Chapter 16
The sparks of the conflict flew toward Knox, who had been standing still, but he obediently dropped to his knees at the Duke’s command.
“I have knelt, but may I ask why?”
“The kid who was hopping around like a frog suddenly turned into a dung beetle. How did you cook her up?”
“It’s true I’ve been firm, but I didn’t grill her that hard…”
Oh my god.
“Uncle~!”
Realizing the situation, I gathered all my strength to become a frog once more and leaped into his arms.
“By the way, where are you going? Your clothes look re—ally warm!”
When I hurriedly changed the subject, he stared at me blankly before letting out a faint sigh.
“Monster subjugation.”
I had already guessed as much from the armor and the wolf fur, which was excellent for enduring the cold.
Around this time of year, the heads of House Crost always headed out on monster subjugation missions.
He didn’t look like he had enough leisure for a long conversation with me.
“It will take about a week. I’ll be introducing you at the successor trials afterward, so be prepared.”
“…Introducing me? But I don’t have the ice ability.”
My eyes went wide at the unexpected news.
The Duke of Pose had told me to focus on the successor trials, but I had thought it would be impossible from the start.
I didn’t have the ability required to take the test.
“I’m introducing you as a member of the direct line. It doesn’t mean I’m naming you the successor.”
“…Ohh.”
Unable to think of a better response, I simply nodded.
‘I’m doomed. I was planning to prepare all sorts of things as a Lady….’
Like swordsmanship skills befitting the Crost direct line… or a way of greeting that would impress the vassals….
But to be introduced right at the successor trials? There was too little time.
Regardless of my worries, the Duke stood up while still holding me, looking truly busy.
“Knox. Come out for a moment. We’re holding an emergency meeting regarding Marquis Lillis before I leave for the subjugation.”
Knox sighed and looked at me.
“Are you taking the brat with you?”
“She’s quiet. She won’t be a distraction.”
Aha. Now’s my chance!
“That’s right. I’ll be very quiet!”
I didn’t know much about Marquis Lillis and his son, but I knew enough—that they were a pair of troublemakers.
So, I might be of some help. With that thought, I quickly chimed into the conversation.
“Who knows? She might be stealing our secrets behind that smiling face.”
As Knox narrowed his eyes, Calips let out a low groan of exasperation.
“…Is that something you say to a child?”
Exactly. Is that something you say to a child?
How ridiculous.
No matter my background as a spy or the lack of trust, I even showed him all the telegrams from the Duke of Pose!
‘Still, it’s reassuring to have Uncle on my side!’
I had to stick to him no matter what. Then Knox wouldn’t be able to mess with me.
Pat.
I placed my palms firmly against his solid chest and glared at Knox with confidence.
“…….”
Oops. I made eye contact with Knox.
Seeing my gaze, Knox let out a huff and pushed up his glasses.
Then, he spoke slowly.
“…Your Grace, you really must fix that habit.”
“What habit?”
“Taking a child into a workspace. I believe I heard at some inn or other that it is not good for a young child’s emotional development.”
“……!”
The arm holding me flinched.
“…Uncle?”
No way. You’re not actually believing some rumor he heard at ‘some inn or other,’ are you?
I looked up at Calips with pleading, sparkling eyes.
“…Aisha. Go finish your meal.”
Succumbing to the rumor, he set me back down in the chair.
“…Uncle?”
And then.
“…I’m sorry.”
Leaving behind a single-word apology, he squeezed his eyes shut and walked out.
“Uncle—!”
Knox’s victorious smirk and my frustrated scream filled the Duke’s Castle.
But the next day—
“Ah, so you are that child of the Duke?”
“Pardon…?”
The moment I saw the middle-aged nobleman smiling gloomily at me, I realized.
The ‘real’ reason Knox hadn’t acknowledged me.
That day, as always, Knox was monitoring me.
The dainty sound of a child’s footsteps echoed through the high-ceilinged hallway.
Pitter-patter.
It was the sound of me, having filled up on my daily nutrients, heading diligently toward the garden.
“…Is that duckling-like waddle common for all children that age, or is that brat just unique?”
At Knox’s question, May, the head maid, replied bluntly.
“They’re all like that at that age.”
“Is that so? Well, there is a reason for everything.”
