Chapter 23

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 23

Chapter Title: Strawberries and Secrets

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A few days later, rumors spread that Duke Teramore had lost his mind.

I sneaked around in front of the underground dungeon to verify the truth.

'Since Teramore started suspecting my real identity because of what happened with Henri, it's better this way if he snaps.'

I paced back and forth for a while when Viscount Dubos, the man in charge of the dungeon's tortures, emerged from below.

"Little One."

"Hewwo!"

I bowed my head and snuck a peek at the dungeon door.

"Is Gwamps Teramore still getting punished?"

It was my way of asking if it was true he'd lost his mind.

"No, he's gone completely mad, so they chopped off his ankles and tossed him into the labor camp—something like that."

Viscount Dubos gave an awkward laugh and waved his hands.

"The torture's over. He won't be doing any more evil deeds now."

I let out a "Wow~!" and Viscount Dubos looked at me fondly, like I was just the cutest thing.

'I was wondering how to handle things since Henri's incident made it obvious I'm not your average kid, but talk about a timely gift.'

After parting ways with Viscount Dubos, I skipped along happily.

With that scumbag who reminded me of Duke Ballua gone, the castle—which was beautiful to begin with—seemed even more stunning.

'Ah, yeah, you really should deal with stress right away.'

The servants smiled and greeted me as I walked by in high spirits.

"Hello, Little One. You seem extra cheerful today. Where are you off to?"

"Going to get a snackie."

Lea had been spoiling me with snacks lately.

The maids had been furious after seeing me get shoved around by Duke Teramore.

[What a trash heap of a man.]

[We should beat him to death.]

[That bastard!]

Amid the maids pouring out their vicious curses, Lea stayed quiet.

Only after another maid asked why Lady Lea wasn't saying anything did she slowly stand up.

Grabbing a kitchen knife.

[I'll go kill Teramore real quick.]

If the other maids, terrified their boss might become a murderer, hadn't desperately talked her out of it, she might have actually gone through with it.

'Those eyes were dead serious.'

Remembering Lea from back then, I shuddered for a moment.

After unleashing a torrent of profanity, the maids hugged me tight and burst into sobs. Then, one of them suddenly realized something.

[What if this gives the Little One trauma?]

[What?]

[You know how it happens sometimes? Kids who can't trust anyone their whole lives because of childhood trauma.]

I figured getting shoved once wouldn't do that to me, but the maids were trembling in fear.

And every day since, they'd chant like a mantra things like "The Little One is precious," "Bad guys get divine punishment, the Little One is precious," while offering me snacks.

'It's a bit overwhelming, but the snacks are great.'

Humming a little tune, I headed back to my room.

'Today's snack is that sweet peach preserves pie, right?'

I plopped down excitedly in my chair, and the maids encircled me, starting their usual chant.

"The Little One is kind."

"And smart."

"And a precious person."

I nodded along as usual, thinking, 'Mina said this sounds like lines from some movie.'

I waited expectantly for my snack, but something felt off.

No matter how long I waited, no snack came, and the maids started brushing my hair instead.

I tugged at maid Dalia's sleeve and asked, "Snackie?"

"You'll have your snack this afternoon. You're eating lunch early today since you'll be dining with the master."

Why!

I pouted sadly.

Not only was snack time delayed, but dining with the duke...!

He'd looked absolutely terrifying when I glimpsed him yesterday.

Maybe it was all the nonstop meetings where he clashed with his vassals, leaving him no time to breathe, but his usual fierce aura seemed even more intimidating.

"That's no fun. No fun at all."

Aww, I sighed and got up, rummaging through my elephant bag.

Better pack some digestive aids ahead of time.

***

When I arrived at the dining hall, the duke was already seated at the head of the table. Food was laid out before him.

As I went to take my seat, Ishak arrived at about the same time as me.

"Greetings, Your Grace."

Ishak bowed at the waist, and the duke gave a slight nod in return.

'Ishak's here. Does that mean Henri might show up too?'

Right on cue, the grand doors of the dining hall swung open, and someone entered.

"Greetings, Your Grace."

Henri appeared in his usual impeccable, elegant attire without a single flaw, bowing toward the duke.

"Mm."

The duke responded with a grunt instead of words, and Henri lifted his head, approaching the table.

'Is he okay now?'

While the castle had been caught in a storm, Henri had holed up in his room.

Even his personal attendants were barred from entering, so all we'd heard in drips and drabs from servants delivering meals or the doctor was that he was recovering.

'His arm... yeah, it looks better.'

That had been the worst injury, so I'd been worried.

I sat in my seat, sneaking glances at the duke and Henri.

The last time I'd seen the two of them together was when the duke had been yelling about Teramore's abuse, and Henri had run off.

