Chapter 25
<27화>
Calips walked out of the infirmary, carrying Aisha in his arms. His expression was cold as he asked,
“Is what Knox and May said true?”
At his question, her large blue eyes blinked. Aisha hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words, before nodding her head.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“You weren’t at the castle, Mister.”
The child answered clearly.
“No. You wouldn’t have told me even if I hadn’t gone to the monster subjugation.”
“…Hup.”
But at the second, more pressing question, her mouth pulled into a small triangle as if she had lost her words.
Roll, roll.
The sound of her large eyes shifting was almost audible, along with the sound of the gears turning in her head.
Eventually, the words that came out of the child’s mouth were:
“Mister, you’re very smart.”
Accompanied by a thumbs up.
“…….”
‘I can’t tell if she’s pretending to be innocent or if she just is.’
Either way, it was enough to break through Calips’s defenses.
In truth, when Knox had knelt and apologized, Calips had many things he wanted to say but held them back.
Knox had remained wary of Aisha regardless of whether Calips was present or not. Moreover, since Aisha had been a spy, he could understand why Knox had been so cautious.
But the moment May revealed the story he hadn’t known…
“…….”
He felt as though something inside him had come crashing down.
‘He adopted you out of pity, but he probably doesn’t trust you. Since you were the one who lied first, My Lady.’
I adopted you out of pity? Me?
And because we haven’t found the real Lady, I didn’t trust you?
…Me?
“Did you believe what May said?”
A rough voice escaped him before he could suppress it.
Once again, the child’s small lips pressed firmly together as if she were agonizing over how to respond.
So, she really did believe that.
“Ha, really.”
Where and how was he even supposed to start explaining this?
Feeling at a loss, Calips let out a low, hollow laugh.
Now that he thought about it, on the day he left for the monster subjugation…
He remembered the usually lively little brat smiling awkwardly as she forced herself into his arms.
‘Was it since then?’
“Kid. No, Aisha.”
Calips carefully set the child down on the floor.
As the tiny child, who didn’t even reach his waist, looked up with wide eyes, he continued, hoping his voice would reach her clearly.
“Aisha. I trust you.”
“Pardon?”
No. Saying it like that didn’t feel sincere enough.
Calips furrowed his brow, racking his brain for the right words.
“Aisha. If it weren’t for you, I would have—”
“Yes?”
“…I would have.”
How could he say it? That he had planned to die?
That on the day he met her, he had intended to end his own life?
Was that something you could say to a child?
A thousand thoughts poured down like rain.
Facing a mere five-year-old, Calips felt a massive sense of helplessness, as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff.
How could he speak so she would understand?
How could he speak so she wouldn’t be hurt?
It was then.
“Mister.”
Calips opened his eyes at the playful call.
A tiny, toy-like thumb poked his cheek.
“I can hear the sound of your brain working all the way over here, too.”
“……?”
Only then, through his blurred vision, did Calips see the child giggling with the corners of her small mouth turned up.
“Do you know how I feel now?”
“…What?”
And then.
“When I think too hard, it’s because I’m worried. You’re worried about me too, right, Mister?”
This kid was always one step ahead of him.
Whether it was in her honesty or, perhaps, her maturity.
“…Yes.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Calips quietly conceded.
For a split second, he almost hallucinated that Aisha had grown ten centimeters taller.
That was how profound the feeling blooming in his heart was.
“Yes, it’s because I’m worried. And because I care for you deeply.”
Hee-hee. The child laughed at his honest answer.
His heart tickled at the sight of that smile, which looked like a small flower petal.
To live up to that smile, Calips emphasized even more.
“I care for you a lot.”
“Hee-hee.”
“So come here, kid.”
“Yay!”
As he held out his arms, the child jumped into them like a little frog, just as she always did, and snuggled into his chest.
Only then did Calips break into a laugh.
“Mister. Then can I go see Mr. Knox and Ms. May now?”
“What are you going to do? What kind of punishment are you going to give them?”
“There’s no punishment.”
