Chapter 131
Locke Castle was a bit too rainy for its bright, sunny, Southern Empire setting. Others might have called it weighty or austere, but…
“Rainy.”
The castle’s atmosphere follows its owner.
She thought of a kidnapper who wanted to be her father, and then rolled her eyes.
“Princess doesn’t seem to be afraid of you at all.”
“Strange.”
“All the children cry when they see you.”
“Is it because she’s your daughter?”
Doesn’t this make any sense?
How does the logic jump to the conclusion that she’s not scared because she’s your daughter!
She made a face and glared at the maid for insisting on such ridiculous logic.
“Kahaha, cute.”
She was being called cute. Damn it.
Why am I so cute!
“Ooooooo, are you angry?”
“Do you want to eat cookie?”
“What would you like for dinner baby?”
“I’m not a baby!”
She tried insisting to the maids who were treating her like a baby that she was a child, not a baby, but it didn’t work.
“Oh, you’re not a baby, are you mad at me for calling you baby?”
“Do you want some sweets or not?”
Seriously, these people.
“Give me the candy.”
But she doesn’t refuse the treats.
“Hahaha, cute.”
“Fluffy.”
“Lovely.”
The maids clung to her. She long since gotten used to this attitude because of the childcare group, and she bemoaned her life again today as she shooed away the clinging maids.
The world is not letting her off the hook today.
Still, she didn’t understand the maids’ behavior.
If their master was such a terrifying, domineering, and murderous human being, it was only natural that he would turn his back on a cute child like her.
“But are you sure you’re not afraid of him?”
It’s been today since she was imprisoned… Eh, how many days?
Anyway, her daily routine these days began with meeting with the Regent and demanding to be released.
It’s strange that she is so demanding, but it’s even stranger that he doesn’t seem to mind.
She guess they were all living under oppression.
“I’m scared, too.”
“!”
How can you not be scared, with those beady eyes?
“I’m just used to it.”
Despite his appearance and demeanor, the Regent did not do anything to her.
He still spoke in a formal manner, but it seemed to her to have softened a bit, given that it was his way of speaking.
‘I don’t know what the difference is.’
Especially since he’d broken she’d been pestering him to return every day, lying on the floor and seemingly cherishing it.
“Get the doctor.”
She was more concerned about her well-being than.
She was even a little embarrassed by the fussiness of the treatment, which also included a little bit of raw sewing.
She is not sure if she is the only one who’s ever had to deal with this, but she is pretty sure she is the only one who’s ever had to deal with it…
He’s an asshole, but he’s a kind asshole, so her feelings were subtle.
She is like, ‘I need to get in more trouble.’
She shows him she is not worth keeping, and he’ll let her go.
Luckily, she had a great accident book (!) to teach her.
She never thought she’d live to see the day when she’d praise the devilishness of the Sperom twins.
“Let’s go.”
***
Ludwig looked at the papers in front of him and felt a rush of freshness. Adjutant German, on the other hand, who stood before him, felt his heart sink.
Gulp.
The longer the lord’s silence lengthens, the more he feels a rush of emptiness, like the lump in his throat is about to fall out.
Dozens of minutes of this tension.
“So.”
Ludwig’s mouth finally opened.
“This is the property Arellin’s been destroying for the past week?”
The number of china, picture frames, and ornaments that had been sent for restoration was incalculable, as were the dozens of replacements of furniture and tableware.
In monetary terms, the damage was worth a castle!
For about ten days after her arrival at Locke Castle, she remained in her room and did not lift a finger, and then suddenly, as if possessed by a ghost, she began to wander about, causing so much trouble that the servants had to chase after her with trepidation.
Even German was holding his breath, fearing that some ill omen had fallen upon him.
“The child is very active.”
“On… Uh?”
Ludwig smirked, and hung the list of Arellin’s fortune on the wall of his office like a souvenir.
“Tell the butler to make sure the castle is safe for her to run around and not get hurt.”
“Ah? Yes, I’ll pass that on!”
“Any other reports?”
Flustered by Ludwig’s unexpected reaction, Adjutant German barely managed to calm himself.
Clearing his throat, he reported.
“Well, it’s Duke Idikels’ case…”
A different kind of tension hovered in the office.
“He hasn’t gone back yet?”
“Yes, he’s still at the castle, requesting an audience with His Highness.”
Ludwig tapped his fingertips on the desk before answering.
“Ignore him.”
“Do you want me to catch him by surprise?”
“The Duke of Idikels?”
The corners of his mouth arched as if he’d heard something amusing.
“German, do you know why Pythal hasn’t gone to war with Albrecht in all of history?”
German blinked dumbly. Ludwig laughed merrily.
The two Empires had already clashed under the water many times.
Where are there only two Empires?
There were countless disputes and frictions with the multiracial Empire of Shugra, and with the Yuyo Union, a paradise for halflings and watermen.
The long history of conflict had already turned into a grudge, a time bomb that could explode at any moment.
Yet the reason for the continental war was simple.
“Because Albrecht, who clearly has the upper hand, doesn’t want it.
“You don’t go toe-to-toe with men of ability.”
Why else would Albrecht be the most prosperous Empire of men?
It was all due to a divine providence that defied normal understanding.
As if the blessing of some forgotten god left behind in the Phythal protected it.
“Let him go. The arrogant Emperor of Albrecht will never lift a hand to Halbern without first stirring the pot.”
Ludwig believed in the arrogance of a hungry beast that took everything easily.
A beast so full that its prey could barely see its claws.
***
For the first time, she lamented that she had no <Golden Eye>.
“If only I had the Golden Eye, I would have done more.”
She’d watched Ciel and Noel do it in the Imperial Palace, Halbern, and the Duchy of Sperom, and she’d broken a few expensive-looking things, but it wasn’t enough.
“Do more.”
She was encouraged.
The Regent didn’t even bother with the foolishness of cheapening the castle’s decorations and supplies.
“Eh.”
This isn’t working? Why isn’t it working?
If it were any other house, she would have come running and scolded them, but why can’t they scold her?
“I’m strong.”
She was confused because she couldn’t understand what her father was thinking, but the regent was just too strong.
Ah, how is she going to get through this?
Deep in thought, she wandered around the paths she had vaguely identified, avoiding the eyes of the maids and servants.
“Aaah!”
She was lost in thought when she bumped her forehead against someone’s back and fell.
“Huh?”
The person gasped in surprise, then stopped.
“A child?”
“Huh?”
“Arellin Sigria Halbern?”
“…?”
Who knows her full name?
She took the outstretched hand and stood up, getting a good look at the other person’s face.
Blue hair and blue eyes that reminded her of the deep sea. Huh?
“We’ve never met. My name is Terrence. I am the Duke of Idikels.”
A man with a clear, rich voice, like the anchor of the 9 o’clock news, smiled at her with a trusting smile.
She’d found him. Someone to help her.
“Sir!”
She made a beeline for the stranger.
“Help me!”
