Chapter 14

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: Leblain Duvered

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In the meantime, the priest slumped to the ground, and one of Duke Duvered's knights grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and tossed him into the carriage like a sack of trash.

Once we entered the castle, the Duvered retainers couldn't hide their delight.

"Oh, Little One. You've had a hard day."

The butler reached out for me, but I quickly wrapped my arms around the duke's neck.

"Ah, Little One..."

The old butler's eyes welled up with tears.

It wasn't revenge for him stopping Lea from rescuing me from the priest earlier.

I was already shy around strangers, and the priest's rough handling had scared me so badly that it dragged up memories of my miserable life before regression.

Now even familiar adult men terrified me.

Above all, those pre-regression memories had come flooding back so vividly that my mind overloaded, leaving me with nothing but childish thoughts.

As the butler staggered away in shock from my rejection, Lea and the maids clustered around me.

The maids began to soothe me with gentle voices.

"The master has just returned, so he needs to bathe and change his clothes."

"No."

"Aren't you a good girl?"

"No."

"Come here, Little One."

"No!"

Just leave me alone. This embrace is the only thing that calms me. My heart's pounding like crazy.

It seemed because this man had saved me from that terrifying situation.

The retainers tried to pry me away from the duke, but I clung to his neck with all my might.

Lea looked at me with worry, then glanced at the duke.

"M-Master... The Little One was so frightened... She's been asking for you the whole time. She's usually so good... Um... Just for today, or half a day, or even a few hours..."

Lea pleaded desperately, practically biting her tongue. The duke, chin propped on his hand, gazed down at me.

"Everyone out. I'll keep her with me."

Lea's face lit up instantly, but the duke crooked the corner of his mouth slyly.

"What a nuisance."

"Pardon?"

"She likes me too much."

The duke smirked and asked,

"Doesn't she?"

Lea answered with a strained expression.

"Ah, y-yes... That's right..."

I stared at the duke in disbelief.

Anyone would think I was throwing a tantrum every day to stay with him.

As I thought that, the retainers ebbed away like the tide.

Alone with the duke at last, I let out a deep "Ah~h" of a sigh and snuggled into his chest like a squirrel. My chubby cheeks squished up against him, but it felt safe.

'Still, I am grateful for today.'

If not for Duke Duvered, I would have been helplessly adopted into House Ballua and doomed to repeat my misfortunes in this second life.

When I peeked up at him, he was looking down at me.

Suddenly, those words from earlier echoed in my mind.

[Hands off my daughter.]

My daughter.

He'd called me his daughter.

'Then...'

I wriggled my hands and sneaked glances at his face.

"Otay stay hewe?"

But the duke gave no reply. Was it just empty words out of resentment for the church barging in without permission?

Anxious, I started mumbling.

"Just wittle... then socks on soon..."

"......"

"Eat just wittle food..."

"......"

"Be good giwl. And, and..."

"Stay here."

I blinked, and he brushed the sweat-damp hair behind my ear.

"I'll adopt you."

It was strange. His face was as impassive as ever, his voice dry, yet it felt so incredibly soft.

Crackle, crackle. The sound of logs burning in the fireplace echoed softly in my ears.

The large hand stroking my back moved with exquisite gentleness.

The frost on the windowpanes began to melt bit by bit in the room's warmth.

"Sleep."

"......"

"You can sleep, Leblain."

I fell into slumber as if by magic.

In my sleep, I missed the message the butler delivered to the duke.

The sons of House Duvered were heading here.

A few days later.

I lay on my belly on the rug, kicking my legs back and forth.

"Dwaw! Hewe, hewe!"

"Yes, yes. I'll draw it."

Lea chuckled and picked up the crayon.

<Leblain Duvered>

I held up the sketchbook triumphantly, gazing at my name in ecstasy.

Leblain Duvered.

Duvered.

'Success!'

I cheered inwardly.

When the priest arrived, I'd thought it was all over, but now my name was officially entered into the family register at Duvered Castle.

'The Duvereds are something else.'

To adopt me peacefully even after snapping a Neriad priest's arm.

It was the emperor himself who calmed the frothing priests who insisted no Child of Destiny could be entrusted to such a violent duke.

'Must've taken a bribe.'

Ah, the sweet taste of capital.

No more sleepless nights worrying about being dragged to Ballua or Amities.

'Just grow up here for five years.'

Before the real Child of Destiny, Mina, appears and I'm abandoned alone.

Around ten years old, I should be able to control my 'adult thinking' enough to leave.

