“Mi, sorry!”
Aiden hesitated, looking at Diana, then stepped back and said, “I’m sorry, Lady Elad.” He added again.
Realizing Diana’s status belatedly, he tried to be respectful and act like an adult, which was so cute, just like what he had heard from Lady Payrunt, the Duchess of Elad, before.
“Oh! Your Grace, I’m sorry.”
I was surprised by his adorable gesture and instinctively withdrew my hand, as if I were petting Diana just as I would usually do.
At that moment, Aiden looked at my hand with a disappointed gaze.
“Could I… pet your head more…?”
“What?”
“No!”
“Aww….”
Aiden, who was about to discreetly hold my hand, hesitated at Diana’s refusal, then started to mumble again.
Diana, more flustered than I was, didn’t know what to do and exclaimed, “Don’t cry! Don’t! You won’t cry, right?”
“Sob….”
“Ah, geez! Then I’ll do it!”
Diana awkwardly raised her hand and began to pet Aiden’s head.
Eventually, I burst into laughter at the sight of Aiden looking up at Diana with teary eyes and Diana glancing around cautiously.
* * *
The wind blowing through the window tickled my nose with a faint scent of oak.
Finally, I stretched lightly, soothing my stiff neck.
Perhaps it was because I spent long hours reading books every day, my eyes felt heavy and my head throbbed.
Although I wasn’t naturally active, sitting for too long made my body feel a bit sluggish.
Back in my previous life, training and missions kept me moving a lot, so it felt even more apparent.
“But it was fun. I got really into it.”
For a while, I had been reading various books, mainly focusing on magical and medical texts, including the basic instructional book Lucio had provided. Today, I decided to challenge myself with a new book.
Actually, I couldn’t shake off the fact that my divine power didn’t work when I met the novices at the ducal residence.
Moreover, according to Tellin, it was very rare for someone not to be affected by divine power due to having a lot of magic.
“So, I tried to confirm by looking through basic theological books to books that apprentice novices read…”
Unexpectedly, I ended up getting deeply immersed in myths that even children knew.
The myth revolved around the Holy War that occurred 5,000 years before the empire was established.
The story of the devil who instilled desires among people, causing endless division and war, and the story of the holy maidens who received the will of the gods to oppose such devils, were more intriguing and interesting than most novels.
“But is this really true?”
Although myths were somewhat unbelievable, besides being widespread across the continent and except for a few sparse parts, they contained quite detailed descriptions.
However, the happy ending of successfully sealing the devil seemed too much like a common heroic tale, making me wonder if it had been embellished over time in the temples.
“Liar!”
“It’s true!”
At that moment, Diana and Aiden, who were sitting side by side by the library window, reading and chatting, started arguing.
Since Aiden’s recent visit a few days ago, the two children, who had become each other’s first friends, had quickly become close.
Even Aiden, who seemed a bit reserved at first, had become so friendly that he would now come to play alone without Lady Payrunt, the Duchess of Elad…
“Aiden, you crybaby! How can you believe what she says?”
“I’m not a crybaby!”
Watching Diana raise her voice and Aiden stand his ground, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
“…Are they really getting along?”
“Miss.”
As I called Diana, she and Aiden quickly rushed over.
“Sis, is the desert really as wide as the sea?”
Is he right? I smiled as I watched Diana, who seemed unsure, and looked at the book the two children had been reading.
“You were reading about the Kingdom of Dhanba, weren’t you?”
“Yeah. People there all have skin as dark as mine.”
Aiden answered shyly, fidgeting with his fingers, with traces of the shadow from the first day we met.
“I read about it too. They all have healthy tan skin and dark black hair, it said.”
I took out a map and pointed to the desert region at the southern tip of the continent, explaining it to Diana as well.
“Miss, can you see it here? This is the desert covered in sand. I haven’t seen the sea myself, but it might not be as wide as the sea?”
Surprised by my words, Diana widened her eyes, and Aiden, full of enthusiasm, exclaimed, “That’s right!”
But for Diana, who was already extending her imagination to the vast golden sands, it seemed invisible.
That’s when it happened.
“Hey, Lia…”
“Hush!”
As soon as Aiden hesitantly called me, Diana’s alertness peaked instantly.
“…Sis.”
“Lady, you shouldn’t.”
