The Softest And Cutest Of The Dukes - Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

Oscar could only shake his head left and right in response to Duke Panteur’s unfair and angry reaction. He was satisfied with successfully securing the expensive communication device.

“If we keep this up, our future Duchess will be taken away by Duke Tigris. He’s been drooling over her since he first saw her.”

“Ah, right now! Prepare to go there. We should bring Rafi.”

“Yes, of course. But let’s resolve this issue first.”

Vance stood in front with a stack of documents piled up about his head height. Duke Panteur thought he would dismiss it, but he surprisingly sat down on the couch and reviewed the papers on the table.

After Oscar called the servants to clear away the shattered desk, he quickly replaced it with a new one. This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, so there were several spare desks prepared.

Duke Panteur, who handled the work at an insane speed, looked at Oscar and ordered him to bring the communication device again.

“Should we contact Duke Tigris?”

“No, contact Duke Aquila. Tell them it’s about Rafi, and ask for a prompt response.”

Just contacting them directly wouldn’t guarantee a response from Erica, so Duke Panteur mentioned it was about Rafi and soon received a reply.

[Father, what’s the matter? Did something happen to Rafi who went to Duke Tigris?]

The communication was successful. Duke Panteur said a few words while looking at his daughter.

“Something did happen.”

[What happened? Did she get hurt somewhere?]

“It’s not that. Rafi doesn’t want to come here.”

[…What? What are you saying? Why? How could Rafi, whom Father always treats and squeezes her soft cheeks, not want to come?]

Rafi was the apple of his eye. She stuck to Duke Panteur’s heart like a chewy rice cake. Erica’s eyes widened upon hearing that Rafi didn’t want to come homes.

Could it be that he abused the child when she wasn’t around? Erica’s eyes rolled back as she looked at her father, shaking her head.

“That’s ridiculous! Even though there’s a day to visit Duke Tigris when there are many family members there, she still doesn’t want to come.”

[Ah…]

It was then that Erica nodded her head, understanding the reason why Rafi didn’t want to come home.

“And they’re going on an outing…”

[What are you saying? Why did Rafi go with the people from Duke Tigris? I haven’t even been able to go with Rafi.]

The two were indeed in sync. Seeing their frustration over the same matter, Oscar, who was standing behind them, smirked, and Vance shook his head.

“I wanted to go alone and bring Rafi, but it seems she doesn’t want to come. So, that’s why…”

[I’ll go! I’ll go too. It’s a chance to visit Duke Tigris. I’ll take my husband and go home tomorrow. Please prepare for it.]

The father and daughter matched each other perfectly. That was because Erica, who had been enduring her desire to come to Duke Panteur’s place because Rafi wasn’t there, had been waiting for this opportunity. 

Even though a promised week had passed and Rafi hadn’t come, she immediately prepared when she discovered the truth.

There was no Warp Gate between Duke Aquila and Duke Tigris. So, if they wanted to go to Duke Tigris, they had no choice but to go through Duke Panteur.

[I’m also Rafi’s older sister. And she also has a brother-in-law. How dare they push us aside like this? Then let’s go with quality rather than quantity. Father!”

“Understood. So, bring that guy tomorrow. By the way, is Colin doing well?”

Erica lightly smiled as she saw Duke Panteur asking about their son’s well-being for the first time in his life. He hadn’t cared much even though she had given birth to him. 

Instead, until her mother passed away, she had come to Duke Aquila and took care of him meticulously.

[I’ll leave Colin behind. We’re in the middle of a war to bring Rafi back.]

Seeing Erica, who seemed like she might cause a bloody incident, Duke Panteur nodded his head and ended the communication. 

Communicating with his daughter for the first time through the communication device, Duke Panteur felt a strange emotion. 

His heart tingled slightly, and Duke Panteur gave a faint smile.

“All of this must be thanks to Rafi. If the roasted rice cake hadn’t fallen here, what would have happened?”

“What would have happened? We would have had a meaningless relationship. Indeed, my future daughter-in-law has a way of sticking us even with just her mere presence.”

“Enough with that future daughter-in-law talk. Say that after getting married or something. And I will never send our Rafi to your house, make sure you understand that.”

Duke Panteur, who firmly stated that he would never send Rafi to Count Christopher’s estate, quickly proceeded with his work. Then he immediately prepared to go to Duke Tigris’ estate.

Although he didn’t receive an acknowledgment, legally he couldn’t go empty-handed as a son-in-law. Even if he received just one thing after giving a lot, it would still be a profitable deal. So he gathered as much as he could.

He packed the items he would bring and the next day, Erica arrived with Jerome.

“They say it’s war with Duke Tigris. I will also lend my strength.”

“Hmm, this time we must bring her back. The longer it takes, the more dangerous it becomes!”

“Are you saying that? Of course. They must keep their promise to send back my adorable sister-in-law after the deadline has passed. I wanted to touch her soft and fluffy cheeks for so long.”

It was clear that Colin was also Rafi’s age. But every time he held his cheeks, there was no sticky sensation that would make them stick together.

Today, no matter what happened, Jerome was confident that he would get his hands on Rafi’s cheeks. Duke Panteur, who saw Jerome’s determination, furrowed his brow.

“Can’t you just let her go?”

“Father, it’s better than not having her here in the state. Since there are six people on the other side, shouldn’t we bring at least half?”

Although Erica’s words had a point, Duke Panteur was not pleased. However, along with Jerome, they boarded the warp gate. They had already made arrangements to go there in advance, so the warp gate opened easily.

