Chapter 12

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 12

Chapter Title: Priests at the Gate

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The duke set off on his territory inspection the next day, just as he'd said.

According to Lea, even with magic, it would take about twenty days to tour the vast Duvered lands.

Those twenty days were my training period.

'I have to nail this and get adopted for sure.'

So today, like always, I was diligently pulling up my socks.

'Ah, if I could just get it over the heel—that'd be success. But man, this is tough.'

It was because I couldn't control my muscles with any finesse.

Lost in my training frenzy, noon snuck up before I knew it. Lunchtime.

I toddled out of my room in search of Lea.

She was always glued to my side, but today of all days, she was nowhere to be found. Even the maids had been buzzing since dawn.

"They might stay over... prepare the guest rooms..."

"The Little One... said they're departing right away..."

The butlers and maids were deep in hurried discussions. The vassals hurrying down the halls wore grim expressions.

'What's going on?'

I cocked my head, but then my stomach let out a loud gurgle. I latched onto the nearest butler.

"Yes, Little One?"

"Tummy... rumble."

"I see. Shall we go find Lea?"

"Wanna go."

The butler smiled kindly and took my hand. We were waddling down the corridor together when—

"What nonsense is that!"

'Eek! You scared me!'

A massive bellow erupted from down the hall.

My heart pounded like crazy. I clutched the butler's hand with both of mine.

Something big must've really gone down. People were actually getting this worked up.

'I wonder what?'

I was mulling that over when another shout rang out.

"How dare a church priest cross the castle gates without Your Grace's permission!"

"They're here to fetch the Little One, aren't they?"

"We can have them wait until Your Grace returns. This could be an excuse to spy on the castle interior."

"We can't refuse if they've come to collect her. The Pope is the Little One's legal guardian right now, isn't he? How do we turn away a guardian come to fetch their charge?"

"But whisking her away without even informing Your Grace..."

"A guardian doesn't need the host's permission to take a child."

The church had come?

To take me away?

My blood ran cold in an instant.

My fingertips turned icy, my shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

The butler holding my hand called out, "Little One?" like something was wrong, but I was in no state to respond.

If they dragged me to the capital, I'd be shipped straight to a new adoption home.

And if it was the church instead of the Empress Dowager coming to get me, that meant their chosen placement.

I knew from my past life what they'd heard about. The adoption spot the church had recommended was—

'Ballua.'

The image of Duke Ballua yanking my hair with a creepy grin flashed in my mind, and my vision went yellow.

Duvered.

Of all the houses with notoriously short histories, Duvered had risen to such heights thanks to their unique training methods.

Every member of House Duvered was born drenched in the blood of kin and raised as a killer.

The current Duke Duvered, Theodor Duvered, was the most perfected family head in their history.

Magic power that brooked no rivals.

A body in perfect balance, as if sculpted by the gods.

Senses and intellect that had doubled the house's fortunes in just a few years atop the seat.

A man with such talents who thoroughly suppressed all emotion struck chilling fear into anyone.

Even the vassals and officers out on inspection with him felt the same.

The dining hall where they ate the lunch prepared by the local oversight office was deathly silent throughout.

Then, a faint ripple of mana stirred the air.

Theodor and the elite guards snapped their gazes toward the source.

His deputy, suddenly the center of attention, broke out in cold sweat and clutched his pocket.

"N-no, this is..."

A knight seated to his right seized the deputy's wrist.

"I'll check it."

The knight yanked the deputy's hand up onto the table.

What emerged was a small gem. The deputy was sweating bullets.

"It's a popular magic tool lately."

"For protection?"

"Not exactly..."

"Possession of non-protective magic tools is forbidden."

Knights' stares grew razor-sharp, including Theodor's.

"W-well... it's for communication. A maid from the castle asked me to pick up some fabric for the Little One's clothes."

There was a special, incredibly soft fabric made from a crop unique to the region.

A burly knight spoke up.

"You have a kid?"

"No, sir. It's for the Little One."

"That Child of Destiny sent by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?"

"Yes. She's been practicing putting on socks, but it seems tricky, so the maid wants to knit her some easier ones."

"So why the communication tool?"

Growing suspicious, the knight reached to confiscate it.

At that moment, a faint noise emanated from the tool, and a shimmering screen flickered into the air.

A baby with fluffy light-brown hair pouted glumly, fidgeting with her tiny hands.

"Th-this must be that..."

"What the heck is this?"

Lately, among the Duvered staff, swapping cute videos of Leblain had become all the rage.

This was Lea's secret footage, traded to the deputy in exchange for him buying the fabric.

The knights' tense expressions melted away.

"She's adorable."

The video rolled on.

Raucous laughter exploded in the dining hall.

A middle-aged knight addressed Theodor.

"Must be nice, being loved like that."

"Nonsense."

"The Little One's one of a kind. Even the young lords can't approach you easily, yet she thinks of you so fondly."

Lately, Leblain had been scampering up to him constantly.

She'd clasp her puny little hands and thrust them out.

Or...

She'd stare at a piece of chicken with agonized intensity, then offer it up with an expression like she was ripping out her own heart.

It was so absurd he'd accepted the grimy, pawed-over chicken, kneading it in his hand.

"She's an odd one, that's for sure."

One boisterous knight grinned slyly.

"Come on, admit it—she's cute."

Theodor's gaze turned icy.

Silence blanketed the hall again. The others hastily shoveled food into their mouths.

Not cute.

Never once thought anyone cute.

Just a tiny, pathetic thing tottering around his castle all day, catching his eye now and then.

Like a human pincushion, he kept wondering how the heck it even moved.

That mark on her neck was amusingly shaped. A heart that stretched bigger whenever she looked up at him, skin pulling taut.

Theodor held out his hand to the deputy. The man, mid-bite of pheasant, froze solid.

"Hand it over."

"Pardon?"

"Non-protective magic tools are forbidden."

Not even an attack tool!

The deputy looked wronged for a moment but couldn't withstand the chill stare. He placed it in the open palm.

Uncharacteristically, Theodor tucked the tool carefully into his robe.

'Common wisdom says damaging a magic tool brings a curse.'

That was it.

Afterward, only the clink of cutlery filled the hush.

As the meal wound down, the security captain spoke up.

"That said, Your Grace, I've heard this area's been restless lately."

"What about it?"

"It's beyond our borders, but bandits have been running rampant."

Bandits wouldn't dare enter his territory.

"No need for me to meddle in others' affairs."

"Fair enough. Just... they've been snatching kids left and right, so I wondered."

Nos nodded along.

"Selling the abducted kids on the slave market, they say."

"Kids with mana or divine power end up as alchemical ingredients. Horrific stuff."

Suddenly, Theodor's mind flashed to Leblain hollering "Dukie!"

Leblain tottering along.

Leblain kidnapped by some bandit scum.

Leblain in a slave market, whimpering "Dukie..." before bursting into tears.

"...Can't let scum strut around near my lands."

"Then...?"

"Kill them."

"How far?"

"Up to the Roxiel border."

Other territories could handle their own.

Theodor's hand halted mid-motion.

'When she grows, might want to go flower viewing.'

Roxiel territory boasted fine gardens where noble ladies loved picnicking.

"Might as well handle Roxiel too while we're at it. No harm in bestowing favors on neighbors."

Come to think of it, she might crave horseback riding later.

Beyond Roxiel lay prime riding plains.

"No—the plains."

Behind the plains was a river perfect for water play. Ideal for floating boats.

"Clear up to the Nozis River."

The knights blanched at the slip—suddenly facing a bandit purge spanning hundreds of kilometers.