My Niece Is Not A Villainess

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The maid who brought the trolley lowered a three-tiered dessert tray onto the table along with tea and politely bowed her head to the man.

 

Judging by the maid’s demeanor, the man holding the child seemed like a duke.

 

“Now that you’ve seen everything, please have a seat here.”

 

Even the steps to hell seemed lighter than this.

 

May forced her leaden legs to move and sat across from the man.

 

Despite her trembling legs and hands, the man paid no attention and simply handed a small sandwich to the child.

 

“Let’s start with the sandwich.”

 

“Yes!”

 

With a nervous gulp, May opened her small mouth wide and confidently ate the sandwich, momentarily distracted from her tension.

 

‘I don’t know who they are, but that’s cute.’

 

May, who adored children, gazed at Rose with a motherly smile when she heard a subdued voice.

 

“Your name is May, right?”

 

“Yes? Yes. Th-That’s correct.”

 

“Do you dream of becoming a merchant?”

 

“How did you know that?”

 

May’s eyes widened.

 

Because her dream of becoming a merchant was a secret that no one knew about except his parents and relatives who told her about their business.

 

‘Who told the duke about this? It couldn’t be my aunt. Surely my parents wouldn’t have told anyone else? No. Just talking about the business makes them nervous, so why would they say such a thing.’

 

Ian asked May, doubting her own thoughts.

 

“Isn’t it true?”

 

“No! Yes! Becoming a merchant is my dream!”

 

May’s sharp intuition was shouting positivity, though she couldn’t fathom how the duke knew.

 

“So, if I were to support you in becoming a merchant, would you be willing to accept?”

 

“Support?”

 

May’s eyes widened.

 

Stories about the duke were quietly circulating within the estate.

 

A incompetent man who abandoned his duties and indulged in idleness.

 

A puppet manipulated by his advisors.

 

A man unsuitable for the title of duke.

 

However, the duke May faced now was different.

 

He exuded nobility, spoke confidently, and his gaze was as fierce as a predator’s.

 

“Yes. Apart from the dealings we’ve had so far, I plan to operate a separate business within the dukedom. Selling goods other than monsters.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“And I intend to appoint you to run that business.”

 

“Me?!”

 

More bewildered by the unexpected offer than the presence of the duke in the parlor, May’s eyes widened.

 

“Why me?”

 

“Because, in my eyes, you’re qualified.”

 

“What makes you think so? Duke. You don’t even know me.”

 

Ian handed milk to Rose and said.

 

“So, will you refuse?”

 

Ian couldn’t explain the original intention and didn’t want to.

 

He hoped May would accept, but if she didn’t, he thought there was nothing he could do.

 

Even though Ian himself could act as a merchant, he had approached May was to buy time with Rose.

 

“If you want to refuse-”

 

“No! I want to! I really want to!”

 

May exclaimed urgently.

 

The initial capital she had saved up was enough to run a small shop rather than an upper-class establishment.

 

While she had planned to gradually expand, with the duke’s support, she could significantly shorten the time it would take to establish the upper class business.

 

‘I don’t know what made the duke want to create the upper class business.’

 

Someone once said that if luck comes knocking once in a lifetime, one shouldn’t miss it.

 

This could be that stroke of luck.

 

‘If I let this opportunity slip, I’d be a fool. A fool.’

 

Nodding at May, who was sharp-eyed, Ian said,

 

“Then, inform your parents. Close down the bakery and stay in the duchy from now on.”

 

“Yes! I understand!”

 

“The contract will proceed as soon as Logan arrives, and you can choose the name for the business. Oh, and you can eat too.”

 

Despite her resolute declaration, May nodded stiffly, and Ian smiled faintly as he handed the cup of milk to Rose.

 

“Drinking milk will help you grow big and strong.”

 

“Yes. Uncle, you should have some too.”

 

“Uncle is fine. I’ll let Rose have more.”

 

Ian chuckled softly as he observed the milk mustache forming around Rose’s mouth after she drank, wiping it away with his hand. As he handed her a macaron, May finally mustered the courage to address Ian.

 

“Excuse me, Duke.”

 

Ian looked at May as she called out to him.

 

“You mentioned selling other goods. May I ask what you’re referring to?”

 

“Ah, I forgot to mention that.”

 

Ian grinned.

 

“We’ll be selling diamonds.”

 

“Oh. R-Really?! Diamonds?!”

 

May jumped up from her seat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A faint golden aura, blurred by the sword, managed to pierce the tough carapace of the Scorpion Worm.

 

If it were Yoon Sijun, he would have split it in half at once. Ian’s body had not yet reached that level.

 

Although he thought he had firmly clad the aura, his physical strength couldn’t keep up, causing the mana to continue to waver.

 

Ian dodged the Scorpion Worm’s tail and swung the sword again, breaking through its carapace.

 

‘Tsk. Still lacking in stamina.’

 

Ian chastised himself for thinking he could pierce it in one blow, as the sword only shattered the carapace.

 

Dodging the glowing Scorpion Worm, Ian blocked its pincer with his sword and pushed with all his might.

 

The struggling Scorpion Worm flailed, then flipped over.

 

Ignoring the swirling sand and dust, Ian leaped high into the air.

