Chapter 2

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 2

Chapter Title: Clinging to the Duke

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The woman who led me to the bathroom smiled warmly as she carefully peeled off my uncomfortable, frilly clothes.

"Call me Lea, little one."

"Yeah."

"Now we're going to have some fun playing in the warm water. Excited?"

"Yeah."

"Aww, such a good girl."

"Yeah."

Lea patted my back affectionately, as if I were the cutest thing ever, and began filling the tub.

Soon, more maids entered, and my full bath began.

It was so relaxing just sitting in the warm water—they handled everything perfectly.

The only hard part was resisting the urge to play with the fluffy bubbles.

'Gotta behave.'

Fussy kids get hated.

I knew from experience as Duke Ballua's daughter that a child without parental attention needed the servants' help to survive.

The maids' hands moved swiftly and skillfully, so holding still while they washed my hair wasn't too bad.

'Duke Duvered might be a villain, but he's not trash like Duke Ballua.'

He hadn't hit me and even assigned a servant.

Duke Duvered's favorability, which had hit rock bottom, ticked up just a tiny bit.

After the bath, Lea dressed me in soft, cozy clothes.

The outfit the Empress Dowager's maid had put on me was flashy but scratchy and oversized—terribly uncomfortable. This one felt amazing.

As Lea buttoned me up, the maids started chattering.

"Do you think the master will really adopt her?"

"Even if it's the Empress Dowager's order, he's not one to follow blindly."

"But she's the Child of Destiny."

"Well, that's the thing..."

The maid glanced at the door and whispered.

"There are rumors the oracle was misinterpreted. They say the divine power in her body is far too weak."

That was why Duke Ballua had abused me without a second thought.

Lots of people didn't believe I was the Child of Destiny.

'And they were right—I was a fake.'

The maids' gossip continued as I thought it over.

"Plus, Duke Duvered's on bad terms with the Papal Court. I doubt adoption will—"

"Enough."

Lea cut them off sternly.

"This isn't talk for in front of the little one."

She shot them a glare to drive the point home, then handed me a mug.

"Here, drink up."

Her gentle tone put me slightly at ease.

If the servants ignored me like they did back in my Duke Ballua days, life would be tough. Luckily, Lea, the head servant, was kind to children.

If the others bullied me, she might step in.

'Lea seems like a good person. And she's feeding me.'

Curious about what they'd serve in Duvered territory, I peered into the cup—and my eyes went wide as saucers.

'Oh my god, it's chocolate.'

Chocolate was an extravagantly expensive luxury that could make your eyes pop.

In my previous life as a beggar gang member, I'd never even seen the stuff.

The Amities household in my first life had shunned luxuries in line with their master's frugality.

Duke Ballua, who abused me, certainly wouldn't have given me any.

I'd only tasted it occasionally when visiting the palace to see the Empress Dowager or stopping by the Papal Court.

The first sip hit me with overwhelming emotion—my shoulders trembled.

Sweetness flooded my mouth. The texture on my tongue was carpet-soft, and a bittersweet aroma rushed up my nose.

'Ah, I could regress right now and be happy...'

Lea watched me gulp it down like a fish snapping at bait, finding it adorable, then gently wiped the chocolate smeared around my mouth.

"Shall we go see the master now?"

I regretted not scraping the last bits from the mug with the spoon, but I followed her obediently.

'Gotta be good, be good.'

Compared to my past lives, this place was paradise, and I loved it here.

No one ignored me.

They even assigned a servant who seemed too kind to harm a child.

And a full mug of chocolate, no less.

Perfect conditions to stick around until exile!

'But the duke won't adopt me easily.'

Rumors called him a cold-blooded man without blood or tears. And from what I'd seen, they weren't wrong.

'Still, I can't just sit back.'

I didn't want to spend another lifetime beaten to death by Duke Ballua.

Nor starve in a beggar gang.

'Gotta make Duke Duvered want to adopt me.'

