Chapter 3

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 3

Chapter Title: On the Duke's Side

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"Such a gentle little thing."

The retainers chuckled heartily before diving into a heated discussion.

All the while, I sat obediently on the duke's lap, only speaking up when they asked about stories I'd heard from the temple or the imperial palace.

Soon enough, the meeting wrapped up.

The retainers departed one by one, and the last to remain—the grandfatherly one—approached me.

"Thank you for sharing such valuable insights."

'Thanks? It's all for my own good.'

I harbored plenty of grudges against the church that had branded me the fake Child of Destiny, then washed their hands of me and tossed me to the sacrificial altar the moment the real one appeared.

On top of that, there was no way I could dig up Oriharcon from the monster-infested ancient highlands in this child's body.

"Here, a gift for you."

The grandfather held out a piece of candy to me.

Still nestled in Duke Duvered's lap, I slyly extended my hand and snatched just the candy.

'If I weren't so shy, I might've even let him pat my head.'

Even so, I could manage a wave goodbye to Grandfather.

"Bye-bye."

Grandfather beamed from ear to ear. "Daughters really are the cutest," he said as he left the meeting room.

Now, only the duke and I remained in the room.

He watched me intently as I fumbled with the candy wrapper, grunting in frustration. Then, with a flick, he snatched it away.

Stunned, I froze, my eyes darting back and forth between my empty hand and the duke holding my candy.

And just like that, I felt utterly devastated.

My candy...

You jerk! Stealing candy from a baby like a total cheat!

Duke Duvered annoyingly peeled off the wrapper in one smooth motion. And then...

"Mouth."

Was he going to give it to me?

'Maybe he's not that bad after all.'

No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than the duke pinched both my cheeks with his hands.

The pressure forced my mouth open like a guppy's, and he popped the candy right in.

'...Jerk.'

Still, the candy was delicious.

He tapped my now-puffed-up cheeks.

"Even back in the capital, if someone gives you candy, will you spill my family's secrets?"

"No."

"Why not?"

Why would I tell people in the capital? The palace, the church, the other ducal houses—they'd all tormented me.

But I couldn't explain all that in detail, so I summed it up simply.

"'Cause I'm on your side, Duke."

So far, House Duvered was the only one that hadn't left me with painful memories.

These past few days' worth of recollections ought to help me endure at least four times the suffering I'd face back in the capital.

The candy had been so sweet.

The blankets so cozy.

Lea's lullabies so soothing.

And Duke Duvered wasn't the monstrous villain everyone made him out to be.

—Or so I thought, gazing up at him.

'Huh?'

Was that a smile on his lips just now?

At that moment, Lea entered to fetch me.

"Little one—oh, my lord."

Lea, who had come in beaming at the sight of me, froze mid-step and bowed her head.

The duke set me down on the table and rose to his feet.

"See to it she doesn't wander about making noise."

"Yes, my lord."

Sure enough, a cold-blooded man like him couldn't possibly have smiled.

Back in my room, I stood before the sofa table, utterly absorbed in my block tower.

'Almost... one more and it'll be twelve layers high.'

One more.

Just one more!

The maids, who had been watching me play with motherly smiles, were now chattering away.

"Really?"

"Yes."

As Lea nodded, the maids covered their gaping mouths with their hands.

"Goodness gracious."

"No way."

"Is the sun rising in the west? His Lordship worrying about the little one?"

Who was worrying about me?

I jolted in shock, as if struck by lightning, and my hand slipped. Down came the blocks in a crash.

I yelped in surprise, and Lea rushed over at once.

"It's all right, little one. We can just build it back up. Here we go."

The kind Lea gathered the scattered blocks and stacked them slowly for me.

"Lea, tell us more."

"Yes, how exactly was His Lordship worrying?"

Yeah, yeah—spill it.

How was he supposedly worrying about me?

Lea stacked blocks on my behalf as she spoke.

"He said it's dangerous at night, so take good care of the little one."

How on earth did she twist "don't let her wander making noise" into that?

I was utterly amazed by her positive spin on things.

"So, will he adopt her?"

"That would be wonderful. The young masters would be thrilled to have a little sister."

'Ah, the three young masters of House Duvered.'

They had been famous since childhood, and even more so as adults.

All three boasted striking looks, martial prowess, intellect, and icy personalities.

I'd never met them, but their names were drilled into my head.

In the future, they'd be called by an even more frequent title.

'Mina's brothers.'

As cold and indifferent to others as the duke himself, they were sweet as honey to Mina.

