Naturally, the hunting competition was canceled. And the nobles who participated in the hunting competition were currently tied to their hunting grounds. It was to find out who was behind the attack on the emperor or who was present.
The duke helped the emperor interrogate the nobles several times. However, he did not achieve any significant results. After a long time had passed, the emperor gathered the nobles together and began to give a speech.
“I would like to take this opportunity to reward the Duke as a token of my gratitude.”
The emperor, looking across the audience, spoke.
“In addition to the ‘Tears of God’, which was the winning prize for the hunting competition, it was decided to grant the duke a new territory as additional compensation.”
The hall was quiet. Half of the nobles showed signs of disapproval. Even though it was a compensation that the emperor could give the duke well.
“Of course, I understand there are no objections. Does the duke have any territory he wants? If he doesn’t have it, let him be given good territory.”
The duke, who had been quietly listening to the emperor while kneeling on one knee, finally opened his mouth.
“I would like you to grant me the territory of Regarden.”
Soon the surroundings became noisy. Most of them just said they didn’t understand it.
The emperor also cast a questioning look towards the duke.
“…Are you asking me to hand over the Regarden territory?”
“Yes, it is.”
“There is so much fertile territory within the empire, so why on earth do you ask for barren, useless land?”
“It is to make the war that will soon break out more advantageous.”
“Making it advantageous?”
“As you know, Your Majesty, beyond the mountains just above Regarden territory lies the Kingdom of Brighton. Your Majesty knows that the Kingdom of Brighton has a treaty with the Kingdom of Kennath.”
“You are asking the obvious. Don’t you know, Duke, that it was this Emperor who made the Kingdom of Brighton enter into an agreement with the Kingdom of Kennath?”
“Everyone here knows that the Kingdom of Brighton will participate in this war as an enemy nation.”
“Yes, I know.”
The duke continued speaking while still maintaining an indifferent expression.
“We have found out that in the upcoming war, the Kingdom of Brighton will invade Regarden territory and threaten the empire.”
The nobles’ voices of astonishment were heard everywhere at the Duke’s words. The emperor also looked down at the duke in surprise. However, what the duke said was completely true. In this war, the Kingdom of Brighton, like the Kingdom of Kennath, attacked the Empire and actually went so far as to invade Regarden territory. And because of that incident, it was revealed to the world that there was a magic stone mine in Regarden territory.
At that time, the emperor suddenly hardened his expression and spoke.
“Is this definitely true?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Why do you insist on asking for Regarden territory?”
“If you want to prepare in advance and defend the border without any gaps, the process will go more smoothly if the ‘Regarden’ territory is owned by the Gaje family.”
She nodded as if she completely understood.
“Of course he is like that. Then, we will completely hand over the Regarden territory to the Nathan family. I will send the territory documents by tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
The Duke, expressing his gratitude, accepted the courtesy.
“Then let’s wrap up today and disperse. Now everyone can go back.”
The emperor who said that turned around and disappeared, leading the knights. After a while, the Duke got up and walked towards me. Finally, the Duke who walked in front of me held out his hand.
“Then let’s go back to the mansion.”
She looked down at the Duke’s outstretched hand and smiled as she placed her hand on top of it.
“Yes, Duke.”
* * *
The next day, as promised, the emperor sent a document with the seal of Regarden territory to the ducal residence. At last, the territory of Regarden became completely owned by the Nathan family. It made her feel very good to imagine that the imperial family would not be able to do anything even if a mine was discovered there later.
The emperor still didn’t look pretty, so she hummed a song out of indescribable feeling. Then the child who was walking in the garden holding her hand tilted his head.
“Elia, what are you feeling?”
“It just feels good.”
“Just?”
“Huh.”
She nodded and lightly shook his hand back and forth.
“Well, you know, Elia.”
“Yes?”
“When is Elia’s birthday?”
“My birthday?”
