The Softest And Cutest Of The Dukes - Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

The atmosphere, which had been brightened by the words Rafi spoke just before falling asleep, suddenly became quiet. Sofia, the Duchess of Tigris, who was holding Rafi in her arms, gently patted her back without saying a word.

“How much sorrow and pain she must have felt without a mother.”

To a child, a mother and father were absolute. Even though an orphaned child may appear lively on the outside, their heart would unknowingly utter words expressing their weakness.

“I never knew she would miss her mother so much by smiling brightly.”

“Children, even when they grow old, always long for their parents. And parents, even when their children grow old, are always anxious, just like the goods they put out on display.”

The bond between parents and children was inseparable. Regardless of what happened in the past, it was inevitable for one to long for their parents.

“Is there only son-in-law in Duke Panteur’s family?”

“Yes, but we cannot ask Duke Panteur to provide a stepmother for Eugene and Rafi, can we?”

Upon hearing the words of Duke Tigris, Duchess Tigris let out a sigh. As she held Rafi, who was fidgeting, she thought about how she couldn’t even suggest remarriage to provide a stepmother for the child.

“Although that may be true, well… “

“My Sofia, please don’t worry. I may not have been able to protect my daughter, but I will protect my granddaughter no matter what.”

“Yes, please protect my Rafi. It will be a wound for her to grow up without a mother… And please don’t say anything to the son-in-law from now on. What if the son-in-law starts hating Rafi?”

Even if a daughter got married and cut off ties with her family, she would still want to visit her family. 

However, she was not able to go there because Duke Tigris refused to go. 

That’s why she had never called Duke Panteur “son-in-law.” Maybe because of that, she felt uneasy. She was afraid that the son-in-law would hate the motherless child.

“Don’t worry about that. I brought Rafi with me through Duke Panteur… ahem, I mean, I talked to the son-in-law and brought her here. The son-in-law doesn’t want to send Rafi anywhere.”

“That’s a relief. But, I know it’s not appropriate to say this, but what if we raise her in our house?”

“Well, the son-in-law might start a war. It was a struggle to get permission to bring her here for just one week. But once we’ve let her go once, the second time will be easier. So, don’t be too disappointed.”

Listening to the conversation between the Duke and Duchess of Tigris, Helena smiled mischievously. 

Until now, she had never seen her grandmother speak at length like this. At most, her answers were brief, but as soon as she saw Rafi, she seemed to have poured out all the words she had held back.

“Grandmother, please take your medicine and rest. Rafi will be here for a while, so don’t worry.”

Upon hearing Helena’s words, who had brought medicine from the waiting doctor outside, Duchess Tigris nodded. The Duchess, who had finally taken the medicine with Helena’s help, looked at the peacefully sleeping child.

“Sleep well, sleep well, go to dreamland… Don’t get hurt.”

It was sleep-talking, but just hearing it made her heart warm. She gently stroked the head of the child.

“Hehe, I like it when you stroke my head, it feels warm.”

“Yes, this grandma will quickly get better and stroke your head every day. This time, I will protect our child.”

Sofia, kissing Rafi’s silver hair, wore a truly comforting smile and lay down on the bed, closing her eyes. 

Since her child’s death, she had never shown such a relaxed expression. Seeing the smile on the face of the Duchess of Tigris, Helena also had a relieved expression.

“Why is she so beautiful? She seems even cuter than Miss Seraphina.”

“Well, who knows? I hope Rafi stays here for a while longer.”

Those who were present couldn’t help but hope that Rafi would stay here, even though it was just one child. 

The arrival of just one child seemed to lighten the sadness in the room.

“Grandfather, grandmother! Aunt’s child has come… Oh, wait? Has Aunt been reborn?”

In Daniel’s golden eyes, the familiar image reflected. 

As the grandson of the Duke and the next heir to the Tigris Dukedom, Daniel had seen pictures of Rafi in reports, but seeing her in person was a whole new experience.

