The Softest And Cutest Of The Dukes - Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

I merely said I liked oranges. But with that single remark, I ended up becoming the daughter of Duke Panteur, excluding the opinion of Eugene, the son of this household. 

Whenever people around me saw me, they lowered their heads without any hesitation.

Even when I was a princess, I was not treated well by the emperor, and even the servants completely ignored me. 

The same thing that couldn’t be seen back then was happening now. Whenever I came out of the room, it seemed like a miracle from Moses. The servants all split apart as if by magic.

I smiled brightly, erasing any awkwardness, as I couldn’t individually greet them due to their number. “Have you seen sister and her husband?”

I asked Jenny while holding her hand and walking. Erica and Jerome, who stayed here for about two days and suddenly left, saying they had urgent matters, were nowhere to be found. They had promised to come back, but there was no news from them.

“Well, they might come back soon. Opportunities to touch this sticky rice cake-like cheek don’t come often.”

Erica, who held me in her arms after Jerome played with my cheek the day before, touched my cheek with her own. The only time she didn’t touch me was when she stamped the documents that Duke Panteur presented.

It felt like signing a declaration of surrender. I still couldn’t believe it when I thought about it.

It seemed like everyone in this household was obsessed with the former lady. It bothered me that they treat me properly because I simply resembled her. 

Even Erica wouldn’t let me out of her arms.

‘Next time, sister will bring a lot of presents for Rafi.’

‘I don’t need anything. Just having you is enough.’

As always, reading the atmosphere was essential, and flattery was a choice. Upon hearing those words, Erica touched her cheek against mine.

‘Ah, why do you say such beautiful words? If someone sees you, they might think there’s an adult inside a child’s body.’

I smiled innocently for a moment. 

It wasn’t that an adult was inside a child’s body, but rather, I was originally an adult who became younger. However, I couldn’t explain that in detail. If I did, whether I succeeded or not, I felt like I would be driven away.

It was just a smile, but Erica didn’t easily let me go. As she kept touching my cheek, I could feel the warmth on my face.

‘As expected, our Rafi’s cheeks are the best.’

‘That’s right. My sweet and lovely sister-in-law is the best. While we’re at it, I want to touch her cheek too…’

‘No! I will be the one to touch it! I’ll give you my impression after I touch it.’

Jerome, who held out his hand, changed his expression at Erica’s words. It was like the disappointed expression of a puppy that had missed an interesting toy.

‘That’s not fair. I also want to touch my sweet sister-in-law’s cheek… It’s different from Colin.’

‘That’s enough. Give Rafi to me and go away. How long are you going to spend time touching Rafi’s cheeks here?’

Duke Panteur, who was annoyed, took me out of Erica’s arms. Then, with an irritated expression, he gestured as if telling them to leave quickly.

‘It’s said that children can’t remember people if they don’t see them for a long time… I’ll come often enough for you not to forget, right?’

‘That’s enough. Just leave already. Don’t you have anything to do in the house? Tsk, tsk, tsk.’

‘I have very capable aides. They can handle the household affairs on my behalf, so don’t worry.’

Jerome said and Duke Panteur looked at the aides standing behind him. Some of them twitched and coughed, looking at distant mountains.

‘You, do something quickly. Activate the warp gate.’

Duke Panteur pressured the nearby magician, no longer giving him any more time. The magician responded with an awkward smile and manipulated Mana.

As the light circled the warp gate, I waved my hand to Erica and Jerome.

‘Goodbye! Take care!’

‘My little Rafi, eat well and grow big. Your sister will come to see you soon.’

‘Sister-in-law, don’t cry or worry if I’m not around! If you miss me, contact me anytime. No matter how busy I am, I’ll always respond to our sweet sister-in-law’s messages.’

Erika pushed Jerome, who was talking along the way, and kissed my cheek while patting my head.

‘This time, I will protect you no matter what happens, so don’t worry… If Father scolds you, let me know. I’ll come running to take you home.’

Although it might have been just words, I felt a sense of relief, and I laughed heartily, thinking about that moment.

“What are you thinking, my dear? If I say your expression looks a bit ominous, should you not say it?” 

Thinking that I was smiling too obviously, I looked at Jenny and smiled broadly.

With a mischievous expression as if playing hide-and-seek, I pouted and stuck out my bottom while wiggling.

Then, Jenny suddenly found someone who wasn’t visible to my eyes.

“Oh, God. I wonder if the one in front of me right now is the lady I’m serving. It seems the baby deity has arrived.”

Jenny and those around her held their hearts and leaned against the wall. My smile, pure in its own right, radiated light once again today.

“What’s wrong? I want to see them.”

“Oh! I’m sorry. Let’s quickly go and see the flowers.”

Jenny, who let go of my hand and held it again, smiled cheerfully as if she had found something wonderful.

“My dear, hello. You are so cute and lovely today too.”

“Oh, my goodness, I can’t see properly because the light is shining so bright.”

As soon as I officially entered this household, they suddenly changed their attitude. Instead of just dividing like the miracle of Moses, they now spoke a word or two when passing by.

It was like the position of an employee trying to please their employer.

“Hello, I’m going to see the flowers with Jenny.”

