Episode 39
“Oh, it’s finished.”
“……?”
A casual voice came from behind. Ruska pushed up his glasses and gathered the papers placed under [Approved].
“This is the new mode of transport Lady Lirin requested from Lord Blaine, saying the garden was too far.”
That thing?
That rolling board I’ve never seen or heard of?
“……Ha. I told her not to run around, and now she’s rolling around?”
“Well. It’s covered with protective magic tools, so I doubt it’s very dangerous.”
Ruska, who had come to stand beside Kalec, muttered as he examined the jewels embedded on the side of Lirin’s wooden board.
A pink-haired head spinning and laughing loudly in front of the lobby.
A three-year-old flailing in a maid’s arms, swimming toward his sister.
Blaine, hiding the mini-cart behind his back, waiting for the right moment to present it.
Servants coming and going, clapping or cheering…
Kalec took in each of these sights—and suddenly felt dizzy.
“This mansion… Is this really it?”
My mansion that used to be dignified and perfectly orderly.
When did it become like this?
Something is going wrong, but I don’t know what it is.
Kalec felt a throbbing headache return and stopped just as he was about to raise his glass to his lips.
“Alright. Come on, Theo! Let’s go show off to Daddy!”
He heard the little one shouting at the top of his lungs.
So, Kalec sat back down in his seat.
He had to show a dignified image.
It seemed that the brat was trying to take over the mansion just because he thought Kalec looked ridiculous, so it was time to reclaim the dignity that had fallen to the ground.
Kalec deliberately furrowed his brows and began flipping through documents with exaggerated gestures.
“Oh dear, why does he look upset again? I’d better run before he revokes my approval.”
At that moment, Kalec’s chin tilted slightly as he looked at Ruska.
“But you.”
“Yes?”
“Just a moment ago… you said it.”
“Said what?”
‘Oh, it’s finished.’ That.”
“……? Yes, I think I did. Is there a problem?”
“It sounds like you knew Lirin was making that thing with my father.”
Ruska tilted his head.
“Of course I knew. Most of the mansion staff probably did too.”
Rip. Kalec’s hand, which had been flipping through papers as if to tear them, stopped.
“……They did.”
“Pardon?”
“……I didn’t know.”
What is this miserable feeling?
After everything that happened, Lirin had grown close with everyone in the mansion. Thanks to a child’s unique ability to blend in and charm others.
She stuck her nose everywhere, eyes sparkling with curiosity—who wouldn’t like that?
‘So. Now that she’s got so many people on her side…’
Has she pushed me aside a little?
“Hah, what a thought…”
He shook his head in self-mockery. A child’s attention wasn’t important at all.
Really, it wasn’t.
Truly.
“…….”
Kalec relaxed his furrowed brow slightly. He flipped the pages more gently.
He glanced toward the basket of children’s snacks he had prepared just in case, quickly cleaned up the glass and pipe, and peeked out the window.
Is she coming? Is she coming now?
“Oh, Your Grace. Speaking of which, I heard His Highness the Prince will be attending this meeting.”
“Why isn’t she coming?”
“Pardon? His Highness said he’s not coming?”
“What?”
“Yes?”
“…….”
Ah, I was in the middle of a conversation with him.
Kalec barely pulled his gaze from the window and traced back Ruska’s words.
“……Right. His Majesty said he would send the prince for observation.”
“I see. I’ll tell the staff to prepare accordingly. Since there’ll be many guests, we should open all the annexes. Here, your approval signature, please.”
“There are many unused annexes, so make sure to handle repairs properly.”
“Yes. I’ll change all the wallpaper and curtains, and repaint the furniture. Here’s another signature. By the way… is it just the First Prince coming?”
“Who else would be coming?”
“There’s also the Second Prince, Prince Argen. The Princess is at the western villa, so it’d be difficult for her.”
Kalec leaned his chin on his hand with a bored expression.
“Prince Wintervalt!”
