37 - Not Your Son, But Your Father
Episode 37
"Thank you, Young Master. After listening to your advice, there was nothing difficult at all."
The next day, I smiled brightly at Rigen.
No matter how well I smiled, it felt like my lips were about to cramp.
Still, good job, Maybia. Even though no one recognizes it, you're working so hard and trying so hard for the normal growth of a young child.
Is my personality allowed to be this good?
If there were a god in this novel, they might stick their tongue out, saying it's a balance collapse.
I hope they don't give me some ridiculous trials as a patch.
Rigen's face turned red as I didn't hold back on the praise.
Sera was also sending a satisfied gaze from afar, so it seemed like I could rest assured now.
But just in case, to prevent any unforeseen events, I made sure to drive a wedge in.
"So, what I'm saying is... Young Master, if you ever suddenly feel the urge to run away from home, please tell me, okay?"
Rigen blinked.
"Run... run away?"
"Yes, run away."
I smiled brightly.
If you ever feel like doing that, I'll stop you. Just trust me!
* * *
After Maybia left, Rigen thought.
'The Grand Duchess wants me to run away from home.'
Sniffle.
Rigen, who had been gloomy for a moment, soon composed himself and put his hand in his pocket.
Five copper coins came out.
He had never left Cyclamen Castle, so he didn't know the market price well, but he guessed that it would be difficult to survive even for a day with this.
'Grand Duchess, I'll try my best...!'
Rigen decided to get an allowance first.
* * *
It had been five days since I had been sleeping in the same room as Edith, though it wasn't really sleeping together. Edith hardly used the bed, so I wondered if I should even consider it sleeping together.
When I said I would give her a separate room if she was uncomfortable, her hazy eyes returned.
When I asked what that look meant, she said the interpretation was up to me.
Anyway, Sera had now reached the point where she came to pick me up 5 minutes before I was about to be kicked out.
I worked hard every day to get closer to Rigen. I would continue to do so in the future.
Having breakfast with Rigen, accidentally running into him in the hallway at lunchtime, and saying good night in the evening were my new daily routines.
But at some point, I began to feel a strange sense of incongruity.
The incongruity, which was initially like a small spark, grew uncontrollably as I happened to overhear Rigen and Procyon's conversation.
Today, as I was about to carry out the 'I was just trying to pass by the hallway without knowing anything, but I happened to run into the Second Young Master' operation, I saw Procyon talking to Rigen and hid behind the wall.
"Young Master? Why do you look so down?"
Down? Why?
"Lord Procyon..."
Rigen's voice, calling the youngest knight, sounded gloomy even to my ears.
I held my breath and listened.
"Yes, Young Master. I'm listening. Did the First Young Master bully you again?"
"N-No, that's definitely not it! My brother doesn't even meet me."
Of course not. I'm blocking him completely.
Gilbert, who had been quiet for a few days, was slowly returning to his original personality and spewing abusive language at Azena, who was monitoring him. I was planning to take action soon because it seemed like he would start throwing punches.
I could hear Rigen swallowing hard.
"Actually, the Grand Duchess..."
Huh? Why is my story suddenly coming up?
"The Grand Duchess?"
Procyon also seemed puzzled.
As I focused to the extreme, Rigen continued to speak haltingly.
"Yes. It seems like she cares about me a lot and is kind, but..."
But?
"But..."
"Young Master."
Just then, the Head Butler, who suddenly appeared from the opposite hallway, called Rigen.
Damn it.
"Isn't it almost time for your lesson? Count Elliot is waiting."
"Ah, I'm sorry! I'll go now!"
It goes without saying that the conversation ended there.
Rigen followed the Head Butler away, and I revealed myself to Procyon.
Procyon was startled when I suddenly appeared from behind the wall.
"Hiek! G-Grand Duchess? I didn't feel any presence at all?"
What, he didn't even bat an eye when the Head Butler appeared.
I raised one eyebrow and opened my mouth.
"Lord, can you spare me some time?"
Perhaps it was because I wasn't joking, Procyon took a breath with a pale face.
