My Niece Is Not A Villainess

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logan Leonie played a crucial role in <Flower Bloom>.

 

He was a vassal of the previous duke and a very capable person.

 

Logan’s wealth of experience and wisdom has always been a great help in running the estate.

 

However, Ian, who inherited the dukedom, kicked him out.

 

Simply because he don’t like people.

 

Yet, Yekhaterina, acting as the main characters, didn’t let go of the discarded talent and made him her vassal.

 

Later, Logan greatly contributes to Yekhaterina’s growth.

 

‘I can’t let such talent be taken away by the main characters.’

 

To make Rose happy, it required more than just beautiful clothes or luxurious furnishings.

 

Individuals with both competence and character had to stand by her side.

 

Logan was the perfect fit for that role.

 

Meanwhile, Sebastian momentarily paused to ponder whether what he heard was correct.

 

‘He’s calling him back after kicking him out?’

 

However, under Ian’s urging, his thoughts didn’t linger for long.

 

“How long can this be done?”

 

“Tomorrow… I will bring him back by tomorrow.”

 

“Alright.”

 

As the Duke, seemingly with nothing more to say, resumed his steps, the maids exchanged glances.

 

“That was the Duke, right?”

 

“Whoa. Is this a dream? Hey, pinch me.”

 

“Did the Duke have something wrong?!”

 

“You all have loose tongues.”

 

At Sebastian’s reproachful words, the maids hastily closed their mouths and bowed their heads.

 

“I apologize.”

 

“I apologize.”

 

“I apologize”

 

“Enough. Everyone, return to your places.”

 

As the maids hurriedly left the bathroom, Sebastian also moved toward Ian’s bedroom.

 

‘The Duke has changed.’

 

Ian Loenbaum.

 

Disliking human contact to the extreme, he even loathed leaving his room.

 

Even when he happened to come out occasionally, he made a habit of crouching low, avoiding people’s gazes as much as possible.

 

However, from this morning, the Duke’s atmosphere had changed.

 

His behavior and spontaneous energy seemed more ruthless than that of the previous duke he had seen when he was young.

 

However, everything changed once Rose, Marianne’s daughter, appeared.

 

Holding Rose in his arms, the Duke’s face, previously shedding tears, now brimmed with joy.

 

It resembled the face of parents finding a lost child.

 

“Indeed. You must have been lonely.”

 

A smile crept onto Sebastian’s lips as he recalled Ian, who held Rose more dearly than anything.

 

“First, we need to prepare the young lady’s belongings.”

 

She was the one who brought happiness to the owner.

 

To prepare the finest items, they had to act swiftly.

 

Sebastian, determined, nodded his head as he walked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Huh?”

 

Blinking her eyes, Rose looked around anxiously.

 

Upon waking, the sight was usually a ceiling that seemed ready to collapse at any moment. Rainwater leaked in when it rained, and the thin, worn-out blanket always had to be shaken off due to the constant cold wind.

 

But what she saw now was a ceiling adorned with a beautiful angelic painting. The air in the room felt incredibly soft and warm, akin to a gentle spring day.

 

‘Is this heaven?’

 

Moreover, she was wearing clothes made of a material incomparable to the dusty attire she had on just a while ago. It felt like the touch of a young puppy, albeit slightly larger.

 

“…..What is this? Hmm.”

 

Glancing around, Rose discovered a man next to her, eyes closed. She covered her mouth with her leaf-like hands.

 

Tousled lemon-colored hair and long eyelashes.

 

A sharp, shaded nose bridge.

 

And even lips like roses blooming in the white snow.

 

He was incredibly handsome.

 

Even her mom, rumored to be the most beautiful in the village, didn’t compare to this, Rose thought as she lowered her hands covering her mouth.

 

‘… Is he an angel? Have I come to heaven?’

 

Such thoughts crossed her mind momentarily, but Rose soon shook her head.

 

‘No… I couldn’t have come to heaven. Excluding my mom, everyone hates and despises me.’

 

Being disliked and hated by everyone must be because she did something wrong.

 

A mischievous child like her couldn’t possibly be in heaven.

 

In that case, there was only one answer.

 

‘Then, could this person be the uncle my mom mentioned?’

 

Rose grinned and tightly grasped the pendant in her hand.

 

Rose’s mom had told her that she was the daughter of a duke, and if she went with this pendant, her uncle would welcome her.

 

However, unlike her mom, Rose didn’t expect acceptance from the duke’s residence.

 

Instead, she feared accusations of her mom’s pendant being fake or questions about whether she stole it.

 

Until now, besides her mom, no one had believed in her or cared for her.

 

But Rose’s expectations were proven wrong.

 

The duke, who looked just like her mom, embraced Rose and welcomed her.

 

It was when Rose, recalling the voice and warm embrace from back then, grinned.

 

With long eyelashes gently rising, Ian’s violet eyes looked at Rose.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Startled, Rose blinked, and Ian, wearing a mischievous smile, spoke.

 

“Did you sleep well? I was going to wake you up.”

 

Frozen like ice, Rose quickly covered her eyes and bowed her head deeply.

