39 - Not Your Son, But Your Father
Chapter 39
"I want to get along with you, Young Master."
"Uh, okay..."
"Of course, it'd be difficult for you to think of me as your real mother. Gillegi... Ah, that was a mistake. Anyway, I don't have a good relationship with the First Young Master either. I know you must be worried about how to treat me."
"..."
"But I hope you won't completely close your heart. I can't say for sure that I'm a kind and good person, but I know how to keep the minimum level of decency, and I just want you to grow up safe and sound as you are now."
"..."
"Could you please allow me to prove that I'm not a threat to you? Even for Edith, who chose me as the Grand Duchess."
I poured out my heart to Rigen as much as he could understand.
Don't run away from home.
Don't awaken the Magical Beast, and don't keep blaming yourself with the thought that people were hurt because of you.
I don't know exactly what happened in the novel that day, but you don't have to carry such trauma.
I'll do well! Trust me!
"Your Grand Duchess, your face seems a little flushed. Please wait a moment."
"I'm actually fine..."
"You're not fine."
Rigen was firm. He pulled the blanket, which barely reached his shoulders, up to his neck and quickly left.
Hmm. I raised one hand and placed it on my forehead.
It was a little hot, probably because I spoke so passionately.
Rigen didn't return quickly, as if he was really going to bring a doctor.
I sat up and looked around. Having been here a few times, it felt quite familiar. Even the cat-patterned curtains.
Most of the cat decorations inside the castle had been replaced with other things, but these curtains were left as they were because Rigen liked them.
Well... the more I look at them, the cuter they are.
I got out of bed and walked towards the window.
The sunlight was melting the frozen world. Although it would snow again before all the ice melted, even a moment of light was welcome in the North.
"What time is the next class?"
How much free time does Rigen have?
Searching my memory, I looked towards the desk. The books were neatly arranged on the bookshelf, as if the next class didn't require any preparation, and a piece of paper was sticking out between them.
Let's... see what's written there.
When I gently pulled the paper, the squiggly letters written on the back all appeared at once, forming a sentence.
<Let's get the things we need when running away from home!>
"..."
<First: Allowance.......>
My hand slipped. My head really started to throb.
I'm screwed.
* * *
Rigen brought a doctor, and I was diagnosed with a slight fever and told to rest, and so the short commotion ended.
But I was pacing around the room, doing some self-reflection instead of resting.
"I admit it. I was too greedy. It seems it will take some time to become genuinely close to Young Master in a broad and deep way."
"Some?"
"...Quite a lot."
Where did it all go wrong?
What did I do wrong?
No, it was no use wondering about it now.
The past is gone, and Gilbert is a son of a bitch.
Okay, good. A clear conclusion.
"Eve, no one is perfect. It might be hard to get close to the kids."
...Said the empire's only Grand Duke, the strongest in the world, who is handsome, rich, capable, and even loved by Rigen.
"Wow, thanks for the comfort that doesn't resonate with me at all."
I sighed and slumped onto the sofa.
Edith called me softly, her voice sounding like she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Eve? That's my lap."
"I'll borrow it for a moment."
I said something nonsensical because I was out of my mind, and Edith didn't push me away but instead rested her chin on my head.
She didn't forget to hold me so I wouldn't slip.
As a result, I naturally sat on Edith's lap in a hugging position.
Huh? I was feeling Edith's body temperature permeating my whole body in a daze when a word of impression reached my ear.
"...Well, it's not bad."
She didn't seem displeased.
I blankly relaxed my shoulders. Edith's chest was wide and firm enough for me to lean on as much as I wanted.
It's much better than a knee blanket?
I had hugged Edith a few times in my sleep, but those were just light hugs. This was the first time we had made such full-fledged contact.
Ah... no... Rigen comes first. Let's shake off other thoughts for now.
I had to change my strategy.
Since Rigen is already thinking about running away from home, I don't know when or how a sudden incident will happen.
In the novel, Rigen runs away from home about a month later and awakens a Magical Beast in the forest.