Calling me “sister” was nonsensical for Aiden, an illegitimate child who could only call his cousin the princess his sister.
“Diana said she would chase him away whenever he called my name freely,” she said.
Despite my attempts to dissuade her, and despite her indifference to him, under Diana’s pressure, Aiden eventually ended up calling me sister, leaving me torn between laughing and crying at Diana’s charisma.
“Lady, what is it?”
Seeing Diana, who still had a fresh expression, exhaling lightly, I looked at Aiden.
He hesitated, glanced at Diana, then finally opened his mouth.
“Did you finish reading the book?”
“What?”
“If you finished reading it, let’s play together.”
Knowing that Diana was likely to tease him as a maid, it would have been better to say it sooner, but he seemed to have waited until I finished the book.
Although there was a high chance Diana would interrupt, I hurriedly agreed.
“Yes, let’s play together. Would you like to play a game you like, Your Grace?”
“Really? I’d love that!”
His face lit up with joy, and he looked pleased.
While Diana preferred hide-and-seek, Aiden loved playing make-believe games the most.
Since he wasn’t well entertained by the maids or stewards at the mansion, he usually played alone, so he couldn’t play make-believe games, which made him more enthusiastic when they were finally played.
“Diana, can I be the dad today instead of you?”
“What?”
“I always end up being the baby.”
Although Diana hesitated, looking a bit scared, Aiden clenched his small fists tightly and shouted earnestly.
“I want to be the husband too!”
Bang!
It was then. Suddenly, Allen burst in through the library door and said with a cold voice.
“What did you just say? Husband? Huh?”
“Ah!”
“Even a little one knows he’s pretty! Who dares to challenge him? Diana, come here right now!”
As soon as Allen finished speaking, Diana quickly ran to him, and she scolded Aiden with an arrogant expression.
“That’s right! You can never be my sister’s husband! I’ll be the one to marry Dad!”
“…Huh?”
As Allen looked at Diana, his expression softened.
As Aiden, frightened by his siblings, comforted him, I raised my hand subtly.
Then, quietly, to the silly younger sister who couldn’t see beyond the siblings, I said.
“Your role is not a mom, it’s me.”
* * *
After a moment of silence, Allen, seeming both impressed and apologetic for raising his voice at Aiden, quietly took his seat. Then, he volunteered to participate in the make-believe game, offering to take on the role of the father.
Upon hearing this, I clapped my hands as if it were perfect timing and entrusted the two children to Allen.
I had some matters to discuss with the duke, but lately, I had been too busy to even have time to see him, let alone have meals together.
Luckily, he was currently in his study before leaving for the palace.
I had thought I wouldn’t be able to leave because of Aiden’s visit, but thanks to Allen, I managed to find some time.
‘But I wonder if he’s good at playing make-believe…’
As I headed to the duke’s study, I wore a slightly worried expression.
As soon as I entrusted the children to him, Allen suddenly seemed reluctant to play the role of the father, and Aiden, this time, eagerly raised his hand, offering to be the father.
“But then, Diana would be the mother!” Allen exclaimed, wide-eyed, while Aiden, determined not to give in, stubbornly raised his hand.
After seeing Allen, with a puzzled expression, and Aiden, with a determined look as if he wouldn’t give in, I closed the door and left, wondering what would happen.
“Huh?”
At that moment, the duke appeared, coming out of his study.
I hurriedly ran up to him.
“Lia? What brings you here? And where’s Diana?”
“Miss Diana is with Master Allen. But are you already leaving for the palace?”
“Not yet. Why? What brings you here?”
“I have something to discuss with you. But if you’re busy…”
“Come in.”
As soon as the duke opened the door to his study again and went inside, I quickly followed.
I couldn’t delay any longer, or it would disrupt the plan.
In a hurry, as soon as the duke sat on the sofa, I went straight to the point.
Upon hearing this, the duke made a strange expression.
“You want to go out?”
“Yes. This Saturday is my day off, and I want to go out. Please allow me.”
As I spoke again, the duke looked at me as if wondering why he needed to give permission.
“Well, because Madam asked me to come and get permission from you…”
As I hesitated to continue, the duke’s expression became even more puzzled.
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
If you like my work please support us in Patreon. Next post will be released on March, 30.
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