The Villainess’ Kindergarten

While the children and I were frozen in place, Baridas spoke first.

 

“Good morning, princess.”

 

As he greeted me, his expression and eyes looked kinder than before, which made me feel a little relieved. But his eyes only stayed on me. As if the children were not here. He completely ignored the children. The two children’s expressions calmed down, and when I noticed that, I strengthened the hands holding them.

 

“…That’s right, Duke.”

 

When I accepted the greeting, Baridas extended his hand to me, and I had no choice but to let go of my hand holding Ren. Ren obediently let go of my hand and Baridas kissed the back of my hand. A feeling I could never get used to landed on the back of my hand and then fell. He looked at the children only after my hand returned to its original position.

 

“Good morning to you too.”

 

Only then did the children’s expressions brighten. I felt fortunate that he didn’t seem to hate children as much as I thought. After saying hello to Baridas, Ren took my hand and hugged my arm as if to express his will to never let go. And Jasmine started whining, asking me to hug her. Baridas’s eyes widened when he saw his two younger siblings, but then gradually sank.

 

“It looks like you’ve become a lot closer to the kids.”

 

If it were anyone else, he would have thought it was sarcastic, but he probably said it out of genuine curiosity. I smiled and nodded.

 

“The kids are really nice. They follow me well.”

 

In response to my answer, Baridas looked at the two girls who were clinging to me and trying not to let go.

 

“Okay.”

 

And Baridas held out his hand to me and said.

 

“If you are going for a walk, can I come along?”

 

‘I don’t like it! The class observation day is not today. Parents!’

 

But I couldn’t say those words out loud. As I was wondering what to do, I tried to get out by making excuses about the kids.

 

“I don’t mind, but the kids…”

 

I tried to tell them that their decision was important, but their eyes were shining as they looked at me to see if he was that good. After seeing the look in the children’s eyes, I had no choice but to accept.

 

“They seem to like it. Let’s go together.”

 

The children’s faces brightened at my words. Meanwhile, my heart was darkened with worry. Baridas held out his hand to me, who was already holding the children in both hands. Both children were even putting strength on their joined hands as if they didn’t want to let go of my hand. It’s difficult. I thought as I looked at Baridas’ hand held out in front of me. At that moment, a voice was heard along with footsteps.

 

“Brother?”

 

“Older brother!”

 

When I looked back, I saw Greenley and Lima running towards us. The twins tilted their heads as they greeted me and the children.

 

“Are we all going for a walk together?”

 

Greenley asked a question and Baridas responded by nodding. Then the twins’ eyes sparkled.

 

“Can we go together too?”

 

In response to the twins’ question, Baridas looked at me as if he was asking my opinion. Then Ren pulled my hand. When I looked down at him, he had a pleading expression on his face.

 

‘Um, you’re saying you want to go together, right?’

 

I nodded, hoping I was right.

 

“Okay.”

 

Fortunately, my thoughts seemed to be correct, and when Baridas gave permission, the expressions of all four children brightened. At that time, Lima’s eyes were fixed on me, Ren, and Jasmine. She was looking at the children’s and mine’s holding hands. It would be nice if I could hold all the children’s hands, but for the first time, I resented having only two hands of my own. It was then. Baridas held out his hand to Lima and Greenley. However, the two children hesitated, not willing to take his hand.

 

“Didn’t you want to catch it?”

 

After hearing Baridas’ words, the children hesitantly held his hands. As expected from the original, the sense of insight is amazing. I felt grateful that he held the children’s hands. So we started walking around the garden together. The children walked around looking at Baridas as if it was awkward, and the uncomfortable walk continued without me being able to say a word because I felt awkward around him. In that atmosphere, the first to speak was Baridas.

 

“Do you like your room?”

 

It was a formality, but I didn’t feel bad because I felt like I was considered.

 

“Yes, I like it.”

 

At my words, the children’s expressions became brighter than Baridas’s. Jasmine, who was holding my hand as if she was excited, started twirling her arm.

 

“The princess must not leave. She must stay for a long time.”

 

Jasmine’s words instantly calmed the mood. Because of her pain inside, I didn’t know what to say to her, so I just smiled and gave strength to her hand that was holding her.

 

“Of course.”

 

Jasmine smiled brightly at my words and hugged me. But after that, no conversation took place, only Jasmine’s clear laughter at seeing the butterfly echoed in the garden. In a slightly dark atmosphere, when we were halfway through the garden, a man came running towards Baridas. He looked at me and the kids and muttered something in his ear. Baridas sighed at his words, approached me and the children, and opened his mouth.

 

“Unfortunately, I think I have to go in first.”

