Chapter 7

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 7

Chapter Title: The Carnation Corsage

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Who else but her guardian, Duke Duvered, would an orphan like Leblain have to give a carnation corsage to?

'Ooooooh!'

The retainers cried out as if they'd discovered a lifeline.

"Look, Your Grace!"

"It's a carnation!"

"The only person Little One would give a carnation corsage to is her guardian, Your Grace!"

The retainers welcomed Leblain's carnation with enough enthusiasm to jump for joy if they could.

The duke stared intently at Leblain as she stopped in front of him. The child fidgeted shyly with her hands.

He thought that calling a mere carnation the height of happiness was just an excuse from those who'd been weeded out in the power struggles.

What irked him about the retainers' words was probably that even those losers had experiences he'd never had.

It was just a useless scrap of cloth anyway.

Yet somehow, actually receiving it didn't feel half bad.

'What the hell is wrong with me.'

The duke's gaze on her was so intense.

Was he mad that she'd splurged in the shopping district?

Or had he found out she'd drawn him with horns in her sketchbook?

'Why's he staring like that? It's scary...'

Her insides were burning to a crisp, but the retainers were all beaming.

"Did you pick out the corsage yourself?"

"Yesh."

At her answer, the retainers overreacted with joy.

"How grateful she must be to her guardian to go out and buy carnations herself!"

"Of course, of course."

Then the duke's lips twisted upward in a smirk.

'Whoa, he's even scarier today.'

She flinched and clung to Lea's leg, but the oblivious retainers chuckled "Oh ho ho!" and gently pushed her back.

"Since we're all here, why don't you give it now?"

"Yes, that would be best."

Maybe she should. They already knew she'd bought the corsage, so dragging it out would be weird.

'First time giving a carnation... kinda embarrassing.'

She fidgeted with her hands hesitantly.

The retainers, hearts melting, urged her on with "Hurry!"

The people around her parted like the Red Sea, and straight ahead stood the duke.

And then she shyly held out the corsage.

To Lea.

"......!"

"......!"

"......!"

"Oh my."

Lea, who hadn't expected it to be for her, covered her mouth in感動.

'Since I gave her this, she'll give me extra snacks, right?'

Lea knelt down in front of her, eyes tearing up.

"You were going to give it to me...?"

"Yea! Wuv Lea. Tank you!"

"Thank you, Little One. I'll treasure it forever."

Lea hugged her, and she rubbed her face against Lea's neck.

But something felt off.

'Why does my head feel chilly?'

Wondering what was up, she peeked back.

Everyone except the maids and Lea had gone pale as ghosts, their eyes flicking between the corsage and the duke.

Then the duke called her name.

"Leblain."

"Yesh?"

"Where's mine."

"......?"

"Don't I get one."

"Yesh!"

Your Grace is annoying, so I didn't get you one. Good job, me!

She burrowed fully into Lea's arms and giggled "Hee hee," making the duke's eyebrow twitch.

For some reason, he shot a terrifying glare at the retainers, who gulped dryly and blanched white.

That evening, a decree abolishing the Day of Gratitude swept through the entire Duvered territory.

Lea spent the whole day with the bright red carnation pinned to her chest. Every time she glanced in a mirror, she'd tremble with emotion, murmuring, "Little One... gave this... to me!"

Of course, Leblain was happy too, since Lea was delighted.

'She gave me tons of snacks.'

Her belly was stuffed full, and she was basking in bliss when Nos came to find her.

"Shall we head to His Grace's study?"

It was the day she was supposed to report to the Empress Dowager on how she was doing.

"Yesh!"

Nos chuckled at her spirited reply.

"Full of energy again today."

She nodded, and her chubby cheeks jiggled.

S seeing that, Nos grinned wide and sneakily reached out, clearly dying to pinch them.

But suddenly, the maids popped out and blocked him.

"That's not allowed. Touching Little One's precious body?"

Nos awkwardly lowered his hand at their firm guard. Even after he withdrew, the maids scowled disapprovingly.

"You have to follow the order~!"

The maid Linda's words had the others nodding in utter exasperation.

"One week per person, two seconds max before letting go."

"If you touch as much as you want, Little One's delicate skin can't take it."

...When did they make that rule?

She stared at the maids in bewilderment.

But unlike her, Nos went "Oh no!" and nodded vigorously.

"You're right. I almost made a huge mistake."

They soon discussed Nos's turn with serious faces.

"Three weeks?!"

Nos shouted upon seeing the long list.

