LeBlin left the room with the maid, as Henry's eyes narrowed.
*What is with this girl...*
Henry was a genius who had learned to write when he was only three years old, and his younger brother, though somewhat stupid by his standards, still possessed more brains than most.
His surroundings were full of cunning adults.
Living in such a world, Henry could not understand a naive child.
Furthermore, he believed there was no way a child connected to the church and the imperial family could know nothing.
*I must be careful.*
Henry carefully folded the parchment, placed it in the book, and turned to Isaac.
“You. Since you're so stupid, you're staying in this room, right?”
Isaac responded by punching the wall with his fist.
Henry looked at him as if he had just seen an earthworm scattered on the side of the road.
Startled, Isaac hardened his expression.
“No, there is something I want to do!”
That afternoon, Isaac approached LeBlin.
“....”
The girl, who was playing with buttons alone, raised her head.
Isaac approached her carefully, looking very embarrassed.
LeBlin muttered, showing him her buttons.
“One, two... he stumbled... ten.”
“You...”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was... because of you—”
When LeBlin blinked her eyes, Isaac touched his waist.
*What is he doing?*
*Is he trying to draw his sword?*
As Isaac took something out from his waist, LeBlin was about to scream.
Hurriedly, she cried out, “I'm scared! I'm very scared!”
“......”
“I'll eat my bread alone in front of you!”
LeBlin quickly added, “It hurts!” and withdrew with a frightened face.
Henry watched them and muttered.
“Are you serious? Are you two actually stupid?”
“...!”
*Children are toxic, too.*
I couldn't believe she was eating bread alone!
When she acted completely childish, she would fight Isaac and try to steal his bread.
*But if I actually snatched it, what would happen?*
*I would be expelled immediately.*
*I won't do that to him. I won't even look at him.*
“Yes, this girl is good,” Isaac smiled victoriously.
When he tried to stand, she grabbed him by the collar.
“Why? Why...?” he asked, confused.
“Bread...”
“This?”
When I nodded, Isaac cut the bread in half.
I quickly took the piece and bit into it.
*Oh, sugar. Of course.*
*This stimulating taste.*
Isaac stared at me as I hurriedly ate, then looked at the bread he was holding.
He looked pathetic.
So, I cut a piece of my bread and gave it to him.
“... No, it's okay. I have more at home.”
Before we knew it, we were squatting against the wall, eating bread together.
The servants passing through the corridor laughed at us, and Henry, who was walking by with a book, gave Isaac a strange look.
Leah found me when I was almost finished.
“Oh my goodness, the Little Miss!”
I had been caught.
Today, Leah told me not to eat first, as she wanted to give me strawberries for a snack.
Leah's main worry these days was that I would get tooth decay because I ate too many sweets.
Seeing Leah's expression, I quickly made up an excuse.
“Isaac gave it to me!”
Isaac, seeing me in a panic, blurted out, “I... I gave it to her!”
“I see...” Leah smiled helplessly and wiped the crumbs from my mouth.
“Since you've had a good snack, let's keep today's meal light.”
“Yes.”
“Now, Little Miss. I'll take you. It's time for your siesta.”
“Certainly.”
Leah hugged me and turned around.
I waved to Isaac.
Leah patted my head as she walked toward my room.
“I heard that you are very lovely. The people in the dining room before...”
“......”
“Little Miss, you are so lovely that everyone will fall in love with you.”
*I know they will love me!*
*No, Leah. Henry and Isaac don't like me.*
I let out a deep sigh.
Having barely flattered the Duke of Dubeld, Henry and Isaac had suddenly appeared.
I have to live here for years before I can escape.
I had better maintain a nice image.
To do that, I will have to pursue them with finesse.
I need to see them more often so they get attached to me.
With that determination, I clenched my fists.
***
I got up early in the morning and went down to the dining room to have breakfast with the Duke.
Recently, the Duke and I often ate together, but breakfast was usually an exception.
His breakfast was too early for me; as a child, I had to sleep all day like a koala to stay energized.
The reason I woke up so early today was because the servants told me that Henry and Isaac were back!
In other words, both children would be at breakfast today.
Henry and Isaac were always very busy.
If I didn't meet them at this time, I would have no choice but to chase them.
But that would backfire because they would get upset.
*So, after that, I'll naturally ask them to hang out with me.*
I peeked through the dining room door.
The Duke sat in the middle of the long table.
To his right sat Henry Wyzek.
“Is that the Little Miss?”
It was Nos who saw me first.
Then, all attention focused on me.
The Duke looked at me too.
*This is extremely difficult. How do I enter?*
While I struggled, Nos said with a smile.
“You must be here because you miss the Duke!”
It wasn't like that, but I had nothing to say, so I just blinked.
When I looked at the Duke, he seemed to be in high spirits for some reason.
“Come here.”
I walked to him slowly. He pulled me onto his lap as I approached.
After several meals in his lap, this had become quite familiar.
“The rumors... were correct.”
The first time I met the servants, I learned that Dubus was always a person full of laughter.
“The child is so well-behaved in the Duke's hug. She still eats while being held by him.”
“......”
“The child is very quiet and very nice...”
“It is a satisfying change. Alice was amazing, but this little one... does she like sweet peppers and carrots?”
Isaac winced at the mention of carrots.
But the servants did not notice and continued.
Those speaking were all close aides to the Duke who had been involved in many incidents, including the “Marco Accident” and the “Fraudster Accident.”
They raised their chins and spoke confidently.
“She also has a good memory and is very good at greetings!”
Their eyes were on me again.
The servants' eyes were practically screaming, *Look at her!*
They seemed to be bragging.
I opened my mouth, although I looked unwilling.
“... Hello.”
Dubus and the servants laughed proudly.
I tried hard to ignore the situation in which they were bragging, though the secondhand embarrassment surprised me.
Today, Henry and Isaac looked at the servants as if they were crazy.
To me, Dubus was just a nice old gentleman. But he was the man in charge of the intelligence department in Dubeld.
I had once confirmed with my own eyes that three people sent by Valois had been captured by Viscount Dubus and returned as corpses.
Their tongues and several fingers were gone; it was extremely inhumane. Even for those who barely survived, the name “Dubos” was enough to incite fear.
Therefore, this service was proof of my long-term survival in this place.
I started thinking about other things.
Suddenly, the dining room door opened again as the boring political discussion drifted on and off.
“I apologize for being so late.”
It was an old man with white hair who entered.
*Theramore.*
He was the same person Nos had found hideous that day.