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Chapter 04: Does the Tooth Fairy Come for the Grand Duke of the North Too?

Episode 30

Adrian stared at the two of them in disbelief. Max, unconcerned, gazed at Leticia with sparkling eyes. The watching adults laughed aloud and added their own comments.

"Hee hee, how cute."

"Oh my, young Master Dylan really seems to like Lady Belando."

"Take it as a compliment, my lady. Younger men are better."

"...Max."

Adrian looked coldly at his young subordinate. The man who had once been his right arm stared back at him with innocent eyes.

"Don't talk nonsense."

He swore he was saying this for his subordinate's sake. Though he was just a snot-nosed brat now, this boy would grow into a loyal retainer. But the adults saw it differently.

"Haha, Lady Belando is quite popular."

"Oh my..."

Seeing their amused expressions, Adrian felt like drawing a sword and telling them all to shut up. But Fabian was watching silently, and more importantly... he had no sword in his hand.

"...I'm going to rest."

He was truly drained. Having to keep an eye on Max and Leonor while playing with these foal-like children had sapped all his energy. Now he needed rest—a cool glass of juice and a quiet place away from the children. But his wish was not granted, because Leonor pushed up his glasses and spoke.

"Oh, then I'll take a rest too."

"Then me too!"

"Ah, I'm tired."

Once rest was mentioned, the other children, belatedly feeling their fatigue, raised their hands one by one. Somehow, the group was growing larger...

"Lady Belando! Want to play cat's cradle while we rest?"

"Me too!"

"Anyone for Maronie?"

...Do these foals even understand the meaning of rest?

---

Fortunately, once the children's bottoms hit the ground, they calmed down. Those who still wanted to play did cat's cradle or stone stacking, while the rest lay on mats or sat leaning against trees. Occasionally, a child would shriek at a bug, but basically, it was peaceful.

Adrian pushed his loose front tooth with his tongue. It had been wiggling for a while, but now it was getting annoyingly loose.

'Is it time to pull it...?'

What had he done before the regression? Around this time, Idor had noticed his loose baby tooth and offered to help. His unusually kind demeanor had seemed odd, but the young Adrian had naively taken it as goodwill. But—

'Hee hee, hee hee hee. Did it come out? Did it, did it?'

The thud, the belated pain. The sneering laughter. The metallic taste on his tongue.

'Not out? Well then, can't be helped. Lift your head, boy.'

The image of Idor's grin, showing his few remaining teeth as he raised his fist again, flashed before his eyes. After that... he'd probably just pulled them out himself. Of course, sometimes he'd been caught before he could.

'Useless thoughts.'

Adrian shook his head and grabbed the wobbly tooth with his fingers. As he tugged it further, a tolerable pain and a faint crack sounded. Should he just pull it out now? No, he'd look silly with a missing front tooth—after the party, he'd...

"...Rian?"

A familiar voice came then. Leticia Belando was staring at him with wide eyes.

"Is your front tooth loose?"

"..."

Adrian pulled his hand away from his mouth and pressed his lips together. But the girl's voice had already reached the other children.

"Oh, does the Young Grand Duke need to pull a tooth?"

"Ooh, that must hurt."

"Mom! The Young Grand Duke's tooth is loose!"

"They said the Young Grand Duke needs to pull his tooth!"

One of the chattering children called out to the adults. Adrian couldn't understand why anyone would tattle about someone else's loose baby tooth to their parents. At the child's shout, the nobles and servants who had been sitting at the tables all approached. Fabian knelt and cupped Adrian's cheeks.

"Let me see, Rian."

"...I'm fine."

See what? Adrian tried to turn his head, but a six-year-old body couldn't overpower an adult man.

"Say 'ah.'"

"I'll handle it myself..."

"Go on."

He tried to refuse, but Fabian was firm. The people nearby chimed in.

"He's not going to pull it right now—just wants to see how it is."

"Our Young Grand Duke is so brave, aren't you?"

"Young Grand Duke, say 'ah.' Like this, this way! Ahhh."

Not just the adults, but even the nosy children opened their mouths wide to show their front teeth. They say meddlesomeness increases with age—but that was wrong. Right here were children with boundless curiosity and interest in things that had nothing to do with them.

"Now, Rian. Just do it like young Master Rosley."

At Fabian's words, a boy a couple of years older than Adrian bared his teeth even wider. Truly, he wanted a cigar. But in this tiny body, such things weren't allowed.

Adrian sighed and opened his mouth. When his loose tooth was revealed, the nanny—who had come closer—carefully wiggled it back and forth.

"Wow, it's really loose!"

"I can't see!"

"Shouldn't we pull it now?"

"Pull it out! Pull it out!"

The children who'd seen the wiggling tooth got excited and shouted. Even monsters didn't scream at you to pull out someone else's tooth.

"It is time to pull it."

The nanny said cautiously. Adrian involuntarily flinched. Surely she didn't mean to do it now...

"Pine, could you bring me some thread?"

...Is she out of her mind?

Adrian couldn't believe his ears. Looking at the children's gleaming eyes, he felt dizzy.

"Not necessary."

"But young master, if you don't pull out baby teeth..."

"I'll do it myself. This tooth, I can..."

"There's nothing to be scared of, young master. Nanny will pull it out without hurting you."

The nanny smiled warmly and took the thread from the maid. Adrian tried to turn away, but Fabian held him in place. Interpreting his resistance in his own way, Leonor clenched his fist and shouted.

"You can do it, Young Grand Duke!"

"It doesn't hurt at all when Nanny pulls them!"

"Everyone does it. It's not scary!"

"It feels so good after it's out!"

The children joined in cheering for the young Grand Duke. One child opened their mouth wide to show where their tooth had fallen out. Fabian patted Adrian's head.

"...Rian."

"..."

"You can do it."

Fabian's expression was serious, almost resolute.

"You're going to be a Grand Duke. And a boy should be able to handle at least this much..."

"Ehh, even girls pull out their teeth!"

"I pulled mine out with my hands!"

"Hm, yes. My mistake. But it's better to leave it to adults than to pull it yourselves—like your nanny or the physician..."

As Fabian turned to explain to the children, the nanny cut a length of thread and made a loop. Adrian looked at Leticia. She, who had been watching nervously, opened her mouth belatedly.

"Hmm... Nanny, wouldn't it be better to do this after the party?"

Her violet eyes darted toward Adrian. It was the most sensible reaction of anyone present—but he never forgot that she was the root cause of his predicament. If she hadn't asked if his tooth was loose in the first place, this could have been avoided.

"Delaying only makes it harder. Now, Young Grand Duke. Say 'ah.'"

He'd thought it before—the adults in this house were gentle with children, yet stubborn. Adrian reluctantly opened his mouth, pretending not to hear the gasps and applause.

"Now, Young Grand Duke. I'll pull on the count of one, two, three. Understood?"

If you're going to do it, just get it over with—why draw it out? Adrian nodded in resignation. He knew people usually tensed up at three, so she'd probably pull at two...

"One."

Pop.

The nanny pulled the thread quickly—not on three, not on two, but on one.

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