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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Duke's Judgment
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“Why are these shoes so wretched?”
I wiggled my toes and watched the Duke’s expression.
The shoes I was wearing weren’t custom-made, just a ready-made pair that was roughly the right size.
They had slipped a bit as I walked the long distance, chafing my heels. Blood had seeped out, staining the precious leather crimson.
Seeing the way he was glaring at them, I figured he was about to reprimand me for daring to bloody his expensive shoes.
*He’s rich, but so petty...*
Of course, I couldn’t say such a thing out loud.
I’d already made a bad first impression by squealing like a dolphin; I couldn’t afford to lose any more points over this.
I quickly clasped my hands together and apologized.
“Sowwy…”
The Duke, who had been staring at my shoes, lifted his head.
His brow was slightly furrowed, which made me think my half-hearted apology hadn’t been convincing enough.
“For getting the shoes dirty…”
“Haa.”
Just as I was about to launch into a more detailed apology, the Duke let out a heavy sigh and turned his head to Lily.
“Why are these shoes so wretched?”
It seemed his earlier comment had been directed at Lily, not me.
Lily flinched and hurriedly bowed her head.
“I sent her measurements to the tailor’s yesterday. I told them to make them as quickly as possible, but they said it would take at least five days, even with a rush order…”
“Should an Elpinade be walking around in such footwear? Send someone again and tell them to have them ready by tomorrow. On my authority.”
By tomorrow?
Is that even possible?
It sounded absurd, but Lily didn’t argue, simply lowering her head further.
“Yes, Your Excellency. I will relay the message.”
After hearing Lily’s response, the Duke set me down on his desk.
Suddenly finding myself sitting on the documents he’d been working on, I shifted uncomfortably.
I was worried the ink would stain my clothes or that I’d smudge the writing on the papers.
I had already soured the Duke’s mood by ruining the shoes; I didn’t want to cause any more trouble.
After all, I was in a position where I needed to win his favor and get him on my side.
As I tried my best to find a clear spot on the desk, another sigh, “Hmph,” came from above me.
“And why are these clothes so wretched?”
“Hwuh?”
Did I get ink on my clothes already?!
Startled, I looked down at my skirt, and Lily quickly spoke up.
“I will have her casual wear sent by tomorrow as well.”
“Is her situation so dire that she must be dressed and shod in this garbage for now? Have you not prepared a single thing for her?”
“…No.”
“Tsk.”
The Duke clicked his tongue, his eyes flashing.
“I should have sent that insolent wench to hell, not the punishment room.”
The Duke’s gaze was so cold it looked as if he could chop off Hanna’s head that very instant.
*No!*
Truthfully, I didn’t care if Hanna’s head was lopped off, but it would be a problem if it happened right now.
*There are two quests tied to Hanna…!*
The God of Judgment and the Goddess of Peace.
Both deities had issued quests concerning Hanna, one for revenge and the other for forgiveness.
Perhaps because they were competing over the same incident, the coin reward was much higher than for other quests.
*A whopping 30,000 coins!*
The rewards for other quests were usually around 10,000 coins.
So, 30,000 was a massive sum.
*I can’t just give that up.*
Fearing the Duke might actually send Hanna to the next world, I quickly tugged on the hem of his coat.
“No hell for Hanna!”
“…Why?”
The Duke glanced down at the small hand clutching his coat, his eyes flashing menacingly as he asked.
His gaze seemed to say, *How dare you object to my decision?*
*He’s terrifying!*
I could now understand why Lily had been so nervous just at the prospect of meeting him.
If I were a real four-year-old and not a former black mage, I would have fainted from shock by now.
Not to be outdone, I stared back at him with more intensity and said,
“Hanna is…”
*The key to a quest that will net me 30,000 coins!*
…is what I couldn’t say.
“Hanna is my maid, so her master will punish her!”
Typically, the punishment and reward of a dedicated servant were decided by their master.
Meeting my fiery gaze, the Duke’s eyebrow twitched instead of retorting.
“Hah.”
It was a reaction of sheer disbelief.
“And what do you intend to punish her with? Those fluffy little fists?”
The Duke stared down at my hand, which was still gripping his coat.
My hand was small to begin with, but next to the Duke’s massive frame, it looked even smaller than usual.
*I can’t look too much like a child.*
I discreetly let go of his coat and hid my hands behind my back.
The Duke then began to fiddle with the part of his coat I had been holding, his expression stiff.
*Did he not like that I wrinkled his clothes?*
He was Axel’s father, so it was plausible.
I quickly reached out again and patted the wrinkled fabric of the Duke’s coat.
I couldn’t make it perfectly smooth like new, but I thought I could at least flatten the creases a bit.
However, the Duke’s clenched fist trembled, as if my touch displeased him.
Just as I thought I was making things worse and my hand began to slow,
“Let her do as she wishes.”
Axel stepped in.
“It seems that little one has something in mind.”
“Hmph. What thoughts could possibly come from that pea-sized brain?”
I thought it was a lost cause even with Axel’s intervention, but the Duke soon said something positive.
“If she’s willing to take a bothersome problem off my hands, it only makes things easier for me.”
The Duke glanced at me briefly before quickly turning his head back to Axel.
“But you will supervise. You were the one who reported that maid’s impudence to me, so I was going to leave her punishment in your hands anyway.”
He meant he trusted Axel’s judgment, not mine.
Honestly, my plan for today was just to check on Hanna’s condition and formulate a strategy.
*But if Axel joins in, I might be able to complete the quest!*
I shot Axel an intense look, silently urging him to accept.
“I will do so.”
Axel gave a short reply to the Duke, then unceremoniously lifted me from the desk and tucked me under his arm.
It was humiliating; he was treating me like a piece of luggage.
Lily hovered around me in alarm, but Axel paid her no mind and turned to leave.
*Oh!*
Before the Duke was completely out of sight, I quickly bowed my head.
He had granted my request, after all, so I had to show my gratitude.
But Axel turned so fast that I couldn’t be sure if the Duke had even seen my gesture.
I expressed my displeasure by squirming, and Axel let out a short laugh.
“Your habit of groveling before powerful people is as strong as ever, I see.”
“It’s not groveling, it’s social skills.”
If leaving a good impression could make things easier and more convenient, why wouldn’t I?
Axel seemed to think it was a matter of pride, but I thought differently.
What’s important is always the practical benefit!
*A lofty sense of pride doesn’t put food on the table, does it?*
Having started life from the bottom, I was quite confident in my ability to curry favor.
Of course, a precious young master from a ducal house who had lived his whole life with a stiff upper lip would have little need for such survival skills.
With a simple glance, Axel dismissed Lily and then asked me,
“Why do you want to see that crazy maid, anyway? I played along because it seemed you had a plan.”
“I need to earn coins.”
“Coins?”
“Yeah. The coins that pig you made for me ate. I need them so I don’t die.”
“…What’s this about dying?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I’m living on borrowed time right now.”
