Home/They say the Northern Grand Duke didn't have his front teeth at age six/ch22

Chapter 03: My Favorite Bread Is Daddy!

Episode 22

"What...?"

"Why should adults meddle in children's relationships? Whether they become friends or not should be up to the children themselves."

It was a polite refusal. Without waiting for a reply, my father turned to Marsha.

"I'll leave the design of the gift garments to Larisa. And we'll take the ones I picked out yesterday—she can wear them now, yes?"

"Oh, of course."

Marsha glanced at the Marchioness, then led us toward the fitting room. The ones he picked out yesterday? I was flustered again. Only when we reached the fitting room did Father set me down.

"...Daddy picked out a dress for Tishy in advance."

His voice was gentle, yet somehow awkward. But hearing that nickname for the first time made my heart tingle. And seeing how he'd defended me made it even more so.

"...Thank you, Daddy."

"It's nothing."

I hadn't even said what I was thankful for, but Father smiled and patted my head as if he already knew. The Marchioness, who had been glaring our way, turned her head away in annoyance when our eyes met.

---

Adrian spent the morning being guided around the manor by Marianne. When taking in a ward, families typically either maintained a polite distance or treated them as true family—it seemed the Belando household was the latter.

"...The basement is dark and dangerous, so you must always go with a servant. And over there is the annex the Count mentioned."

Adrian surveyed the annex carefully. It was said that to gauge a noble's true character, one should look at how they treated their servants. Nobles wealthy enough to maintain a townhouse in the capital often flaunted their wealth and generosity not only through charity but also through servant welfare—and providing an annex for servant housing was part of that.

'Though most of them fill their own pockets elsewhere.'

As Adrian thought cynically, Marianne pointed to the playground beside the annex.

"If you want to play outside, you can go there."

The playground, demarcated with embedded stones, was already bustling with children running and playing noisily. There were small houses made of mud, a hammock between trees, swings, a slide, a seesaw...

"Did the household provide those play structures as well?"

"Yes. Though the hammock and swings were made by the servants themselves."

Adrian nodded, looking at the metal slide.

"Efficient. You can keep the children all in one place—no need to fuss over control."

"Oh my, where did you learn such talk again..."

The nanny muttered under her breath. She gestured toward the children in the playground.

"Shall I introduce you so you can play with them?"

"Not necessary."

They were neither nobles who would be useful later nor future subordinates. There was no need to get close. Adrian was about to walk past—until his eyes fell on a silver-haired girl.

"...The Saintess?"

"Pardon? Young master, what did you—"

Adrian didn't answer and strode toward the children. They all turned to look at him.

"Children, greet him. This is the Young Grand Duke."

The nanny, who had hurriedly followed, smiled as she introduced him. The oldest-looking children began to bow one by one.

"Hello, Young Grand Duke."

"Wow, he's tiny."

"Cute."

At the whispered comments, Adrian's brow twitched. But he had no intention of reacting to every word from children. His gaze was fixed solely on the silver-haired girl.

Lucia Himenes—his grand-nephew's lover and the Saintess of Vita. The woman who had been slapped by Leticia at the party.

"Mom, where's the young lady?"

The girl asked with curious eyes. Ah, so she was the nanny's daughter. He'd heard she was something like a maid's child before.

"The young lady went out with the Count today."

The nanny answered with a smile. Did this woman not even know that her daughter had been tormented by Leticia? As Adrian clicked his tongue in disdain—

"Huh... then when is she coming back?"

"But she said she'd teach us card games!"

Why were they all... disappointed?

---

After changing into the new dress with the help of the shop assistants, Father lifted me up and headed straight to a nearby restaurant. The food from the manor's head chef was delicious, but my first meal out with Father was truly the best.

"After we eat, let's go buy some toys too."

Father wiped my mouth with a napkin and said. I'd thought I was eating carefully, but apparently I'd made a mess.

"Hmm, you don't have to buy me toys."

I murmured quietly. I didn't really play with toys much anyway, and the bunny doll Father had given me before was enough. Besides...

"...You already spent a lot of money today."

"That's not for you to worry about."

Father said firmly. But I wasn't really six years old, and I knew he hadn't spent just a little. He'd bought me five dresses and shoes, and yesterday he'd bought plenty for Adrian too.

"Buying kids everything they want spoils them..."

"Where did you learn that?"

"I read it in a book..."

Surprisingly, it was from a fairy tale I'd read recently—about a wealthy man who loved his child so much he gave her everything, only to regret it later. Father nodded with a pleased look.

"Yes, it's good to learn restraint from an early age. You've been reading fine books."

The server cleared the empty plates and brought dessert—a cake topped with luscious strawberries on creamy white frosting.

"...But since this is our first outing together, if there's anything you want, just say so. Only for today."

I never imagined I'd hear such words from Father.

I smiled shyly and picked up my fork. The moment I put the soft cake in my mouth, my eyes went wide. Wow, what is this? Our head chef's cake was delicious too, but this...

The fluffy sponge and sweet, rich cream melted in my mouth like snow. The fresh juice from the thickly sliced strawberries was a perfect match with the tender cake. I swallowed without chewing and looked up. Father's eyes were slightly curved.

"...Daddy."

"Hm?"

"Do you know what my favorite bread in the whole world is?"

I almost said "Tishy's," but with Adrian not around, I didn't want to overdo it. Father chuckled and placed a strawberry from his plate onto mine.

"Strawberry cake."

See, Dad? I told you before.

"No. It's daddy."

Still, I'd said it once, and this time it was less embarrassing. Naturally, Father didn't say "Aww, my daughter, Daddy loves you the most too." He just smiled softly and patted my head.

He was quite handsome, I realized. Tall and broad-shouldered, he could have been intimidating, but his long, tied-back soft brown hair and calm green eyes gave him more the air of a cleric than a knight. And he was the head of House Belando, blessed by the gods—it was a wonder he hadn't remarried.

"...Were you upset?"

The question caught me off guard. When I hesitated, Father pursed his lips as if choosing his words.

"About me bringing Adrian back so suddenly."

Oh. I hadn't expected him to ask so directly. Had I been that obvious? I felt embarrassed just thinking about it—yet I also liked that he was worried about me, paying attention to me, and my lips kept curling up despite myself.

"Hmm, but still, since you get to stay with Daddy because of it..."

"Leticia."

Father set down his fork.

"Dragging out your words or trailing off at the end is a bad habit. You should speak clearly."

I realized Father had his picky side too. I wanted to just let it slide and explain later, but a six-year-old had to follow adult guidance.

"...I'm happy because I get to be with Daddy."

I emphasized the ending properly, and Father nodded in satisfaction.

"Thank you for saying that."

I had actually been quite upset, but those words seemed to melt my grudge away. Father looked at me for a moment, then spoke again.

"His Majesty the Emperor wished for us to take Adrian in."

"His Majesty did?"

"It seems Adrian enjoys playing with you as well."

No, Father—he enjoys playing with me? You might as well say Adrian is my long-lost brother...

Back   Next