 

With the blade raised, he brought it down on the chest of the Scorpion Worm.

 

As the sword pierced its soft chest, the once stiffened body of the Scorpion Worm collapsed silently, as if it had screamed without a sound.

 

“Phew.”

 

Breathing heavily, Ian sheathed his sword.

 

Around Ian, who had descended from the Scorpion Worm’s body, lay the corpses of what still looked like juvenile Scorpion Worms.

 

Ian looked up at the starry sky.

 

‘I didn’t expect to feel miss about the messages.’

 

The favorite’s was a being that fought with the power of the constellation. It is natural for a constellation to love its favorite child, but Yoon Sijun’s constellations tend to be a bit overprotective, so when he start fighting, they become irritable and constantly send messages.

 

Sometimes, it was distracting during combat.

 

However, engaging in battle without any messages suddenly made him miss them.

 

Ian knew that the Seats were still watching over him, as he could still feel the bond he had with them when he awakened as the favorite’s, but that didn’t alleviate his longing.

 

“It seems I’m still lacking.”

 

Speaking to himself as if reporting to them, Ian reflected on his recent battle.

 

‘My legs were shaking. I need to practice maintaining the aura unconsciously.’

 

After organizing his thoughts on how to further train, Ian looked around.

 

‘When will this be cleaned up?’

 

There probably weren’t many people climbing the mountain teeming with monsters, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

 

It wasn’t the right time to reveal his strength, especially when he could create unnecessary misunderstandings.

 

Reluctantly, Ian stored the Scorpion Worm carcasses in his inventory and quickly made his way to the duchy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“My lord, preparations are complete.”

 

Nodding, Ian tidied up the documents he had been looking at and briskly walked away.

 

“Rose?”

 

Upon opening the door, Ian saw Rose lying on the bed, drawing with her belly as support.

 

“Uncle!”

 

Rose, jumping up, rushed into Ian’s arms.

 

Ian hugged Rose and asked affectionately.

 

“Were you having fun?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And… did you enjoy your snacks?”

 

Finding her protruding belly adorable, Ian kissed Rose’s forehead.

 

After finishing the remaining bottle of holy water, Rose had become so healthy that even Sebastian would approve.

 

Despite never seeming to gain weight no matter how much she ate, her body had gradually filled out, her rough skin had smoothed, and her hair had regained its shine.

 

Her cheeks even had a rosy blush, making the maids who saw her these days find her so cute they couldn’t resist pinching her cheeks.

 

‘Why do they keep pinching her cheeks?’

 

Ian recalled the maids incomprehensible behavior and checked Rose’s clothes.

 

Today, Rose was wearing the first outfit designed by Ian and crafted by the tailor.

 

The shirt, adorned with pearl-like round buttons, had lace made from the same fabric gathered around the neck and wrists, while the soft pumpkin pants accentuated the child’s cuteness.

 

Just in case it got cold, the white tights she wore were adorned with flower-shaped decorations made of soft calf leather, a favorite of the child.

 

Ensuring comfort from head to toe while maintaining cuteness, Ian smiled contentedly and said to Rose,

 

“You look so pretty, Rose. Are you ready for our picnic?”

 

“Yes! But what’s a pretty stone? Can stones be pretty?”

 

“Yes. It’s a very pretty, sparkling stone.”

“Where is that stone?”

 

Ian lifted Rose up and walked towards the window.

 

And he pointed to the snow-capped mountains in the north, even in summer.

 

“There’s a sparkling stone hidden in the center of that mountain. We have to find it, it’s hiding really well.”

 

“Like hide and seek?”

 

“Yes. It’s so beautiful that it asked me to find it and then hid.”

 

Ian chuckled and kissed Rose’s cheek.

 

“Shall we look for it together?”

 

“Yes! I want to go with you!”

 

Smiling at Rose’s giggles, Ian walked to her wardrobe.

 

“Let’s wear something warm then.”

 

“Okay!”

 

Ian pulled out a thick coat from the wardrobe and helped Rose put it on.

 

The coat was made of silver fox fur, a garment Ian had designed.

 

‘Because of this, I didn’t know I’d like the original Ian not going out.’

 

Originally, the silver fur coat belonged to Ian.

 

Discovering the rare silver fox coat, which was both lightweight and exceptionally warm, Ian’s eyes lit up.

 

While the capital enjoyed warm weather throughout the seasons, the Duchy, being in the north, could get quite chilly as early as the beginning of autumn, making coats necessary.

 

Thus, for Ian, it was only natural to want to turn Rose’s coat into something new, given that the coat had essentially remained untouched since his possession due to his previous incarnation not venturing outside.

 

However, Sebastian, who cherished Ian as much as Rose, would have preferred to put out a warrant and purchase another silver fox fur, but Ian, unwilling to wait until then, did not relent on his stubbornness.

 

Through the tailor’s skillful hands, the silver fox fur coat was transformed into a cute coat, gloves, and scarf for Rose.

 

After Ian firmly wrapped the scarf around Rose’s neck, put on her gloves and earmuffs, he stepped out of the room, followed closely by Sebastian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

୭ Click this ‘louyve’ bellow to see other project by me˚. ᵎᵎ

.ᐟ.ᐟ.ᐟ