Chapter 68

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 68

Chapter Title: Overzealous Guardians

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I left the mansion humming a cheerful tune as I walked.

"Feeling that good, Little One?"

Lea asked with a soft chuckle, so I threw my arms up high and shouted, "You bet!"

I'd always had to go out with Dad and my brothers before, but today I was out on my own. That meant I could finally go anywhere I wanted whenever I pleased.

I've gotta swing by the Hopf Merchant Guild when I hit the shopping district.

Being able to walk tall on my own two feet without wasting an expensive scroll—what a life.

Thinking back to the tears of blood I'd shed every time I tore one of those scrolls apart, I felt happier than ever.

I hopped into a carriage and headed to the shopping district.

The Duvered family's fancy carriage lived up to its price tag, getting me there in no time flat, just like when we'd come to the capital.

Before stepping down, I patted the small bag slung at my side.

It was pocket money from Dad. He'd told me to buy whatever I wanted, so I planned to splurge today.

With Lea and Laura in tow, I eagerly explored the shopping district.

While browsing the brooches on a stand in front of a general store, I pointed to the rose, sword, and lion ones.

"I'll take these."

I pulled out the crisp bills from my bag and paid.

I kept the lion brooch for myself and handed the rose and sword ones to Laura and Lea, respectively.

"Are you sure we can accept something this precious?"

"Little One..."

They gazed at me with wide, teary eyes, and I felt a bit embarrassed.

They were just cheap 10-franc brooches...

I'd told myself to splurge freely, but after living like a beggar in this area in my previous life, extravagance didn't come easy.

Money not meant for a purpose just doesn't spend itself easily.

I resolved to splurge at the next store!

With renewed determination, I strode forward vigorously.

"Little One, there's a new teahouse nearby. I hear their tea and pastries are amazing, so all the noble ladies and young masters flock there."

I knew about it.

Duke Ballua's wife and even Mina loved that place.

But it turned out to be an information broker's den.

With nobles gathering there, discreet conversations flowed freely—and it was set up specifically to eavesdrop on them.

I might want to buy info from them someday, so I should check it out.

Plus, I was curious about their tea and pastries.

They served something really special there.

It was called green tea—unlike the empire's black tea, it had a nutty, clean flavor, or so they said.

They had all sorts of novel pastries too. Like chewy rice cakes stuffed with honey and sesame seeds, or square-cut red bean treats.

What were they called again? Honey... honey... Oh, honey rice cakes and yokan!

While racking my brain for the names, I tripped over a cobblestone. My body lurched forward.

Ugh!

In the middle of the shopping district, I went down in a spectacular sprawl and groaned, "Owie..."

"Little One!"

"Oh no!"

Lea and Laura were just about to rush over in alarm.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Footsteps pounded from all directions, followed by cries of "Lit-tle One!"

What the—?!

Startled, I propped myself up on the ground and looked up.

"Little One, are you all right?!"

"Not hurt anywhere?!"

"Any dirt under your nails?!"

"Are you okay?!"

"Bleeding anywhere?!"

"Knees scraped?!"

"How about your palms?!"

"Doctor! Doctor!"

"Escort the Little One!"

Dozens of knights swarmed in, pale-faced, checking me over.

Swept up in a wave of knights in an instant, I froze stiff.

There were so many I couldn't even see Lea or Laura anymore.

And every single one was clad in armor with Duvered-crest capes. These were high-ranking knights, commanders and above.

If all these guys showed up...

That meant at least five thousand troops were assembled in the shopping district!

I was dumbfounded, while the knights fussed hysterically over my body.

"Her knees! The knees!"

"Palms!"

"Dirt under the nails?!"

Watching them cling to me and wail as if the sky had fallen, I recalled Sir Javelin's words.

[The moment you stepped out of the mansion, I sensed countless Duvered knights. I thought war had broken out.]

I realized that five thousand men had been shadowing my every move, and I quietly ground my teeth.

Dad... Brothers...!

The shoppers stared at the Duvered knights in horror.

So many knights had suddenly flooded in—they thought civil war had erupted. But they were all clustered around one child, sobbing.

[We're dead meat!]

[Ahh, Mother... your foolish son is coming...]

After the chaos died down, they now stood in perfect ranks before the little girl, hands clasped, heads bowed.

