After washing the clean and soft child, she laid him down on the bed and massaged his arms and legs gently. The child made a soft noise and rubbed his face against the blanket.
“It hurts?”
“…Ugh. No. It’s cool.”
With his face buried in the blanket, a mumbling voice came out
.
“Pressing it hard like this? Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Yes. I like it because it’s cool.”
She was sure that if he didn’t drink enough, the child would start whining by tomorrow. This would be the first time he moved his body like this.
“But I’m glad it’s the first time he’s moved like this and he seems to be okay.”
“Right? I was surprised too. I thought you’d start gasping for air right away.”
The child turned his head back slightly and chirped with an excited expression.
“I was surprised that she had surprisingly good physical strength. The teacher also praised her for being patient and doing well.”
She smiled quietly, wondering if he really enjoyed taking swordsmanship lessons. Yeah, that would be great. Because she couldn’t have done it even if she wanted to.
“By the way, Elia, do you know that?”
“What?”
“Not now, but she may end up returning to the castle on the estate later.”
“…?”
“Yes. This is a mansion in the capital.”
Now that she thought about it, it was like that. Because this was only a mansion near the capital, not inside the duke’s estate.
“So the mansion here goes back and forth with the castle in Lang Manor at regular intervals?”
“It’s not set in stone, but we usually come and go about twice a year.”
“So, you stay here whenever you have something to do with the imperial family or the capital?”
“Yes. My father said that it would be time to take a closer look at the estate, so I think he will come down in a few months.”
“What about the castle on the estate? Is it bigger than this one?”
“Of course. I guess it’s about five times bigger than this mansion?”
“…Five times as much?”
“Yes. It’s a castle.”
The mansion here was enormous, and the castle on the territory was five times as large. No. Considering the Duke, I thought it would be worth it. Moreover, it is a castle located within the duke’s domain.
“I think Elia will be surprised when she goes and sees it. It’s really cool. It’s a well-built fortress.”
“Now that you say that, I’m really curious.”
“Yes?”
She nodded and then asked what she was curious about.
“Then how do you get around? Isn’t it far from here to the territory?”
“There is a large mobile device tower made by Magic Tower. We usually use that.”
“Large mobile storage?”
“Yes. You can’t use it often, and it’s inconvenient because you have to get permission to use it every time. Rubart said it’s very expensive.”
“How much?”
“Hmm, I don’t know about that, but seeing as Rubart sometimes says it’s a waste, wouldn’t it be extremely expensive?”
It must have been extremely expensive, seeing as Rubart, a butler who had dealt with all reasonable amounts of money, said that. She felt like they were charging too much money to eat it raw at the magic tower.
“You mean that transport device? It will consume magic stones every time you use it, right?”
“Yes. Of course. It won’t work without the magic stone, right?”
As expected, it was using magic stones. Then… Maybe things would get interesting after the imperial hunting competition and the discovery of the mine.
“You know, Lian. What if the family grows bigger?”
“My family?”
“Huh.”
The child thought deeply for a moment and said.
“Well, actually, I don’t know. Of course it would be good if the family grew, but there would also be more things to protect.”
She had no choice but to keep her mouth shut at those words. It was a statement that was adult enough to make she wonder when he grew up so much, but also faced reality. She felt like she was being reminded again. The child in front of her was not just a child.
“So, what if there’s definitely a reason it has to be bigger?”
“Are you sure?”
“Huh.”
“Then it doesn’t matter. All you have to do is protect it so it doesn’t get stolen. Dad can do it. and…”
The child, who paused for a moment, spoke clearly and with a stern expression.
“I will definitely protect you, just like my father.”
The child clenched his fists and looked straight at her.
“And I will protect Elia!”
She was startled by the unexpected words for a moment, but then she pressed her hand to the area of her heart, feeling like something was going on. Sometimes, when she heard the child attacking her, she felt strange. It may be because she couldn’t help but feel like her own child because the child followed her blindly even though they were obviously not related by blood.
“Yes. Thank you. Lian has to protect everything. Okay?”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
The child was pounding on her chest as if telling her to trust him.
“Wow, pretty thing.”
She messed up the hair of the child, who was extremely pretty. Then, far from disliking the child, she actually liked it and laughed.
“Oh, by the way, about using a whip. I talked to the Duke about it, and he told me to learn it with him during Lian’s swordsmanship class.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I talked about that when I went to the Duke’s office earlier. How about you?”
“Of course it’s great! Then now I can be with Elia every afternoon class.”
The child lifted his shoulders and shook his body, and he looked so excited that he burst out laughing.
“Do you like it that much?”
“Yes!”
She was happy to see the child smiling beautifully. She wondered whose family’s child was so pretty.
“Now, lie down straight again. I’ll even give you a massage. You’re probably tired, so take a nap.”
“I’m not sleepy at all. I’d like to continue talking to Elia.”
The child lay upright on her bed, her eyes blazing with determination. But as she gently touched her entire body and relaxed her muscles, her child’s eyes gradually began to open. Perhaps it was just her, but the corners of her eyes were filled with blood and sleep.
“You don’t have to force your eyes. If you feel sleepy, go to sleep.”
“…I have to talk to Elia more.”
The child blinked his eyes slowly and yawned with his mouth wide open.
“Good boy, let’s sleep.”
As she patted the child’s chest, it wasn’t long before she could hear his breathing evenly.
Quietly.
Looking down at the child, who had quickly fallen asleep, she carefully pulled the blanket over his chest and covered it. She got out of bed, closed the curtains, and set up the child’s room so he could sleep more soundly. She bravely stepped forward. She told Sarah, who was standing outside, that her child was sleeping, and then she went over to my room.