“She’s Seraphina’s daughter. I assumed as much.”

“Grandfather, no matter how I look at her, she looks exactly like how Aunt looked when she was young. It’s truly uncanny.”

Having recalled his young aunt who used to plead to be held, Daniel’s eyes sparkled when he saw Rafi. He couldn’t put into words the emotions he felt.

“Daniel, Sofia, and Rafi need to rest now, so let’s go outside and talk. Quickly.”

Even with Duke Tigris’ words, Helena, who continued to gaze at Rafi, pulled Daniel away without understanding the situation. 

As the three of them emerged from the room, Aiden and Jaden, who had been waiting, respectfully bowed their heads.

With their awkward presence, Duke Tigris pointed his finger at one of them.

Once they settled in a corner of the garden, Duke Tigris spoke in a low voice.

“The child inside is my daughter’s daughter.”

“But, great-grandfather!”

“Don’t be so formal. Just call me grandfather. If you call me great-grandfather, I’ll look even older.”

Aiden’s expression turned awkward at Duke Tigris’ words. While he may be in his seventies and it might be appropriate to call him great-grandfather, Duke Tigris, who still felt like an eighteen-year-old inside, wanted to be called grandfather.

“Ahem, grandfather, haven’t both grandfather and grandmother already passed away?”

The eldest, Aiden, spoke with a puzzled expression. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t know that Seraphina had died in this world.

“I have told you before that the child inside is my daughter’s daughter. I assume you know that. She is a gift from my daughter.”

“But…”

“Aiden, Jaden! She’s my daughter’s daughter, your great-aunt. From now on, treat her with respect and address her as an aunt.”

Although Aiden and Jaden didn’t like it, they had no choice but to bow their heads. The weight of Duke Tigris’ gaze shifted to Daniel and Helena.

“According to Hendel, our Rafi has the wind attribute.”

“Grandfather, even if Count Cellis said so, isn’t it difficult to learn magic?”

“The child wanted to become a magician, despite Duke Panteur disapproving. In any case, know that, and treat your aunt with respect.”

After organizing the preparations from the beginning, Duke Tigris turned around and walked away, leaving only the three young men behind.

“Father, are you acknowledging a child who is barely three years old as Aunt’s child?”

“Yes, it’s grandfather’s order. She is just a carbon copy of our young aunt. To me, she’s a younger sister, but to you, she’s your aunt. Just do your best.”

As Daniel left after nodding his head in agreement, the two brothers were left alone.

“Are we supposed to accept a three-year-old child as our aunt? It’s absurd!”

“If it doesn’t make sense to you, then take it up with grandfather. Ask him why he had so much energy to have a late-born aunt. Or you could pretend you don’t know.”

Aiden decided to use studying magic as an excuse to stay in his room for the time being. As Jaden nodded in agreement with his brother’s words, a bolt of lightning struck the dry sky. It was raining without any sign.

After the lightning struck, everything fell silent. 

Startled, everyone calmed their surprised hearts and went back to their rooms. And from the dinner onwards, they were summoned for mobilization.

* * *

They were the Tigris noble family, who usually took care of their meals. 

However, this time, upon hearing their grandfather’s words that they wouldn’t be given separate food if they didn’t come for mealtime, they gathered together for the first time in their lives.

“Hello, my name is Daniel. I’m your cousin, the older brother.”

“Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Rafi.”

I woke up soundly in my grandmother’s embrace and regained my senses. 

Then, upon the introduction of my cousin Daniel, I smiled brightly. But Daniel’s condition suddenly became strange. He tightly clenched his hands and picked me up, pinching my cheeks.

“Oh, my goodness. You stick so well. Ah, I love it. You’re so squishy, like a rice cake.”

Unable to touch my cheeks, he now pressed his cheeks against mine and even made kissing sounds. 

While my father called it sticky rice cake and my brother-in-law called it rice cake with sweet bean filling it seemed to turn into soybean powder-coated rice cake in this house. It feels like all kinds of rice cakes are going to appear at this rate.

