The Softest And Cutest Of The Dukes - Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

I didn’t become a teacher because I was fascinated by jewels, but because I can speak Ancient Languages properly.

I taught him briefly and Jaden found it easier and simpler when I taught him instead. Anyway, since that day, Jaden became my superfan.

“Aunt, I received praise from the teacher yesterday.”

“Well, good job.”

Seeing Jaden, who seemed to seek praise, I patted his head. Then Jaden smiled widely and leaned his head even closer. He looked like an eager child longing for compliments.

“Oh? It seems like Rafi has become friends with Jaden. Haha! Jaden, have fun with your aunt.”

“No, he’s just annoying me.”

I corrected Daniel’s words as he passed by. Then Daniel smiled and patted my head, saying I did well.

“Good job. Our little sister, who did you take after to be so smart?”

“Grandfather!”

“You can say that here, but try not to say it in front of Duke Panteur. He might get upset.”

“Okay.”

Daniel had some free time and sat next to me instead of going to work immediately. He stretched out my cheek and gently pinched it, then he ate the rice cakes that Maria had prepared.

“Our Rafi’s cheeks are softer than these rice cakes.”

“No! Don’t stick to me like that.”

“Sorry, sorry. But it’s so nice how it sticks to me.”

After a while of holding my cheek and poking it lightly, Daniel let go. Then Jaden carefully grabbed my cheek.

“Mwah! That’s right. This squishiness. Hey! I want to have a daughter who looks like Aunt.”

“Yeah, whatever!”

I pushed away Jaden’s hand and glared at Daniel. 

At that moment, Daniel finally realized that he hadn’t done the task his grandfather assigned him and hurriedly ran off. It wasn’t a secret that he waved to me and bumped into a tree on his way, though.

“Jaden, aren’t you busy?”

“Yeah, I’m free now.”

“If you’re not busy, go study. Don’t bother me.”

Since having dinner with Grandma, Jaden had been following me around, annoying me. Thanks to that, Maria kept watching me from a distance. 

Ignoring Jaden, who kept sticking to me, I got up from my seat and headed straight to the garden.

“Where are you going?”

“Garden!”

“Why there? Do you want to enjoy the flowers?”

“Not really.”

I had seen enough flowers at Duke Panteur’s place. So I had no desire to come all the way here to enjoy flowers.

“I’ll come with you. What if you get lost on the way?”

The possibility was zero. Even if I got lost, all I had to do was ask someone nearby. I’m popular here.

“Just go away for a bit, okay?”

I waved my hand, but Jaden didn’t detach like glue. I sighed and instead of getting rid of Jaden, I took a step forward. Then I picked flowers along the way and randomly stuck them in my hair and ears.

“Aunt, what are you doing?”

“Just doing something! It’s a secret technique.”

“Secret technique? Ah! Concealment technique? Why?”

“Quiet if you want to follow me!”

Jaden smiled and nodded as I put a finger on my lips to signal him to be quiet. Then he also picked a flower and adorned his head. 

We played out a comical scene, but I didn’t pay much attention and quietly made my way into the garden. As I walked, I could hear voices coming from somewhere.

When I stopped walking, Jaden chuckled and stood behind me. Then, our eyes met, and we both placed a finger on our lips. 

We realized it was not the right time to speak. Jaden, matching my eye level, eagerly waited.

Beyond a place adorned with flowers, there was a tunnel filled with roses. And sitting on a bench inside were a man and a woman. 

The man was my older nephew, Aiden, and the woman was an unfamiliar figure.

“Oh! I know that woman. She’s the daughter of Count Monaco, and she’s pretty.”

Jaden whispered as if being pretty was the qualifying point, and I nodded in response, observing their actions.

“Aiden, I have something to ask.”

“What do you want to ask?”

The woman with sparkling blond hair that glimmered in the light spoke with her fan covering her mouth.

“I’ve heard that a child has been wandering around here lately. Is that child, by any chance, Aiden’s child?”

“What? That’s ridiculous. That child is not my child.”

“Then who gave birth to… Perhaps it’s your father and mother’s?”

The woman’s blue eyes narrowed slightly. Then Aiden sighed heavily and spoke.

“She’s actually my grandmother’s daughter.”

“What? Your grandmother’s daughter? But she’s already deceased, isn’t she? It’s hard to believe that a child was born to someone who has passed away. Your deceased relative couldn’t have given birth.”

I couldn’t understand why I had to be involved in this conversation going back and forth with that woman’s words. But since it was likely that my wandering around Tigris Mansion had already become a rumor, I couldn’t hide it anymore. 

After all, Grandfather had told me to freely roam around here, but it wasn’t something I needed to hide in the first place.

“My grandfather and grandmother have confirmed it properly. She is currently living at Panteur Mansion. Why would Duke Panteur want to pass off a fake child as his daughter?”

As Aiden spoke rationally, I nodded.

“It doesn’t make sense. So, if I marry Aiden, that little one will become my aunt-in-law?”

“Most likely.”

“I dislike that idea. To have such a little one as my aunt-in-law, just the thought alone suffocates me, especially with the presence of heavenly grandparents.”

