ever since returning from the Drubel prison, it had become faster and seemed lighter.
“Kauts!”
I jumped out of bed in my pajamas.
Last night, I had sent Ron a second letter through Kauts.
It was short, like the first one, but sincere—telling him I was so happy he replied, and asking if we could exchange letters more often.
“I want to read it quickly.”
“Oh dear… You must’ve lost sleep waiting again.”
Kauts looked worried.
“I’m fine. Not tired at all.”
“Aigoo, my lady is hopeless. But next time, you must sleep before I give you the letter, understood?”
“Mm, okay.”
After gently scolding me, Kauts presented a white sheet of paper.
Not a scrap of cloth this time.
It was the paper I had sent through the bird.
I rushed straight to the Duke’s office—where he, too, had surely waited all night.
“Your Grace! A letter came!”
His usually expressionless face brightened all at once.
“Let’s read it.”
“Yes.”
[Thank you for the letter, Len. Thank you……]
Each word was written with such force that the strokes bled thickly.
“Ron said thank you twice.”
That was all the letter contained.
Just the words thank you, written over and over again.
My chest tightened painfully as I stared at the paper.
His gratitude hurt in a bittersweet way.
“Anne, thank you.”
“Huh? Me?”
The Duke nodded slowly.
“Thanks to you… I can know Ron is doing well.”
His large hand gently rested on my head.
Looking up at him, I smiled in return.
“I’ll do everything I can. For you and for this family.”
“…Anne.”
But the Duke’s expression suddenly darkened.
I furrowed my brows, puzzled.
“You don’t have to do that anymore.”
“…What?”
“You’re thirteen. A child who should be dressed up and playing happily.”
“……”
“For someone your age… I have done something terrible.”
I didn’t understand at first.
But then—
“Ever since you came here, I forced magical duties on you and pressured you to strengthen the family. I am ashamed and deeply sorry.”
“…Your Grace.”
“You… your very existence has changed me and this House Kereis. You don’t need to shoulder any of it anymore. From now on, Marianne Delve… live your own life.”
His trembling voice was filled with sincerity.
In his wavering red eyes, real guilt pooled.
I was too stunned to speak.
Everything flashed through my mind:
Arriving at the Duke’s manor.
Meeting the Kereis men.
Getting entangled with them.
Protecting Krimu, saving Shebert, discovering Ron.
Even if it was all unplanned…
they were decisions I had made.
And now, the Duke’s firm hand enveloped mine.
His eyes looked slightly wet.
“Thank you, Anne.”
“I’m the one who should be thankful.”
“Anne… from now on, you are my most beloved daughter-in-law.”
“…?”
—Crunch.
The emotional moment shattered instantly.
Daughter-in-law? Why that, right now?
I stared blankly as he continued.
“Now that I think of it, you should call me something different too. Not ‘Your Grace’ but… you know, that thing…”
“……?”
“What a daughter-in-law calls… ah… what was it again?”
“Father?”
“Yes, that’s it! Hahaha! Father!”
He laughed radiantly.
Meanwhile, my face soured.
Who knew the climax of that touching scene would be Father?
“Hahahaha!”
Well… it wasn’t that hard.
Besides, Shebert—the so-called fiancé—wasn’t even here.
Watching the Duke laugh so joyfully, I decided to humor him.
“Father, fatherrr. Father?”
I tried different tones.
There you go. Father.
“Here are the paper and pen.”
At that moment, Dubier entered, and the Duke froze mid-laughter.
Dubier’s eyes formed neat little half-moons, as if he had witnessed everything.