It was a famous tale how all three had stormed a foreign kingdom and razed it when Mina was kidnapped abroad.

'Especially the eldest, tangled in a love triangle with the crown prince over Mina.'

"But would adoption really be good for the little one?"

"What?"

"Think about it. His Lordship even drew his sword on the late duke. Adopting her from another ducal house might not be emotionally healthy for—"

"Linda!"

Lea snapped sharply, and the maid flinched, hunching her shoulders.

Lea glared at the maid and gestured for the other servants to leave.

Then she took my hand gently and said,

"His Lordship isn't a bad man."

"..."

"He just doesn't keep people close due to complicated circumstances, which leads to misunderstandings."

"..."

"He's not the heartless monster people say. He loved and cherished Lady Duvered deeply. If she hadn't passed during childbirth, the little one might have had a wonderful mother..."

Lea's eyes darkened with sorrow.

'Childbirth?'

The duchess had been pregnant with their fourth child?

I'd never heard that, even before my regressions.

Either way, I felt sorry for the duke.

'The duchess and the child both lost during birth...'

No wonder he'd turned as cold as winter frost. How could anyone live properly after losing two beloved people?

"I hope the little one doesn't fear His Lordship."

"Yeah."

"And that she gains a good father."

"Yeah."

Lea scooped me up carefully and stroked my back with gentle hands.

"Such a sweet little thing."

Her whisper was tender in my ear, and the breeze drifting through the window was cool.

Thanks to that, I leaned my face against Lea's shoulder and drifted off to sleep.

I didn't wake until the dead of night, then buried my head under the pillow, groaning.

'I'm starving!'

I'd wracked my brain recalling pre-regression memories, like paying off room rent, and skipped dinner entirely.

Lea and the maids must have let me sleep soundly without waking me.

I considered waiting till morning, but the hunger was unbearable.

'All I've had since afternoon is that one candy and a glass of juice.'

My already frayed rationality hit rock bottom from the gnawing emptiness.

My mind was consumed by the terror of starvation I'd felt across countless regressions.

Back as the daughter of House Ballua, locked in the attic for days, the cold stares of the servants when I finally burst out from hunger.

As a beggar child, the agony of starving near death.

'I've got to find food myself.'

In the end, instinct took over. I slipped cautiously down from the bed.

Grunting, I pushed open the massive door and stepped into the dimly lit corridor.

Swallowing my fear of the dark, I made it to the kitchen—only to find the door locked.

'Darn it.'

I wandered the castle again.

It took ages, but I finally spotted a half-eaten loaf of bread in the servants' lounge.

It was stale and broken off unevenly, like someone had abandoned it mid-bite, but I was just glad to find something edible.

Hugging the bread to my chest, I dashed joyfully down the corridor.

'Hurry back to my room and—'

"Eek!"

Distracted by the bread, I slammed into something hard and tumbled down.

I looked up at what I'd hit and gasped, hastily hiding the bread behind my back.

Duke Duvered stared down at me with icy eyes.

In the night, he looked utterly terrifying—my hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.

Suddenly, I recalled Mina chattering away, chin propped on Duke Amities's knee.

[...So the long-haired guy stole bread and got, uh, executed or something!]

Jean Valjean.

Right, that was the name.

What happened to that Jean Valjean for stealing bread?

[He was sentenced to death!]

Mina's innocent voice echoed in my head, and all color drained from my face.

"What are you doing in my castle?"

"..."

"All that cleverness unbecoming of a child—was it because the Empress Dowager sent you as a spy to probe my house?"

"..."

I swallowed hard despite myself. Duke Duvered, unleashing his full menacing aura, was no one I could handle.

Unable to answer from sheer terror, he murmured lowly.

"Child of Destiny."

"N-no... y-yes...!"

"I hate liars."

"..."

"Especially those who feign innocence with flimsy claims of loyalty to me."

He stroked his sharp jaw languidly, continuing in a drawling tone.

"Every one of them ended up with their mouths torn."

My back shuddered.

The duke bent slightly at the waist toward me.

"What should I do with a little rat pup like you?"

I flung myself flat in panic, curling up as small as a loaf of bread and clasping my hands together.

"S-s-sorwy... I did bad!"

"What for?"

"Stole it..."

"Money?"

"..."

"Holy relic?"

"..."

"Military secrets?"

"..."

"Then."

His eyes gleamed blue in the darkness, truly frightening. Sobbing, I held it out.

"Bwead..."