Chapter 13

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 13

Chapter Title: Hands Off My Daughter

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I burrowed into the drawer where Lea had stowed my things, wriggling around inside.

"Oh my!"

Lea, startled, quickly scooped me out of the drawer.

"What are you doing?"

"Gramps gave me a bag. Where ith it?"

"Were you looking for the bag?"

The vassal Gramps, who had set off on a territory inspection with the Duke, adored me so much that he once brought back a little bag for children.

He'd bought it on impulse as he passed by because it had caught his eye—a soft apricot-colored elephant-shaped bag.

"If it's that bag, it's right here."

Lea fetched the bag and slung it over my shoulder, then gazed at me with a curious look on her face.

But I peeked at her hesitantly before bolting out the door.

Sorry, Lea.

This is something I have to do alone.

Preparations to run away.

Probably—no, almost certainly—the church priests would take me with them.

The Empress Dowager had given me a choice, but if the church pushed hard enough, she'd pretend to take their side.

The best outcome for me right now would be if Duke Duvered refused to let me go. But the odds of that were minuscule.

For starters, Duke Duvered wasn't even in the castle. And even if he were, there was no reason for him to defy the Pope just to keep me around.

If I end up adopted by Ballua, escaping will be impossible.

So I'd make my getaway during the trip to the capital.

It's risky with this little body, but going to Ballua means getting abused to death.

Better to pick the option with some hope.

I poked my head over the kitchen prep table. The cook, who was getting meals ready, gave me a warm smile.

"What's brings you here, little one?"

"Water, pwease."

"Of course."

"Lots."

She filled a stoppered bottle, saying I'd spill it for sure if I tried carrying a lot in an open cup.

"Put it hewe."

I held out the bag, and she chuckled as she tucked the bottle inside and fastened it securely.

Water secured.

Now for food.

I'd already stashed some snacks by sneaking them—oh shoot!

For emergencies, I needed to stock up on sweets. They're the quickest fuel for the brain, after all.

Until my brain finished developing, whenever I got tired or sleepy or hungry, my mind reverted straight back to baby mode.

Sweets were a must.

I headed for the candy room the Duke had given me. I set the bag on the floor and dropped in one candy.

One's too few, right?

One more.

Two's still not enough.

One more.

Eh, this won't even touch the sides.

Before I knew it, the elephant was bulging. The buttons wouldn't even close, and I grunted with effort.

The bag was too small. I'd only put in about thirty candies.

I still need to pack a map and clothes. And shoes.

Soft baby shoes would wear out fast on a long trip—not ideal.

Regretfully, I decided on just ten candies.

I pulled the extras out of the overstuffed bag and headed back to my room. While Lea was tidying up, I sneaked behind the curtains, keeping an eye on her.

Then I fished out the few silver coins I'd hidden in a crack by the window.

One, two, three, four... eleven.

Souvenirs collected from the vassals.

This should cover carriage fare.

I stepped out once preparations were complete, and Lea narrowed her eyes at me.

"What kind of mischief are you plotting?"

"No!"

"Hmm."

"I din't fowget the bag!"

Caught red-handed, I flailed my hands in denial, and Lea burst into giggles.

But her smile faded fast.

Lea pulled me into a gentle hug.

"You have to go, don't you."

"......"

"It's a chance to grow up in a better place, bathed in your parents' love. It'll be good for you, little one."

She bit her lip hard and brushed back my hair.

"You'll be happy. Someone as lovable as you—everyone's bound to fall for you."

Her murmuring voice carried a hint of wetness, but she quickly shook it off with a smile.

No, Lea.

Those people won't like me one bit. I'd rather plunge into a cesspit!

That's what I thought, but as just a servant, there was nothing she could do.

Asking for her help would only put her life in danger.

"Now, shall we go read some books?"

"Ung......"

I gave a tiny nod and followed Lea to where the maids were waiting.

The maids settled me on the sofa and acted out a picture book story with lively gestures.

What is it?

The other servants stood along the wall, holding small, shiny objects aimed right at me.

Lea had a jewel in her hand too.

Lately, everyone's been doing that.

They'd even held them up while I was eating snacks. It was such a tasty treat, but they distracted me so much I left a piece behind.

Ah, I want that snack again.

Wonder if Lea would give me some if I asked.

But today's snack was supposed to be cream puffs.

Last week's cream puffs had been sooo delicious—I'd been looking forward to them.

The pony ride game had been fun too.

A tall servant had given me a piggyback ride, neighing all realistic-like. I'd been thrilled.

Remembering life in Duvered Castle filled me with sorrow.

Compared to my previous life, this place was paradise. The thought of plummeting from paradise to hell made tears keep welling up.

The moment I started crying, the servants came rushing over in a panic.

"Little one, why are you crying?"

"Who made our baby cry? Who?"