He recalled the innocent face of the Second Prince from the palace. And the Emperor’s displeased expression as he looked at that prince.
“Well. It seems the First Prince is the only one he wants to train as an heir. Unless it’s requested from our side, that is.”
“Hm, that’s a shame. Prince Argen is about the same age as Lady Lirin. I thought they could become friends…”
Ruska murmured, and Kalec clicked his tongue.
“Friends, my foot.”
Getting involved with the royal family with their blue blood was best avoided. Even if it was a young prince pushed to the outskirts.
Lirin… that harmless little thing should just live a normal life.
Make friends with ordinary kids, run around ordinary places, spend ordinary days, and fall asleep in ordinary happiness.
Kalec believed that was the safest and most peaceful life for the child. Every time he saw the cottage surrounded by picturesque calm, that belief turned to certainty.
‘Though my memories haven’t returned yet… I think I understand why that bastard Alec built that house.’
With a short sigh, Kalec turned his body back toward the window.
No matter how long he waited, the candy ball who should’ve kicked open the office door and come running was nowhere to be seen.
If she grabbed onto his pants and nagged him, he was even planning to watch her board-riding for a good 36 hours.
“……?”
Kalec squinted as he looked out the window.
The two little beans who had been yelling “Let’s go to Daddy!” were now whispering at the mansion entrance for some reason.
“But Theo. Isn’t Dad super busy right now? Hmmmm. Should we just go show Grandma first?”
“Wooo!”
“I think I’ve been too clingy with busy Daddy lately! Time to reflect!”
Wheee.
The two kids skipped past the main building and ran straight to the annex where Eliza was.
“…….”
“Ahem. Have you finished signing everything? Then, for the sake of swift and accurate handling of work and resolving various pending issues, I shall take my leave…”
Sensing an ominous air, Ruska quickly gathered the approved documents and scurried off.
“……I see.”
Kalec’s lips curled upward. Along with his large frame…
“Clever little thing.”
Grumble grumble.
“Making me chase after her every single time.”
Lirin riding a wooden board on one foot? Not really interested.
This was just an investigation of activities within the mansion, as the head of the household.
Truly, he wasn’t particularly curious or eager to watch up close. Marking dates on a calendar? Why bother?
‘I should stock up on more empty memory spheres…’
Of course, the thought that popped into his head without realizing it was a tightly kept secret.
***
With the wooden board now available, commuting to my garden became a breeze.
I went back and forth through the forest multiple times a day to tend to it.
And today was…
‘Outing with Grandpa day!’
I had planned to go out with Grandpa.
He needed extra repair materials, and I needed fertilizer and herb seeds to plant around the garden border.
“Grandpa!”
I ran toward Grandpa Blaine, who was visible in the distance. He quickly came down the stairs, squatted, and stretched out his arms wide.
“Come here, child.”
He spun me around and tossed me gently into the air a few times, enjoying the thrill. Then he wrapped it up with a big hug—our morning routine complete.
“Let’s go.”
Grabbing his reliable hand that needed no bodyguard, I took a step forward. As always, Theo was on my other side.
We went straight to the bustling shopping district to buy the best fertilizer and various gardening supplies—but unfortunately, the kids’ section was sold out.
Finally, we were going to the general store to buy seeds, when I suddenly remembered something and tugged on Grandpa’s hand.
“Grandpa! Let’s go over there!”
It was my way of showing appreciation.
These past few days, Grandpa had been truly devoted—building the cottage and even making me a wooden board. So today, I wanted to do something for him.
‘Grandpa Blaine actually really loves kids!’
So…
“Where are we going?”
“To a place with lots of kids!”
His thick eyebrows rose sharply.
“……This is.”
Grandpa, who had been walking confidently, suddenly came to a halt.
“Nice, right?”
My chest swelled with pride as I looked at the signboard for “B’s Secret Toy Shop”
The place with the most kids—this was definitely it!
“This is where kids my age love to go the most!”
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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