☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“This is the most famous cake shop in Rosen.”
Surprisingly, Jas had the qualities of an excellent tour guide. He even seemed to know our preferences, leading us straight to the best cake shop.
“In fact, it’s a place my sisters love. Whenever we came to the capital when I was young, they always brought me here.”
“You have sisters, Jas?”
“Yes. Three of them. They’re all married now.”
I realized that Jas’s warm personality might stem from having many sisters.
“Cakes are delicate, so let’s buy them last. Once you taste them, you won’t regret it.”
He even organized our sightseeing itinerary. Perhaps due to his experience shopping with his sisters, he knew exactly when to step in and when to hold back.
He walked a bit behind us so my mom and I could chat comfortably, but whenever we needed help, he would appear right beside us.
“I predicted from the beginning that His Highness the Grand Duke would choose you as his heir.”
Then Jas shared his thoughts with me.
“How so?”
“It’s very rare for someone to remain unfazed when the Grand Duke’s sword is at their neck. And for a child to do so… I thought you were no ordinary child. When I found out you were a young lady, I was a bit disappointed, but now I’m glad it turned out like this.”
I finally understood why Jas felt disappointed upon realizing I was a girl.
“But are you really okay with me becoming the Grand Duke?”
Though my father was my blood relative, it was a bit surprising that a complete stranger like Jas had such a positive outlook. From his perspective, it could be unsettling for a girl like me to assume the position of Grand Duke.
“Do you know when my father pledged his loyalty to the Grand Duke?”
At Jas’s question, I shook my head.
“No? When was it?”
“It was during the funeral of the late Grand Duke. At that time, my father swore his loyalty to the current Grand Duke, who was still young. He thought that the child had an unusual determination and was someone who could achieve something.”
He certainly was someone who could achieve something. After all, he had planned a rebellion.
“I had similar thoughts when I met you, Ar. I thought that a child who could remain calm even with the Grand Duke’s sword pressed against their throat must have a strong heart, and would make a great master to serve.”
Hearing Jas’s words made me feel even more responsible. I had to do well for the people who believed in and recognized me.
We walked slowly down the most famous street in Rosen. Since we weren’t planning to do serious sightseeing today, we simply enjoyed the view.
The street was filled with countless people. Among them were many elegantly dressed ladies. Rosen was known for its good security, so most of the ladies were strolling freely without any escorts.
I looked at my mom beside me. Even when she wore shabby clothes in the past, she was beautiful, but now, dressed in a luxurious gown, she was the most radiant person in the area. The men passing by all turned to look at her at least once.
If Dad knew this, he would never let Mom go out alone.
As I thought this and stifled a laugh, Jas, who had been walking a bit behind us, approached.
“Lady Olivia, are your feet uncomfortable?”
At his words, I immediately looked at my mom’s feet. Was she truly uncomfortable? Mom subtly hid her right foot behind her.
“No, I’m fine…”
“Mom, take off your shoes.”
Mom shook her head at my insistence, but I managed to get her shoes off.
The moment the shoes came off, her heel was revealed, soaked in blood. I realized too late that Mom had worn high-heeled shoes to match her pretty dress. It had been a long time since she had worn such high heels, so her feet couldn’t possibly be fine.
“Why didn’t you say anything until your feet got like this?”
At my protest, Mom spoke softly with an apologetic expression.
“Ar can’t miss out on sightseeing because of me.”
“Ugh!”
I felt a sense of frustration and hit my chest. To be honest, it seemed like my mom was the one who wanted to go sightseeing, not me. I didn’t really care either way.
“Jas, could you bring the carriage over here? I think Mom is having a hard time walking anymore.”
“Yes!”
At my request, Jas immediately ran off. I took my mom to a nearby bench and sat down.
“From now on, if you have any pain, you need to tell me right away. Don’t hold it in like you just did.”
As I scolded her, my mom smiled and patted my head.
“I understand. Mom was wrong.”
It was hard to stay angry when she smiled like an angel. Eventually, I couldn’t scold her any further and was just waiting for Jas to return when—
“Ahhh!”
Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed.
In the middle of the street, a small child my age was lying on the ground. A much larger black dog was biting the child’s arm.
At first, I thought it was a stray dog attacking a person, but soon I realized that wasn’t the case. A noblewoman was commanding the dog from a short distance away.
“Kan, good job. Now bring that here.”
The black dog headed straight for its owner with the child in tow.
“Oh my goodness…”
Mom forgot her foot pain and stood up. I too found it hard to believe what I was seeing.
As the child got closer, the woman suddenly slapped the child’s cheek.
“You dare run away after making my dress look like this? Did you think you would get away with it? How dare you, you lowly thing!”
Something that looked like dirt was smeared on the woman’s skirt.
So, to summarize the situation—after the child dirtied the woman’s dress, she had commanded her dog to chase the fleeing child.
What was even more surprising was that everyone just stood by and watched the scene unfold, with no one trying to intervene.
Sure, let’s say the dog was sent to catch the child. But why isn’t anyone telling it to let go when that child can’t even run away anymore?
“Do you have any idea how precious this dress is? This silk is impossible to find anymore!”
The woman showed no pity for the child in pain, only complaining about her soiled dress.
I was reminded of myself being chased by Ledo when I looked at the child.
What would have happened if Dad hadn’t shown up back then? Maybe I would have suffered a serious injury from Ledo’s sword. Even if that happened, Ledo wouldn’t have faced any blame or punishment. Just like that woman right now.
“Pay for the dress. Then I’ll let you go.”
I was momentarily dumbfounded. The child was obviously malnourished and emaciated, with dirty clothes. To demand the price of a dress from such a child was outrageous.
The child shook their head, tears welling up.
“I—I don’t have that kind of money. Please forgive me.”
“Oh? Then there’s nothing I can do. I’ll have to take something else in place of the dress.”
The sharp teeth were sinking deeper and deeper. I realized that the ‘something else’ the woman mentioned was the child’s arm.
Damn it!
I immediately picked up a flowerpot from the roadside and threw it with all my might.
Even if I wanted to live quietly, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing!
Thud!
The dog yelped in surprise at the flowerpot that fell right beside it. For a moment, it seemed stunned, then it yelped and ran back to its owner.
In the meantime, I hurried over and pulled the child towards me.
“Hey, are you okay?”
I asked, but the child didn’t look okay at all. I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and tied it around the child’s wound.
“Just hang in there. I’ll get you treated soon.”
The child looked up at me in pain. Just then, as I was thinking how peculiar the pinkish-red eyes were.
“Kan!”
The woman fussed over the dog.
“Oh no! You must have been so startled, Kan!”
Then she suddenly pointed at me and said,
“Grab that kid immediately!”
Servants rushed towards me.
Just as they were about to grab me, my mom stepped in front of me.
“Don’t you dare touch my child!”
Mom shouted fiercely, just like that time when the neighbor tried to do something bad to me. This was only the second time she had come out so strongly, just like back then.
“If you hurt my child even a little, I won’t let it go!”
My mother was a timid and fearful person. However, she always became brave when it came to my matters.
“I’ll compensate for the dress. So please let both children go.”
