Chapter 51………………………………………..
Looking at the bracelets that had fallen all over the floor, Ron repeated himself.
He said he never accepts gifts from women.
But these were forced on him by high-ranking members of Devel, so he had no choice but to take them.
Hearing that, I suddenly felt worried.
“Then we shouldn’t throw these away. What if they get mad at you later?”
Ron shook his head firmly.
“They can hate me.”
“…Huh? No, that’s not okay.”
“I only need Ran to like me.”
“……!”
I had to hold in the breath I had sucked in.
Whew—barely managing to look away, I calmed myself.
Then, worried about Ron’s social development, I lectured him for a long time about not saying things like that.
If he wasn’t going to grow up to be some future villain boss, now was the important time.
He needed to try making friends, try dating, even get into fights.
Though, honestly, I wasn’t sure any of that was possible normally within the dark merchant group Devel.
“Anyway, Ron—you get it, right? You have to get along with people!”
“Okay.”
Ron, obedient as always, then said he had been worrying about something lately.
What kind of worry?
My heart was already pounding at the thought of what cute little worry Ron could possibly have.
“Soon, I have to choose which branch I’ll go to.”
“Branch? What kind of branches does Devel have?”
Blinking his eyes through his hair, Ron lifted his tiny fingers one by one.
“The drug branch.”
“Wh—dr-drugs?!”
“Second is the weapons branch.”
“Wea… pons…?”
Seeing my shocked face, Ron folded down a third finger.
“And the gambling branch. It wasn’t around for a while, but they said it’s coming back.”
“……Huh!”
Barely holding on to my scattering thoughts, I spoke.
“Is that all? Are there any others?”
“One more.”
Right, surely there would be at least one normal one.
“The assassination branch.”
“……!”
I was wrong to expect anything.
I clutched my head under my cloak and agonized over it.
Drugs, weapons, gambling, assassination……
Which of these was supposed to be the better option?
They were all impossible choices.
“What did your teacher say?”
“He said not to do drugs or gambling.”
Whew. At least Ron’s teacher sounded upright.
“He said those two are his specialties and told me not to invade his territory.”
“…?”
Never mind. Not an upright teacher.
I’d have to report this to the duke the second I got back.
But seriously—which one was the best choice?!
Ugh, heavens. After thinking hard for a long time, I barely chose one.
“Ron… I think assassination might be the better option?”
Even though it was a forced decision, Ron tilted his small head and beamed happily.
“Okay! I like assassination too!”
After unexpectedly deciding Ron’s future career path, we splashed water at the fountain.
At this age, just dipping your hands in water was enough to make you laugh.
Honestly, it was really fun.
Before dawn arrived, Ron and I said goodbye.
Expecting that we’d meet again someday just like today, we waved until we could no longer see each other.
***
A week had passed in the North.
But we couldn’t return to the West right away—
Creemoo was eating and playing far too well here.
“Creemoo, is it fun playing at Grandpa’s house?”
“Yeth, fun.”
Creemoo shouted as he bounced on the huge tiger pelt.
Of course he would enjoy playing in a place surrounded by forest.
“Nuuna, I wan’ eat more.”
And wow, he ate so well.
At the main house he barely finished one bowl, but here he ate one bowl and another half.
“Chubby.”
Every meal, Creemoo patted his round belly with his tiny hands, making everyone burst into laughter.
As time passed, he became an even chubbier baby—
His nanny even staggered when lifting him because he’d gotten so heavy.
“Goodness me! This isn’t the young master I knew!”
Loro, who had become permanently attached to Creemoo, was the same.
When we met in the cave he was small from not eating well, but now he was plump and round too.
“Kids really do grow fast.”
After playing excitedly, Creemoo and Loro slept together, and I watched them with a motherly smile.
In the end, I decided to stay here several more days.
“They love it so much—how can I refuse?”
Grandfather Veil welcomed us enthusiastically,
and the duke in the West also permitted it by letter.