“Yes. Elia took care of me a lot on my birthday. I want to take care of her a lot on her birthday too.”
Now that she thought about it, when was this body’s birthday? No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t remember. No, things like Elia Rotten’s birthday wouldn’t have appeared in the book in the first place. Because she was just an extra. What should she do with this? She couldn’t tell the child she didn’t know when her own birthday was.
While she was wondering what on earth to answer, she heard a voice from behind her. It was none other than Richard’s voice.
“It’s next week, master.”
She immediately turned her head and stared at Richard. The boy seemed surprised and asked Richard with his eyes wide open.
“Next week? Really, Richard?”
“Yes, that’s right. Her birthday is next Thursday.”
“Elia, are you sure?”
“…uh? Huh. Actually, there isn’t much left.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I almost missed Elia’s birthday.”
Wiping the sweat from the child’s forehead, she sighed.
“Sorry. I forgot it.”
She answered with a smile and glanced at Richard again. How on earth did that person know her birthday? For a moment, her curiosity was piqued.
“Richard, did you know my birthday?”
“…I just found out by chance.”
Richard answered a beat late and slightly averted his gaze. He looked a little embarrassed, which gave her a strange feeling.
“What should I do? Time is running out.”
The child was struggling in her place, stamping his feet.
“Anything is fine, so don’t worry too much.”
“No, absolutely not. It’s Elia’s birthday and I can’t give her just anything.”
The child clenched his hands into fists with a determined expression and said:
“I will definitely prepare a gift that Elia likes.”
“Okay. I look forward to it.”
She looked down at the child’s eyes burning with determination and smiled.
“Then shall we go have lunch now?”
“Yes. I was still hungry.”
She took the child, who was rubbing his tummy, and turned and headed towards the mansion. The duke had a lot of work to do due to yesterday’s work, so they wouldn’t be able to eat together today. Since he didn’t attend breakfast earlier because he was busy, she thought it would be natural for lunch as well. However, upon entering the dining hall, contrary to expectations, the duke was sitting down and eating.
“Weren’t you busy today?”
“It’s not to the point where I keep skipping meals.”
“Then I’m glad.”
She shook her head and sat down side by side with the child. After a while, the servants served their share of food. It was a time when she was wondering what to put on the child’s plate first.
“Father. Did you know that next Thursday is Elia’s birthday?”
Rattling.
While the Duke was eating, he looked at her intently. It was as if his eyes were asking if it was true.
“Yes, that’s right. Next Thursday is my birthday.”
The Duke, who was looking at her intently, said, “I see.”
He muttered softly and suddenly stood up.
“Where are you going instead of just eating?”
“I have some business to run for a moment.”
With those words, the duke went out.
‘Why are you doing that?’
She looked at the door through which the duke had gone out for a moment, and then turned her head to the child.
“I guess your father is very busy today.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
She nodded and placed an appropriate amount of duck meat on the child’s empty plate.
“Now, try this.”
The child who tasted the duck meat on his plate said it was delicious and offered some to her as well.
“Elia, eat it too.”
“Ah.”
So, the child and she spent their meal time together, feeding each other food.
* * *
Other than not having seen the Duke since lunch, nothing much had happened. After taking a weapons training class and eating dinner as usual, she was busy gathering her thoughts before going to bed.
Quietly.
She looked down at the sleeping child first, then closed her eyes and tried to sleep as well. As she was falling into a fairly deep sleep, she heard a faint crying sound in her ear. Her eyes widened when she realized that the crying was coming very close.
“Lian, what’s wrong? Huh?”
It was none other than the child, sobbing and crying with his eyes closed. He seemed to be having a nightmare and was suffering in his sleep. Without hesitation, she shook the child’s body and woke him up.
“Lian, wake up. Lian?”
After shaking the body a few more times, the child’s closed eyes opened.
“…Hmm, Elia?”
“Yes. I’m here. Did you have a scary dream?”