“There’s no need to take her as your aunt-in-law. After all, she is Duke Panteur’s kin.”

Considering that Aiden said that, were the two of them contemplating marriage? I raised an eyebrow, and Jaden chuckled.

“I don’t like that woman.”

“Why?”

“Because I know the son of Count Monaco. But I’ve always thought his sister was a bit extravagant and wants to marry someone with as few in-laws as possible.”

“Ah…”

Jaden, who was lying next to me, revealed a fact he knew. Hearing his words, I raised an eyebrow.

“Why is Aiden interested in that woman?”

“Well, she lacks a sense of determination, and she’s pretty, I guess? I don’t want a lady like her to become the future Tigris Mansion, but if my brother wants it, I can’t do anything about it.”

While listening to Jaden’s words, the woman suddenly stood up. Then she pointed in one direction.

“Please leave. I don’t want to talk to Aiden anymore for the time being.”

Seriously? She’s telling the landlord’s grandson and the future owner of this mansion to leave. Is it a tremendous sense of pride, or is she trying to assert her dominance from the beginning?

Aiden, who had been somewhat disrespectful towards me, hesitated but eventually followed the woman’s words and left. Such an idiot.

Half of what he says about me should be said to that woman. She’s the one who’s ruining a man’s reputation.

“Hehe, ruining a man’s reputation indeed. Ah! Aunt, I have the next lesson, so I’ll be going now. The exit is that way. Got it?”

Jaden crawled back and winked at me before he stealthily retreated. However, I stayed in place and observed the lady of Monaco Mansion.

No matter how much I pretend not to exist and behave badly, my nephew is still my nephew. Even if I scold and kick my nephew, it feels dirty when someone else does it.

“Ah, aunt-in-law? Do I have to take care of that brat? Anyway, since you love me, you’ll do as I say. Once we get married, this house and everything in it will be mine.”

Well, that’s just your thinking.

Shaking my head, I removed the flower from my hair and left that place. As I ran, I saw a woman I had never seen before. The woman with black hair and black eyes looked somewhere with innocent eyes.

“Hey, lady Rafi, what are you doing here?”

The look in her eyes as she saw Aiden reading a book by the window was melting away. Seeing that, I raised my finger to my lips as I looked at Maria, who was coming this way.

“Shh!”

Maria, seeing my finger, nodded and hugged me. In her arms, I quietly whispered to her.

“Maria! It’s me. I have something important to tell you.”

“What are you so curious about? Just tell me everything.” 

I cautiously spoke into Maria’s ear. Hearing her words, I nodded and smiled with relief.

* * *

My days were very busy. Playing with Jaden after breakfast, free time after lunch, and teasing everyone after dinner, even the cousins and nephews.

Although it was a packed schedule, after teasing them, I would escape with my grandfather.

“Why do you need that?”

“I need it, can’t you give it to me?”

“It doesn’t matter, but okay. Since it’s a favor for our granddaughter, I’ll do it for you. I’ll do anything for you.”

Receiving something from my grandfather, I smiled and lightly kissed his cheek. The curves formed on my grandfather’s lips.

“Oh, you’re so adorable. Why did you fall so late? If you were going to fall, you should have come to my house secretly and grown up there.”

Leaving my grandfather’s embrace, which he said was frustrating, I took a step forward. Then, as I walked, I ran into Jaden, who was going to study after dinner.

“Jay!”

“Oh, why is Aunt here at this time? Shouldn’t you be by Grandma’s side?”

“I’m a busy woman too.”

“Of course, you must be busy. Since you’re here, can you help me with my Ancient Greek studies? The teacher gave me an assignment, and I’m having trouble with it.”

On a whim, I entered Jaden’s room and helped him with his assignment.

“Aren’t you done?”

“No, it’s just a difficult task.”

“It’s not difficult.”

“That’s only because Aunt is smart. She inherited the intelligence from our family.”

Having nothing to say, I shook my head as I watched Jaden talk about bloodlines.

“By the way, where’s Aiden’s room?”

“It’s next to mine. Do you want to go?”

Since we’ve come this far, it wouldn’t hurt to inspect my nephew’s room, right? There might be some interesting books under the bed or a book with hidden contents disguised by a different cover on the bookshelf.

As I nodded, Jaden immediately hugged me and knocked on Aiden’s door.

“Who’s there?”

“It’s me. Opening the door.”

Confirming that Aiden was inside, Jaden opened the door without waiting for permission. It seemed like he had done this many times before.

“Why did you come… Oh. Why did you bring the brat with you? You used to pretend not to know her, but now you get along so well.”

Seeing Aiden sneer, Jaden smirked and shrugged his shoulders.

“You don’t know. Aunt is really smart.”

“What’s the brat so smart about? Anyway, why did you come here?”

Seeing Aiden furrowing his brows and sighing deeply, I smiled and said.

“Hey, Aiden, you’re not good at hiding your love life, are you?”

“Huh? How did you…?”

Aiden was taken aback by my words and took a step back.

“I’m your aunt, so I know everything.”

“Liar!”

“It’s true. If you continue with your secret love life, you’ll ruin yourself. You fool!“