Chapter 39
<Chapter 41>
Ever since Knox’s suggestion to take the baby to the Masamo meeting...
My secret life with the little fluffball was going smoother than expected.
“My Lady, are you awake?”
Whenever May, the head maid, came to greet me in the morning, I naturally tucked the fluffball deep under the covers and sat up alone.
When I had lunch with my brother Lucas, or dinner with the Duke added to the mix, I left the fluffball alone in the bedroom.
At first, I worried if it might wander off somewhere, but the baby spent most of its time sleeping.
Worried that it might be sick, I read a book titled [The Only Living Being to Rule Over Nobles: The Cat]. Fortunately, it said that sleeping a lot during infancy is perfectly normal.
‘The problem is sending the baby to the Masamo meeting.’
I let out a heavy sigh, sinking into thought.
‘Sir Knox. But do you think Duke Calips will allow you and me to go out alone?’
‘If he doesn’t allow it, I will take the monster myself.’
‘What if the baby hates you?’
‘I can just put it in a wooden box.’
Despite being a monster fanatic, Knox lacked a certain level of consideration for living creatures. While that might lower the chances of getting caught, I couldn’t help but worry.
‘What if the baby gets so scared in a wooden box that it faints?’
Once it started, my imagination began to run wild.
‘What if the people at the Masamo meeting are all logic-driven types like Knox?’
Gasp. Then Knox would put the terrified baby on a table. And all those monster fanatics would swarm around, staring at our baby. Dissecting it. Researching it.
Ominous thoughts made my small, starfish-like hands fly open.
“No!”
As I accidentally shouted out loud—
“What’s no?”
Lucas, who had been happily swinging his legs while eating cake, blinked at me.
Oops. Oh no. Snapping back to reality, I stammered and pointed at the cake.
“This! This... I wanted to eat this!”
It was the last remaining slice of strawberry cake.
“Uh...”
Flustered, Lucas hesitated for a moment before handing the last slice of cake to his younger sister.
“I saved it on purpose for you. Go on, eat it!”
Your eyes are shaking like a leaf, Brother.
“Just kidding!”
Giggling, I snatched the fork from Lucas’s hand and held it up to his mouth.
“What kind of joke is that? You nearly gave me a heart attack. Well, thanks anyway.”
Only then did Lucas let out a sigh of relief, taking a huge bite of the cake with a satisfied smile.
As Lucas literally licked the cake plate clean, I reached a conclusion.
‘I have to attend that meeting, whether it’s Marimo or Masamo or whatever.’
I am the baby’s guardian. I will protect the baby!
To do that, I needed the Duke’s permission.
“I heard Sir Knox is going to the Royal Palace this time. The Royal Palace must be reaaally shiny and fancy, right?”
Acting. I’m doing it again. And I’ll smooth everything over with cuteness.
Having barged into the office, I wiggled into the chair across from Duke Calips. Then, I rested my chin on my hands and launched a sparkling gaze at him.
“…….”
Under the weight of that burdensome stare, Calips took off his glasses and sighed.
“What is it?”
“I want to go. I want to go to the Royal Palace too.”
“No. It hasn’t been long since that incident during the successor trial. What if something dangerous happens on the way?”
“But Knox is there?”
“He’s weaker than you.”
“Then I’ll just protect myself—”
“No.”
The Duke, cutting me off flatly, narrowed his eyes in a warning glare before turning back to his work.
“…….”
I pouted.
‘What should I do?’
Cuteness wasn't working. It was because the Duke’s worry outweighed my charm. In that case, in that case...
Pressing my fingers to my temples, I kept my mouth shut.
Think. Use your brain.
It was then.
‘...I wonder if I could use the word "Dad."’
A small memory surfaced from my subconscious. It was a mutter the Duke had whispered to himself.
‘Come to think of it, she calls Lucas "Brother," but she still calls me "Mister."’
Thinking back now, the Duke had been subtly jealous.
‘Should I try calling him "Dad" and ask?’
It was a cheat code. A total cheat code!
While another corner of my heart screamed that calling him "Dad" for the first time for such a materialistic reason was low...
‘This is to protect the baby.’
I squeezed my eyes shut and made up my mind.
Father. Your golden seed will become a fire-attribute seed for the sake of the greater good today. Please forgive your foolish daughter.
“Kid.”
It was then. Calips, seemingly bothered by the fact that I was still glued to the chair, looked up at me.
“You’re still here?”
“…….”
“I understand you want to see the Royal Palace. But I’m just worried—”
“Dad.”
As I mumbled in a voice as tiny as an ant, Calips flinched. His eyes widened as he stared at me in disbelief.
‘Hmm. Calling him "Dad." This is more embarrassing than I thought.’
It was then.
“Aisha.”
Calips, who had been dazed for a moment, called my name, but I just fidgeted with my fingers out of bashfulness.
“Aisha. What did you just call me?”
“...Dad.”
“What was that?”
He clearly heard me, yet he asked again.
“I didn't hear you. Say it again.”
The corners of his mouth began to twitch upward as he asked.
“...I said "Dad."”
When I answered hesitantly with my head bowed low, Calips’s lips curled up without resistance.
“Aisha.”
“…….”
“Did you call me "Dad" because you want to go to the Royal Palace?”
Father. Do you really have to embarrass me like this? Do you really need to make me a fire-attribute daughter to be satisfied?
I had plenty to say internally, but in reality, all I could do was nod with my lips pouted out like a duck.
“Yes.”
After answering softly, I gathered what little courage I had and peeked at Calips. And yet...
Calips was laughing.
Brightly, even showing his white teeth.
“A real daughter is...”
Unable to finish his sentence, he shook his head and, with a lingering smile, rested his chin on his hand and gazed at me. Then, he readily gave his consent.
“Fine. Follow Knox when he goes.”
“...Huh?”
I thought he was laughing to tease me. My eyes slowly widened at the unexpected reversal.
“Instead, I’m going to send you with a massive escort of knights, so no acting on your own. Of course, I’ll give Knox strict orders too. To monitor you twenty-four hours a day.”
“Oh. Ye-yes, sir!”
“I’ll send word to the Royal Family in advance, so you must behave when you arrive at the palace. Understood?”
“Yes!”
“In exchange.”
I had been grinning and shouting at his smooth approval, but then came the unsettling warning of "in exchange." As my expression stiffened, Calips, who had been staring intently at me, gave a meaningful smile and tapped his cheek with his finger.
“A kiss on the cheek.”
Oh my god. As expected of Duke Calips. He never makes a losing deal.
I asked warily, “Wasn't "Dad" enough?”
“A parent’s love is bottomless.”
Calips gave a short laugh and shifted his gaze back to his documents. It was as if he were saying that if I didn't like it, I could forget about the Royal Palace.
‘Sigh. Can't be helped.’
Take the "fire-attribute" out of "fire-attribute daughter." Call me the devoted daughter from now on.
Wiggle—
Climbing up onto the chair, I leaned over awkwardly and pressed my lips against Calips’s cheek.
“Happy?”
When I asked with a disgruntled face, Calips nodded, trying his best to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.
“Go to the Royal Palace.”
“Yes! Oh yeah!”
A short while later.
“Sir Knox! I did it! Dad gave his permission! Now I can officially go to the Royal Palace too!”
I ran straight to Knox and made a victory V-sign. At my words, Knox, who usually had no reaction, widened his eyes.
“My Lady.”
“Yes?”
“Did you just say "Dad"?”
“……?”
Ah. At his pointed question, I realized I had naturally referred to Calips as "Dad."
Oh boy. Now we really were family.