“Pardon?”
Knox pushed up his glasses.
“Research has shown that the reason young creatures appear cute is an evolutionary strategy for self-preservation. Since they cannot hunt for food yet and require care, they try to win favor through cuteness.”
“…Aha?”
“So, the fact that the brat is cute—no, I never said she was cute. Anyway, what I mean is, be careful.”
“I-I see….”
Here he goes again.
The ‘Aisha Observation Log’ by the madman Knox.
Since Calips left for the monster subjugation, Knox had been monitoring me literally twenty-four hours a day.
When I woke up, when I ate, when I spaced out waiting for the Duke, when I strolled through the garden, and so on.
As if he were my personal surveillance camera, he stayed by my side all day, except for when I was in my bedroom.
‘I can’t live like this.’
Even now, Knox was whispering something to May while glaring at me. Nothing but sighs came out of me.
I had to be acknowledged by Knox as soon as possible.
No, I didn’t even hope for acknowledgment; I just needed to make him feel that there was no need to monitor me anymore.
‘…How do I do that?’
It was then.
“Sir Knox!”
A servant spotted Knox and came running in a panic.
“What is it?”
“Well, that is… Marquis Lillis has made a sudden visit….”
Marquis Lillis?
My ears perked up just as Knox’s brow furrowed.
“There’s still a week until the regular meeting. Why is that man here? Tell him to come back later.”
“No! It’s not that…”
“I was just passing by and wanted to stop in for a cup of tea.”
Behind the flustered servant, a slender, middle-aged man appeared with a smirk.
That person must be…
‘Marquis Lillis.’
I quietly observed the Marquis.
‘Seeing him in person, he really does look greedy.’
Flashy frills that belonged at a social party. Jeweled rings on every finger.
Unlike Calips, who seemed more like a knight than a noble, this man looked like he had just jumped out of the heart of the capital’s social circles.
The House of Lillis was a cadet branch derived from the House of Crost.
The reason a mere cadet branch could visit the Duke’s Castle without permission was…
‘Probably because of the ice ability user.’
I stared at the boy standing with a cocky posture next to the Marquis.
‘Is he the ability user, Tex?’
Even a cadet branch eventually traces back to the House of Crost.
Ever since an ice ability user—a power that seemed to be the exclusive right of the direct line—was born in the House of Lillis, the Marquis had acted as if he were the Duke himself.
And he was desperate to push his son as the next successor to the House of Crost.
“I came to pay my respects to His Grace while passing through, but where is he?”
A momentary silence followed the Marquis’s question, but Knox sighed and answered reluctantly.
“…His Grace has left for a monster subjugation.”
“Ah, is that so? I had absolutely no idea.”
“You didn’t know?”
“Of course not. I’m not a stalker; how would I know His Grace’s schedule? Anyway, since I’m already here, I’d like to have a cup of tea before I go.”
The words were so ridiculous that I spoke up without thinking.
“…Even I know when the Northern monster subjugation happens.”
When I poked my face out from behind Knox’s leg, everyone’s eyes turned toward me.
“If the father doesn’t know, I guess the son won’t either. You’ll have to study hard for the successor trials.”
“…What?”
“Monster subjugations mostly happen in the middle of every month. Even the Imperial Family doesn’t send messages to the Duke of Crost during this time.”
I hadn’t wanted to interfere.
‘The Marquis is really too much. To say he came here not knowing it was subjugation season—how can he tell such a blatant lie?’
I couldn’t stand looking at that shameless face, which seemed to be plated in iron.
Using Knox’s leg as a shield, I muttered while only showing my head.
“While the Duke is out fighting monsters, the Marquis is sitting in the Duke’s castle drinking tea. The Duke will be so pleased when he hears about this.”
“……?”
At my words, the Marquis’s face turned bright red, and the maids turned away, their shoulders shaking. They were clearly holding back laughter.
“What… what did you say….”
At a loss for words, the Marquis looked around.
Everyone here must have heard what I just said.
He seemed to expect someone to scold me, but when no one said a word, he finally exploded.
“Who—who is that brat?! How dare you let such slander go unpunished?!”
At that, Knox, who had completely hidden me behind his back, bowed his head.
“This is the Lady of the direct line.”
“…The La—what?”