Lea led me, burning with resolve, to the duke's study.

The duke was speaking with two men who looked like aides.

I let go of Lea's hand and toddled over, latching onto the duke's leg.

Lea gasped, covering her mouth in shock, and one flustered aide tried to pry me off.

But I clung like my life depended on it—because it did.

The duke's eyebrow twitched.

"What is this?"

I bounced desperately in front of him, then raised my arms high.

"Hug me pwease."

His narrowed eyes flashed with displeasure and bewilderment. I couldn't help shrinking back.

'But I don't want to die miserably again.'

I didn't want to regress.

I'll eat just a little.

I won't dare wish to be loved again.

'So please—'

As he grabbed the collar near my neck and lifted me with a mutter of "Don't mess around...", I lunged, wrapping my arms around his neck and rubbing my cheek against his.

"Wuv duke!"

The duke froze in place.

The empire of Wigzentra held the world's most vast territory.

Its power structure could be broadly divided like this.

Neriad State Religion.

Imperial Family.

Five Great Ducal Houses.

These three formed an equilateral triangle, checking each other or uniting for the empire's prosperity.

This balance shifted dramatically when I turned fifteen.

The Five Great Ducal Houses were pushed out, leaving only one: the Duvered Ducal House.

Duvered territory's castle was a marvel of grandeur.

Towers too many and tall for my child eyes to count.

Flawless, glossy stone floors and hexagonal pillars etched with intricate patterns.

Opulent chandeliers dominating from the ceiling.

Treasure-filled display cases lining the walls.

Endless forests encircling the main keep and countless towers to the east, west, and north.

And so on.

The master of this colossal castle, Duke Duvered, was no pushover.

Even my desperate charms hadn't earned adoption. The silver lining? It wasn't a total failure.

'He didn't adopt me, but he let me stay a while!'

He'd ordered rest for the child weary from the long carriage ride.

'Hey, that's something.'

I might've been shipped back to Ballua otherwise.

I covered my mouth with my tiny cream-puff fist and giggled.

The room Duke Duvered gave me was perfect.

A fluffy bed with warm, cozy blankets, plus toys and playmates galore—no boredom allowed.

Ten days into my stay in this castle, I was faithfully paying my rent.

"What else did 'hat uncle' say?"

"Oriharcon in old highlands."

"Oriharcon!"

I spilled everything I'd heard from the temple priests.

Perched on the duke's knee, I beamed at his excited retainers.

"Truly astonishing. How is she so clever?"

"She must be the Child of Destiny."

"Indeed."

The retainers chuckled heartily.

Guilt pricked me, and I averted my eyes slyly.

'Actually, I'm a fake Child of Destiny.'

I couldn't freely access pre-regression memories whenever I wanted.

A baby's underdeveloped brain made me impulsive, forcing childish behavior.

Deep adult thinking exhausted me—days of sleep or ravenous hunger followed.

Like getting tired from tension or hungry from mental strain.

Worse, it worked both ways: hunger or sleepiness turned me fully baby-like.

Being able to think this much normally must be divine grace.

'No need for grace—just stop the regressions.'

As I pouted in thought, a retainer reached to pet my head—startled, I yelped and dangled from the duke's neck.

'Eek, you scared me.'

A stranger touching me!

"The little one is quite shy."

The elderly retainer laughed heartily, and the other sheepishly withdrew his hand.

"Shy, yet clings to Your Grace."

"Other children burst into tears under your presence."

"She only shares temple and imperial tales from your knee."

It wasn't intentional.

Sharing those stories was my rent.

Sticking to the duke's knee stemmed from Duke Ballua's abuse—I was terrified of adult men.

'Come to think of it, that's weird. Why no fear of Duke Duvered?'

Probably my will to live without dying miserably again.

Get close to the duke, and he'll let me stay longer.

"Come down and sit."

The duke said.

"Yeah," I replied, climbing right back onto his knee.