The line was so long it snaked through the entire district.

"So, you've been tailing me secretly from day one..."

"Yes..."

"How? Five thousand men stomping around, and I wasn't supposed to notice?"

Some had disguised themselves as nearby farmers, merchants, clowns, guards, and so on right by your side, Little One. The commander-level knights hid in barriers. And most encircled the entire shopping district.

Leblain squeezed her eyes shut at the mumbling men's excuses.

"B-but Little One, no dirt under your nails? Let us check..."

"Why are you obsessed with dirt under the nails?"

A bearded middle-aged man choked up at that.

"His Grace said he'd kill one of us for every speck of dirt under your nails!"

"..."

"Spare us, Little One! I haven't even seen my child enter the academy yet!"

The other knights joined in desperately: "Spare us!"

Leblain gazed at them with a look of resignation and let out a deep sigh.

"Let's go."

"Where to...?"

"To scold Dad and the brothers."

"...!!"

The knights wiped tears as they watched Leblain march off with dignified strides.

What poise!

She looked just like a squeaky-voiced hero off to slay the demon king!

I plopped down cross-legged and glared at Dad and my brothers, who were side-eyeing me guiltily.

"If all the troops are guarding me, who's protecting the mansion?"

"Kiddo, we're more than enough for—"

"Who! Is protecting it?"

"..."

Under my glare, Ishak turned mute as a clam and hung his head.

"Leblain, we were just worried about you..."

"Then who's worrying about the mansion?"

From the opposite sofa, Sir Javelin—legs crossed, book in hand—replied nonchalantly.

"Me, obviously."

Henri scowled at him, but quieted when I shot him a look.

"Dad."

"...We need that many to take on the Holy Knights."

Why would we need to take on the Holy Knights...?

Even if the Pope lost his mind, they wouldn't try kidnapping me with them.

This won't do.

At this rate, I wouldn't have any freedom—I'd be even more restricted than before.

No choice, then.

I pondered what level of threat to use.

I'll sleep under the covers. Won't eat. Hate you.

They worked in that order, but most things could be settled with "hate you."

Better skip the nuclear option of running away.

I'd used it once to calm Dad and the brothers when they threatened war over a trivial reason with the neighboring territory—and the Duvered lands nearly split in two that day.

Okay, second option.

I drew in a sharp breath.

"I won't ea—"

"Sorry, kiddo!"

"My bad!"

"We'll reorganize the escort!"

The family members leaped up before I could finish, leaving the knights and servants stunned into silence.

I sighed in relief and said,

"You won't punish the knights?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Won't ea—!"

"No punishments!"

"Absolutely not!"

"Promise!"

Perfect.

I nodded, and the trembling capital forces' vice-commander wept tears of relief.

Once the sulky family left, I slumped onto the sofa, exhausted.

Good job today, me.

As I nodded to myself, a soft chuckle escaped—pfft.

It was Sir Javelin.

He laughed!

I'd never seen him smile in front of me before, so in shock, I cupped my cheeks with both hands.

"I've never seen them shake like that, not even before Reset. Quite the show."

Sir Javelin snapped his book shut and continued.

"You're heading to the territory tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah, Dad has some cleanup to do. We might come back to the capital!"

Probably would.

The Empress Dowager's letters had piled up endlessly. She tried summoning me to the palace every day.

The break with the temple was final. Even the cardinals came begging for Adolph's pardon, but she flew into a rage and threw them out.

It was only natural. The luminous drug they'd given her had wrecked her body beyond repair.

She stopped attending services, and all the relics she'd collected were disposed of.

And once Dad finalizes Adolph's punishment here, the temple won't move a muscle for a while.

Dad wouldn't let this chance slip.

With the Empress Dowager turning her back on the temple, one major obstacle to making the Duvereds independent was gone.

One goal down—I cackled wickedly inside.

"I see."

She lightly stroked the edge of her book and said,

"Child."

"Yes?"

"Could you show me the back of your foot?"

Right—Lea had said there was a mark on the top of my foot like Sir Reset's.

I nodded and took off my sock.

Sir Javelin peered carefully at the top of my foot, her expression clouding over.

"If the little bird had been born safely... would she have been like you...?"

Her voice was the same as always, but it felt misty somehow, making my fingers fidget.

I wish I could've been the little bird.