22
Chapter 22
"What's going on?"
"W-Well, that is..."
A clear look of surprise flickered in the veterinarian's eyes.
"It seems the Black Tiger Spirit Beast has awakened."
And as soon as the veterinarian finished speaking.
"Awoo-!"
The Black Tiger, who had seemed as good as dead, stretched and howled loudly.
Then, it ran to Coco and hugged her tightly.
Anyone could see...
"They seem to share a close Communion."
* * *
As soon as the Black Tiger awakened, numerous veterinarians were summoned.
And...
Everyone unanimously replied that the Tiger spirit had become much healthier than before.
There were also reports that the Black Lion near the Spirit Creature's paws had faded.
As soon as he recognized that fact.
"Then, I'll be taking her now!"
Coco was bundled up in her blanket and carried by Ruth to the next room.
Chloe also nodded lightly and left the room.
She knew that Duke Ardos, who was strict about mistakes, would give Theresia a fitting punishment.
"I need to change who I interrogate. Starting with those who acted rashly."
In the interrogation room where everyone had left, Duke Ardos's eyes sank coldly.
Theresia remained calm even though she had become a subject of interrogation.
With an elegant expression, she rose from her seat and stared at Leia.
"Leia, why didn't you properly examine the Tiger spirit?"
"That's..."
"You should have examined it more closely and made a judgment. Your rash actions have tarnished Chloe's name."
Leia's face turned pale.
"I... I apologize, Your Excellency."
Even if she said that Theresia had ordered everything, would anyone believe her?
Leia mumbled hesitantly.
"B-But... it was an inevitable misunderstanding, a situation..."
"That's not wrong."
Even the veterinarians had said that the Tiger spirit was dead.
Duke Ardos nodded as if he would continue to listen to her excuses.
Her eyes sparkled as she grabbed the lifeline.
"So, I couldn't help it. My only fault is that I misunderstood a situation that was prone to misunderstanding!"
And, finally.
Duke Ardos's thunderous roar fell.
"But it was a complete misjudgment."
"Th-That's..."
"You were also the one who spread rumors about the direct line so carelessly."
"..."
"You were also the one who threatened the child and recorded her. But, did you apologize to that child?"
"That is, th-there wasn't time..."
"If I hadn't said this, would you have even apologized for the misunderstanding?"
Leia bit her lip tightly.
"You must take responsibility for not only misjudging but also acting rashly."
Theresia ignored Leia and held her head stiffly.
"I forbid you from entering the Amond Barony's main residence."
Leia's eyes widened.
Forbidding entry to the main residence meant that all exchanges with the Duke's residence would be cut off in the future.
It was an event that would also break the family's future.
"Y-You can't just cast me out like this. Theresia, Theresia!"
But Theresia coldly turned her gaze away.
The Duke glared coldly at Leia, who was trembling, and said.
"Leave. There will be no mercy if you disobey my orders."
He had given a great punishment to the collateral line, so now it was Theresia's turn.
"Theresia, I told you to do your job faithfully if you wanted to be recognized."
"...Yes, Father."
After his first wife passed away.
He had no choice but to marry Lucrezia due to the Emperor's arrangement.
And he saw Lucrezia often discriminate against Theresia and Chloe.
She would exaggerate even Chloe's small mistakes.
Resembling her mother, Theresia also subtly looked down on Chloe.
So Duke Ardos called his daughter and said.
"I know that Lucrezia and Theresia are bothering you. Do you want me to stop them?"
"No. It's something I can handle on my own."
The proud Chloe couldn't stand resolving things by borrowing someone else's hand.
So, unless it was too much, he had been watching with his hands behind his back.
But this time, she had clearly crossed the line.
"Theresia, you are to step down from family matters."
"Father! Please reconsider. With Mother going to the temple, numerous social events and household matters are piling up. And, I haven't done anything wrong..."
"Do you think I look stupid?"
"..."
"Others may not know. But do you think I would believe that the Amond Barony acted independently without your orders?"
Theresia's lips were crushed as she couldn't find the words to answer.
He took his gaze away from her.
"Stay home and reflect. This is my mercy. There will be no mercy if you act rashly again."
At that moment, tears welled up in Theresia's eyes.
"Father, you're really too much."
"What?"
"Are you discriminating against me because I'm not your biological daughter, but an adopted one? Would you have done this if it was Chloe?"
It was the same repertoire every time.