"I'll give them a real scolding."

Even Lea looked deeply worried as she stroked my cheek.

If I go, I'll never see Lea again.

It made me even sadder, and I wailed at the top of my lungs. Was it because I kept thinking like an adult? I just couldn't hold back the overwhelming grief.

If only Duke Duvered were here.

Then maybe I wouldn't have to go—a thread-thin hope like that.

He despised the church so much, he might refuse out of sheer spite.

"Why is our little one crying?"

"Eoheorang......"

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"Want Duke! Waaah!"

Who would've thought I'd miss that cold-blooded man.

Even that realization saddened me, and I cried until my nose turned bright red.

The red jewel in Lea's hand flashed.

The church priests had arrived at Duvered territory castle.

Over the past few days, I'd been bursting into tears at the drop of a hat.

Crying in a warm bath, crying over snacks, crying in my sleep.

If they dragged me off like this, I'd surely meet my end again.

Regression was horrifying, my dog-like death unfair, the unfairness heartbreaking.

No clear target for my resentment, so the tears wouldn't stop.

The servants seemed terribly worried. Even as they came to see me off, they stared helplessly.

Beside me was a pile of things the Duvered folk had prepared.

Handmade blankets and handkerchiefs so I wouldn't get cold on the way to the capital, snacks so I wouldn't go hungry—things like that.

They're such warm people.

Seeing the priest in front of me flash his gold tooth in a grin only made the Duvered people's virtues stand out sharper.

The guy who'd come to fetch a child was decked out in sharp rings and chain bracelets dangling from his wrists.

"Little one, have you been well?"

"Yes."

"How much you've suffered in a place with no relatives."

"No suffering."

"No need to worry anymore. We've found someone to raise you with love. Duke Ballua is a renowned scholar, one of the Five Great Ducal Houses. He'll be a kind father to you."

Love, my foot.

That jerk raised me with beatings.

Besides, the church picking Ballua wasn't entirely for my sake.

When I, as the Child of Destiny, started showing my power, they just chose a friendly house that'd be easy to exploit.

"Ah, don't wanna go."

"Now, now, time to go."

"Ang!"

His handling was awfully rough.

He yanked my arm hard with a "Let's go!"

"It hurts!"

I yelled loud, and the servants who'd come to see me off flinched. Lea started to rush forward, but the butler grabbed her shoulder and shook his head.

"Throwing a tantrum like this will earn you a curse from the gods."

Is that something you say to a child?

And I'm already cursed. This damn regression.

I shook my head furiously, trying to shake off his hand.

"Don't like it!"

"Tsk! Bad children get the switch!"

He pulled even harder. This time, I really thought my arm would pop out of the socket.

I was already wary of grown men, and now it hurt too—pure agony.

"If you've received the gods' blessing, you should at least pretend to make an effort."

At those words, the priest's frowning face merged with Duke Ballua's in my mind.

[Lucky enough to get adopted into a prestigious house that's produced so many great scholars—at least pretend to make an effort.]

Liquor stench.

The leather belt dragging across the floor.

The whistle of leather slicing through the air.

Crack!

It felt like I'd returned to my second life.

The priest narrowed his brows at my gasping and twisted my cheeks, turning my face this way and that.

"Wh-what's your problem."

That's when it happened.

"Hands off my daughter."

A very low, chilling voice rang out from the castle gates.

That intimidating presence...

It was eerie enough to snap me from my regression memories back to reality in an instant.

Duke Duvered stepped between me and the priest.

The momentarily flustered priest quickly regained his composure and confronted the Duke.

"The little one has already been arranged to go to the Ballua house."

"Then we'll discuss it again."

"Ridiculous—!"

Shing—

As the priest objected, the swords of the Duvered knights were at his throat in a flash.

In the blink of an eye, surrounded by over a dozen blades, the priest's face drained to a sickly blue.

Yet the Duke spoke in his usual indifferent tone.

"I didn't give you permission to open your mouth."

"Y-Your Grace..."

Finally, the Duke's gaze drifted slowly downward to me. More precisely, to the arm the priest had gripped so hard it was red.

His usual emotionless eyes seemed to flicker with something, then—crunch-crack-pop! A dull rupturing sound echoed.

"Gaaahhh!"

The priest screamed as his arm bent at a grotesque angle.

"Go back and relay this: From today, this child is under Duvered care. If you want to talk about her later, bring at least the Paladin Order."

He shoved the priest aside, then scooped me up gently.

I slurped up the snot threatening to drip from my nose.

"Duke..."

He lightly rubbed my tear-streaked cheek as I sniffled, furrowing his brows.

"You're ugly."

He always said stuff like that. It was just that the tears kept making my face a total mess.

"You might look decent after washing your face."

He pulled me tight against his chest and patted my back. Then, without a second thought, he turned and headed back into the castle.