Chapter 150
“You said they wouldn’t find out!”
“Your Highness, you liar!”
The twins, caught by Ludwig, immediately accused Pession.
“Let’s run.”
“One, two, three!”
It was Ludwig’s shadowy escort who caught the twins as they tried to flee with their tails between their legs.
“Hmph.”
Ludwig recognized the twins as Sperom when he saw the tilted Libra embroidered on their clothes.
‘Sperom sigil, gray hair, golden eyes. Are they related to Sperom?’
The question of what the hell a direct descendant of Sperom was doing here remained unanswered, but it was the other one that caught Ludwig’s attention.
‘That’s weird.’
Pession, who had once spent at least half of his days in Halbern, was wary of the unfamiliar face.
“Who are you, and why are you here?”
“Uncle?”
Ludwig’s expression became subtle.
It was a title he’d never heard before in his life, and he couldn’t believe there was another fearless kid besides Arellin who called him that.
“And who are you?”
Ludwig asked, but the Allermann sigil on Pession’s clothes and silver hair gave away the answer.
Neither Sperom nor Allermann could wear such sigils, only their immediate family.
“A friend of Arellin’s.”
“Hmm.”
Ludwig’s eyes widened at the answer, even though he’d expected it to be a status question.
“Arellin close friend.”
“Exactly!”
“We’re friends too!”
The Sperom twins chimed in, but when Ludwig turned around, they were quiet again.
“That guy, he’s scary.”
“Yeah…”
Unlike the twins, who had gone quiet as if they’d met their nemesis, Pession spoke again without fear.
“Who are you?”
“You mean me?”
Ludwig twisted his lips up.
“Arellin’s father.”
“…?”
“… Is a wanna-be dad.”
He wanted to say he was the father, but now that he thought about it, he still hadn’t forgiven himself. He swallows his bitterness as he writes his impression.
The twins were confused.
“…?”
“…??”
Suddenly, father?
“Ciel, can you be a dad if you want to be a dad?”
“Uh, I don’t know.”
“Can I be Arellin’s dad if I pay her?”
“Let’s go ask Arellin.”
“I’ll buy her dad’s job, with money, like this?”
“Maybe if we both save up, we can do it.”
Unlike the twins, who had a new dream, Pession, who once wanted to be Arellin’s father, had a subtle expression on his face.
“… Something’s wrong.”
Ludwig smiled, suddenly realizing that he knew something about the one-day-old puppy, who was openly wary and hostile toward him without being afraid of him.
“Ah, I see.”
Part of him wanted to pull her away, to keep her away from him, but Ludwig resisted the urge.
Now was the time for self-restraint.
Now was the time to look good for Arellin.
Reflecting on his newfound status as the lowest ranking member of the mansion, Ludwig summoned all the kindness he could muster.
“So, you’re a friend of Arellin’s? I’ll take you there.”
***
“Arellin-!”
“Arel!”
She looked up at the voice that broke the peace.
The twins rushed over as soon as they spotted her. They are in such good spirits after not seeing her for so long.
“I missed you!”
“Me too!”
“Uh, yeah. Okay, get off me.”
She didn’t hear anyone coming, so why are the twins here?
After a moment of wondering, he slowly walked over and saw Pession standing next to him.
He’d brought them.
“I told your friends you were sick, so I brought them.”
For some reason, she felt weird seeing an adult who seemed to want her to praise him.
What is he doing here?
The twins and Pession are one thing, but Duke Ludwig?
What is this combination?
“Uh… Thank you?”
“You’re welcome.”
Ludwig stepped aside, seemingly satisfied with her awkward greeting.
Was this the same man?
This was the most drastic change in his image since ten days ago, when he had cried piteously and begged her to stay with him.
‘Did he eat something wrong?’
They say when a person changes so suddenly, it’s time to die.
“Arel, Arel!”
“Ugh.”
She woke up to the call of the twins, who were as energetic as ever.
“Are you sick, Arel?”
“How are you doing in the hospital?”
“Recuperating?”
“Uh-huh. I heard you were sick and recuperating in a city somewhere!”
“Oh, that.”
She thought she’d heard from Mehen that once the kidnapping was publicized, it became a bigger international issue, so they just moved on.
“Yeah. That’s good.”
“Are you feeling unwell again?”
“No, I’m fine.”
She’s fine, even though his D-day is still dwindling at this point.
She wanted to double-check, but.
[Cooldown until next question: 19 days, 22 hours].
It was like this.
“But why is Pession so quiet today?
It was weird. For someone who would have been quicker than anyone else to pounce on me and nag me about being healthy, or stand off against the twins, or otherwise annoy her, he was quiet.
“Sion?”
“Arel…”
What, this vibe.
“Are you nervous, haven’t seen me in a while?”
“No.”
Pession shook his head, studying her carefully.
“I’m glad to see you look well.”
“Uh…”
It was strange to see their hands trembling slightly as they held each other.
He was so cheerful, as if he didn’t have a care in the world, as if he didn’t have any problems in his life, but the expression he was showing her now? She felt a discrepancy.
She can’t put her finger on it, but it seemed like he suddenly changed.
An inexplicable shade fell over Pession. There’s something about him that seems more distant than before…
… Must be the mood, right?
“I missed you.”
She smiled inwardly at the expression.
Yeah, she guess it’s the mood after all.
“Me too. I missed you, too.”
She guessed she missed the commotion a little bit while she was alone.
“!”
She hadn’t realized she was going to say the same thing, and when Pession paused, eyes wide with surprise at her response, the twins cut in.
“Arel, I missed you too!”
“Me too!”
“Yeah, I missed you too guys.”
“!”
The twins’ eyes widened and they turned to face each other, not expecting me to respond.
“Arellirin!”
“Arellirin!”
No, why are they calling her that again?
She patted the twins on the back as they ran toward her.
Then her eyes locked with Pession, who was quiet and quiet for some reason today.
Something’s not right with him, she thought.
“Can you come to the collection meeting?!”
“I want to play with Arel!”
“Uh, maybe not for a while?”
The twins gave her a worried look.
“Are you sick a lot?”
“Mmm.”
She was sick and thought she was going to die until she took her special medicine, and now she’s fine again. But would she get sick again without the medicine?
“Maybe. I feel sick.”
“I’ll try harder.”
She shook her head at Pession’s response.
Why would she be stronger if she was sick?
The twins had taught her why.
“Your Highness has gotten an elixir for Arel!”
“He said it was an elixir or something.”
“Elixir?”
There was a sudden burst of laughter.
“What? What are you laughing at?”
The twins and Pession were puzzled, but she laughed out loud for the first time in a long time.
She didn’t know what to say, she just found the wacky shoveling funny and cute.
Suddenly, she realized that elixirs don’t really exist.
She doesn’t remember any elixirs in this novel. If there was, she would have planned to be the first to get her hands on it.
‘Still…’
She just thought it was cute that he was trying so hard to do something for her.
It was a weird, annoying attention and favor.
Maybe it was because her heart wasn’t the same, but it all seemed so good.
‘Oh, they say when people change, it’s time to die.’
Is it really time to die?
“Elixir sounds good. I look forward to it.”
She said, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, and Pession balled his fist in response.
“Yes! I’ll be sure to get it.”
“Us too! We’ll help you too!”
“Arel, we’ll make sure you’re healthy.”
She laughed again without resistance, watching the twins pump their fists.
