Chapter 27
“What?”
Surprised by Leponia’s sudden request, Fellens stopped what he was doing and turned around.
“Why so suddenly?”
“I didn’t even tell the Duke about this.”
“What is it?”
“There’s something I left behind… at the place I used to live.”
There wasn’t. It was just a convenient excuse.
“It all happened so suddenly back then, so I couldn’t pack anything. I didn’t say anything because I thought it’d be bothersome for everyone if I asked someone to get it.”
“That empty house you said you lived in?”
The rightful owner of that house secretly clenched her fist in indignation.
“Mm-hm, that… e-empty house.”
It was not empty. The owner was standing right here.
“You’re my escort, right? I thought if I went with you, it’d be fine, so I asked. If it’s not allowed then… ooooh well…”
Leponia dragged out her final words.
Of course, she fully intended to ditch Fellens halfway with another excuse. She had memorized the capital’s layout and underground paths perfectly — there would be no problem.
Fellens seemed to think for a moment. Leponia didn’t rush him and waited quietly.
“If it’s just an item, can’t we order a knight to retrieve it? Sir Bellick should know the house’s location — a simple command would do.”
“It’s hidden, so it’ll be hard to find. And if I notice more things to bring while sorting through, I want to grab those too.”
There was no such thing. She had no money — what belongings could she possibly have?
But Fellens, who knew nothing of that poverty, didn’t sense anything strange and nodded.
“Alright.”
Good.
“Then I’ll go speak with Father.”
“Really?”
Leponia’s face brightened. She could finally leave to make her report.
“As expected of you, oppa.”
Fellens laughed and opened his arms. Leponia, now used to it, naturally fell into his embrace.
The wooden horse she had fallen from was undergoing safety reinforcements and startup tests.
Thanks to that, the Duke and Fellens had been carrying her around all day, so hugging him had become second nature.
“You’re that happy? Your face is glowing.”
“Yeah.”
“Then since we’re going out, how about stopping by a general store on our way back?”
“General store?”
“Yeah. You can look around and see this and that.”
What did they even sell at a general store? She’d never learned such things, so Leponia simply nodded.
“Mm! Let’s do that.”
She didn’t care either way. She was only going out to make her report anyway.
Still… I’m a little curious what a general store has.
Fellens excitedly planned their outing. Leponia, not knowing anything about such things, stayed quiet instead of adding to the conversation.
The Duke wouldn’t refuse permission… right?
No way. Surely not.
Who would forbid an outing supervised by the notorious second son of House Krytan, master of aura?
…Right?
Growing uneasy, Leponia clenched her little fists and cheered him on.
“You definitely hafta get permission, arajji?”
“Ponya. I’ve been causing trouble and dealing with Father since I was a kid. I know all his patterns by now. Don’t worry.”
“Good. Oppa’s the best.”
Oppa’s the best… oppa’s the best… oppa is the best…
Words he had never once heard in his life echoed in Fellens’s ears like ringing tinnitus.
With a sudden burst of energy, Fellens smacked the desk and leapt up.
“Alright! I’ll go get Father’s permission right now. Wait here for a bit.”
With a dramatic air, Fellens strode away. Leponia waved him off.
“Hahh, hahh! I— I checked with the head chef… hah… there’s no poison in… huh? Where is Young Master Fellens…?”
No sooner had he left than the attendant’s son — now serving as a valet — came back carrying dessert.
He was the same valet who had been scolded earlier for bringing food without checking for poison.
Leponia clicked her tongue and poked the cake with her finger. Then she licked the cream right off her fingertip.
“You really are something.”
“…Yes?”
“The head chef would never poison me. He adores me.”
“Y-Yes?”
“See? You should’ve done it right the first time instead of trying to cut corners. But oh well — that’s the misfortune you brought upon yourself.”
Leponia shook her head and turned away.
And then—
“No. I will not allow the outing.”
Her fleeting hope crumbled the moment Duke Krytan denied her request.
* * *
Fellens, who had confidently told her not to worry, returned looking like he needed to worry.
The Duke’s opposition was stronger than he expected.
Seeing the defeated Fellens return, Leponia shook her head.
“You told me to trust you.”
“I— I didn’t think Father would be this strict. He’s never stopped me from doing anything before! When I said I wanted to run away from home, he said go ahead. When I threatened to sell the family’s mining rights, he said do whatever I want. When I tried to test his limits by saying I’d marry a man, he even said I could if that made me happy. But this— he refuses an outing? Just one outing?!”
Well, Fellens is his actual blood son. Leponia is adopted.
Leponia swallowed those words and sighed.
In three days she needed to submit her report — she had to go out. She never imagined the Duke would forbid the outing itself.
Leponia rose from her seat.
“Ponya, where you going?”
Fellens, still slumped in defeat, looked up.
“Gonna go ash why.”
Determined, Leponia marched toward the Duke’s study.
“I’m coming too.”
Fellens followed behind the tiny, serious-looking Leponia. Seeing her face — practically stamped with ‘I am solemn right now’ — the servants instinctively stepped aside.
When they reached the study, the butler bowed.
“Greetings, my lady.”
“Is the Duke inside?”
Trying to maintain her solemn expression made her pronunciation leak slightly.
“Yes, he is. Shall I announce you?”
“Mhm. Right away.”
The butler cleared his throat and announced inside, “My lady has arrived solemnly. The second young master is with her.”
A command to enter soon came, and the butler opened the door.
Leponia stepped in. The Duke, who had set aside his papers upon hearing she was coming, rose and walked forward.
“Ponya.”
He opened his arms as if inviting her to hug him. Normally, she would have gone to him without hesitation.
But today was different.
Her body, by habit, almost stepped into his arms— but she planted her feet and resisted.
She wasn’t in the mood to be hugged.
“I came to ash.”
“Oh my. You must be angry— you won’t even let me hug you.”
Of course she was angry.
Determined to look stern, Leponia crossed her short arms. She walked past the Duke and sat on the study sofa.
…Though because she was slightly too short, Fellens had to lift her up so she could sit properly.
“Bringing Fellens along — I think I know what you’re here to ask.”
The Duke smiled and instructed a maid to bring snacks for Leponia, then sat on the opposite sofa.
“I said I wanna go out, but you said no?”
Leponia crossed her short legs as well. Arms crossed and legs crossed should’ve created a cold, intimidating atmosphere — but somehow, absolutely none of that happened.
Worse, crossing her arms and legs made her little body wobble left and right from poor balance.
This useless body.
She quietly lowered her arms and steadied herself by pressing a palm against the sofa.
“I wanna go out.”
“Ponya.”
“Lissen to me firsht.”
The Duke nodded, waiting patiently.
Leponia worked her tongue carefully so her pronunciation wouldn’t leak.
“As you know, I came here in a hurry. There are things I couldn’t bring from where I lived.”
“Hm.”
“So I wanna go get them.”
“If it’s to collect your belongings, let the knights go, Ponya.”
“They won’t find it easily. And I wanna look around and see if there are more things to bring.”
She gave the same excuses she did to Fellens. The Duke rubbed the bridge of his nose, thinking.
He approved even when I said I needed to rescue the wooden horse from the water. There’s no way he won’t understand something like this.
Leponia smiled inwardly, confident in her victory.
“Ponya.”
The Duke exhaled a long breath.
“I’m truly sorry… but you cannot go out.”
And just like that, she suffered a glorious defeat.