 

Without giving Ian a chance to be puzzled by her sudden actions, Rose huddled down, trembling.

 

“I-I apologize. I-I don’t know why I’m here, but I apologize!”

 

Ian swiftly stood up and embraced Rose.

 

“Eek!”

 

Suddenly remembering her situation, Rose screamed and instinctively hugged Ian.

 

“Shh, it’s okay.”

 

Sensing Rose’s small heart beating rapidly, Ian sighed in relief, gently caressing her back.

 

“This is my room, and I brought you here because you fell asleep while bathing.”

 

“Is this the Duke’s room?”

 

“Yeah. Are you hungry?”

 

Calming the stiffened child due to tension, Ian got up from the bed.

 

“I’m not hungry.”

 

– krukkk.

 

“Oops.”

 

Chuckling softly as he looked at the small, thin hands clutching the stomach, Ian touched the child’s cheek and said,

 

“Someone might mistake you for a lightning rod… Ah no, I thought it was a broom.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“No, never mind. Let’s eat first.”

 

Ian’s affectionate gaze made Rose feel shy. She buried her face in Ian’s shoulder for a moment before suddenly lifting her head.

 

“P-put me down!”

 

“I won’t.”

 

Firmly refusing, Ian tightened his hold on the struggling Rose and playfully pulled her into a twirl.

 

Just as if in response to their waiting, a polite knock echoed.

 

“Is the meal ready?”

 

“Yes.”

 

As Sebastian nodded, Ian, still holding Rose, stood up.

 

“Let’s go eat.”

 

“I can walk, though.”

 

“I want to carry you.”

 

Rose lifted her head to look at Ian.

 

Her mom had often tried to hold her, but being sick and lying down was the daily routine. Her father not only never held her but would insult or hit her if she caught his eye, so she always avoided him.

 

‘Being held feels warm and reassuring,’ Rose thought, unconsciously smiling.

 

“Is there any food you like?”

 

Recovering from her absent-minded smile at Ian’s question, Rose clenched her fist and replied.

 

“I eat anything.”

 

“Any allergies?”

 

“Al… what’s an allergy?”

 

“It could make your stomach hurt or make your body itchy when you eat it.”

 

Ian, holding Rose, answered as they entered the dining room and took their seats.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Ian chuckled at the murmured response of the uncertain child and nodded with a gentle smile.

 

“Okay, Sebastian. Where’s the doctor?”

 

“He’s waiting. The food has been prepared to be easily digestible for the young lady.”

 

While Ian and Sebastian conversed, Rose rolled her eyes, exploring the dining room.

 

The dining room, adorned with beautiful murals, was quite spacious, almost the size of the house she lived in with her mom.

 

‘It’s pretty.’

 

A long dining table, large enough for a hundred people, had intricately carved patterns, and the neatly arranged forks and knives sparkled in the light.

 

Lost in the enchanting surroundings, Rose, captivated by the glittering knife, involuntarily reached out, grasping Ian’s shirt when a hand suddenly appeared in front of her.

 

Ian glanced at the servant offering the soup, observing Rose’s startled reaction.

 

“I-I apologize.”

 

Ian motioned for the servant to step back, gently patting Rose’s back as he lifted the spoon.

 

“Rose.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Ah.”

 

Hesitating, Rose opened her mouth with a reflexive “Ah” sound.

 

Ian put the spoon filled with soup into his mouth.

 

“Huh?!”

 

Rose’s eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed.

 

“Is it delicious?”

 

About to answer ‘yes,’ before she could respond, a piece of bread soaked in soup entered her mouth.

 

“Rose, you will live here from now on.”

 

Ian’s words made Rose tilt her head and ask.

 

“Then, what should I work?”

 

“Work?”

 

“Dad said that if I don’t earn money, I’m useless. He said I must work because begging is like a vulture. I have to work no matter what.”

 

Ian’s expression stiffened as he was about to take another spoonful of soup.

 

Ian felt like his heart was tearing apart hearing Rose’s words.

 

‘Work? A child this young doing work…’

 

At five years old, she was still at an age to play. Thinking about the father who told an innocent child to earn money filled Ian with anger.

 

Watching Ian try to contain his anger, Rose rolled her eyes.

 

‘Oh? Did I get too cheeky? Dad said cheeky girls are bad.’

 

Meanwhile, Rose huddled in, starting to gauge Ian’s reaction.

 

Sensing the fear in the child, Ian quickly softened his expression.

 

‘I didn’t mean to scare her like this.’

 

A warm smile appeared on Ian’s face. He tore a piece of bread and dipped it into the soup before opening his mouth again.

 

“Ah.”

 

“Ah?”

 

Ian unconsciously fed a piece of bread to Rose’s mouth, then spoke.

 

“There’s only one thing Rose needs to do here—eat well, play well, and sleep well.”

 

“But that’s not a job.”

 

Ian kissed Rose’s forehead and said, feeling the warmth on her forehead.

 

“And considering this as something natural.”

 

Feeling the warmth on her forehead, Rose thought the duke was acting strangely.

 

But more peculiar to her was that being in the duke’s embrace, her heart felt warmer at his simple words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click bellow to see other tl by me;