The Softest And Cutest Of The Dukes - Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

A month had passed since my stay at Duke Panteur’s, and I had inexplicably gained weight. I wondered if this was the work of child predators. 

Add to that the fact that people kept trying to touch my cheeks and hands, and I would turn my head sharply away. 

“No, it hurts.”

“Eh, hehe, are you sick, my dear, I’m sorry, I’ll just touch you, please.”

Now the hired hands, who I had no idea where they belonged, were busy reaching out whenever they saw me. As a result, my cheeks were always as red as a ripe apple. When I realized that my cheeks were about to shrivel up like a sticky rice cake, I ran out of there. But I was soon caught by the others and brought back to the room.

“My dear, did I say you could go out while I cleaned?”

“Hee hee, it’s frustrate here.”

Jenny’s scolding expression softened as I cocked my head to one side in frustration.

“If you’re so frustrated, shall we go out into the garden?”

“Yes, I love that idea!”

Feeling like I was going to get moldy after being stuck in my room for a month, I immediately shoved my things into a crossbody bag made for kids, then took Jenny’s hand and legitimately left the room. 

“Look at the way she walks. Isn’t she so cute?” 

“More than that, look at her butt. It sways with every step she takes, and it makes me want to pat it just once.”

See, my butt is untouchable. 

As I walked by, they stepped aside and covered their mouths with their hands. I could hear everything they said in low voices, so I pretended not to notice and walked like a dainty young lady.

But that didn’t make my steps any more noble than those of an empress. Every time I walked, people would hold their chests and touch the wall as if they had a heart condition.

“My goodness, my Lady Seraphina, how do you do?”

I smiled at Elena, who happened to be coming from the opposite direction. 

“Hello!”

I put my hands on my stomach and bowed, and Elena smiled broadly. 

“Miss, where are you going?”

“To the gardens with Jenny.”

“I see, and with the nice weather we’ve been having lately, I don’t think you’ll mind going to the garden. Jenny, take care of Lady Seraphina.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Turning to Jenny, Elena gently pressed my cheek and rubbed it. I giggled as a warm glow spread through me.

“Elena, come with us.”

“Oh, the young lady is inviting me to the outing. I’m delighted, but I’m afraid I can’t come with you, I’m busy at the moment, maybe I’ll go later.”

“Ohm okay.”

I waved to Elena, and she gave me a slight bow. After parting ways with her, I walked with Jenny to the same place I had come with Duke Panteur the other day, though that time I was carried by him, and now I was a little tired of walking on my own.

As soon as I sat down in the shade of a tree, I sprawled out and looked around. There weren’t many flowers in bloom then, but today there were plenty. 

“So many.”

“Yes, there are so many flowers, do you want me to make you a flower crown?”

“Yes!”

I fiddled with my necklace as Jenny hummed and plucked flowers. The gemstone, which was supposed to have mystical powers, hadn’t felt anything since it had been discolored. 

What the hell is this? I should have asked my brother for details.

Since it was a gift from my brother, I felt a little regretful that I had accepted it without asking. I glanced at the necklace, which looked like a regular piece of jewelry but had some kind of mysterious power.

‘If it has power, can it transport me back to the Benedict Empire when I fill it up again?’

What should I do when I go there? I still haven’t concluded. If there is a way to go there, should I abandon this place and go? There’s no guarantee that my brother is there.

Jenny walked up to me and put a freshly made flower crown on my head.

“Oh my God, you look so pretty.”

“Do I look pretty?”

“Yes, you’re the prettiest girl in the world.”

As Jenny smiled selflessly, I looked at her hands. They were covered in red lines, as if she’d picked them raw, not realizing there were thorns on the stems. 

“Does it hurt?”

“What? No, it doesn’t hurt. It stung a little, but I’m fine now.”

She said she was fine, but it looked painful to me, so I took both of her hands in mine and blew on them.

“Ho, ho… Pain, pain, go away.”

“Oh my goodness, it doesn’t hurt at all because my little lady blew it, look at that.”

I smirked as I watched Jenny squeeze and unclench her hand to show that it didn’t hurt.

“If it hurts, I’ll do it again. It will get better.”

“Oh, my dear, you are a sweetheart.”

I jumped up and down for Jenny, who stroked my hair until it was shiny. Last time, there were a lot of golden butterflies, but this time there were a lot of non-golden butterflies. She opened her hands wide to catch the white butterfly, but she couldn’t.

“Oh my gosh, it’s gorgeous.”

