I Became the guardian of the future villain

Expensive-looking paintings and golden ships were scattered everywhere, giving the place a sense of luxury.

Outside the window, the vast garden of the duke’s estate was visible at a glance.

Servants were busily moving around, likely preparing for the wedding to be held there.

“I’ve heard the Imperial family will be…”

Whispers could be heard. Turning her head, Hestia saw Icarus and Derrick talking.

‘So that’s why we arrived early.’

After all, the fact that they were given rooms in the ducal estate hinted at a purpose. As she stared at them intently for a moment, a small smile formed on her lips.

‘I’ll pretend I don’t know and eavesdrop.’

Hestia quietly moved closer to Derrick.

“The baron has done a great job. If it weren’t for you, there would have been a serious problem. His Majesty said he would commend you once the matter is settled.”

“I just did what was necessary. Besides, it was the duke who quickly created the remedy, allowing everything to be resolved.”

“Indeed. It was possible because you informed me about the pine fruit. Being too humble isn’t good either.”

Icarus lightly scolded Derrick, but his face was filled with a smile.

A month ago, Derrick had learned that the pine fruit had detoxifying properties for cosmetics and immediately sent a letter to the duke’s household.
As a result, the duke’s family succeeded in developing a remedy using the pine fruit.
At the time of the remedy’s development, the cosmetic was still being sold in areas other than the southern region, leading to a rapid increase in cases of side effects.
These side effects didn’t discriminate by social status. Nobles and commoners alike were desperately searching for a cure, and at just the right moment, the Winston family released their remedy.
“Thanks to that, we were able to resolve the situation quickly and earn a huge profit. I appreciate it.”

“We benefited from it as well, so it worked out for both of us.”

Along with the remedy, news that the pine fruit soap was also effective for initial side effects had led to a growing interest in the soap.

While people were currently only seeking the pine fruit soap, it was certain that their interest would eventually extend to other products.

“How do you manage to obtain such necessary information in a timely manner regarding both cosmetics and pine fruit? Do you have a secret?”

“Haha, it’s all just coincidence.”

“Doesn’t it seem more like fate than coincidence? Don’t hold back; just be honest.”

“Um….”

Derrick, looking flustered and rolling his eyes, noticed Hestia staring at him with wide eyes while holding the ship.

He soon smiled and placed his hand on Hestia’s head.

“It’s all thanks to our daughter.”

“Um?”

Before Hestia could say anything, Derrick began to boast about her like a proud father.

“…Huh. Even if it’s all coincidence, can this really be true?”

“It’s not a lie. As everything happened. So how could I not dote on my daughter?”

Icarus chuckled several times before looking at Hestia with interest.

‘Maybe I should have just followed Mom to the room.’

She had foolishly decided to eavesdrop on their business talk.

Fortunately, Derrick wasn’t suspicious like Jerome, but Icarus’s thoughts were completely unreadable.

It would have been better if he had laughed it off like Derrick.

“You said you’re eight years old?”

Finally, Icarus spoke. Hestia tensed up and nodded.
“I see why the Baron calls you a lucky charm. You also seem quite mature for your age.”
“Th-thank you….”

“Yes, that’s exactly the point.”

Ah, were those words too sophisticated for a child?

She had spent so much time with Jerome that she had unconsciously let her guard down.
“Hahaha! My daughter does have a mature side.”
Amused by the praise of his daughter, Derrick let out a hearty laugh. Only then did Icarus smile slightly and give a soft-eyed smile.
“It’s just that she’s a remarkable child. Don’t be too nervous.”
As his long finger lightly tapped her cheek, the anxious tension in Hestia’s heart eased a bit.
‘…So, it was nothing after all?’
It felt similar to when Jerome had figured out her intentions.

“Do you like cookies?”

Icarus’s smile seemed genuine as if the previous intense gaze had never existed. After a brief hesitation, Hestia accepted the cookie he offered.
“Thank you.”
She clung to Derrick as she nibbled on the cookie like a rabbit, and Icarus’s face twitched as if he were holding back laughter.
“Hahaha! She’s so adorable. I’d love to have a daughter like her someday.”
The hearty laughter left Hestia momentarily stunned. Wondering if something was on her face, she touched her cheek, only for Icarus to laugh even harder.
‘He must just like children.’
His informal demeanor made her unnecessary wariness dissipate in an instant.

“Ahem, there is only one child like Tia in this world.”

“…Don’t brag so subtly, Dad.”

Hestia pinched Derrick’s side.

Derrick twisted away but still wore a goofy grin.
Ever since she started calling him ‘Dad,’ he’d been transforming into a doting father. It felt a little awkward since they had been distant in her previous life, but deep down, she was happy.
“It’s almost dinner time. Shall we dine together?”
“I apologize, but with the wedding tomorrow, I wouldn’t want to keep you too late.”

“It’s fine; being busy is part of daily life. Plus, I’ve already prepared everything for the wedding, so I don’t need to worry. We can introduce my fiancée over dinner.”

“It’s an honor.”

Hestia took Derrick’s hand and followed Icarus to the dining room.

“Sister! Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere!”

As they opened the dining room door, Elvin spotted Hestia and rushed over.

“Ugh! What if you fall over like this?”

“Hehe, you’re going to catch me, right?”