Wriggle. Poking her head out from Calips’s arms, her mischievous face took on a solemn expression.
“Actually, I feel re-ally good right now.”
* * *
“Actually, I feel re-ally good right now.”
Mister looked surprised at my words, but I was being sincere.
It wasn’t a joke, nor was it empty talk.
When Knox and May apologized from the heart, I actually felt so good that my chest felt full.
“…What are you talking about?”
Mister quickly returned to his usual cynical self.
As he sighed and opened the door, Knox and May, who were still kneeling, turned their heads.
“…I will graciously accept any punishment.”
Knox had even taken off his monocle, looking as though he were prepared to be struck if that was the penalty.
Why do these people keep insisting on being punished?
“Hee-hee.”
I stood before Knox and May with a beaming smile.
They were kneeling politely, yet their eye level was almost the same as mine while I was standing, which made me realize all over again just how small I was.
“Mr. Knox. Ms. May.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
“…So, am I accepted now?”
At my question, the expressions on their faces became unreadable.
To be honest, I had been very hurt by Knox and May.
That was why I had been determined to be recognized no matter what, and I thought that when a day like this finally came, it would feel satisfying to give them a piece of my mind.
But rather than satisfaction….
I was happy.
“I asked if you accept me!”
Being recognized as a member of the Crost Ducal family. It felt like I had truly taken the first step toward escaping my life as a spy.
That fact made me so happy, and at the same time, I was grateful to them for accepting me.
“…Hee-hee. Hurry up and say it!”
When my body began to twist bashfully despite my intentions, the Duke, who had been standing quietly, straightened me up.
Even at my reaction, Knox responded with his usual gravity.
“It is only natural for the Young Lady to be recognized as such. In truth, once His Grace decided on the adoption, I should not have doubted the Young Lady so recklessly…”
“I liked that you doubted me, though?”
“…Pardon?”
Knox’s eyes slowly widened. It was the same for Calips and me.
“The Duke must have a great eye for people. To have someone like Mr. Knox as his closest aide. And Ms. May too.”
I tried to add an explanation, but Knox still looked like he didn’t understand.
Hmm.
I tapped my rounded chin as I continued.
“It couldn’t have been easy to go against your master, but you did it because you were worried.”
“…….”
“I’m only five years old, but in my life, I’ve seen many people who throw their own kind away just to protect their positions.”
In the Pose family, and during my spy training.
Even in the faint memories of my past life.
I always had to compete, and I always had to reach the top.
I understood it.
In such environments, how many people would sacrifice themselves for others?
“…But Mr. Knox and Ms. May didn’t do that.”
Because there aren’t many people like that.
“That’s why being accepted by the two of you feels especially good.”
Heh.
‘So you have to be nice to me from now on, okay?’
Oh, what the heck.
Even the spy instructors used to grin foolishly whenever I made this face.
“Hee-hee. Heh.”
To change the atmosphere, I started winking repeatedly with eyes that looked like they were raining sparkles, but…
“…….”
Knox and May continued to stare at me, as stiff as statues.
Hmph, honestly. They really are such no-fun people.
“Well then… I’ll be… going….”
Feeling awkward for no reason, I began to sidle past them with a clumsy sidestep—
“…I—I have to go eat cake with big brother Lucas!”
And with that, I dashed out of the hallway.
* * *
At the same time Aisha, who had been twisting her body in embarrassment, fled the scene.
“Smile.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said smile. She gave you a wink that she hasn’t even given to me.”
“…….”
Knox and May, who were already struggling to find their voices, were left speechless as if they had been struck on the back of the head.
A brief silence followed.
“Your Grace.”
“What is it, brat.”
“What does the Young Lady like?”
Knox, having made a firm resolution, demanded with an intense gaze.
“What?”
It was just as Calips asked back, bewildered.
“Ah, a scarf. A scarf! The Young Lady’s scarf!”
May shouted as if she had suddenly remembered something.
Then, with an “Oof,” she pushed herself up from her knees and ran off somewhere.