"J-Just a moment, my heart is about to jump out."
I waited patiently for 3 seconds and then got to the point.
"The Second Young Master seems to be very comfortable with you. How did you become friends?"
Procyon took a deep breath and immediately spat it out after seeing my expression. Then he answered.
"There wasn't really a special occasion... Ah, he once praised me for being impressed by how I subdued my sparring partner in an instant. Now that I think about it, I think I started talking to the Young Master more often after that."
Hmm. I muttered, lost in thought.
"If I subdue Lord in an instant, will I also receive praise from the Young Master?"
"S-Save me... I still have a lot of attachments to life..."
I stared intently at Procyon.
Rigen seemed to think of Procyon much more comfortably than me. He immediately whined as soon as he saw Procyon.
What was Rigen trying to say to Procyon?
Ugh, if I had heard those words, I might have known what the sense of incongruity I had felt every time I saw Rigen recently was.
"...Grand Duchess, is something wrong with the Young Master?"
I sighed.
"I thought the Young Master liked me, but I don't think that's the case."
"I also think that's not the case... How could I think that! If you give me some time, I will dissect the Young Master's heart! Even though I look like this, I'm the closest to the Young Master among the knights! So please, just not sparring!"
I stared anew at Procyon, who was actively appealing his competence.
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
"Of course! Trust the Grand Duchess's loyal subject!"
Procyon even saluted and ran off to carry out his mission.
But you still haven't given up on becoming my loyal subject...
* * *
The snow that had been pouring down for days, threatening to turn the world into monochrome, had stopped.
But the snow had turned to ice, and I couldn't even see the outside of Cyclamen Castle.
"Edith, I understand why you lived in seclusion."
The flames in the fireplace were like the flames of my life. In other words, if that goes out, I die. Of course, I die even if the temperature maintenance magic breaks.
"It's so cold here. Ventilation is important, but I don't even want to open the windows."
Edith, who was braiding my hair, chuckled.
I shivered and pulled up the lap blanket. A light yet warm lap blanket that I could carry around was my essential item.
"Grand Duchess, I've brought tea."
Sera looked at me pitifully as I kept shrinking and offered me hot tea.
Sera was wearing a neat maid uniform that was no different from the one she wore in the capital during the summer.
"Sera, aren't you cold?"
"It was a bit cold on the first day, but I can handle it now that I've adjusted."
"You've already adjusted?"
The Head Butler and Head Maid said it would take at least 2 weeks for people from the capital to adapt to the northern environment.
I was taking my time, thinking that it would only make me sick if I forced myself.
Sera replied in a bright and cheerful voice.
"Why don't you move your body energetically, Grand Duchess? You haven't even seen the inside of the castle yet. I followed the Head Maid and looked all over from the top to the underground warehouse."
She was a really diligent maid. I knew that Sera was so free that she felt like she was getting paid for just playing around, so she would find work to do. When did she go around like that?
"I'll do it after I take off all the cat decorations."
I made an excuse and lifted the teacup to blow on it, and Sera gave Edith a subtle look.
Sera seemed to think that I had become lazy because of Edith's influence.
But Sera, look out the window. All you see is ice.
Outside the blanket is hell...
"Grand Duchess, Lord Procyon has come to see you."
Ah.
I straightened my posture at the Head Butler's words.
"Tell him to come in."
After giving permission, Procyon, who had become haggard in half a day, entered with staggering steps.
He quickly prostrated himself after seeing Edith, who was sitting next to me and focused on stroking my hair.
"I greet my lord―"
"Just get to the point."
Edith didn't even look at Procyon and cut off his lengthy greeting.
Her voice was so cold that I flinched without realizing it, but Procyon accepted the order as if he was used to it.
"Yes, then I greet the Grand Duchess..."
"Just get to the point."
Procyon made a crying face when I imitated Edith.
"My greeting isn't that bad..."
What is this difference in reaction?
Procyon, who had become noticeably sulky, sat down on the opposite sofa. He looked like a retriever with drooping ears.