“Hey, darling, the squishy soybean powder-coated rice cake cheeks are mine. No more.”

Helena took me away from Daniel’s embrace and gently patted my cheeks. Since my cheeks weren’t made of iron, various people’s hands left their marks on my cheeks.

“But who are those two guys?”

I asked, looking at the two men who were still stiff, and Daniel burst into a smirk.

“They’re my sons. Aiden, Jaden! Say hello to your aunt quickly.”

At Daniel’s call, the two boys hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly opened their mouths as they looked at me.

“My name is Aiden.”

“I’m Jayden.”

It was the kind of look you get when you have an aunt who is suddenly a lot younger. 

I looked at my two nephews and smiled meaningfully.

“Let’s have a meal now. Rafi, you eat with Grandma.”

“Yes.”

Sitting on the bed with Grandma, I ate soup and smiled happily. Then Grandma took a bite of soup and spoon-fed me. 

It seemed like my face served as a substitute side dish for Grandma. After finishing the meal, dessert was served. When I looked at the squishy soybean powder-coated rice cake, I turned my head away.

“Aiden, I heard you’re meeting a girl. Is it going well? You should get married soon. I got married and had you when I was sixteen, you know.”

In this country, most people got married and had babies in their mid-to-late teens, so it was not uncommon for Daniel seemed to be asking his oldest son, who was not yet married.

“I’ll take care of it myself, so don’t worry.”

“You said you would take care of it yourself, but there’s still no progress. So I’m telling you this.”

Daniel was frustrated, lamenting over his child’s marriage issue like an ordinary household.

“Darling, it’s because he hasn’t met the right person yet. So just leave it be. The marriage age in this country is too fast, they say it’s like escaping. In the neighboring country, you have to be over twenty to be of marriageable age.”

Helena seemed unconcerned compared to Daniel. Although the couple had different temperaments, they seemed to match each other well.

As the atmosphere became tense due to the marriage issue, Grandfather looked at me. At this moment, I wondered what I should do.

Even though I was quick-witted, it was a problem.

“Honey, can you sing a song for us?”

“Oh! Our granddaughter can sing. I want to hear it.”

I stood up from my seat, placed my hands on my waist, slightly bent my knees, and started singing, saying 

“Blue sky, blue sky, a dream…”

When I sang about a blue sky, Grandma, and Grandpa clapped their hands and followed the rhythm. Even Daniel and Helena burst into laughter, saying, “Well done.”

As soon as one song ended, Grandma patted my back and praised me for doing well. As a usual reaction in a regular household, I smiled bitterly after making a joke and receiving a pinch.

“Baby, don’t you have any other songs? I want to hear more.”

“Uhm, just one more.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

That day, I became the superstar of the house. Even the household staff, the magician, and the knights gathered to watch through the windows. I kept singing one song after another, and I couldn’t even remember how many songs I sang.

With a hoarse voice, I smiled and looked at my two nephews, who were staring at me while sucking on their water bottles. 

I had tried to liven up the atmosphere with the performance, but seeing no reaction from the two, I felt a little disappointed.

“Nephews. Aren’t I more mature than Aiden and Jayden?”

“Oh! That’s right. Our Rafi is more grown-up than Aiden and Jayden.”

As I said that, Grandfather nodded and spoke, causing Aiden and Jayden to be startled and almost fall off their chairs. Seeing their reaction, I chuckled and said,

“But nephews, why aren’t you singing for me?”

“Oops!”

Aiden and Jayden both pretended to cough and sputter.

“Gotcha! Since Rafi is more grown-up now, my nephews should sing, right?”

“Haha! That’s right. Our Rafi is correct. Hahaha!”

At that moment, Daniel burst into laughter, holding his belly. Even Grandfather nodded and laughed along. 

As the atmosphere became lively, I sat next to Grandma, smiled, and looked at my two nephews, saying,

“Nephews, you sing. Please.”