But what if the date is moved forward? What if Rigen runs away from home sooner than in the novel?
I could have the knights watch Rigen, but that was only a temporary measure.
...And there were still countless possibilities left.
If I keep Rigen for a month and some other bastard awakens the Magical Beast in the forest, there could be nothing worse than that.
Should I just get rid of it now without waiting?
"Oh."
It was a sudden thought, but it was quite tempting.
Wouldn't that be safer?
The problem was that the Magical Beast was awakened, so if there was no Magical Beast to awaken in the first place?
Whatever choice Rigen makes, I just need to pave the way for him.
It was a satisfactory conclusion.
I sweetly rolled my husband's name on my tongue.
"Edith."
"Yes."
"I think I'm really a genius."
"I can't follow the stream of consciousness of my Grand Duchess at all."
Hehe. I didn't spare my laughter.
"If using my head doesn't work, I can use my fists, right?"
"I don't know how that's an idea that a genius would have."
Edith's voice, mixed with laughter, was too low and too close.
Perhaps that's why, just listening quietly made me feel calm and good.
"There are many kinds of geniuses, right? It's just like that."
But there was one problem left: justification, excuse, and pretext.
It was obvious that it would cause misunderstandings if I said, "I've only been in the North for a while, but let's go and get rid of the Magical Beast in the forest."
The first few times, they might go along with me for minor amusement, even if they thought I had other intentions. But it wouldn't be good if these coincidences continued.
Unless I come to love Edith so much that I want to tell her about my previous life.
For now, inspecting the territory is the most plausible excuse. How to get information about the Magical Beast is another matter.
I sat on Edith's lap and pondered and pondered.
I was suddenly thinking that this lap had a pretty good seating comfort when the head butler knocked on the door.
"Your Grand Duchess, Count Elliot is requesting a meeting. He said he brought the accounting books, the territory management report, and the list of civil complaints that he promised earlier."
"...Civil complaints?"
My mind raced. I allowed it for now.
"Bring him in quickly, no, escort him in.Edith asked if hope was coming through in my voice.
"Why are you so welcoming?"
"I'm so happy to think that I can now contribute to the development and safety of the Calakis territory."
"By beating up the Count?"
"Hmm."
I was about to deny it, but I closed my lips because I suddenly felt strange.
It was amazing that the conversation continued somehow, even though we were saying completely different things.
"I'll get down now."
I wriggled down from Edith's lap.
Just in time, the Count arrived.
Tolliman Elliot wagged his oiled tongue even before the door was fully opened.
"I have been looking forward to the day when I would meet the Grand Duchess, who is greater than a hero and as beautiful as a goddess... Star Lord?"
He looked at me and Edith, who were sitting close together on the wide sofa. He couldn't manage his expression with his mouth wide open, and when Edith's eyes narrowed, he barely managed to squeeze out his voice.
"The two of you seem to be... getting along very well."
If he had seen me sitting on Edith's lap, he would have fallen backward.
"Nice to see you too. Where are the documents?"
"Ah, yes. Here they are."
The Count neatly arranged the classified documents in order.
Since the accounting books and territory management report couldn't be checked quickly anyway, I immediately picked up the civil complaint documents.
I was a little worried because the thickness was too thin. There should be at least one related to the forest.
It wasn't long before I was flipping through the stiff paper, looking for the word "forest." Soon, I found an absurd civil complaint.
The title was intense.
"I accuse the director who fed thirty orphans with one sick chicken?"
"To make food for 30 people with one chicken is an amazing ability. Are you a clergyman by any chance?"
The Count admired, and I narrowed my eyes.
He must be a child abuser.
The civil complaint recorded on the next page was even more absurd.
"Do you know the mystery of a building built with shoddy construction that has not collapsed for 10 years..."
"Ah, that building is famous. I went there as a memorial too."
Is this guy really competent?
I gave the Count a cold look and continued to scan the civil complaints.
Just one related to the forest. Then I'll try to solve other civil complaints with all my heart...
"Mysterious bloodstains appearing in the Eire Forest... this is it!"