“Yes, the late lady loves flowers too, so she used to spend time in the garden whenever she had a chance…”

“Look at this. What are you saying in front of the young lady? Anyway, it’s useless. Miss, just don’t listen and go quickly. Beautiful flowers must have bloomed. The flowers that Duchess Panteur likes… Hmph!”

The person whose foot was stepped on forced a smile, suppressing the pain.

“Miss, let’s go quickly. We might not be able to leave here if we stay any longer.”

Jenny reached out and hugged me, and we quickly moved toward the garden. 

With dirt all over my body and wet clothes, Jenny just clapped her hands behind me, saying I did well. For a while, I rolled and rolled, feeling proud. 

I turned around and glanced. Jenny, who was sitting in the shade, was dozing off. Seeing her like that, I smiled with a sense of satisfaction and spread my arms wide, focusing my mind.

“Eh, not enough.”

Mana hadn’t fully gathered yet. Fortunately, the mana pathway had opened a bit. 

I felt a refreshing energy pass through my body. While pretending to play in the garden with both arms wide open, Oscar rushed over and spoke.

“People from the palace and the shrine are coming now.”

* * *

In a space so quiet that even the sound of breathing could be heard, a ripple of disturbance occurred.

“High Priest, I have something urgent to report.”

The prayer space of the high priest was quite luxurious, filled with elaborate paintings and decorations. Just by looking at it, one could be blinded by its grandeur. The high priest’s prayer room seemed to directly convey the wealth of the temple.

“What is the matter?”

“A child of destruction has appeared in the East.”

The high priest, who was in the midst of a prayer, opened his eyes at the voice coming from behind.

“What does that mean.”

“It is exactly as it sounds. A child fell from the sky in the East not long ago.”

Upon hearing the words of the priest, the high priest cautiously rose from his seat. He left a message to send someone and entered his chambers. While the high priest was resting on the sofa, a young priest with reddish-brown hair entered.

“High Priest Alex, there are rumors that a child of destruction has appeared.”

“That can’t possibly be true.”

Indeed, it should not have been true. Their prophecies were fabricated by the imperial court to incite public opinion and collect donations.

“It seems that Duke Panteur has obtained the child’s allegiance.”

“Hmm, in that case, why don’t we bring the child here? If we request the child from the high priest’s prophecy, they will have no choice but to comply.”

In the past, everyone had to follow the high priest’s words. But the situation was different now.

“The East has already turned against us three years ago. They won’t comply unless necessary.”

Since the death of Duke Panteur’s wife three years ago, they had never followed the temple. They even turned the public opinion in the East against them, forcing the temple to withdraw entirely.

“Can’t we ask for help from another noble?”

“That would be difficult. The South has Duke Panteur’s son-in-law, and Duke Aquila has enough regrets due to the death of his predecessor. And the North is likely to refuse as well.”

If three out of the five nobles were indecisive, there was no point in trying to persuade the others.

“Then why not discuss it with His Majesty the Emperor? Surely he knows the truth.”

If the child of destruction appeared in the East and stirred up public opinion, the residents there might turn their hearts toward the temple.

“Indeed, I should meet with His Majesty.”

Hurriedly boarding a carriage, the high priest went straight to the palace and requested a meeting with the Emperor.

“Why have you come here?”

Upon seeing the young Emperor sitting arrogantly, the high priest took a seat across from him and relayed what he had heard earlier. The Emperor responded with a smirk.

“There is no child of destruction.”

Since the high priest’s prophecy was a fabrication, the Emperor had adopted a child born with divine power as a substitute, to hide the fact that it was fake. It was a way to personally demonstrate their belief in the high priest’s prophecy.

“But if we say that the child is not the child of destruction, others will realize that the prophecy is false.”

“Do we have to demand the child’s surrender, then?”

“Yes, we must bring the child here, publicly declare as the child of destruction, and execute.”

“But that may not be accepted even if I give the order. Duke Panteur has many regrets about us. He won’t comply even if I command it.”

The Emperor still remembered the cold gaze and the razor-sharp sword of Duke Panteur from three years ago.

“Your Majesty, if we remain silent, we may both be in danger.”

If they capture the child and kill it afterward, they would have a lucrative business for a long time.

“In that case, contact Duke Panteur in advance…”

“No, we must contact them on the day we go. Otherwise, they will be prepared.”

Upon hearing the high priest’s words, the Emperor fell into silence, lost in thought. This was an opportunity to bring down Duke Panteur, using the excuse of the child falling in the East.

“The departure date is the day after tomorrow! Prepare immediately.”

As the Emperor’s command was issued, the high priest chose Alex as the priest to be sent to the East. And the Emperor ordered Duke Draco, the core of the Imperial Dragons, to go to the East.

“…Your Majesty, I will complete the mission and return.”

“Ah, Duke Draco! If only others could trust you as much as I do. I hope you return safely.”

Duke Draco, who hesitated for a moment, bowed his head, but his expression remained stiff.

After the Emperor commanded to bring only one child of destruction, the high priest smiled calmly as the imperial court magician arrived.

“We have made contact with the magician of Duke Panteur’s estate.”

“Oh, really? What did they say?”

“If we want to expose the stingray, they will never refuse. So, we should come.”