'Has their relationship gotten even worse?'

As I worried, Henri spoke up.

"I'd like to take a leave from the Royal Academy and receive my education in the territory for the time being."

'Huh?'

With all eyes on him after the Teramore incident, he wanted to stick around here?

I was shocked, but the duke casually moved his knife and asked,

"Reason?"

"There'll be all sorts of rumors flying around. I judged it'd be better to stay in the territory and handle things myself."

Only then did the duke look at Henri steadily. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Fine."

And that was the end of their conversation.

Everyone else was watching them tensely, but the two involved seemed utterly unfazed.

I wanted to bang my chest in frustration.

'No matter how shitty your upbringing was, isn't this too much, Duvereds?'

I understood the duke and Henri, of course.

Both had grown up under a family head even trashier than Duke Ballua. The duke had nearly been killed by his own blood kin multiple times at Henri's age, and Henri had endured years of abuse.

'Even so, don't they know anything about family?'

How could they know even less than me, who'd gone four lifetimes without any blood relatives?

I shot the duke a fiery glare, and feeling my stare, he looked down at the strawberry speared on his fork.

"You sure love sweets. Here, have it."

Mistaking my intense gaze for wanting the strawberry, he placed it on my plate.

But Henri kept nagging at me.

He didn't seem thrilled about my attention, but kids needed a certain level of nosiness from others.

Especially a kid like Henri, with a gaping hole in his heart.

'What should I do?'

As I pondered, I quickly tugged at the duke's lapel and said,

"Henri wikes stwawbewwies too."

"......"

No, Your Grace, your son likes strawberries!

The duke just stared blankly without responding, so I repeated myself.

"Henri wikes stwawbewwies."

"......"

"Henri, stwawbewwy!"

Frustrated, I blurted it out louder than intended, and for some reason, the duke flinched.

He glanced at Henri, then slowly moved his fork.

And then.

"......"

"......"

Henri's gaze trembled faintly as he looked at the strawberry the duke had placed on his plate.

Neither showed any change in expression, but an awkward air flowed between them.

When I tugged the duke's lapel again, he paused in silence before saying,

"......Eat."

"......Thank... you."

I felt pleased.

'Good, good.'

It wouldn't tear down the wall between the duke and Henri, but I hoped it made things a little better.

Beaming happily, I alternated glances between them.

The duke looked like he was asking if that was enough, so I grinned and told him,

"Ishaku too."

No favoritism.

"......"

"Ishaku toooo."

The duke awkwardly moved again, placing a strawberry on Ishak's plate.

***

After finishing the meal and leaving the dining hall, I rubbed my belly.

'I was so distracted, I didn't eat enough.'

I considered asking Lea for more food but shook my head.

Today's snack was the sweet peach preserves pie—I'd wait for that.

'What should I do until snack time?'

In my first and second lives, I'd desperately wished for even a single day of rest, but now my biggest life dilemma was "What should I play?"

'This place really is paradise.'

I walked along, deep in serious thought.

That's when I noticed a door at the end of the first-floor corridor swinging open.

'Huh?'

Duvered Manor was divided into the east and west wings.

The east wing housed administrative offices, the grand conference hall, the first library, and other areas where outsiders came and went.

The west wing, on the other hand, was reserved solely for Duvered blood kin.

It contained the duke's bedroom and the young masters' rooms.

And the door connecting the east and west wings at the end of the first-floor corridor was always kept closed.

'The west wing, huh. Wonder what it's like?'

Since I'd been adopted, I'd have to move to the west wing soon, but my room there was still under construction, so I was staying in the east wing's guest quarters for now.

I'd never been to the west wing, so my curiosity was piqued.

'My room'll be there anyway, so it should be fine to take a peek, right?'

I glanced around stealthily, crossed the corridor, and opened the door to the west wing.

"Whoa......"

An exclamation slipped out before I knew it.

The east wing was impressive too, of course, but it had a heavy, imposing vibe suited for outsiders.

The west wing had a completely different charm.

Polished marble in warm tones gleamed iridescently, reflecting the sunlight pouring in through the wide windows.

Trees planted at the end of each corridor somehow filled the air with a pleasant fragrance.

'It's like a fairy king's palace.'

While I wandered around in a daze taking it all in, I spotted a passageway without an arched door. I peeked inside.

'A painting?'

It was a massive portrait covering an entire wall.

But it seemed too shabby for something belonging to Duvered Manor.

A small crystal was embedded at the top center of the frame, and it looked terribly worn.

The face filling the canvas belonged to an elderly man. Gray hair thinned with age, wrinkles creasing his face everywhere, but he was elegant and handsome.

"Who is it?"

As I muttered to myself—