'Stay quiet and out of sight. Save up some traveling money bit by bit.'

As I set the sketchbook down, something shiny caught my eye.

A button from the maid's uniform dangled precariously from a loose thread.

"Fall off."

"Oh dear, you're right. I'll have to sew it back on."

"Button pwease."

I clasped my hands politely and drooped my eyebrows.

'Buttons fetch a good price when collected and sold.'

"A fallen button? Sure, I'll give it..."

The maid fiddled with it as she replied, but Lea shook her head sternly.

"No. What if she puts it in her mouth."

The maid smiled awkwardly at Lea's words.

"Ah... What to do, Little One. No buttons for you."

Thirty high-grade buttons like those on Duvered uniforms could net three francs—enough for two potatoes.

Desperate, I switched to ultimate attack mode.

I held out my clasped hands with wide, sparkling eyes.

"Pwease."

The maids' faces turned resolute, like soldiers on the battlefield, and they yanked buttons from their collars with a pop.

One, two, three, four, five.

'Five already!'

Lea tried to snatch them, saying, "You girls." I quickly clenched my fists tight.

"No eat."

Even so, Lea looked worried.

Then one maid stepped forward, tore the loose thread with grim determination like a soldier heading to war, and neatly rethreaded the buttonhole.

She shot Lea a look that said 'Mission accomplished.'

"She can't eat them now."

Even Lea was speechless this time.

"Uh... yeah, true."

I was a bit startled too, but glad to have the buttons.

'Great start.'

I'll stash them in the elephant bag when the maids aren't looking.

Lea smiled helplessly at my excitement over the buttons.

Just then, several pairs of shoes hurried past the slightly ajar door.

"Duke Teramore and his lackeys. Things are about to get busy."

"Wonder what fault they're here to nitpick this time. Aren't they afraid of the master?"

"They're founding retainers who helped start House Duvered, so the master can't just execute them easily. In some ways, trickier than blood kin."

The maids grumbled, and Lea's gaze darkened.

"Take good care of the Little One. Nothing good comes from catching those eyes."

The maids bowed their heads.

After noon, the maids dispersed to their duties.

"I'll bring lunch. Will you be good?"

"Yes."

Even Lea left, giving me a brief moment alone.

'Buttons: one, two, three... five.'

As I counted today's haul, a sudden gaze made me turn my head.

'Eek!'

Outside the window, a white-haired, white-bearded old man stared at me with an odd look.

'Thought it was a ghost.'

I pressed my pounding chest and peered at the window.

'Huh?'

Something familiar.

'Did I see him before regression?'

The white-haired elder's lips slowly curled into a grin, revealing rotten fangs that sent a chill down my spine.

Unpleasant, yet oddly familiar.

'Where have I seen him?'

As I racked my brain, a voice came from outside.

"Duke Teramore."

Teramore—the one Lea and the maids mentioned.

The old man replied without taking his eyes off me.

"Yes."

"His Grace says his heavy duties make it hard to spare time."

"Every time this old man visits, his duties are always so pressing."

"You always come unannounced, so it's hard to make room."

The one speaking to Duke Teramore was Nos.

Nos's face was stiffer than usual.

Duke Teramore clicked his tongue and nodded.

"Can't be helped. Then may I at least see the Little One?"

Nos flinched at me inside and tried to block the window with his body.

"She's very shy. Not yet used to House Duvered, so perhaps arrange a time later."

"I thought I'd catch a whiff of baby milk after so long."

He chuckled wryly and muttered, "What a shame," before leaving.

Nos sighed in relief, like after a great ordeal. Seizing the moment, I grabbed the windowsill and stood on tiptoe.

Popping my face out, Nos's eyes widened as he looked up.

"Hewwo!"

"Little One..."

He beamed.

Good, good. Kids who greet well are popular with adults.

'Nos is high up in House Duvered, better win him over more.'

I stretched my arms out and shouted,

"Hug!"

"Sh-Should I?"

He opened the window and scooped me up. I plastered myself to his chest.

"Nice day for a walk, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Having fun with the maids today?"

"Yes!"

My loud reply delighted him.

"Such a good responder. Alright, a fun game for the good Little One. Up you go—high, high!"

Nos lifted me high into the air repeatedly.

'Oh, this is fun.'

I giggled wildly.

Then.

"You two look cozy."

A chilling voice came from behind Nos.

"Gasp."

Nos froze, still holding my side.

"Y-Your Grace."

"Having a grand time. With my daughter."