As she was sorting out what to do next in her head, she heard a knock on the door.
[Elia, Lady Ladiana has come to visit.]
Feeling doubtful about what he said, she immediately opened the door. She asked the maid straight away.
“Did the Duke allow Lady Ladiana to visit?”
“Yes, that’s so.”
She heard that the duke granted her request to visit the other day when she met him at the front gate… Why did they allow it this time? She couldn’t help but question it.
“Is the Duke in his office now?”
“No. He is in the parlor with Lady Ladiana.”
“Those two are together?”
“Yes.”
She tilted her head in response to a much bigger question. He didn’t really like Ladiana, so she didn’t understand why the duke was with her. What kind of wind was blowing?
“Okay. Then, please guide me.”
“Yes. Follow me.”
As she walked along with the maid, she soon arrived at the parlor. As she entered the room through the door opened by the maid, she immediately felt a cold atmosphere.
‘Look at that. Isn’t the atmosphere bad?’
She looked at the two of them in turn as they remained silent, sipping tea with their bodies slightly leaning towards each other. Ladiana smiled brightly as she entered the room and shook her hand.
“I missed you, Lady Elia.”
“Me too. How are you?”
“No, I was wrong.”
Ladiana made a sullen expression. It looked as pitiful as a withered flower. So much so that she felt sad without realizing it.
“Are you in any pain?”
She asked, a little worried, and Ladiana nodded her head as if she did.
“Yes. I was worried because I couldn’t see the lady.”
“…haha.”
“Is this the lady you didn’t want me to see?”
“No way. I was waiting to meet you too.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She had already experienced many times how to deal with Ladiana. As much as possible, she had to act in a sympathetic way so that she didn’t get tired after that.
“It’s quite a sight.”
The conversation between her and Ladiana was interrupted for a moment by the words she soon heard. Ladiana smiled brightly as she turned her head towards the duke. She looked just like a girl.
“Even if the Duke hadn’t rejected my request to visit, I don’t think I would have had to worry. What do you think?”
For some reason, Ladiana, who stayed still for the most part, said something harsh. As she watched in wonder, Ladiana and the Duke began to argue.
“I don’t know the extent of things like the young lady, but who was it that so recklessly requested a visit?”
“Then you should have told me the exact reason. Why not just reply saying no?”
Ladiana smiled brightly, thinking, “I can easily understand,” and the Duke spoke with an expressionless face. Maybe because they were both angry, but it wasn’t even a crisis.
‘No, why are you fighting over me?’
“Hey Duke, Ladiana…”
“I guess you’re tired now, Duke. Judging by the fact that you’ve allowed my visit. Is that so?”
“Ha, me?”
The duke raised the corners of his mouth as if mocking Ladiana.
“Hey?”
Instead of listening to her, the two were still busy keeping her in check.
‘Oh my, my head.’
She pressed her eyebrows together and watched the two confronting each other, then gave up and picked up the teacup in front of her. What would be the conclusion as time passes? No matter who wins or loses. It was about time she took a few sips of tea. There was a bit of a commotion. The duke who was lifting her drink ended up spilling it. Just by looking at it, she could tell it was done on purpose.
“Oh my, my sleeves are wet.”
As she watched and wondered what he was doing, the duke rolled up his wet sleeves and showed Diana his arm as if showing off. Why on earth was he doing that…
“Ah.”
At the sound she made without realizing it, Ladiana’s gaze returned to where her gaze was directed. A bracelet with a dark red jewel hanging on the Duke’s wrist. So, the Duke was wearing the bracelet she gave him earlier. She really didn’t expect that. It was because she had never seen an accessory like this being given out for a major event before, so she wasn’t expecting it at all. She just felt like something was missing when he received it. She felt like she was getting hot for some reason and was about to turn her head when she heard Ladiana’s voice.
“Why are you doing this, Lady Elia?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
“Do you like the bracelet the duke is wearing? But it doesn’t suit you, so I’ll give you something prettier…”
Before Ladiana could finish her sentence, she could be heard laughing. Of course, it was the sound that came from the duke’s mouth. Ladiana’s gaze turned to the Duke again.
“Why are you smiling so much?”
When she asked with a bright smile, the Duke slightly raised the corner of her mouth.
“Do you know that I just said something very rude?”
“Do you mean me?”
“Yes. About this bracelet.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Ah, I don’t know.”
Why was this so unsettling? It was time for her to keep an eye on the Duke, who looked like he was about to explode with a bomb.
“It’s because I received this as a gift.”
As the Duke said those words, his eyes turned to me, and Ladiana’s head turned towards her.
“No way, isn’t it, young lady?”
“…”
“Really? Is the person who gave that bracelet to the Duke really the lady?”
“…It just happened to be like that?”
Before she could finish answering, Ladiana jumped up from her seat. She looked down at her with a sad expression on her face, then turned around and left her living room. It happened so quickly that there was no time to say anything. When she found silence, he quietly looked away from her living room and then jerked his head away from her.
“…Hey, Duke?”
“Oh, I’m busy so I guess I’ll have to go out.”
The newly born duke quickly left the reception room. She looked around the living room, which looked as if it had been swept away by a tidal wave, and sighed deeply. The thought of Ladiana, who had returned home in a very sulky state, made her headache hurt. Ladiana, not a woman, but the emperor was very troubled. She was worried, but she was very affectionate, so it was clear that Diana would get upset when she saw her. Thinking that there would be no such trouble, she left the parlor without any further delay. She planned to grab Ladiana in her car and appease her somehow before she got up to speed. But, despite such thoughts, Ladina ignored her call and quietly got into her carriage and left the duchy. And she could only stare blankly at that.
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on February, 25.
Want to read more?
