Translator: Nox

Chapter 6

* * *

The morning of the summoning ceremony dawned.

Having pored over her book all night until she finally collapsed into a deep sleep in the late hours of dawn, Bunny rubbed her puffy eyes with the back of her hand as she climbed out of bed.

Still in a drowsy haze, she clutched Toto tight and wriggled her body every which way, unable to shake off the lingering pull of sleep, before sluggishly sliding down to the floor.

She propped Toto up against the headboard, dragged over a chair with a little grunt, and flung open the window.

Then she hopped down from the chair and, with her tiny, adorable hands, tugged firmly at the tangled blankets from her restless night, straightening them out neatly.

Thanks to scurrying back and forth across the bed’s four corners, pulling away from the very start of the morning, her bedding ended up perfectly tidied.

“Yawn…….”

Dabbing away the prickling tears in her eyes with her sleeve like a proper little adult, Bunny set the children’s step stool by the washbasin, climbed up, and brushed her teeth thoroughly—even the tedious chi-ka-chi-ka that even Luriel had found too bothersome.

After scrubbing her face vigorously with refreshingly cool water that made her whole body tingle all over, and even shampooing her hair with vigorous sloshes, Bunny spread a towel flat on the floor, flopped down onto it, grabbed one end, and rolled across the floor.

Wrapped up in the towel like a little burrito, she grabbed a fresh towel, plopped it on her head, and kneaded her hair dry before flinging open the wardrobe.

“Hmm…….”

Today… she felt like dressing up fancy!

Slipping into the sky-blue dress the orphanage director had gifted her and pinning the hairpin from her orphanage friend into her hair, Bunny nodded to herself.

She stared blankly at the two limp, trailing towels in her wake, then kicked them lightly with her foot and shoved them into a corner for now.

Finally, she used the strap from the Great Demon King Bear Doll—that gave her courage—to tie it to her back. Perfect.

“Bunny, perfect.”

Hehe.

Grinning happily, Bunny bobbed her head.

Water from her not-quite-dry hair trailed down to dampen her shoulders, and the clumsily tied bear doll had its waist bent backward, its head on the verge of dragging along the floor—but to Bunny, it was perfect anyway.

“As expected, Bunny’s a genius.”

So much of a genius, what if dad candidates end up lining up?

With that thought, Bunny tucked the notes she’d read all night back into Toto’s pocket to hide them, then laid Toto and the elephant down and tucked them in under the covers.

“Let’s go. Magomi!”

Striding forward with the courage-giving (evil) demon bear(doll)—aka Magomi—Bunny recalled the night before.

“Gasp! How did she know?”

Gasp, did Luri know Bunny was coming here?!

‘As expected of Luri. An incredible genius, certified by genius Bunny herself!’

Flat on her stomach on the bed, staring at the elegant handwriting neatly inscribed page after page, Bunny kicked her feet in excitement and clapped her hands over her mouth.

“Hehe.”

Handsome or pretty people!

The casting is crucial!

As she descended to the first floor, she spotted other children who seemed to be joining her for the summoning ceremony. Most looked to be in their early teens—which meant Bunny was by far the smallest and youngest.

“Bunny miss.”

“Hey, Roden!”

Whirling around at the greeting from behind, Bunny’s eyes went wide as she raised one hand high, palm out.

“Hellooo.”

“Yes, good morning. Have you been well?”

“Yess! Bunny no total disaster, fully adapted to the stormy Young Master house. Planning perfect scores real soon.”

Hehe, flashing a smile, Bunny thrust her thumb up triumphantly.

Roden Hainer let out a soft chuckle at the sight. The children clustered here and there went wide-eyed.

“…The knight’s laughing?”

“That iron wall Roden Hainer?”

“…Nah, must be seeing things.”

“How do you all see things wrong at once?”

Bickering voices drifted from nearby, and Roden Hainer quickly composed his expression.

He glanced at Bunny’s damp shoulders and the bear doll folded backward at the waist, then knelt on one knee.

“A bear doll, huh.”

“Yeees. Magomi, who gives Bunny courage!”

“Magomi. Looks like it might fall—mind if I tie it back on?”

“Gasp, can’t let Magomi fall.”

In her frantic shout, Bunny blurted out something garbled before whipping around to present her back.

Watching the bear doll wobble feebly, Roden Hainer barely suppressed the smile tugging at his lips. He re-tied the strap.

“All set.”

“Thank youuu.”

Meeting Roden Hainer’s eyes, Bunny bowed deeply—her head nearly brushing the floor. His eyes widened at the sight.

“Pfft.”

“What’s that…….”

“She bowed to the knight.”

The snickers echoing from around them were less disconcerting than Bunny herself, bowed so low she teetered on the verge of toppling forward.

Roden Hainer reached out in a hurry.

Flap flap.

Flap flap.

Bent double like she was folding in half, Bunny seemed to notice her own tilt and flapped her arms wildly for a good while, hopping in place before popping back upright, perfectly fine.

“…….”

Roden Hainer’s awkwardly outstretched hand hovered in the air, bereft.

Staring at his awkward hand, Bunny’s eyes flew wide.

“Ah!”

As if struck by realization, she toddled over on tiptoe and guided his lost hand to her head with her own.

‘Pat pat!’

Bunny already super popular!

Those sparkling pink eyes and her smug, all-knowing little face had Roden Hainer unconsciously stroking the child’s hair.

“…Shall we go?”

“Yess!”

With an energetic reply, Bunny at last set off for the main mansion—properly secured Magomi in tow.

* * *

“Long time no see, all of you. Whether you’re holed up at the temple or barricaded in your rooms—you’re really set on giving me endless grief.”

“Come on, we show up for events, don’t we? Who wants to watch a kids’ talent show like the summoning ceremony? Give us a pass for slacking off the rest of the time.”

The muscular man with dark skin chuckled with easy insolence.

Duke Yudia, Ludbrid Yudia, shot a displeased glare at the man in his outrageously unbuttoned attire.

“Father, don’t be too hard on him. Big brother’s just busy gambling and carousing~”

“Hey, watch that mouth of yours again?”

“What……? Wham?! You little punk……! Klein, is that any way for a member of the sacred Yudia Ducal Family to act?!”

“Ugh, that’s not it! I only go for information gathering—it’s not like I enjoy gambling or anything……. Tsk, speaking of, what’s got you coming out, little bro! You were shut away in the temple, not showing your face.”

Sensing the tide turning against him, the man swiftly changed tack.

Amid the raucous tea table, the silent ‘youngest’—who had been tilting his teacup—twitched his brow once before leisurely setting it down.

Black hair cascaded smoothly.

“Since Father said it’d be a long business trip if I skipped this one too.”

Intense boredom and languor radiated from the man—his voice dry as dust yet endlessly soft—drawing a tongue-click from Ludbrid Yudia.

“More than that, let’s get it started and over with. Time’s a waste.”

“The kids are arriving now.”

The dark-skinned man said, lightly combing his fingers through his hair.

Grrr.

A low, beastly growl rumbled from somewhere.

“By the way, those runaway brats from before are joining today, right? Half-human half-beast, abandoned kittens and all.”

“Watch your mouth around the children.”

“Curious if it’ll be a bust or a jackpot.”

Even with the duke’s rebuke, the dark-skinned man just chuckled breezily, flashed a grin, and rose.

“Well, no real expectations… but let’s head out.”

No sooner had the profoundly languid youngest finished speaking than the four stood and exited the gold-embellished white mansion.