In the blink of an eye, the surroundings changed. The hazy background became clear, and Duke Panteur, who had arrived at Duke Tigris’ estate for the first time, paid his respects.

“It’s been a while, Father.”

“It’s your first time here.”

It was indeed Duke Panteur’s first time visiting his in-laws. After marrying Seraphina, he established the warp gate. However, he had remained obscure, without any interaction with Duke Tigris’ estate. Duke Panteur, who used the warp gate he made for his wife for the first time due to Rafi, glanced around.

“I heard you were coming alone, but you brought them all.”

“Hello, Duke Tigris.”

“Hello, Duke Tigris.”

Duke Tigris nodded once in response to Jerome and Erica’s greetings. Regarding Rafi’s matter, the three Dukes were gathered in one place.

“Where is our Rafi? You didn’t secretly take her away when you heard I was coming, did you?”

“What do you think we are? The child is in the garden right now.”

“Let’s go there immediately.”

Duke Panteur’s impatience was evident even before unpacking. He wanted to take his young daughter and go back immediately. Therefore, instead of sightseeing in the new place, he quickly set the destination.

“But still, you must have missed your daughter so much that you came all the way here.”

“Of course, she is my daughter. No matter what she does or even if she goes against my will, she is still my daughter.”

After hearing Duke Panteur’s words, Duke Tigris fell silent.

“I won’t make any more regretful actions from now on. If I like someone, I’ll say I like them. If I love someone, I’ll say I love them. I’ve learned that hiding my feelings is a shameful act.”

“I see. Live a life without regrets.”

Jerome and Erica smiled faintly as they listened to the words of the two Dukes. Jerome, who had never shown affection to his father, found it noble. But it was only after his father passed away that he regretted not doing so.

Regretting too late, Jerome went to his father, who was sleeping among white chrysanthemums and was finally able to speak. Although he couldn’t hear a response, it seemed like there was a smile on his father’s face for the first time.

Erica, who had watched Jerome from behind, tightly held her husband’s hand. Upon seeing that, she realized that they must never do anything they would regret, but when she saw her father, she realized she couldn’t help but utter foul words.

She poured out words that shouldn’t have been said, but her father didn’t say a word and didn’t shed a tear as he looked at his deceased wife.

At first, she yelled out of anger, but when she returned, she regretted doing something that shouldn’t have been done. 

However, even when she had the chance to interact with her father again, she couldn’t apologize for what happened back then. Instead, she gently bit her lip.

Everyone has at least one scar, and because of that, they lived as if they were cutting ties. But now, because of the child who resembles the late Duchess, they were connected again. 

Erica, who longed to see the child with such stickiness that even covered the scars in her heart, took the lead ahead of Duke Panteur.

“Guide me to where my little sister is immediately. By the way, I am Rafi’s real sister!”

That’s right. Quality over quantity.

Emphasizing that she was not just a sister but a real sister, Erica looked at the employees of Duke Tigris’ estate.

“Father, what are you doing? Let’s go and get Rafi right away. How long are you going to dawdle?”

“Of course, my daughter. Father, we will go and bring my daughter.”

The two spoke as if they were in agreement and moved forward.

“Let’s bring my adorable sister-in-law right away. A household without a sister-in-law is like a bean-filled rice cake without the red bean paste.”

Seeing everyone, including Jerome, trying to quickly take Rafi, Duke Tigris chuckled.

“Indeed, my granddaughter is a perfect match wherever she goes.”

Before the three of them could sweep through the household with their employees in front, Duke Tigris took the lead and walked ahead.

“Our Rafi, did she eat and sleep well?”

“Of course. She ate well and slept well. You’ll be surprised when you see her.”

Throughout the walk to the garden, Duke Panteur bombarded Duke Tigris with questions, but Duke Tigris answered without getting annoyed. Even when he used to go on business trips a long time ago after giving birth to his youngest daughter, he always asked about her well-being first.

“What did Rafi play with? She likes toys with jewels.”

“She runs around in the garden, and sometimes studies with my great-grandchildren. By the way, did you know? Our Rafi can read ancient languages fluently.”

“What? Is that true? She’s really smart, even though she hasn’t learned to read yet, to know ancient languages.”

“Isn’t she? I don’t know whose granddaughter she is, but she’s very smart. Rather, my great-grandchildren are learning from their aunt. Haha!”

“Our roasted rice cake must resemble Seraphina a lot.”

“Haha, I agree. If Seraphina is just a rice cake, then Rafi is a soft and fluffy rice cake that runs around like a bouncing bean rice cake.”

When the fool for his daughter and the fool for his granddaughter merged, they strangely matched well. 

Erica and Jerome, who heard and watched them from a distance, nodded their heads. As they chatted briefly and walked, before anyone could say anything, they stopped their footsteps.

Under a large tree in the garden, Rafi, holding a black animal, was peacefully cuddled in Duke Tigris’ wife’s arms, soundly asleep. On either side, Aiden and Jaden were sitting, reading a book but seemed to have fallen asleep.

All four of them were asleep, and seeing this, the employees smiled proudly but quickly lowered their heads.

“Um… my grandchild, joking around in your sleep…”

Seeing Rafi, who was sleep-talking in her grandmother’s arms, they unintentionally let out a suppressed laugh. If Rafi was sleep-talking, it meant that the older grandchildren must have had some hardships.

Even while sleeping, Rafi spoke with a muffled smile, pursing and relaxing her lips.

“I don’t want to rest. Father, give me candy.”