Chapter 4

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 4

Chapter Title: A Mountain of Candy

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Sniffle.

Sniffle sniffle.

Sniffle sniffle sniffle.

I gobbled the cookies, tears and snot pouring down my face.

They tasted so heavenly while I chewed that my mind blanked out, but every swallow brought the sadness crashing back, tears spilling endlessly.

Duke Duvered was a total sleaze.

Can't a baby eat one leftover piece of bread? And he flipped out over that?

I shot a resentful glare at Duke Duvered, seated across from me.

Lea, who had brought the cookies at the duke's order, spoke in a flustered tone.

"You fell asleep early and missed dinner. So......"

"So you went scavenging bread tossed out by the servants."

"......"

Lea's face drained of color. She bit her lip hard and bowed her head, looking utterly guilt-ridden.

But Lea had done nothing wrong.

'You can't just wake a sleeping baby and force-feed her.'

Once my belly felt somewhat full, I reached out toward Lea.

"Wanna go......"

The uneaten cookies tugged at my heart, but I squeezed my eyes shut and forced my gaze from the plate.

I couldn't bear watching sweet Lea get chewed out by that jerk!

Just then, the duke reached out, and I swiftly hugged Lea's arm.

The hand extending the remaining cookies halted abruptly in midair.

"......"

"......"

"......"

A breeze whistled over the table holding the cookie plate and milk.

"Why's this kid—who used to cling like glue—acting up now?"

"......She seems frightened from the scolding earlier."

Lea was spot on. I'd been utterly terrified by the duke's threat moments ago. Even the darkening of his gaze made my heart thump wildly.

The duke eyed me strangely, heightening my fear. So I whined to Lea,

"Wanna go back..."

Lea cooed at me with a troubled look until, suddenly resolute, she bit her lip.

"M-Master!"

"......"

"The little one needs to finish her meal, so p-please head back now......!"

Her voice rang like a lone knight charging an army.

The duke stared straight at me, and I fidgeted behind Lea's arm.

He nodded shortly after. Lea bowed hastily and scooped me up.

Rushing from the room, she exhaled deeply. Her face was ghostly pale, lips quivering.

As a servant of Duke Duvered, Lea must have witnessed his ruthlessness firsthand.

That man showed no mercy—not even to parents or siblings—if they so much as slipped up.

How terrifying it must have been to demand anything of him like that.

'Ah, sweet Lea.'

Moved to tears, I nuzzled my face against her arm.

Lea carried me back to my room and fetched some food: warm milk porridge studded with chestnuts.

I polished off two full bowls before patting my plump belly.

Only then did I notice the dark circles of exhaustion under Lea's eyes.

I wiggled my hands and said,

"Sowwy fow keep gettin' hungwy..."

Lea pulled me into a hug, her face on the verge of tears.

"Don't say that. Babies need to eat plenty and sleep plenty."

Forcing a smile, she tucked me into bed and drew the blanket up to my chin.

"Sweet dreams, little one."

After stuffing myself and sleeping like a log, my wits finally returned.

"Wea! Wuv you!"

Feeling bad about last night, I unleashed my killer aegyo on Lea.

The maids squealed at the sight of my chubby arms—looking like linked sausages—wrapped around Lea's waist.

Even Lea's lips quivered with delight.

Then one maid glanced at the doorway, froze stiff, and soon all the maids shot to their feet in a neat line.

'Eek, the jerk.'

Duke Duvered and his adjutant Nos were staring right at me.

I darted behind Lea, peeking out cautiously.

"L-Little one......"

The adjutant and maids called out in panic, but I just shook my head no.

'Yesterday was scary for real.'

His words had felt like knife blades digging into my throat.

The adjutant, dripping cold sweat, said awkwardly,

"Try calling her name sweetly. To win her over."

"......"

The duke stayed silent for ages. He stared at me, frowned briefly, and I shook my head inwardly.

'Uncle Nos, this jerk doesn't even know my name.'

In the past ten days, he'd never once used it. Pony, you, little pest, Child of Destiny—that was it.

He'd clearly never bothered reading the papers from the Empress Dowager.

Then.

"Leblain."

The duke called my name.

He knew it?

I blinked in shock.

It made sense to be surprised—the duke had a infamous tale of forgetting even the name of a lady the palace personally betrothed to him, despite her staying over three months in his territory.

For a man utterly indifferent to others, who saw me as nothing but a nuisance, to remember my name was astonishing.

'Guess he's not totally disinterested.'

Though probably just an ant's drop worth.

The duke spoke to me again.

"Come here."

Everyone in the room turned to me. I hesitated, then edged out slightly.

"Gonna hit?"

"......I've never hit you."

You hit with words. Words.

I eyed him suspiciously, and he thrust something forward.

A lollipop.

"Plenty more where that came from."

"......!"

I toddled over and hugged him tight. An arrogant smirk seemed to curl his lips.

Yeah, from the duke's view, the kid sent by the Empress Dowager sneaking around at night must've spooked him.

Especially one blabbing palace and church secrets.

'Right, that's it. Not just for the candy.'

How many candies could there be?

Rich guy—maybe a casual ten or so.

'Two a day? That's five whole days.'

He scooped me up and strode through the castle.

Vassals and servants gawked slack-jawed, dropping pens and brooms as we passed.

Even I couldn't tell if riding in the duke's arms was dream or reality—it was that surreal.

Finally, he stopped and set me down before a door.

'Candy in here!'

Thrilled, I flung open the door.

And froze, blinking hard.

'500 days' worth......'

The room brimmed with candy. I gulped dryly.

Shock freezes your feet, no matter how thrilled you are.

Carving this revelation into my mind, I peeked at the duke.

Can I really eat all this? It's truly all mine?

He replied to my pleading eyes in a flat tone.

"Eat whatever you want."

'Heavens!'

I bolted to the pile.

Candies in every color, enough to swim in. Packaged cookies, chocolates, marshmallows dotted the hoard.

I crinkled open a shiny gold wrapper and popped the fruit caramel inside.

'......Way too good.'

While I stood stunned, the duke squinted one eye. I hadn't a moment to spare for him.

Do rich folks eat like this every day?

The sweet-tart lump melted silkily in my mouth, fruit syrup caressing my tongue.

'Lucky rich jerks......'

I devoured caramels nonstop. My cheeks puffed and jiggled in my tiny hands with every chew.

One gone in seconds—I grabbed another. A lollipop this time.

As I raised it to my mouth, I sensed an odd gaze and paused, glancing at the duke.

Eating alone feels off.

Beggar days taught me: share even half a bean to build bonds.

I shyly offered it to him.

"Fow you."

He narrowed his eyes, staring oddly.

'What?'

I tilted my head, and only then did he speak slowly.

"You look ridiculous."

"......"

"Cheeks about to burst. Squirrel?"

......Fake an accident and whack him with the candy?

I wavered but recalled my goal and calmed down...

'Get adopted here, live easy, then bail.'

To avoid a pathetic death like my past lives, I needed this jerk's aid.

'Gonna bond so tight snide remarks like that just slip out.'

Hey, I'd survived foster dads and families who loathed me—twice, no less.

Clueless back then, bad ends. But now? Experience leveled up.

'Behold life round four's survival hacks.'

With that inner vow, I dove into his arms.

"Fank you fow candy, Dwuke!"

I rubbed my cheek on his chest with a hee-hee grin, and the duke flinched.