Chapter 54

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 54

Chapter Title: Daddy

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Henri must have handed the followers over to the castle before coming here with the Duke.

With a tracking spell on me, finding me wouldn't have been too hard.

We all climbed into the carriage together and headed back to the castle.

I was lost in thought the entire time.

'What's going on here.'

Why did Andy know Zachary's tactics?

The boy's name was definitely Andy. It was written right there on the list as Andy.

'Above all, he's genuinely weak.'

He even burst into tears at the thought of getting beaten by the maids.

There was no way he matched up with Zachary, that powerhouse of a knight known for his prudence and thoughtfulness.

As I agonized over it, something cold poked my cheek. It was Ishak.

"Sorry. I was underground, so I didn't hear anything. Should've gotten there faster."

"It's okay."

"...Kid, why do you always say it's okay?"

"Huh?"

"It's okay living in some shithole like that, okay that I couldn't protect you, okay even when I give you gifts."

Ishak looked truly upset.

I'd lived through so many regressions, always scraping by in hardship. I was used to it, so nothing much fazed me anymore.

Life here was genuinely satisfying. If not for the exile preparations, I wouldn't have wished for anything more.

Ishak stared at me intently before slumping his shoulders. Henri's gaze had dimmed too, and the Duke said nothing to console them.

By the time we got out of the carriage, the sun was dipping low.

Ishak and Henri trudged back to their rooms with listless faces, and I couldn't stop worrying about them.

As I fidgeted, the Duke knelt down to meet my eyes.

"Leblain."

"Yes."

"Don't ever do anything dangerous like that again."

He must be mad that I kept getting into trouble.

It wasn't on purpose, but from a guardian's perspective, me nearly getting into danger multiple times had to be a hassle.

I wilted, drooping my brows, and he gave a faint smile.

"I'm just glad you didn't get hurt."

"......"

"Rest up."

With that, the Duke gently ruffled my hair and headed inside the castle.

I touched the spot on my head where his hand had been.

It felt strange.

"......"

My throat kept itching, so I shook my head vigorously. Then I squeezed my eyes shut and ran off in the opposite direction from the Duke.

'No time to worry about this. Gotta find Zachary fast.'

I bolted without looking ahead and crashed into someone.

"Ow......"

It hurt pretty bad, so I was rubbing my forehead when a familiar voice said, "Little One?" It was the steward.

"What brings you here?"

"Gotta prep for exile. Hey, I thought of a knight. So the steward......!"

He stared at me as I clenched my fists and danced around anxiously, his eyes seeming to peer right into my soul.

"Is Little One so worked up because the Duke and young masters returned home today?"

"N-No, not that!"

"It is."

"I said no......"

As I averted my gaze, the steward hummed thoughtfully and peered into my eyes.

"Why has Little One set such a dangerous goal as exile?"

"'Cause things are gonna get risky. When Mina comes, I'll be the sacrifice."

"With Duke Duvered's protection, the situation could be very different from before."

"But it'll change someday anyway."

"Change, you say."

"They just see me as a funny pet."

Their affection was like doting on a stray cat that wandered in. Otherwise, it was weird for them to like me this much when we weren't even blood-related.

How long can you keep adoring someone else's kid? I'm not some sunny child like Mina.

"Little One. Do you know how hard it is to protect someone as special as you have become compared to your past lives?"

"......"

"His Grace has many loyal and talented people at his disposal. Even Eugene Nos is coveted by the imperial court. But he sets them all aside and handles your matters personally."

"......"

"The Theodor Duvered I know wouldn't bother with such hassles for a pet."

I said nothing, and the steward gazed at me quietly before speaking.

"I see now. Exile wasn't a means of survival—it was a self-imposed restraint."

My shoulders jerked up in surprise.

"S-Steward, don't wanna talk......"

"You decided no one was worth trusting since exile was inevitable anyway?"

"Stop it! Don't listen!"

"You're afraid of being abandoned by family again. Better to abandon them first than risk exile failing and facing that danger."

"I said stop!"

"That fear outweighed even the terror of regressing again."

I glared at the steward through misty eyes. I bit my lip to hold back tears and clutched my skirt.

He watched me tremble for a while, then bowed slightly and walked past.

I ran to my room, slammed the door shut, and buried myself in the blankets.

