* * *

“Hm, hmmmng?”

I sang a little tune and moved my hands.

Colors filled the sketchbook.

Anna chuckled and added,

“Our young lady, you draw well. Is this a pineapple?”

“No.”

I replied bluntly.

Where do you see a pineapple in this? Why would a pineapple have eyes, a nose, and a mouth?

“Anna.”

“Yes?”

“This isn’t me.”

I pointed to the drawing of a pineapple… no, Anna.

“Oh my! You drew me!”

Anna exclaimed kindly, but I could tell there was some hesitation.

Honestly, even in my opinion, the drawing resembled a pineapple more than Anna.

“Are you holding hands with me?”

“Yes.”

“There’s a heart here too.”

“Yeah….”

Feeling a little embarrassed, I fidgeted my hand for no reason.

Anna remained silent for a while.

Well, even in my opinion, it wasn’t a well-drawn picture. Jagged lines and colors going beyond the boundaries.

It was the limit of my potato-like hands.

“Sigh….”

I sighed inwardly.

If I’m not really the Duke’s daughter, I’ll need the help of the servants.

‘But isn’t this backfiring on my plan to win them over to my side?’

I’m also curious about the Duke and ?magic?.

I hugged Anna tightly and patted her head.

“It’s beautiful, so beautiful.”

“Goodness, are you calling me beautiful?”

“I love you, Anna!”

“Miss…”

Wait, is she going to cry?

I felt flustered.

“I’ll cherish it forever. I’ll pass it on to future generations.”

Huh? No, passing it on is a bit…

The thought of a picture, whether it’s a person or a pineapple, being inherited through generations made me want to disappear.

Anyway, even though I didn’t understand, it seemed to be well-received.

I used the same method on the other maids.

But… their reactions were far from normal.

“I’ll take it to the grave. I don’t need a husband anymore. I’ll be buried with the picture of the young lady.”

‘…..Huh? So, were you originally planning to be buried with your husband?’

Nancy, the protector of husbands’ graves, had such a reaction.

“I’ll cover the room with pictures of the young lady. I’ll fall asleep looking at it every night and wake up to it every morning.”

‘Um… isn’t that what a stalker would do?’

The reaction of Laura, who has a stalking propensity, was as follows.

“To give me a heart… Do you need mine? If you want, I can take it out for you!”

“I don’t need it!”

“Then… someone else’s heart?”

Tilda’s reaction… I’ll skip that part.

Sob sob sob, it’s scary.

Everyone seemed perfectly rational and sensible when I first saw them.

How did it come to this?

Anyway, when they were alone together, they exchanged their ultimate drawings and exclaimed, “Beautiful, beautiful,” and it was time for a walk.

Today, we decided to go to the greenhouse, so I was extremely excited.

A greenhouse in a mansion! It’s so cool.

Now I really feel like I’m in a fantasy-romance novel world.

I ran overjoyed, full of excitement.

“Miss! Be careful, you might fall.”

“Ack!”

Thunk.

Just like a seed, I fell down immediately. Clumsy me, sob.

“Miss!”

“Are you okay?”

I heard the startled cry of the sisters.

My nose hurt so much, as if it was bleeding. I’m sure my nose turned red even without looking.

I whined, “Hee-hee,” and lifted my head.

But what caught my eye wasn’t the faces of the kind maids.

Sleek and elegant legs, extending like a highway.

‘No way.’

With a sense of unease, I raised my head even higher.

I saw the chilly and aloof face of the Duke of Phaeraton. When our eyes met, he raised one eyebrow.

“What are you doing?”

Well, what did I do.

“I fell.”

Despite my murmuring thoughts, I answered meekly and well-behaved.

“Why did you fall?”

The prince looked at me with a gaze that clearly didn’t understand.

I was dumbfounded and opened my mouth wide.

Why did I fall? Because I fell! Isn’t it obvious!

“Children often fall easily, Your Excellency.”

“You’ve become weak.”

Are those the words you say to a fallen child!

I was angry, but I reached my hands out to the Duke.

“Please pick me up, Daddy.”

I was worried that he would ignore me and go away, but the Duke lifted me up. Although he narrowed his eyes.

I swayed in the air, receiving the Duke’s gaze.

From head to toe, I could feel his emotionless, bright red eyes stopping at one place.

“…Knee.”

“Yes?”

I followed his gaze and saw my knees were bruised. Fortunately, it wasn’t too serious, but it was clear that they were hurting.

“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

Ignoring my words, the Duke continued walking, with me leaning against his side.

When we arrived at the study, the Duke sat me down on his lap and examined my knees.

‘I might have pierced my knees!’

After staring at them for a while, he tilted his head in puzzlement. His low and cool voice echoed in my ears.

“Why has the color darkened?”

“For the lady, it will take a few days for the ointment to work and for her to get better.”

The Duke furrowed his brow.

“I knew you were weak, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad.”

His words mixed with a sigh made my heart tremble.

Could it be…?

‘Is this also part of the reason why I was abandoned as Uncle said?’

