The Softest And Cutest Of The Dukes - Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Unable to understand the words of Duke Tigris, I blinked my eyes. 

The sudden appearance of a grandfather? 

The atmosphere instantly cooled down, but my father’s expression seemed to heat up, with one side of his lips twitching.

“Father, this child is my daughter.”

“I know. That makes her my grandchild. The resemblance to our Seraphina is striking.”

Witnessing Duke Tigris responding to my father’s words, I finally realized the truth. He was the father of Duchess Panteur, who looks just like me. No wonder we looked similar.

I’ve heard that Duke Tigris has a grudge against Duke Panteur. That’s why I knew that when Duchess Panteur came here, she severed ties with her family. 

Could it be that he came here upon hearing the rumors about me?

Now that I knew the whole situation, I awkwardly smiled, standing between my father and Duke Tigris.

“Duke Tigris, this child is the Child of Destruction. Please cooperate under the Emperor’s command.”

Although Duke Draco spoke politely, Duke Tigris still looked at me and replied.

“If she were the Child of Destruction, her face would have been crushed beyond recognition. Isn’t that right, little one?”

As he spoke while looking at me, I briefly pondered how to respond. What is needed in such a situation?

Observation skills!

“Hello. I’m Rafi. I’m three years old. Nice to meet you.”

As I greeted politely while being embraced by my father, Duke Tigris smiled.

“Oh, hello. I’m Phellis Tigris. Nice to meet you, my little one.”

That’s right. When greeting, this is the appropriate response. Observing the impolite Duke Draco, who was looking around, I asked my father to put me down.

As soon as I landed on the ground, I took a deep breath and ran toward Duke Tigris with a bright smile.

When I ran towards him, Duke Tigris spread his arms wide.

“Grandpa!”

“Oh, hello, hello! My child.”

Indeed, observing and understanding the situation was an essential item. Duke Tigris, who embraced me, smiled brightly.

“Lady, may I hold your hand for a moment?”

As Duke Tigris held me, a nearby aide cautiously extended his hand to me.

“My child, don’t worry because I’m right here. There is something we need to measure.”

I tightly squeezed both of my hands and cautiously extended my hand as Duke Tigris assured me not to worry. Then, as I felt a strange sensation from the man who lightly held my small hand, I unconsciously pulled my hand back.

“Oh my, what a strange feeling.”

With that remark, my father walked towards us, frowning.

“What have you done to my child?”

“I was measuring her mana. I’ve been sensing something in our baby.”

Despite my father’s intimidating gaze, Duke Tigris paid no attention and asked the aide beside him. The aide cautiously replied.

“The mana pathway seems quite broad, and it gives a refreshing feeling. Lady Rafi likely possesses the wind magic.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, undoubtedly she is a true descendant of our Seraphina. Excelling in Wind magic, she will have no match.”

Upon hearing the aide’s words, Duke Tigris hugged me affectionately and kissed the top of my head.

“You heard what my aide said, didn’t you? This child undoubtedly inherited our family’s bloodline. Being a magician is superior to being a mere knight.”

This neighborhood doesn’t seem to have a good relationship between sons-in-law and fathers-in-law. Is this also an inheritance issue?

“Hehe, are you a magician?”

“Well then, let this grandfather teach you.”

“Heh, that sounds exciting.”

Even though I was already frustrated, wanting to replenish my mana, if a magician were to help, it would have been easily resolved. It would have been a relief if a burden had been lifted. 

Perhaps it was because my father was staring at me from behind that I felt a refreshing sensation as if one worry had disappeared.

“By the way, why aren’t you leaving? Do you have something to see our granddaughter for? If you have nothing to do, go home early, wash your feet, and go to sleep. Seeing you come empty-handed, it doesn’t seem like you’re guests.”

Duke Draco’s face turned sulky at Duke Tigris’ words, who appeared late and resolved everything.

“Duke Tigris, that child is in the prophecy of the….”

“Who believes in the High Priest’s prophecies these days? Prophecies can be manipulated at any time.”

Duke Tigris casually brushed off Priest Alex’s words and then touched his cheek.

“The High Priest’s prophecies have always been correct.”

“Well, let me make a prophecy here and now. You will return from here empty-handed today.”

Priest Alex’s face turned slightly red at Duke Tigris’ words.

“Are you implying that you will confront the temple now?”

“Yeah, that’s what it seems. So what?”

My brother-in-law could only sarcastically retort, but Duke Tigris had a lot of experience. He was just openly lashing out. 

Just by listening, Duke Tigris didn’t care whether the opponent was a duke or a priest.

“I will report this incident directly to the High Priest.”

“Yeah, do that. By the way, do you know that half of the magicians in the country are under our control? By the way, we raised the magicians of Duke Panteur, just so you know.”

“….”

“If necessary, we can collude and make things very uncomfortable. Shall we try it now? Walk slowly to the royal road. It seems like you’re going to end up looking like a beggar.”

To return to the royal road, the mana of the magician affiliated with Duke Panteur was naturally needed. However, if the magicians affiliated with Duke Tigris went on strike, they wouldn’t be able to use the Warp Gate immediately. 

In that case, those who came here empty-handed would have to beg and walk to the royal road.