“Seriously… What are you getting all messy for?”

“Ubuub.”

Hestia fussed as she wiped the mess around Elvin’s mouth with the napkin hanging around his neck.

But the surroundings were oddly quiet. Realizing this too late, Hestia looked up in confusion.

“At times like this, you look like the eldest.”

For some reason, she could see Icarus desperately trying to hold back laughter.

Not only that, but Anna and a beautiful woman she had never seen before were beaming smiles from afar.

“What a cute child you have.”

The beautiful woman stood up with a graceful voice and approached them, lightly lifting her dress.

“Nice to meet you. I am Flora Royson.”

“I am Derrick Frost. Lady Royson, congratulations on your upcoming marriage.”

‘Is this the future duchess…?’

Icarus was incredibly handsome, but Flora’s beauty was equally striking, and her overall kind aura made Hestia’s guard drop naturally.

“What will our little lady’s name be?”

“Ah! I am Hestia Frost, Lady Royson….”

She should have greeted her first before answering. Worried that she might have seemed rude, she was relieved when a soft laugh followed.

“How is she so cute? She seems to be around the same age as Luciard?”

“Eight years old. Two years younger than Luciard.”

Luciard was Icarus’s younger brother.

However, no boy around her age was visible in the dining room.
“Isn’t Luciard coming?”
“…No, I went to his room, but he wouldn’t open the door,” Flora replied with a weak smile.
At her response, Icarus frowned deeply. The atmosphere instantly became tense as everyone watched his reaction. But Icarus quickly smiled to lighten the mood.
“It seems my brother isn’t feeling well, so let’s eat among ourselves for now.”

“That sounds good, Your Grace.”

Seeing them enter the dining room as if nothing had happened, Hestia narrowed her eyes for a moment.

“Sister, let’s go too.”

“Okay.”

First, she was hungry, so she decided to eat something.

Hestia took a seat at the enormous dining table with Elvin, following the adults.

* * *

“Wow, so that’s how you found out?”

“You don’t seem like a troublemaker… You must have given your parents quite a headache.”

“Are you alright now?”

“…Yes, I’m fine.”

Hestia blushed and trembled slightly as she held her fork.

How did this happen, you ask? During dinner, the conversation somehow shifted to how Derrick discovered the poisonous powder in the cosmetics.
Of course, she could only explain that it was because she had been acting like a mischievous child, causing trouble.
‘But I had to do that for the sake of the Frost family…!’
She was annoyed at Derrick for bringing up that incident, not understanding her intentions.
Even worse, Flora’s concerned gaze was one thing, but Icarus’s teasing smile was truly irritating.
“Still, my daughter isn’t that much of a troublemaker. It’smElvin who causes the trouble.”

“Dad, it’s too late to say that now.”

“Elvin is nice! He’s not a… a troublemaker!”

As if he understood that Hestia was insulting him, Elvin paused his dessert to respond.

But it seemed that pronouncing “troublemaker” was a bit difficult for him. Hestia looked at Elvin in disbelief.

“Do you even know what ‘troublemaker’ means?”

“I don’t know!”

“Hahaha! What a fun family. I’m envious of how harmonious you are.”

Icarus’s laughter echoed loudly in the dining room.

He had definitely seemed like an imposing duke at first, but now he felt more like a neighborhood older brother.

“…If only Luciard were like you.”

Though he was smiling, his eyes were filled with a lonely sadness. Inside them were mixed feelings of affection, regret, and guilt.

“Time will heal everything, Your Grace. Please don’t worry too much.”

As everyone glanced at him, Derrick spoke cautiously.

“…Is that so?”

“As you know, I’m not Hestia’s biological father.”

Feeling the warm hand resting on her head, Hestia looked up at Derrick.

“I wondered if she disliked me… Thankfully, it turns out it was just shyness. Now, she follows me even more than Anna does.”

Hestia was surprised to learn that Derrick felt that way.

She felt a pang of guilt for not having done more for him before her regression.

Icarus didn’t respond to Derrick’s words. After a moment of contemplation, he took a sip of his wine.

“It’s been about six months since my parents passed away.”

Last winter, the previous duke and duchess lost their lives in an accident. Because of that, Icarus inherited the dukedom at the young age of 22.

“Do you know why I’m rushing into marriage so suddenly after inheriting the dukedom?”

He locked eyes with Flora and held her hand tightly.

“While I want to build a stable family with the person I love as soon as possible, I also want someone who can care for Luciard in my absence.”

“Ah….”

Derrick let out a sorrowful sigh. Icarus smiled bitterly at that.

“Do you think I’m strange?”

“Not at all. How could that be?”

Derrick denied it, but Icarus didn’t take his words seriously.

“When my parents died, Luciard was finally freed from hell.”

Luciard Winston.

He was the illegitimate child that the previous duke, Icarus’s father, had with a maid.

In a sense, he was Icarus’s half-brother.

The maid died during childbirth, and the duke had no choice but to take Luciard in, who bore a striking resemblance to him.

Unfortunately, Luciard became the target of the previous duchess’s disdain.

The duke, fearing his wife’s judgment, showed no interest in Luciard at all.

As a result, the duchess’s abuse toward Luciard intensified over time, and continued until the tragic accident that took the lives of the duke and duchess.