Chapter 143

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 143

Chapter Title: Clash of the Dukes

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Jet-black hair like polished ebony, sharp yet refined eyes.

Stubborn lips that softened for the weak.

Hands marred by calluses and scars from never shying away from hard labor.

The Duke of Amities matched my memories perfectly, without a single discrepancy.

'Why is he here of all places...'

I'd always known we'd cross paths eventually, but I never imagined it'd leave me this flustered.

I stood frozen, staring blankly, until he knelt on one knee and examined me.

"Are you badly hurt?"

"......"

"Let me see."

His large hand reached for my cheek, and I squeezed my eyes shut on instinct.

"Don't touch my daughter."

A familiar voice came from behind me. Startled, I turned to find Dad had arrived at the market street and scooped me up into his arms.

"Theodor."

"I've never permitted you to use my name, Duke Amities."

The two dukes' gazes clashed in the air, with me caught between them.

"You still lack manners."

"And you're still chasing pointless ideals."

He and Dad had been polar opposites from birth.

The House of Amities traced its lineage to a founding hero, one of the emperor's closest allies and the most honored among the meritorious clans. They were hailed across generations as the emperor's shield, guardians of the empire.

In contrast, the House of Duvered might as well have bought their title outright. In the empire's turbulent early days, their ancestor—a moneylender and mercenary captain—donated vast sums to the imperial house and was granted nobility. Even now, they ran those same "lowly" businesses without a hint of shame.

That fundamental difference extended to their personalities as well.

Where the Duke of Amities championed grand principles and justice, Dad embodied ruthless individualism and self-interest.

They were destined to be enemies.

'And they sure act like it.'

"What brings you to the market street? Surely you're not here for the charity event."

"Do I owe you a report on my schedule?"

"Your talent for making conversation unbearable is as sharp as ever."

"And your face alone still manages to grate on people just fine."

Their raw hostility prickled my skin like needles.

I hopped down from Dad's arms, grabbed his pant leg, and tugged.

"Let's go. Okay?"

"......"

Dad furrowed his brow for a moment but turned away from the Duke of Amities without another word and started walking.

'I thought they were about to throw down right here in the street.'

That fear chased away my shock at seeing the duke.

Holding Dad's hand, I skipped along and asked,

"What brings you here, Daddy?"

He glanced around and lowered his voice.

"I heard that guy... the Duke of Amities... was in the capital. And there's a charity event at the market."

The Duke of Amities never missed an event for the common folk, even if he skipped council meetings.

I giggled and swung my free arm.

'He was worried we'd run into each other.'

"I was a little surprised, but I'm fine."

"Did you never cross paths with him in your second or third lives?"

"Nope. In my first life, it was because of me... Ah, I had to train at the papal palace, so he stayed in the capital then. He's not one to visit often otherwise."

Unlike Dad, the Duke of Amities didn't need to come to the capital to wield influence.

First reason: the emperor trusted him like a brother.

His Majesty was desperate to summon him and hand over major responsibilities whenever he appeared.

Second: public sentiment.

He embodied the adage, "A noble's power comes from the people."

Any threat to him would ignite the masses, making it impossible for nobles to touch him. Countless others even sought to use him to curry popular favor.

'He's the hero of the commoners...'

That was when it happened.

"Little One!"

A middle-aged woman came running from behind. Ferma, the only maid in the Amities household.

She bowed to Dad and handed me a medicine kit.

"His Grace the Duke of Amities asked me to convey his apologies for startling you and leaving you unable to walk about freely."

Vincent Amities was that kind of man.

He wouldn't lump a child in with her despised father; he was gentler than anyone to kids and the vulnerable.

A man who trusted in goodwill and acted on it.

That's why he was my one true pride, the object of my lifelong admiration.

My first father—the one I wanted to hate but loved too deeply to manage it.

I reached out to take the kit from Ferma.

"Tell him thank you—"

"I'll see to my own child. Tell him to keep his meddling to himself."

Dad pulled me back and nodded to the rear, where Lea hurried over and pulled out some ointment.

Ferma's expression grew awkward.

"It's a secret family remedy passed down through the Amities house. It's His Grace's kind gesture, so please—"

"The Duvereds have plenty of good medicines too."

Ferma frowned at Lea's retort. Their glares intensified, so I jumped in, waving my hands frantically.

"I'll just use both!"

Ferma's face lit up when I took the Amities ointment.

"Today we'll use the Duvered one."

Now Lea beamed.

I pocketed both jars and tugged Lea's sleeve.

"Let's go!"

Lea, who'd been locked in a staring contest with Ferma, finally replied, "Yes, Little One," and stepped back.

'I need to keep the Duvered folks away from the Amities people.'

One slip and it'd be war.

With that resolve, I let out a quiet sigh.

