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Chapter 03: My Favorite Bread Is Daddy!

Episode 19

"...So he's not going to the border either?"

Along with the bewilderment came a twinge of hurt. So, it wasn't for me—he was cancelling the expedition because he became the Grand Duke's guardian? Of course, I knew I wasn't his biological daughter, but still...

"That's beside the point, my lady. Of course he wants to be with you..."

The nanny tried to comfort me, but I honestly wasn't listening. It was then that I heard the sound of carriage wheels.

"...Daddy?"

"Oh my, the Count must be back."

Marianne extended her hand to me. I glanced at the carriage entering through the main gate, then took her hand.

---

Upon arriving at the main building, I saw servants busily carrying luggage from the carriages and carts. I spotted the butler talking with someone—and Adrian's back as he stood there.

Seeing that small head again made it feel real. He was really going to live here? Just like that, without a word?

I saw my father, but I didn't run to him as I usually did. The tall, brown-haired man must have sensed my presence, for he turned and looked at me.

"Leticia?"

His voice held surprise, and a smile.

"There you are."

Seeing his now-natural smile, I tried to curl my lips upward too. But my gaze was drawn to the furniture piled on the carts and the boxes coming out of the carriage.

Things prepared for Adrian—things he had never bought for me.

"Welcome back, Father."

I walked slowly toward him, holding the nanny's hand. Father tilted his head in puzzlement.

"...Father?"

"Ah, Daddy."

I corrected my address with an awkward smile, and I caught Adrian glancing our way. I hesitantly opened my arms. Father lifted me up with practiced ease and kissed my forehead.

"You've been playing in the dirt, haven't you."

"Yes."

"Did you play with the children in the annex?"

"With the girls..."

I tried to answer with a smile, but my lips kept pouting like a real six-year-old. Eventually, I pressed my mouth shut and buried my face in Father's neck. Ugh, why am I like this? I'm not even a real child.

Objectively speaking, this jealousy wasn't entirely fair. Father had never taken me shopping, but he did provide for me, and after returning from the border, he had even bought me a doll himself.

Besides, Adrian had arrived at the manor with nothing—of course he needed a lot of things. Even so...

'I'm his daughter...'

Even if I wasn't blood, I was still his daughter. He could have at least mentioned that he might become the Grand Duke's guardian. He'd never even taken me out on an outing...

"...Leticia."

Father's voice came from above. I didn't answer.

"I'm sure you've already heard, but from today, Adrian will be living with us."

"..."

"Don't fight—get along well."

Still not showing my face, I slowly nodded. Father stroked the back of my head, then set me down.

"Now, greet him properly. He's like a younger brother to you now, so treat him comfortably."

Look, at least give me some time to process my feelings. I never said I was okay with living with him. You didn't even tell me beforehand...

But a six-year-old was supposed to obey adults. I lifted my head, trying to compose my expression. The small Grand Duke was staring at me.

"...Nice to meet you."

A flat voice slipped from my lips.

Ah, I didn't mean to sound like that. I forced a smile and extended my hand. Adrian looked at me with a peculiar expression, then took it.

"Likewise."

"Since you're in a new place, you'll probably have a hard time—so I'll help you out."

"...I'll do that."

I nodded, trying to calm my heart. Yes, he must have his reasons. He was the one who had let Leticia—not even his own daughter—live as a Count's daughter. Taking in his comrade's brother was nothing.

In the original story, around this time, he had been neglecting Leticia entirely. He was already a much better father than in the original—what was there to feel hurt about?

"Leticia."

"Yes?"

At the sudden call, I looked up. Father was gazing at me.

"Do you have any plans tomorrow?"

It was a surprisingly warm question. I blinked a few times before answering.

"I have composition class in the morning."

"I see. Then..."

His large hand gently rubbed my still-chubby cheek.

"How about playing hooky with Daddy tomorrow?"

"...What?"

At the unexpected offer, my eyes went wide. 'With Daddy'? 'Hooky'? Did those words really come out of Fabian Belando's mouth?

When I didn't answer, Father looked around at the servants, then lowered his voice slightly.

"Keep it a secret from the nanny and the butler."

Though it was loud enough for both of them to hear anyway. It seemed to mean I should cancel my lessons for the day.

"I heard nothing, my lady."

Having caught his meaning, the nanny quickly said. The butler, standing quietly, let out a chuckle.

"Perhaps it's my age—my hearing isn't what it used to be..."

"..."

I pressed my lips together and looked back at Father. A smiling face met my eyes—as if trying to soothe my sulking.

---

Branda Belando let down her hair in frustration. The glossy red strands tangled with her hairpins and became a mess, but she didn't care.

"Guardian?"

At her sharp voice, the maid bowed her head with a stiffened face. Though she had been humiliated in her attempt to drive out the nanny, the servants' attitude toward the prospective mistress remained unchanged.

"Surely you don't mean the Young Grand Duke will stay at the manor until he comes of age?"

"Well, I'm not entirely sure..."

"Oh, our poor Leticia! How pitiful!"

Branda covered her face and raised her voice.

"Does the Count have no pity for Leticia? Now he's postponing his expedition because of the Grand Duke? How hurt Leticia must feel..."

Fabian, who had always been away, suddenly postponed his expedition—not for his daughter, but because he had become the Grand Duke's guardian. And he had even filled a carriage with new clothes, toys, and furniture for the boy.

Branda, while letting the maid tend to her hair, struck her chest as if in sheer frustration.

"Really, what crime did that young child commit, to be treated so blatantly—Ouch! Gently, will you!"

"I-I'm sorry."

The maid apologized hastily and brushed her hair with much greater care.

"P-please don't worry too much, madam. I heard the Count is planning to take the young lady out tomorrow—"

"Out? The two of them alone?"

Branda asked suspiciously. The maid, not seeing her face harden in time, quickly nodded.

"You know, madam—lately the Count has been spending a lot of time with the young lady. Surely the Count doesn't intend to neglect her..."

"You fool. With so many eyes and ears in the manor, would the Count openly play favorites like that?"

"..."

"I knew it from the moment he let her play in the dirt. If he truly intended to raise her as the Count's daughter, he would never let her associate with those children."

It wasn't unusual for a noble child to play with servants' children or get their hands dirty in childhood. The maid seemed to recall that fact, looking puzzled—and Branda clicked her tongue as if to say she knew it all along.

"A girl grows up the way she's treated at home. The more preciously she's raised, the less likely she'll be looked down upon in whatever family she marries into."

"I see. I had no idea..."

The maid said, continuing to brush Branda's hair. The tangled red locks had calmed, but Branda let out a frustrated sigh.

"Those lowborns, anyway... You may go now. I have a headache and need to rest."

"But madam, your dress fitting—"

"Who asked you to talk back?"

At her irritated voice, the maid quickly set down the brush and bowed. The moment the door closed, the red-haired woman, who had been leaning against the backrest, twisted her face.

"Damned little wretch..."

She had already heard well enough that the Count was growing closer to Leticia. As Branda, that was far from welcome. Still, she had thought it would be fine once he left the manor again—but now he had brought the Grand Duke along...

'A mere five-year-old Grand Duke, strutting around with his head held high. Not only is he wasting the Belando fortune on that brat—now he's going to squat here entirely!'

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