Because I’m too weak.

‘If I were his daughter or the female lead, I should have ?magic?… Could I really be a child born out of wedlock?’

I tightly clenched my fists.

In the meantime, Nancy brought the ointment.

The Duke personally applied the ointment. His touch felt incredibly awkward.

I glanced at Anna, worried if I was being too much of a bother, but she just smiled contentedly, oblivious to my speed.

After applying the ointment, I tried to get off the Duke’s knees.

I didn’t want to be a bothersome child anymore.

But the Duke stood up and hugged me instead.

Since then, he never let me go.

During meals, when approving documents, and even during meetings with guests.

I was nestled in the Duke’s arms like a baby kangaroo.

‘Did he really forget to put me down?!’

I tapped the Duke’s chest with my small fists, but he just patted my bottom without letting go.

As a result, I became a sleepy baby and dozed off.

When the guests entered the meeting room and saw me in that state, their expressions seemed even more puzzled than before.

Just as the meeting was about to start in that state, Anna cautiously spoke up.

“Your Excellency, I’m sorry, but shouldn’t you let the young lady down now?”

The Duke’s gaze turned to Anna. It was a sharp look that caught me off guard.

Although Anna flinched, she kept her head low and said everything she wanted to say.

“Somebody has arrived at the dressing room.”

It seemed like the tailor that the Duke had called for had arrived.

I saw this as my chance to escape, so I wiggled and got off the Duke’s knees.

The Duke glared at me. His expression showed great displeasure.

‘No, why?’

You called the tailor yourself!

And now you’re saying it’s a waste of money!

With a resentful face, I looked at the Duke, and he reached out to me.

‘Ah! Can he read my thoughts? I made a mistake!’

Feeling startled, I crouched down, but contrary to my expectations, he picked me up again.

“A-Are you going by yourself?”

Nancy unknowingly asked the Duke and abruptly closed her mouth, lost in contemplation.

The Duke left the office as is.

‘Wait, weren’t he just about to have a meeting?’

The vassals, who had been quietly observing the situation, also stood up and followed behind.

‘Why are the gentlemen here again?’

It felt like something serious had become an interesting spectacle.

* * *

Eutra Felia.

She was an extraordinary figure who started with no foundation, designed the imperial clothes, and even received a honorary title, all through her relentless efforts.

A trendsetter who extended beyond the confines of the system.

Contrary to her fame, she was visibly tense at the moment.

The guest today was that significant.

‘Finally, I have the honor of meeting the mysterious princess.’

“I finally get to meet the owner of these dresses.”

As if having the same thought as Eutra, the senior tailor whispered beside her.

“I didn’t expect to meet her. For the past few years, around this time, they always ordered dresses, but we never met her once.”

Every year at the Phaeraton duchy, regardless of the price, the order was always to create the best dress.

When Eutra received that order for the first time, she felt overwhelmed and made a dress worth a castle.

But at the Phaeraton duchy, there was no delay as they promptly paid the full amount.

Children grow up fast. A castle-priced dress for clothes to be discarded in a season.

Even an imperial princess wouldn’t commission such a dress.

‘At that time, I was certain. It was an opportunity to ignite my artistic soul.’

Because of the money, she could showcase the numerous things she couldn’t do before.

The only regret was that she never saw the owner of the dresses, not even once.

All Eutra knew were the measurements.

“Who could it be? The Phaeraton duchy never releases a single portrait of the princess, so I’m curious.”

“I suppose she doesn’t resemble the Duke or the young masters?”

Pitch-black hair that didn’t reflect any light.

Translucent, wine-red eyes.

Fierce and intense with a wild fierceness surpassing that of a wild beast.

It was a characteristic of the Phaeraton duchy’s lineage.

“Even though she’s still young, she must have an incredible charisma.”

Upon hearing the employees’ gossip, Eutra sighed inwardly.

As she imagined the image of the youngest, charismatic princess, her expectations waned.

‘I designed while imagining a soft and tender person.’

Because she hadn’t seen the princess in person, she had the freedom to enjoy it.

She was a professional.

Regardless of the princess’s appearance, whether it aligns with the Duke or not, she would undoubtedly create suitable clothes.

‘It’s not like she’s from another family, but we shouldn’t expect a soft and tender sweetheart from the Phaeraton’s princess.’

Until now, not a single model had captured her heart.

As an artist, Eutra had a firm taste.

‘Let’s not be too disappointed by the Princess, even if she’s the Duke’s mini-me.’

At that moment, the door opened.

Eutra refined her expression and bowed her head. She maintained her professional demeanor without showing any signs of surprise.

However, as soon as she saw the person entering the room, Eutra’s pupils shook vigorously.

* * *

The ten or so auxiliary staff members who came with Eutra also looked at the person who entered with perplexed expressions on their faces.

‘Du, Duke Phaeraton? Why is His Excllency here…’

He was not here to place an order for his young daughter’s clothes.

‘H-His Grace, the Duke is actually carrying a child?!’

‘Am I seeing things?’