One unusually cool summer day,
I couldn’t fall asleep after napping in the afternoon.
My mind was too full, so I finally got up.
“I can’t see anything…”
My room was on the 4th and highest floor of the mansion.
Thanks to that, I normally had a perfect view of the garden and the Trencia Forest.
But at night, it was nothing but pitch-black.
And tonight, the clouds must’ve been thick—there weren’t even stars.
While I stared blankly, something suddenly flickered in my eyes.
“…Huh? What’s that?”
Along the path from the garden to the forest—
A small light was moving. Slowly, but steadily, toward the forest.
Thinking I must have seen wrong, I rubbed my eyes.
But no, I wasn’t mistaken.
It was a light someone was clearly carrying, walking straight into the forest.
“Wh-what? A person?”
Once it entered the forest, it disappeared.
Near dawn, sleep finally hit me and I must’ve dozed off in my chair.
When I opened my eyes, morning light was already flooding in.
It wasn’t a dream…
I thought of how Grandfather had strictly forbidden me from entering Trencia Forest, and the light felt ominous.
But if I told him, he’d definitely get angry.
And since everything at the mansion was peaceful as usual, I couldn’t bring myself to mention it.
I’ll look into it once I go back home…
After that night, I watched several more times but never saw another light.
Now it was time to leave.
Ron must be waiting.
Thinking of Ron waiting for my letter made my heart hurry.
But I couldn’t ask Kautz to travel all the way from the North to the distant West just to deliver a letter.
I had to return to the Duke of Kerace’s estate.
Grandfather told me to stay longer, but I had to go—and Creemoo followed me.
“How can you cast aside your grandfather? Go on, go!”
Veil clicked his tongue and waved us off.
From the carriage window, I watched as he grew smaller and smaller in the distance.
After arriving in the West, I became extremely busy.
First, I had to send a letter to Ron saying I arrived safely,
then receive merchant reports,
and also decide who to put in charge of the new mine I had bought.
And I had to do all this while the duke was out of the mansion on business.
“Ughhh, I’m going to collapse at this rate…”
By the time I finished everything, a whole day had passed.
Morning came and I opened my eyes.
I had slept like I had passed out—
Even though I was definitely lying on my soft bed, my mind desperately wanted to lie down again.
Like being at home but wanting to go home.
“I’ve overworked myself. My head’s getting fuzzy.”
My drowsy eyes blinked slowly as—
There was a knock at the door.
Then Britta burst in cheerfully.
“My lady, how can you still be asleep?! You promised to take a walk with the duke today!”
“Ah, that was Marianne from two days ago. Today’s me doesn’t remember that.”
Britta shook her head and went straight to the windows, throwing them wide open.
Sunlight poured in.
“Ah—too bright…”
“I overheard from Duvei that the duke is in a very good mood today.”
“The duke?”
“Yes! He said the duke was walking like—du-dum-chit… something like that?”
I tried imagining the duke humming and walking like du-dum-chit.
Impossible visual.
“Anyway, hurry and get up. You’ll be late.”
I dragged my heavy body up and let Britta dress me.
And when I met the duke in the garden, I could tell instantly—
Duvei had been right. His mood was very good.
“My daughter-in-law, take this.”
“What is it?”
The duke stopped mid-path and handed me documents.
Not jewels.
Not money.
Documents?
Seeing my puzzled face, the duke couldn’t hide his excited grin.
“A gift for the daughter-in-law of House Kerace. Choose whichever you like. No—take them all.”
It’s true—givers are often happier than receivers.
But this was a bit too happy.
I laughed under my breath and quickly skimmed the papers.
Just how good was this gift—
Huh?
This is…!
“Land… you’re giving me… land?”
“Yes, Ann. These are the lands I own.”
“Wh-why would you give these to me?”
“I’ve wanted to for a long time. The procedures only now allowed it.”
“Your Grace—I mean, Father…!”