 

After saying that, I gave him a light nod and turned around. The expressions on the children’s faces as they looked at Baridas’s back were somber, as if they were sad that he was leaving after being so awkward just now. As I was looking at that, a thought came into my mind.

 

“Shall we have a tea party?”

 

The children’s eyes widened at my words. The children, who had been drooping just a moment ago, disappeared everywhere and shouted with their mouths together.

 

“Yes!”

 

At that sight, I let out a small laugh. Then I called the maids and prepared a tea party. After a while, tables, chairs, beautifully baked cookies and cakes were set out on the table, and cold black tea was also served. The children sat down on the chairs with their eyes sparkling and started talking. Meanwhile, the story of Baridas came up and Greenley hesitated before opening his mouth.

 

“But you probably hate us too, right?”

 

Everyone was momentarily silent at her words. I wondered what to say to the children. It seemed like it would be difficult for children to understand because it was such an adult situation. They were half siblings from different mothers. When they grow up a little, they will be able to understand why he made them feel uncomfortable, but children who were still young had no way of knowing why Baridas made them feel uncomfortable. Then Jasmine opened her mouth, chewing on the cookie.

 

“Limya, big sis, we’re not getting hatyed. You holdy handys.”

 

Lima and Greenley laughed at Jasmine’s words. They each reached out a hand and pinched Jasmine’s cheeks, as if they were proud of their youngest sibling. However, Jasmine, whose cheek was pinched while eating the cookie, made a pouting expression.

 

“Jasmine is right, the Duke doesn’t hate you. He is caring about you from his position.”

 

“I know. Otherwise, he would have kicked us out when our father and mother died.”

 

Ren, who casually said something that could have been hurtful, took a sip of tea.

 

“But I’m upset. I also know that there is a situation with my eldest brother. We won’t look pretty. Although our mother is different, we are still his family. I wish he would pay a little more attention.”

 

At Lima’s words, silence fell again.

 

“Still, he likes us.”

 

All the children nodded at Ren’s words.

 

“Me too!”

 

“He has his reasons.”

 

“Come on!!”

 

Lima smiled and opened her mouth at the children’s words.

 

“No matter what anyone says, we are older brother’s younger brothers and members of the Chilan family.”

 

The children looked at each other and smiled at the same time. The children were more mature and stronger than I thought. So it felt even more special. And I could tell. The children in the original did not open Baridas’s heart thanks to Leria. She was just an opportunity, and he opened his heart because the children were lovely in themselves and had been working hard. I smiled and listened to what the children had to say. The topic of the children’s story changed to something else, and when they were halfway through their tea, Lima spoke up.

 

“Let’s play princess!”

 

Greenley’s expression hardened at her words. He glared at Lima with an expression that seemed to say ‘I don’t like it.’

 

“No.”

 

Greenley stubbornly expressed his opinion, but the other children ignored Greenley’s opinion and started playing. The children poured tea into their respective cups and began to drink tea gracefully, holding their little fingers up. Their actions, which were trying to appear adult, looked infinitely cute to me and made me laugh.

 

“The tea is really delicious, princess.”

 

“Oh, I’m glad you like it.”

 

Ren and Lima exchanged familiar words and began to play the situation.

 

“Nice to meet you too, the youngest princess.”

 

Lima said while looking at Jasmine, and Jasmine responded with a bright smile. Seeing the children playing better than expected made me smile.

 

“But who is the person next to you?”

 

At that time, Ren looked at Greenley and asked, and his expression became even more grim at her sly behavior.

 

“This is the dog we raise at home.”

 

Lima speaking so shamelessly made me laugh and almost spewed out my tea. When I looked towards Greenley, he was glaring at Lima as if he were going to kill her. But Lima, perhaps not feeling his intense gaze, sipped her tea, and Greenley finally couldn’t stand it anymore and shouted.

 

“Why am I a dog?”

 

But the two girls ignored him and continued their drama.

 

“Oh my, I guess I need a little more training.”

 

“Because we still don’t have enough Poppy.”

 

In the end, I couldn’t help but laugh at their words. The two exchanged words like that, teasing Greenley, and Greenley shouted once again.

 

“I don’t do it.”

 

The two older sisters burst into laughter at their younger brother’s cute defiance. “So cute,” I patted Greenley’s head.

 

“Sorry.”

 

When Ren, who had been teasing him mischievously, handed Greenley her share of strawberry cake, he seemed to have lost his temper, so he grumbled and sat down to eat Ren’s cake. 

 

Peaceful, I thought, I drank tea and watched the children chatting and playing. It was then. A red-haired boy who could be seen at a glance even from afar was approaching this way.

 

It was Thomas. His gaze, which looked exactly like Baridas, was directed at me.

 

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Translator Note: