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Chapter 05: A Grand Duke of the North Lives in Our House!

Episode 34

"Oh my, why..."

"What's wrong, Marianne?"

"Oh."

The other servants who peeked into the box with Marianne each covered their mouths in surprise.

"Why, why is it gone? There was definitely one slice left."

"Someone must have taken it."

"But who would take what was meant for the Young Grand Duke..."

The flustered servants looked around with the empty box. Then, murmuring arose from one side, and a maid rose with a pale face.

"Oh, what do I do? I'm so sorry. I thought it was leftovers..."

Beside the maid stood a boy with cream smeared all over his mouth. He'd been happily eating his second slice of cake, but realizing the atmosphere was tense, he bit his fork nervously and looked around.

"How could you take it without checking? It wasn't for just anyone—it was for the Young Grand Duke."

"What a pity. I saw you take it but didn't stop you."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Saying sorry isn't enough. You should go buy something else right now."

"There's a dessert shop nearby—we could go there..."

The servants from each household murmured, glancing at Marianne and Adrian. Some scolded the maid for taking the Grand Duke's share, others tried to salvage the young maid's mistake. The maid, on the verge of tears, frantically patted her young master's back. Marianne also looked at Adrian apologetically.

"I'm so sorry, young master. I should have set it aside earlier..."

"Never mind."

Adrian set down his fork and elegantly wiped his mouth.

"A single slice of cake is hardly worth making a fuss over."

"But..."

"Do you want me to repeat myself?"

The maid and the boy who'd taken the cake looked deeply moved by the young Grand Duke's magnanimous words.

"Thank you, Young Grand Duke. And you too, young master—you should thank him as well."

"Th-thank you... Young Grand Duke, here, have this... I did eat a little of it, though..."

The boy tried to hand over the half-eaten cake, then trailed off, realizing it would be rude to offer something already bitten into. Adrian let out a small sigh.

"...Just finish it."

With that, Adrian folded his handkerchief neatly and tucked it away. Marianne quickly rummaged through the basket for other snacks.

"Young master, shall I peel an apple for you?"

"Hm."

As he nodded silently, the nanny finally seemed relieved and began peeling an apple with a knife. Adrian's gaze briefly touched the empty cake box, then drifted away.

Hmm...

He did seem a little disappointed, didn't he?

---

After the picnic ended, we gathered our flower crowns and returned to the manor. Adrian fell asleep not long after getting into the carriage, probably tired after missing his nap.

His sleeping face was that of a six-year-old boy—so much so that it was hard to believe this was the same man who'd once chased me with a terrifying expression.

'...Would he wake up if I poked him?'

Looking at his chubby, baby-faced cheeks, I had all sorts of odd thoughts. Before long, the carriage arrived at the manor.

The nanny stepped out first, took my hand, and bent down to carry the sleeping Adrian.

"Ugh..."

"Nanny, are you okay?"

I asked, startled. The nanny nodded as if to say she was fine, but she was rubbing her back—so clearly, she wasn't.

"You said your back hurt earlier."

"It'll be fine if I rest a little. Let me just take the young master to his room first..."

"Just call someone else! Go inside and rest right now!"

This woman was going to get herself hurt. She must have been ignoring the pain this whole time. I quickly put my hands on my hips.

"If you push yourself just because you're young, you'll ruin your health later. Got it?"

"Where do you even learn these things... Ah, young master, you're awake?"

It was then that Adrian opened his bleary eyes. Rubbing them, he looked around grumpily.

"...What's all the noise?"

"I'm sorry, young master. Shall I take you to your room? You can sleep more if you'd like..."

"Nanny is hurt!"

I shouted. Adrian turned to me, frowning. I felt nervous as our eyes met, but I didn't back down.

"She's been saying her back hurts since earlier, but she was going to carry you because you were asleep. I told her not to."

"I'm really fine, my lady. The young master is still young and light..."

"...Who's 'young and light'?"

Adrian snapped back irritably. That's not the point—she's hurt! Not that I expected him to ask if she was okay, but still.

At that, Adrian jumped out of the carriage without taking the nanny's hand. He still looked half-asleep, his eyes half-lidded, but being small, he landed as nimbly as a flying squirrel.

"I believe the physician is in the annex?"

"Pardon? Yes, he is. You could stop by after dinner..."

"Then if you get treated and rest now, you'll be recovered by next week."

Having quickly concluded, Adrian yawned widely and picked up his flower crown.

"I can find my own way to my room. Go see the physician right away. Don't be a nuisance by moping around."

Wait—so he is worried? I didn't expect that reaction from him.

"Young master..."

Marianne, equally surprised, looked at Adrian and trailed off. After a moment of being moved, she smiled warmly.

"Thank you both... for worrying about me."

"Hah, worrying? Don't be ridiculous."

Adrian scoffed and turned away. I waved at Marianne in his place.

"Go on. I'll tell Daddy."

"Oh, are you stopping by the study?"

"Yeah! I need to show off the flower crown I made! And also..."

I stood on tiptoe and whispered in the nanny's ear. Her face lit up with a bright smile at my words.

"Oh my, my lady. How did you ever think of that?"

Marianne patted my head as if impressed. What did I say? Well...

---

"Get out of my kitchen—now!"

A booming voice echoed through the hallway. A moment later, a man in an apron burst out through the flung-open door.

"Did I tell you to shave your head like mine? You come back from vacation and show up with that mop—my kitchen is for humans only. Hairy beasts are out!"

"Eek! I'll shave it right away!"

The man frantically covered his hairy forearms and fled. I clicked my tongue lightly and marched into the kitchen. The head chef, with his smoothly shaven head, chin, and forearms, looked down at me with his arms crossed.

"Hah, didn't you hear what I said? My kitchen is for humans only."

"..."

"So why is a fairy walking in here?"

He looked fierce, but he was basically a softie who liked me. I'd apologized for teasing him about being bald, and he'd just laughed it off, patting his head and asking, "But I am bald, so what?"

"Don't tell me you smelled the cookies I just baked. Hmph, do you think I'd just give them to you because you showed up?"

At that, one of the cooks winked at me and quickly piled the cookies from the pan onto a plate. Naturally, the chef's voice rose.

"They're hot, you idiot! Do you want to burn the young lady? Let them cool first!"

"Yes, sir!"

Ah, so kind. I smiled at his fierce face.

"Hey, could you make me a small cake later?"

"Cake, you say?"

The chef raised his thick brows. It was a fearsome expression, but I knew he wouldn't refuse me!

"Yeah, Rian didn't get any cake at the picnic. So..."

"Hmph! Cake, my foot!"

...Huh?

I'd expected him to nod readily, but he scoffed and turned his head away. What, why? I know you like cute little things! Unless he instinctively sensed that Adrian, though six on the outside, wasn't really a child inside...?

"The young lady doesn't even like my cakes anyway!"

The chef bellowed. What? What's he talking about?

"What do you mean! I love everything you make! I finished all the sandwiches today without leaving a single bite."

At those words, the corners of his smooth, beardless mouth twitched. Just as the corners of his mouth, which had been forcibly drooping, seemed to curl up slightly,

“Then why! Why do you keep eating stranger’s cake!”

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