It felt like the box I'd wrapped in chains and hidden had been rummaged through.

I opened my eyes in pitch darkness, where not even my fingertips were visible, and realized it immediately.

This was a dream. The nightmare that always chased me.

The moment I realized it, my surroundings began to shift smoothly.

This was the imperial palace altar. The place from my first life where I'd been offered as a sacrifice and torn apart.

An elephant-sized bag sat on the altar. The one I'd packed for exile.

Someone grabbed the bag. It was a bony hand dripping blood—a grown-up version of me.

My head half-caved in, my body covered in wounds.

[Foolish Leblain. After all that, you still want to trust people?]

The adult Leblain muttered lowly and stared at little me standing there frozen.

'But... but the Duvered people seem different.'

[You thought the same about Duke Amities. "My father's different." You said it about Ballua too. "This time it'll be different."]

'This time it really might be. In my past life, no one treated me as well as the Duvered folks.'

The adult Leblain sneered and approached.

[That's because they think you're special right now.]

"......"

[It'll change when Mina arrives. Once they learn you're a fake Child of Destiny, you'll be discarded again!]

I clamped my hands over my ears.

Pain from being sacrificed and the lashings from Duke Ballua flooded my mind.

The adult Leblain split into three: Mina, Duke Amities, Duke Ballua.

[Gonna go begging for affection like a beggar again?]

[And after regressing, you'll resolve anew. "This time, no one."]

[Just like always!!]

Their faces twisted grotesquely as they shouted.

Black ooze dripped from their bodies, their mouths filled with horrifying fangs.

'N-No, stay away! Stay away!'

I scrambled up from the floor and ran.

But they clung to the shadows, persistent.

[Sorry, Leblain. But this is fate. Die for me, for the country.]

[Mina is special.]

[You rat of a girl. Nothing goes right because of you!]

The fully blackened ooze engulfed me. Like sinking in a swamp, breath caught in my throat.

I thrashed to escape the muck swallowing me to my neck.

'Save me. No. No! Save me!'

The dream always ended after darkness fully consumed me. This time too, probably. My hands went limp.

Then, a faint light appeared before my eyes.

"...Bl."

"...Lein."

"Leblain!"

I jolted awake with a gasp. My body was soaked in cold sweat.

There was Ishak, at a loss; Henri, eyes full of worry; and the Duke, frozen while holding my hand.

"You okay?"

"Did today's stuff scare you that bad?"

"Come to your senses."

This was a place of light.

I swallowed tears as I looked at the three, their outlines blurred by the lamplight.

I could feel my face was hideously contorted, even without seeing it.

I gripped the Duke's hand tightly. Even trying to hold back, tears kept coming.

"Ugh... uh......"

Ishak scowled as I bit my lip to stifle any sound.

"You idiot! Why cry without making a noise!"

He was fighting back his own tears, furrowing his brow hard.

Henri nudged Ishak aside and stroked my hair.

"Bad dream?"

"......"

"Must've been scary. Sorry we didn't come sooner."

Henri had started apologizing for things that weren't his fault.

Sorry for being late even when he'd protected me, sorry for not knowing what I liked.

The Duke pulled me into a hug.

"I don't know what to do when you cry."

"......"

"Makes me want to just smash the world to bits."

I couldn't help but laugh at his words.

The Duke, who didn't know how to give affection or love properly, was clumsily loving me in his own way. It was funny, and it warmed my heart.

'The me in the dream' was right. I'm an idiot. A foolish one, even after four lives.

I wanted to trust them again.

I knew the risk of getting hurt was higher, that running away would be easier on me, but I didn't want to let go of the warmth against my skin.

'Just one more time. The last time.'

The Duvered men brightened as I smiled through my tear-streaked face. Lea and the maids, who'd been pacing anxiously, sighed in relief.

"...Daddy."

The Duke's gaze flickered at my call.

It was the first time since receiving Etwal.

"Big brothers."

Henri and Ishak's eyes widened, mouths agape.

"B-B-Brother...!"

"Leblain just called me......"

"No, she called me!"

"She said it to me, idiot."

I buried my face in the Duke's shoulder as the two immediately started bickering.

I was in the light now. That nightmare didn't scare me anymore.

That night, I threw away the elephant bag.

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