As far as I heard, there were no temples in the eastern region. It had been a few years since they withdrew, so there was no place to receive aid. Until they left the eastern region, that is.

Duke Tigris, who prevented us from making a sound with his power, openly sneered at the priest, Alex, and Duke Draco.

“Are you threatening us?”

“Yeah, if you don’t trust me, I’ll contact the magician affiliated with our family in the palace directly and have them withdraw. What do you think? Do you want to go home like this, or do you want to walk home like a beggar?”

As Duke Tigris’ aide took out a communication device, Duke Draco immediately shook his head.

“We’ll leave now.”

“Not for today, but forever. I have a nasty temper, you know. If you ever try to mess with my little one again, we’ll see what happens!”

Duke Tigris looked at me so I poked his chest with my finger, and he soon relaxed his expression.

“Ah, who do you resemble to be so pretty?”

“Uhh. Grandfather.”

“That’s right. My granddaughter is smart, after all. By the way, haven’t you left yet? Even though you’re older than the three-year-old granddaughter, don’t pretend to know anything when you meet me anywhere. I’m embarrassed.”

As Duke Tigris, who was holding me, moved his steps elsewhere, Father hurriedly looked at the unwanted guests and said, 

“Have a safe trip. Don’t go too far.”

Father, with a wry smile, quickly walked towards us. Upon seeing him, my brother-in-law and sister smiled brightly.

“Duke Draco, Priest Alex! Please take care of yourselves. You can’t go far. Oh! Father, let’s go together. Sister, let’s play together.”

Whether the group led by Duke Draco and Priest Alex went or stayed, we all entered the house. 

The gaze of Duke Tigris, who was embracing me, fell on Father. It seemed like a gaze telling him to shut up and give directions.

“Yes, I will guide you to the reception room.”

Though I hadn’t seen it for a few months, this was the first time I saw Father bowing his head and speaking in a humble posture. Indeed, the alliance between parents is like water and oil, an incompatible existence.

As Father took the lead, Duke Tigris, who was embracing me, followed behind. Then my sister and brother-in-law also followed. As the reception room filled with family, the employees served refreshments and the officials discreetly left. Then, while embracing me, Duke Tigris patted my back as we sat on the sofa.

“Oh, our little one, have you eaten a lot?”

“Yep. I ate, slept, and played.”

“Yes, because that’s what children should do. Well done.”

Duke Tigris, who praised me for everything I said, looked at Father attentively. Father, who received Duke Tigris’ gaze, spoke while sipping his tea.

“Were you also keeping an eye on our house, Father?”

“Why would I keep an eye on this house? There were rumors. It spread that a child with silver hair and gold eyes fell from the sky here.”

Since many people saw me falling from the sky, it couldn’t be kept a secret. Perhaps that’s why Father wasn’t particularly surprised by Duke Tigris’ words.

“Duke Draco is gone for now, but the Emperor and the High Priest may see another opportunity.”

“Yes, but there’s something I want to say first. That child is not Seraphina’s reincarnation…”

“I know. I know, but when I see this child, I can’t help but think of my daughter. How did she end up falling for an old fool and getting carried away?”

“She’s only nine years younger!”

“You talk a big game for a five-year-old. If only my daughter hadn’t been entangled by you, she would have been by my side.”

Silence descended once again inside the reception room after that remark. 

I didn’t know how Duke Panteur’s wife died. Everyone seemed to close their mouths as if talking about Duke Panteur’s wife was taboo.

“You couldn’t protect my daughter, and I couldn’t either. That’s why I wanted to protect her this time.”

“But Rafi isn’t Seraphina’s reincarnation.”

“I know. I’m not a child and I don’t believe in reincarnation. But when I see this child, she reminds me of my daughter from her younger days.”

As the weighty conversation went on, I absentmindedly fidgeted with my fingers and took something out of my bag. It was the pumpkin Father had given me as a gift.

“Here, look at this. It has a crown and it’s pretty.”

“Oh! I see. But seriously, is this all you got as a gift? When you come to Grandpa’s house, you should receive something better and prettier.”

At his words that something better and prettier than a pumpkin would be given as a gift, I unintentionally drooled. Seeing that, my brother-in-law quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped my mouth.

“No, it’s not allowed. We shouldn’t let the children indulge in material desires.”

“So that’s why they call you a miser. I heard that you gave Eugene one gold as pocket money for a year. Tsk!”

At Duke Tigris’ sarcastic remark, I looked at Father in surprise. 

Goodness, I hadn’t seen it, but he seemed like the world’s greatest miser. Giving only one gold as pocket money to a son, not for a day or a week, but for a whole year. Is this really a nobleman’s house?

“That’s my educational method.”

“Oh! I see now. I finally understand. That’s why Erica was immediately attached to me when she saw me dressed up.”

My brother-in-law, who made a facial expression as if he understood something significant, nodded at Father.

“Thank you, Father. You’ve made it so much easier for me to woo Erica. If I had just adorned myself lavishly like an empty-headed person, it would have been enough.”

“You shut up and be still. If you don’t want to die right here.”

“You shut up. If you don’t want to become a skewer in this place.”