Jenny clapped her hands in excitement, and I jumped even higher with enthusiasm. One of the men passing by approached cautiously and caught a butterfly for me.

“Wow! How cool!”

“Ahem, am I not cool myself?”

“Well, you’re cool. By the way, what is its name?”

“This butterfly is called a sky butterfly. If you look closely, you can see that its wings are sky blue.”

As I examined the butterfly held in the man’s palm, I indeed saw the sky blue color within the truly white wings.

“It’s also pretty. You’re smart. Big brother didn’t know that.”

“Ahem, I am quite smart. Hahaha.”

After thoroughly observing the sky butterfly, I asked the man to release it. Upon hearing my request, the butterfly slipped through the opening in his hand and flew away gracefully.

“Goodbye!”

I waved at the butterfly as it flew off into the distance. Then I dug into my bag and gave the man who had caught the butterfly a piece of candy. 

“Thank you for the butterfly.”

“You’re a good girl. I’m very grateful for your precious candy.”

I flinched as the man held out his hand. However, judging by Jenny’s lack of reaction, he didn’t seem like a dangerous person. Although Jenny’s complexion seemed a bit pale.

“Can I touch the young lady’s hair a little?”

“Yes.”

At the mention of touching, not hitting, I leaned my head slightly toward the man. A large hand gently stroked my hair. I couldn’t help but giggle at his touch. 

“Does it feel good to have your head stroked?”

“Yes, you can stroke my hair. It feels nice.”

The man who heard me smiled broadly. His black hair and dark eyes made him seem unusually familiar. 

“My name is Carlos.”

“Carlos?”

“You can just call me Carl.”

“Carl!”

“Well, my dear, that was very nice of you. Now, would you like to go somewhere with me? Jenny, I’ll take care of the young lady, so you have a rest.”

The man who identified himself as Carlos turned around, spoke to Jenny, and then picked me up in a hug. Before I knew it, my hands were clutching at his chest. 

Oh, my God, how pathetic. 

I tried to convince myself that this was just a struggle for survival. I pressed myself against Carlos’ chest, a chest that was no Duke Panteur’s, but more firm and bunched than Vance’s. 

“Where are we going?”

“We are on our way to where our lady’s brother is.”

“Ah, I see.”

I was relieved to hear that we were going to Duke Panteur. But the hired help took a strange look at Carlos and quickly avoided him. They ducked their heads or looked away to avoid eye contact. 

It was as if the mere sight of him would steal what they were thinking. 

“Then, what are you?”

“I could be called an information gatherer, I suppose.”

Information gatherer? 

With that out of the way, I pressed my face against his chest. I inadvertently created the appearance of a sneer, but Carlos didn’t say anything. But when we walked into the unfamiliar space, everyone looked at me in disbelief. 

“I don’t understand why you’re holding Rafi.”

Rub. Rub.

Carlos walked into the conference room with Duke Panteur and the others, rubbed my back against his chest, and smirked. 

“I happened to pass by the garden and she was playing, so I kidnapped her.”

Carlos had the nerve to say he’d kidnapped me.

“There’s no reason for you to come to the garden, did you do it on purpose to get close to Rafi?”

“Well, all that matters now is that she seems to like my chest a little.”

Duke Panteur’s eyebrows shot up before Carlos could finish his somehow provocative sentence. 

“Rafi, come here. Carlos is not an uncle, he’s a real grandfather.”

At Duke Panteur’s words, I blinked at Carlos. For some reason, the way he held me seemed so reassuring. 

“Carlos, grandfather?”

“I happen to have a grandchild who is older than my lady.”

“Hehe, I see.”

Since you can get married at sixteen, he could have a child at sixteen, and for that child to marry and have children at sixteen. Carlos, who looked to be in his forties at least, though I had no idea how old he was, looked at me and smiled broadly. 

“That’s enough, give me Rafi.”

Duke Panteur held out his hand, and Carlos hand me over. He took a seat in an empty chair close to the Duke, and it was clear that Carlos was not your typical information gatherer. 

Being so close to the seat of absolute power in the house meant that he had high status, but it was a surprise to find Vance sitting right next to Duke Panteur. 

“My dear future daughter-in-law, have you arrived?”

Duke Panteur’s eyes clouded over at Vance’s words, and he plopped me down on the table in his arms. I blinked as all eyes turned to me. 

I stood up from my seat and clutched the hem of my skirt with my tiny hands. With that, I bowed slightly and said.

“Hello. I’m Rafi. Nice to meet you.”