It was an unbelievable sight that they were witnessing with their own eyes.

But Eutra was focused on something other than the Duke of Phaeraton.

‘I can’t believe this…’

Thump.

The tape measure she held in her hand fell to the ground.

“…Fluffy.”

A low sigh-like word escaped her lips.

Eutra tried to calm herself while exhaling through her nose.

‘What’s with this adorable fluffy little ball!’

Even the fearsome and intimidating Duke Phaeraton did not catch her attention.

At the moment she saw the adorable fluffy ball with a tempting shade of pink curls nestled in his arms, a sharp shock pierced her soul.

Simultaneously, an infinite inspiration began to surge within her.

The lovable sweetheart with rosy cheeks had surpassed what she had imagined, no, what she had hoped for.

“She’s perfect!”

Unknowingly, she clapped her hands and shouted.

But her joy did not last long.

In the chilling silence, Eutra finally realized the present situation.

Feeling the freezing gaze of the Duke Phaeraton, as if it could freeze her to death, she forcibly moved her lips.

“The, the youngest miss is so lovely that I couldn’t help myself…”

She thought it would be the end of her life’s journey, but the Duke simply raised the child in his arms and said nothing.

“Take the measurements.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Eutra and the assistants approached the Duke. But they couldn’t do more than that.

The gaze of the Duke Phaeraton became fiercely hostile.

Eutra broke into a cold sweat and spoke up.

“Y-Your… Your Grace, to take the measurements, you should first put the young lady down…”

Snap.

The hostile atmosphere burst forth with a fierce light.

“N-No, it’s alright. We will handle it ourselves.”

Eutra, lost in thought, gestured to the assistants, pointing her head.

How could they properly take measurements when they were in a situation where the child was firmly held in his arms? But they were professionals. They had to succeed.

While measuring the length of the Pheraton Princess’s arms, Eutra glanced briefly at the Duke’s face.

He didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.

At least the Duke of Phaeraton was much better than when she was taking his measurements.

‘Hmm?’

Her intuition, which had faced the nobles who came and went in the system, kicked in.

After swallowing her saliva, Eutra opened her mouth.

“It’s surprising to see the princess calmly letting me take her measurements. It seems that the Lady has a fondness for the Duke. You are such an adorable set.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt eyes on her from all directions. The looks seemed to say, ‘Why are you acting so pretentious if you want to die?’

Eutra remained still, waiting for the Duke’s response.

“She insisted on sticking by my side. Annoying.”

As expected.

Eutra’s smile grew even wider.

“That means the Duke must really cherish the Lady if you’re willing to hold her like this.”

“It’s just because she keeps stumbling around like a newborn deer.”

Eutra’s smile deepened.

Never would she have expected this side of Duke Phaeraton.

The attendants who had followed and observed him from behind gained the courage to speak up.

“Our youngest lady truly adores Your Excellency.”

“When she fell asleep on Your Excellency;s lap the other day, she looked so comfortable.”

“Oh my, is that so? It seems that nothing is better than being in a father’s embrace.”

The usually expressionless corners of the Duke Phaeraton’s mouth twitched slightly, ever so slightly.

The attendants’ eyes lit up like hyenas.

They had found a lifeline as refreshing as ice, one that could open up the Duke’s stifled emotions.

“Ever since I returned from the war, my little daughter was scared of me, calling me a scary man. Why did that happen?”

“My son couldn’t even recognize hia father. It truly makes us envious, Your Excellency.”

The Duke didn’t say anything. He even hardened his face, as if he didn’t like it.

But the attendants who had worked with him for a long time knew.

Duke Phaeraton’s mood was better than ever before.

* * *

‘No, what did these men collectively eat? Why are they acting like this?’

Every time I said that I liked the Duke or felt comfortable, his expression stiffened.

I trembled with fear as I saw his face becoming more and more stern.

I tried to release myself from the Duke’s embrace because I felt like I might suffocate, but he held me tightly without even blinking.

In the end, I only touched the firm chest of the Duke.

“Ah, look at her tightly holding onto her Daddy. Isn’t it cute, Your Excellency?”

“It’s annoying.”

No, I wasn’t hugging you, you know? I was trying to get down. Just let me go if it’s annoying!

“Our little lady, do you really like His Excellency that much?”

The attendant asked with a puzzled face, and after contemplating for a moment, I nodded my head.

“Yess.”

Well, since I can’t refuse.

And honestly, he’s a hundred or a thousand times better than Marquis Tarenka.

“Yeah, how good is it?”

I glanced at the Duke.

He said he found it bothersome for me to stick to him and annoying for me to hug him. He even said I looked annoying.

‘…I shouldn’t become a troublesome child.’

I raised my small, potato-like hand.

“Oh?”

Not only the guests but also the maids and the dressers looked at my hand with hopeful eyes.

Taking strength from their expectations, I spread my index finger and thumb.

Just a tiny bit.

Just enough for a bean to fit in.

“This much!”

Whiiiiing.

For some reason, a chilling silence descended, colder than the northern wind.