23
"......For the ninety-ninth, buy me a huge, cute doll, and for the hundredth......"
"All of that......?"
"Yes! I did a good deed, so I'm going to get it all!"
"So, you're saying that since you did one good deed, you're going to squeeze everything out of me......? You're telling me this to my face?"
"Yes!"
"......How audacious. You're making your ambition so obvious, but it's better than having none at all!"
See? The Duke agrees with me!
I had to play with my sister even when eating a sweet potato. So, I had no choice but to become an ambitious puppy!
"......Then, I shall take care of the most important procedure first."
"Huh, what's the most important procedure?"
"Didn't you ask me to become your family? Ahem."
"Yep!"
His eyes narrowed as if testing me.
"Before the Priest brings the sacred object, what should I do?"
I rolled my eyes and answered with all my heart.
"......Eat baked sweet potatoes?"
"I've gathered the investigation data here, Your Excellency."
The capable Assistant said, handing over the report and the Video Orb.
Duke Ardos decided to investigate Coco's family.
'The Council of Elders must have already investigated, but it's a necessary task.'
Originally, he had no interest in a Child of Blessing.
Even if she had a Special Ability, he would have told the Council of Elders to handle it.
'But for some reason, she's on my mind.'
It would be good to check her background, just in case.
"The father's name is Hans, the mother's name is Jane. She's the youngest of ten sons and ten daughters."
"Yes, which is why the family doesn't seem to have much interest in Coco......"
He watched the Video Orb of the Council of Elders interviewing Coco's family.
It was a scene of five family members, dressed shabbily as if they had come in a hurry during the farming season, talking to one of the Elders.
[You know that the Ardos family is adopting your youngest daughter, right?]
Coco's biological father, Hans, wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered.
[Yes? Ah, yes. I understand that the procedure is still ongoing......]
[Perhaps she will be completely adopted.]
[Ah, yes! Really?]
[Yes, so we are going to give your family a reward. Do you want to be promoted?]
[We don't really have great desires.]
[Oh my, that's right. A small building and a house, and a monthly unearned income......]
Duke Ardos's expression twisted as he watched Hans, his wife, and their children speak.
Coco is a small fry.
But she was an enthusiastic small fry.
He had expected something from Coco's original family.
'They want unearned income! They're ignorant people with no effort or passion. Besides......'
He naturally thought that when he said, 'I'll grant you what you want,' they would think of their daughter's well-being first.
They really didn't seem to care about how Coco was doing.
[Now, about Coco. What kind of person is the Child of Blessing?]
Hans scratched the back of his head with a foolish expression.
[I don't know. We don't have many memories. Actually, I don't really think of her as my daughter. She's just, how should I put it......]
[Like an extra mouth to feed.]
[That's right, my wife is so smart. That's right, Duke. It feels like an extra mouth to feed.]
Even if they were commoners who couldn't distinguish between what they should and shouldn't say.
Coco was only five years old.
To think that she had lived alone among family members who didn't love her at such a young age.
'So that's why.'
Is that why she was trying so hard to do good deeds?
"Let's have breakfast together!"
"Mmm, it would be even better if Ruth joined us!"
"Second, adopt me and make me Chloe's sister."
"Third, play ball with me, fourth, swim with me, fifth, give me lots of sweet potatoes, sixth, make sweet potato cake with me in the kitchen, and seventh, I want to try chocolate that I was never allowed to eat......"
......Come to think of it, Coco had suggested so many things.
It felt like she was longing for a family.
'It's like Chloe's childhood.'
Because his father died early, Duke Ardos lived as a young head of the family from adolescence.
It was a title he maintained by killing or subduing many siblings.
He was empty because he had not received any affection himself.
So, naturally, he couldn't give affection back to his children.
"Father! My teacher said I did a good job today."
"......Ahem."
"So, can you have dinner with me today?"
......At that time, something very big had happened to him.
'So, the dinner fell through......'
Later, Chloe would boast about how she had done something quite great.
'I don't know why, but Chloe's desire to be praised at that time overlaps with Coco.'
Trying to eliminate useless thoughts, he turned off the Video Orb and muttered.
"So, those people have no affection for the child and only care about making money?"
"Yes."
"How audacious."
Even if they have no affection for their family, making money is too much.
He said to the Assistant.
"When did they say the sacred object would arrive?"
"I heard it will be taken out in about a week, with the permission of the High Priest."
Then…….
'I don't have time to make a sweet potato cake or whatever.'
Anyway, Coco is a talented person who proved her ability by saving Tiger.
So, he was thinking of indulging in annoying antics for just one week.
The next morning.
For the first time, an awkward and creaky meal time began for the three of us and me.
'What is this?'
The atmosphere on the formal dining table was very uncomfortable.
Then, Duke Ardos cleared his throat and muttered.
"You……."
"Yes?"
"Is having this kind of meal really your request?"
"Yes! That's right!"
"......I see."
I know that look! It's a look of pity.
'Why?'
As I tilted my head, a round pudding came into my view.
'Oh, my brain is getting dumber again!'
I could only see the sweet pudding in front of me.
I poked the pudding.
Perhaps because I was clumsy with the fork, the pudding kept moving around on the plate.
"Your hand movements are clumsy."
"I'll get better if I practice!"
"You're a hard worker......"
Duke Ardos nodded as he watched me finally bring the pudding to my mouth.
"Child, you wanted to have a meal to get closer to me, right?"
"Um......"
That's right.
Actually, I wanted to bring my sister and the Duke closer together.
I tilted my head as I ate the pudding.
"Then, don't hesitate and come over here."
I waddled over and sat right next to the Duke.
I also had something I wanted to ask.
"Is Tiger getting much healthier?"
"Not yet. They said he'll be fully recovered in two days."
"Then, I want to go see him then!"
Next, I'm going to start playing the Tiger friend-finding game in earnest!
My butt kept twitching because I wanted to wag an imaginary tail.
"Do as you please."
Ruth looked back and forth between me and Duke Ardos with a curious expression.
"Wow, I've never seen Father be so nice to a child."
"You should go to the Felix Empire Academy next time."
"I'm sorry."
"No one can look me in the eye properly, but that child does. So, I'm just curious."
"She's a bit scruffy...... I keep looking at her. I also feel sorry for her."
"Tch......"
I don't know what it means, but it doesn't sound good.
My lips pouted.
'It would be nice if I were a puppy with fluffy white fur.'
Then everyone would like me.
'It's because I'm human.'
But there's nothing I can do about it.
My puppy body is gone.
"Anyway, let's have breakfast together until the sacred object requested from the temple arrives."
"Yep!"
I clenched my fist tightly, my eyes sparkling.
I have to make my sister and the Duke get along by then.
I'm glad that my sister's lips looked a little relaxed today.
It was the moment I made that decision.
Duke Ardos, who seemed awkward during breakfast, folded his napkin a couple of times and said.
"Ah, and I have a warning. Don't go into the detached house in the northern part of the Duke's residence."
"Huh? Why, Father? Isn't that just an empty lot?"
"I brought a VIP from the Grand Duchy of Rivera."
"A VIP?"
Until then, I was just thinking about cutting my steak happily.
"Yes. Grand Duke Rivera's youngest brother, Grand Duke Rivera, came for treatment."
......Yes, until I heard those words!