A face that looked vulnerable to anyone, a pitiful appearance that made you want to wipe her eyes with a handkerchief.
But who was the opponent?
It was the impregnable Duke Ardos.
"That's ridiculous. If you want to get another chance, reflect and stay home. This is my mercy."
Despite Theresia's pleas, Duke Ardos left coldly.
Watching his retreating figure, Theresia gritted her teeth.
It was something she had done, thinking she would receive her father's favor.
'But, everything is going wrong.'
Things had gone wrong since the child named Coco came to the mansion.
The Agent planted in Chloe's Bastille Annex, the head maid, had been fired, and her closest aide had her ties with the Duke's family severed for acting rashly.
She had lost face due to the confinement order.
On the other hand, how was Chloe doing?
The baby who had befriended her, Coco, had not only found the Tiger but also restored its health.
Fortunately, there was no chance that the child had a Special Ability.
'But, Father likes those who have achieved merit.'
More than anything, what made her even angrier was.
'I ended up spreading the story that Chloe saved the Spirit Creature with my own hands.'
Anger flickered in Theresia's golden eyes.
* * *
Duke Ardos, who had returned after beating up the bad guys, stared at me with his black eyes.
"Your name is Coco."
"Yes!"
"It was revealed that you were incompetent earlier."
Is this uncle a scary idiot because he's Ruth's dad?
I raised my short hand high and shouted.
"I do have a Special Ability! Lots and lots! They saw it wrong earlier!"
His gaze looked down at me.
I thought he would glare at me and argue, but.
"Yes. I see the seeds of Special Ability."
It was a little, no, a little too sudden, but.
"Hehe! You're finally making sense!"
"...What?"
The uncle chuckled in disbelief.
Regardless, I sparkled my eyes.
"I've done a good deed and I have a Special Ability, so I'm not going to be abandoned anymore, right?"
"If you have a Special Ability, there's a high probability that you're a 'real' Child of Blessing. So, I'm going to request another examination at the temple."
"Wow."
"The Stigmata may not appear this time either, so don't get your hopes up."
The Stigmata will definitely appear.
Because I'm a body that's been blessed by the Puppy God!
"One last word."
"Yes?"
He cleared his throat, turned his gaze away, and muttered.
"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding."
"Huh."
I tilted my head. I thought he was a scary idiot, but maybe he's just a not-scary idiot.
"...If there's anything you want, tell me. You saved a great Spirit Creature, so I should give you a reward."
Duke Ardos's eyes narrowed as if testing me.
Actually, the first thing I wanted to do was ask him to adopt me.
Then I would be Chloe's real sister.
But, I thought of the mossy Bastille Annex and Chloe inside.
'...Chloe is still afraid of the dark. Because of the bad teacher.'
When I was a puppy, all I could do was lick Chloe's wounds.
Maybe it's the same now.
But maybe Duke Ardos, Chloe's father, could be different.
"My father killed my teacher. But I might not have wanted that."
"Arrr."
"I just wanted my father to hug me once. It's presumptuous. After choosing to become a successor instead of a daughter."
"Woof..."
"It's okay, Coco. My cute baby. Come here."
So, if Duke Ardos became close to Chloe.
And hugged her warmly with all his heart.
If the two of them could become a real family.
Then maybe Chloe could overcome her painful memories from the past?
'Just like I overcame the pain of being a stray dog thanks to my family, Chloe!'
As I bit my lip and was lost in thought.
Duke Ardos gestured with his chin.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"Um, you know. Chloe, Duke Ardos, and I, the three of us, every day..."
"Huh?"
"Let's have breakfast together!"
At my words, Duke Ardos smiled in vain.
"How modest. Is it because you're five years old?"
I added the next words with a "oops" expression.
"Um, it would be even better if Ruth joined us too!"
"That much is not difficult."
"There's more! That's not all!"
"Then."
"Secondly, don't abandon me and really make me Chloe's sister."
"That requires confirming the sacred object and going through the procedures. Ahem, well..."
He glanced at me and coughed a couple of times.
"You're quite ambitious. I'll think about that over time..."
"That's not all there is!"
"Huh? There's more?"
"Thirdly, play ball with me, fourthly, swim with me, fifthly, give me lots of sweet potatoes, sixthly, make sweet potato cake with me in the kitchen, and seventhly, I want to try chocolate that I was never allowed to eat..."
Duke Ardos's hand, which had been holding a fountain pen to take notes, froze.