The Softest And Cutest Of The Dukes - Chapter 63

CHAPTER 63

After cleaning up and coming out, Elio, who was waiting, scolded Father. 

“Duke, no matter how precious the young lady is and you don’t want to let her go, you’re washing her when she has a wound. Are you in your right mind?”

Even though Elio was at the top in the field of medicine, he didn’t care about the household’s authority. He only looked at my injuries with a sympathetic expression and took various things out of his bag.

“It’s right to wash when there are injuries.”

“That’s correct, but just pouring Cielean water should be enough… By staying in the water for so long, harmful bacteria can grow in the wounds, and if it gets severely infected, it might lead to amputation…”

Elio’s words, which were too advanced, left my father and my brother in contemplation. Then, they quickly sat me down on the sofa, got the medicine from the family doctor, and personally cleaned and applied ointment to my wounds.

“Rafi, does it hurt?”

“Umm, it doesn’t hurt.”

“Our little sister always says she’s not in pain and is okay, but in my eyes, she looked hurt.”

He looked at me, the one who had been practicing martial arts every day and was accustomed to being pricked and cut, and didn’t know what to do when he saw that I had only a minor scrape.

I didn’t even bother with a bandage, as I was told that it would heal quickly without inflammation if I kept the medicine applied and the area exposed. Instead, Father carried me to the dining room to ensure my foot didn’t touch the ground.

When Father settled me into my chair, my brother subtly pulled a chair over and joined us.

“What does Rafi like?”

“Umm, I like everything.”

“Our Rafi doesn’t picky eat and eats a variety of things. Oh, you’re such a good girl.”

My brother patted my cheek affectionately, praising me for not being a picky eater. Seeing this, Father gently removed my brother’s hand.

“I don’t even touch Ciel when he’s eating. Rafi, ah, here. Let Father feed you.”

He fed me small pieces of fruit, the type of which I couldn’t even recognize, and I was completely enchanted by the taste of fruit, having never tasted it before, having been lost in the underground of an unknown mountain.

“Try drinking this.”

As I shivered all over in response, Father’s face lit up with satisfaction. 

“Rafi, try this. They say eating meat helps you grow taller.”

This time, my brother, who had finely cut his portion of meat, speared it with a fork and put it into my mouth. As I chewed the meat coated in sauce, a big smile spread across my brother’s face.

“Is it delicious?”

“Umm, it’s tasty. It’s even better because my brother gave it to me.”

“That’s right, it tastes better because your brother gave it to you, right? Then let’s try some more.”

The dining table, which had always been just the two of us, now had my brother joining us, and my stomach had doubled in size. Food was constantly placed in front of me, and I didn’t have a chance to use my utensils. It seemed like if I just ate Father’s food, my brother looked disappointed, and if I just ate my brother’s food, Father appeared dejected.

Unable to resist, I ate everything in front of me, and my previously flat belly became pleasantly round.

“I’m too full to eat more.”

“Still, try a bit more. You’ve lost some weight after suffering for a few days.”

“Yeah, try a little more.”

Father and my brother kept urging me to eat, but I shook my head vigorously. Eating more felt like my stomach might burst. Seeing my stubbornness, Father gave up, but my brother persistently poked something in front of me.

I took a bite of the enticingly sweet and tangy fruit, and a burst of luscious juice filled my mouth.

“I like this.”

“That’s great. I knew you’d like it. It’s the fruit Mother liked the most. It seems like our little sister takes after Mother not only in looks but also in taste.”

Now, searching for a presence that no longer existed in this world, my brother smiled faintly. He had only been ten years old when he lost his Mother, so he was still quite young. Although he would turn fourteen soon, he was still a young being longing for his mother’s embrace.

I reached out both hands towards my brother, and he lifted me and placed me on his lap, holding me tightly.

“It seems like our Rafi likes her big brother.”

“Umm, I like my brother. I like Father too. I like everyone.”

Having declared that I liked everyone fairly, I nibbled on an orange. As I bit into it, the juicy tangy sweetness burst into my mouth. When the abundant juice dribbled down my lips, my brother carefully wiped it away with a napkin.

“I like our Rafi too.”

“Umm, I’m glad. I was worried that you didn’t like me at first.”

“That was because your brother was being silly. I’m sorry. Our little sister, from now on, I’ll only like and love you.”

I grinned at my brother’s apology. Perhaps it was because we had gone through a difficult experience together, but it seemed like affection had grown between us. I breathed a sigh of relief internally, knowing that I didn’t have to make an effort to please my brother.

Meow, meow.

Ciel, who had just gone off to feed himself, walked into the dining room. With a fierce determination, Ciel ran towards the table and landed gracefully. 

“Hehe, Ciel, come here.”

As I reached out my hand, Ciel nestled into my arms, wearing a pitiful expression. 

“Rafi, do you have to raise this cat? And indoors, no less?”

“Hmm?”

“For some reason, this little guy acts just like someone hiding his true identity. It’s as if he’s something else pretending to be a cat…”

“It’s a dragon, not a cat, silly.”

I unintentionally said it with great emphasis, hugging Ciel tightly, which surprised my older brother. Even though I had said it unequivocally before, I found myself nodding vigorously as I repeated the same statement.

“Eugene, whether it’s a dragon or whatever, don’t mention that chubby little lizard to anyone outside, especially Rafi.”

“Huh? Why are you saying that?”