Dad escorted me near the Hope Merchant Group, then left with Lea and the Duvered retainers to make handling my business easier.

'Sharing secrets sure makes things convenient.'

Grinning, I slipped into the Hope Merchant Group's office through the hidden passage we'd prepared nearby.

"You're here."

"Ceria! You finally made it!"

"I've been away too long. I hope nothing troubling happened in my absence."

"Plenty of trouble... Huh?"

I blinked at the awkward-looking group behind Ceria.

"Are these...?"

"Yes. My brothers. They're sharp kids, so I brought them to help with the merchant group. Introduce yourselves: Hans, Duke, Seto."

Hans, Duke, Seto.

...One, two, three?

I stared in bewilderment, and Ceria smiled brightly.

I'd named the merchant group "Hope" casually since it was for finding the House of Hope orphans, but Ceria's naming sense was on another level...

I should've known when she suggested "Aki Merchant Group" because it was Little One's group.

"Ceria, won't you live here with the kids?"

She gave a wry smile.

"There aren't many siblings left anyway, and raising them takes a fortune. We'll be thrilled if you let us keep working here."

'Works for me!'

Truth be told, I'd worried she might leave.

I nodded and extended my hand.

"Looking forward to it."

"W-We—we're the ones who...!"

Hans, the oldest-looking of the trio, floundered helplessly.

"No need to be so tense."

"B-But you're Little One, and a super high noble, and you saved us, and...!"

Ceria and I chuckled at his trembling.

"Ceria, bring some snacks for the kids."

"Yes. Stay put, you three. No messing up in front of Little One."

Once Ceria left, I told Hans,

"You heard the rules, right? I trust Ceria's picks, but never reveal my identity to anyone."

"I s-swear!"

Hans lifted his collar, revealing the "Oath Seal" that appeared only on those who'd signed Henri's magical contract device.

I stiffened.

"Did the Chairman make you do that?"

"N-No. We insisted."

"You don't understand—that thing... is..."

"We do. If we spill Little One's secret, we die."

"Then why? Do you know what dangers Ceria faced to save you?!"

Hans clenched his pant leg at my stern tone.

"Because of the debt we owe. Little One saved my siblings. As the big brother, I have to repay it."

"No one's asking her brothers to—"

I sighed—

Shatter!!

Heads whipped toward the sharp breaking sound. Duke and Seto looked pale. Hans shot to his feet.

"You two! I told you not to cause trouble!"

"I didn't do it... I just looked, and it moved on its own..."

The youngest, Seto, sniffled. Hans and Duke scrambled to pick up the glass shards with bare hands.

"Stop, stop!"

I yelled and pulled the kids up.

"You'll get cut. Leave it—I'll call someone... Huh?"

This was the rock the mine owner brought when we identified the hidden water source in the depleted mine.

'Just rubble from a mana vein mine after all the stones were extracted...'

Pretty, but worthless trash. Still, the owner insisted it wasn't depleted since he could sell it as souvenirs to commoners and demanded extra pay.

"It moved?"

Seto nodded, and Duke jumped in defensively.

"For real! I just looked at it, and it moved!"

A legend from the water source records flashed in my mind.

[The benevolent spirit that adores pure souls bestowed its blessing upon a young hero, who then slew the monster haunting the spring and uncovered the water source.]

Blessing upon a young hero.

...A blessing only the young could receive!

'That's why it reacted to the kids! Wait, then why not me?'

I'm only nine too?

Then I recalled "benevolent spirit that adores pure souls" and scowled at the rock, feeling like I'd eaten dirt.

"So I'm not pure of soul? Damn it..."

Makes sense—by soul age, I'm no kid.

That was when—

"Little One!"

Ceria and the Chairman burst into the room.

"What happened?"

"A cross mark has appeared on the farmlands in the Enus region. It's the harbinger of a great drought!"

"Already? That can't be..."

The drought shouldn't start for a few more months.

As I frowned, the Chairman said,

"Marquis Nodelli's doing, no doubt. We can't let them go in Marsu either—who knows what he'll say there. Especially since he's openly sharing how he's conjuring disasters. Even Marsu can't release Nodelli now."

"Right. Nodelli lost his diamond mine and is desperate for cash, so he'll go all-in on the water source venture. He can't let go of Marsu's hand. Sneaky bastard..."

"What do we do? If Nodelli clings to Marsu, our plan to extract Marsu intel from him falls apart...!"

I snorted and stood.

"No worries. We've got a blessing on our side. Or more precisely..."

"Pardon?"

I stroked Seto's chubby cheek and said,

"On our cutie here."

"...?"

Ceria and the Chairman exchanged baffled looks as I patted Seto's back.

"Oogoo, my little baby. Time to go find that water source with big sis~?"

Seto's face flushed crimson as he cupped his cheeks and nodded dazedly.

"Y-Yeah... Big sis..."