"We squeezed you in as soon as possible. Normally, you'd wait a full month."

"That many people waiting?"

The maids snorted at Nos's question, as if it were obvious.

"Little One's cheeks are so lovable, adorable, and the softest in the world. Everyone wants to touch."

"Of course they do."

"Anyone would."

Nos nodded along enthusiastically, leaving her dumbfounded.

'Did I instill the cheek obsession too well?'

They'd be at it all day if left alone, so she tugged at Nos's pant leg.

"Go."

This place is tiring. Time to leave.

Nos snapped out of it at her words. "Ah, yes." He opened the door.

As they walked the corridor to the duke's study, the castle felt busier than usual.

Stuff was piled in the halls, and servants rushed to sort it.

Curious, she looked up, and Nos explained.

"They're organizing gifts for His Majesty's birthday celebration."

Come to think of it, nobles were always frantic around now preparing presents.

Even her father from her first life, Duke Amities—who couldn't care less about crumbs—was sending something polite.

'Duke Ballua even borrowed money for a fancy one.'

He'd splurge then, but was a massive cheapskate otherwise.

Especially to her.

Back when she was Duke Ballua's lady, she'd innocently bought a slightly pricey fountain pen.

He'd flown into a rage and locked her in the attic for three days.

Shivering in the dark, creaky attic, she'd sobbed apologies.

Watching her, Duke Ballua's second son asked his older brother.

[Brother, you can't buy fountain pens?]

[Why not? If you ask, Father and Mother would be thrilled. What parent hates a kid asking for school supplies?]

[Then why'd Leblain get in trouble?]

[She's not real family.]

That was when she realized.

As someone not blood-related, she'd be hated for the smallest things, so she had to try desperately.

'Now I need to win Duke Duvered's favor somehow.'

Lazing around would send adoption flying away.

With that thought, she entered the duke's study.

The duke, seated at his desk, looked up at the sound.

His silver-rimmed reading glasses suited his piercing blue eyes perfectly, leaving her inwardly impressed.

Maybe it was the glasses, but he looked fiercer than usual today.

Clinging to Nos's leg and hesitating, she made Nos smile awkwardly.

He set her on the duke's sofa and whispered so the duke couldn't hear.

"He's not mad at you, Little One."

Oh, so he's mad at something else.

"Weally?"

"Maybe mad at himself for expecting something..."

Her confused look made Nos grimace and whisper on.

"Please get two carnation corsages next time."

Ah... Realization hit, and she flinched.

All the shopping money was Duvered's. She'd picked all sorts of pricey things.

'He blew his money wildly but didn't get him one. No wonder he's pissed.'

She should've bought two. He seemed to really like carnations.

But that ship had sailed. Buying one now would just look like a petty protest.

Better to do something he'd actually enjoy.

'What do I know that could help him?'

Racking her brain, she spotted something on the sofa table.

A single black stone sat alone in an ornate jewelry box.

'Why keep a plain rock in such a fancy box?'

She tilted her head.

Guuung—

A faint vibration hit, and her chest tightened.

Nos's voice distorted, and everything slowed dramatically.

As if her time and the world's flowed differently.

A glow flowed over the black stone, scattering into lines that formed a hexagram—two triangles interlocked, one up, one down—rushing at her.

Chills raced up her spine in an instant.

Screee—!

Tinnitus pierced her mind.

[......Machine.]

[My......]

[Ki...... Steals.]

A voice seeped straight into her head, bypassing her ears.

Too faint to make out at first, then slamming in strong.

[My child.]

Kugung. The world trembled faintly.

Nos's voice and sluggish movements returned to normal.

Nos muttered stiffly.

"An earthquake?"

But the shaking stopped abruptly. The duke checked outside through the curtained window.

"Send an expedition to Rubus Mountain. Could be a volcano precursor."

"Yes."

As they talked, she clutched her chest, face ashen.

Her heart pounded so hard breathing hurt.

What was that?

The hexagram light charging at her.

And the voice churning her mind.

The stone's voice had called her desperately. Her hand moved toward it on unknown impulse, like it had a mind of its own.

And when the stone filled her palm.

Crack—

"......!"

It crumbled in an instant.

Snapping back, she gaped in shock.

'Wh-what-what?!'

Flailing, she looked to the duke and Nos.

"O-oh, o-oh, how?! How?!"

Nos panicked at the stone's powdery remnants spilling from her hand. Even the duke's eyes widened, a rare sight.