“Elia, suck! Ah, my father…”
“Yes, the Duke, what?”
The child could no longer speak and began to cry. She started to worry, wondering what kind of bad dream he had. She held the child in her arms and comforted him by patting his small back, but he did not easily stop crying. Perhaps sensing the commotion in the room, Sarah’s voice came from outside.
[What’s going on?]
“Come in for a moment.”
Soon the door opened and Sarah came into the room. Sarah’s eyes widened slightly when she saw the crying child.
“I think Lian was very surprised because she had a nightmare about the Duke. Could you wet a towel with some water and bring it to me?”
“All right.”
She went into the bathroom and Sarah handed over her wet towel. Then she gently wiped the child’s tear-covered face with a towel.
“Baby, it’s just a dream. It’s okay, let’s just do it, okay?”
“Huh, huh! Father, father…”
She looked down at the crying child, shaking his body, and stood up, thinking it was no good. She picked up the child, who had already become heavy, and spoke to Sarah.
“I think I should go to the Duke. Where is the Duke now?”
“He’ll be in the bedroom.”
“Then let’s go there.”
“All right.”
As she stood in front of the duke’s door, which she had already arrived at, Sarah spoke to her inside.
“I’m sorry for being late, Duke. I brought them to see the master because the young master kept crying, probably because he was having a nightmare.”
Soon after, the door opened, and the Duke, dressed comfortably, appeared through it. The duke, who was quietly looking down at the crying child, held out his hand. When she handed Delian to the Duke, the child buried his face in his arms and cried, as if he had been waiting for him.
“…Huh! Father!”
The Duke, who was casually patting the child on the back, said to her.
“Leave him here for today. I’ll let him sleep in my room.”
“Yes. Then, please take care of him.”
As she was about to turn around, her collar was suddenly pulled. As she turned her head, the child suddenly looked up and started whimpering, pulling her collar.
“What’s wrong, Lian?”
“…Huh, don’t go. Elia is with us too.”
She looked up at the Duke for a moment and he gestured as if to come in. She hesitated for a moment and then went inside. The duke closed the door and headed to bed with the child in his arms. Feeling a bit strange for some reason, she stood still and watched what he was doing. The Duke, who was sitting on the bed, looked down at the child and opened his mouth.
“Delian.”
“Huh, huh!”
“What did you dream about?”
“Ah, my father is going to jail… Ugh!”
“…Shhh, don’t cry.”
“He is dead… he is bleeding, he is bleeding too much!”
He placed the arm of the crying child over his heart.
“Delian.”
“Hmm, yes…”
“Look. What do you think?”
The child whimpered and gently touched the area around the duke’s heart.
“Your heart, huh, is racing…”
“And?”
“…Ta, it’s warm.”
“If I were dead, my heart wouldn’t be beating and I wouldn’t be able to talk to you like this.”
The quietly spoken words gradually made the child stop crying. The Duke so naturally comforted and comforted the child. It’s surprising even to me.
“So stop crying and go to bed now.”
“…yes.”
When the duke saw the child lying down on the bed and lying down next to him, he quietly turned around. Looking at the situation, she felt like there was no need for her to be there. It would be nice to let the two of them sleep together in privacy for the first time.
“Elia, where are you going?” said the child, sniffling his nose. She turned her body awkwardly, thinking she had seen it before.
“…I thought I should go back to my room.”
The child’s eyes brightened again at her words.
“Can’t Elia sleep here too?”
Feeling embarrassed for a moment, she looked at the Duke lying next to him. She didn’t know if she was going to sleep with the child, but she was a little hesitant about having to sleep with the Duke.
‘It’s not that I don’t like it at all, it’s just a bit awkward.’
“What are you doing? You’re not coming.”
As she was still hesitating, the Duke drove a wedge into her. She had no choice but to walk slowly to the bed.
—————————————————————
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 April, 28 after a 2-weeks vacation. See you soon!!
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