My older brother, who didn’t understand why, tilted his head and asked.

“That dragon came here under the orders of the temple and the royal family, trying to forcibly take Rafi away.”

“What? Are you referring to the Duke Draco? Goodness, daring to come here of all places… So, did you strip off its scales?”

“I wanted to strip it off, but how could I do that in the presence of our Rafi?”

“That’s a shame. It would have been nice to make a new bag for Rafi from the dragon’s hide. But don’t worry too much. I’ll handle the baby dragon properly.”

Listening to this, it seems that Duke Draco’s son at the academy is my brother’s Classmate, about to graduate. My brother explained that to ensure his graduation, Duke Draco is pouring a tremendous amount of donations into the academy. 

Probably, when the vacation is over and he returns, my brother won’t stay quiet. It seemed like he might capture the dragon and make it a prisoner before the baby dragon becomes an adult dragon.

“I didn’t have a chance to ask properly before due to the circumstances, but… did you say something when you fell suddenly into the ground?”

“After we suddenly fell to the ground, a big snake was about to attack, but when Ciel stepped forward, it ran away scared. So, I suspected that he might be a dragon… Well, in any case, I had my doubts.”

Father, who had heard my brother’s words, stared at Ciel. In response, Ciel quickly buried his face in my chest and averted his gaze from Father.

“It’s because of Ciel that we’re alive.”

“Yeah, that’s an undeniable fact. I won’t chase him away in the future, but I still oppose him being dragged into the bed.”

Father continued to insist that we should separate where animals and humans sleep, and Ciel’s ears seemed to droop at his words.

“Unless Ciel is a female. This guy is male. Daring to share a bed with my daughter…”

The conversation took a different turn. When Ciel was energetically attacked by Father and seemed to lose his spirit, I patted his backside.

“Well, Ciel can guide us.”

“If he doesn’t want to die, he has to save you, right? If our Rafi is wrong, I’ll skin him…”

“Your Grace, the young lady is listening. By the way, she’s someone who can read ancient languages, so she probably knows the words you mentioned.” 

Oscar, who was standing behind, interjected cautiously. Father cleared his throat and didn’t discuss the matter any further.

“My stomach was growling in the mountains, and Jenny gave me some glutinous rice cake, so we ate it.”

“Ah! Your maid had put some glutinous rice cakes in your bag. Thank goodness. Otherwise, you two would have starved.”

Father, who had mentioned the sticky rice cakes, called for Jenny after finishing the meal and sipping his tea. Jenny, who was waiting on the side, approached carefully and lowered her head.

“How old are you this year? How long have you been working here?”

“I’m twenty-two this year, and I’ve been working here for five years.”

“Hmm, your experience isn’t that extensive yet. Elena! Train her well as your successor.”

Upon hearing Father’s words, Jenny’s head shot up. She quickly lowered her head again under Oscar’s gaze.

“Don’t worry. I’ll educate her properly.”

Becoming a servant in the Duke Panteur’s household was difficult in itself. Nobles had to vouch for their identity so the employment opportunities were very limited.

But breaking through that tiny employment door was only the beginning of an incredible turn of events for Jenny. With a path to potentially become the head of the household’s servants now open before her, she was so moved that she couldn’t say a word and her shoulders trembled.

“Um, with all my sincerity…”

“Take good care of our Rafi, even as the head servant. You mustn’t be negligent in that duty.”

“Yes, yes! I understand. I’ll take care of Miss Rafi no matter what, even if my bones break and my body shatters.”

Although she spoke hesitantly, her voice conveyed a subtle trembling and emotion. Jenny, who had stepped back again, still couldn’t lift her head.

As expected, Father, who was clear about rewards and punishments, extended his hand to me as if he had finished his task. I tried to move into Father’s chest, which was full of warmth, but my brother didn’t let go.

“I’d like to build some camaraderie with my little sister whom I haven’t seen in a long time. So for a while, I want to keep her by my side and take care of her.”

“What?”

“Isn’t that why you sent Rafi to meet me? Well then, Rafi! What should we do today… Are you sleepy?”

As I was being held in my brother’s arms, my head started to move arbitrarily. 

“Uh, sleepy.”

“So from now on, don’t come to the training grounds to fetch water. Got it? How about we take a nap together?”

“Yeah, I like being with my brother.”

As I snuggled up to my brother and said this, Father’s expression strangely changed. 

“Rafi, are you abandoning Father?”

“Do you sleep with Father at night?” 

“No, of course not. Uh, never mind.”

After that day, my brother was always by my side. Even during meals, he didn’t pay attention to Father and took care of me first. He even came to my side and comforted me when I slept.

It was the same when I briefly went out to the garden. My brother was always there by my side like a guardian knight.

“Oh, our young miss! I’m relieved to see that your chubby cheeks are the same. Oh! Young master, have a wonderful day.”

As soon as the employees who had rushed to me one by one upon seeing me noticed my brother belatedly, they quickly greeted him in surprise and then stepped back.

Seeing their reaction, my brother chuckled. 

“They used to greet me first in the past… now it seems Rafi is the one they see first.”

I, who had sensed the atmosphere from my brother’s words, hesitated and just patted Ciel’s head.

“Is this what they call extracting a pumpkin rice cake stuck in a rock that rolled in from nowhere?”

I wanted to say that was not the case, but when our eyes met, I didn’t say anything and just grinned. It was because his golden eyes seemed like they were dripping honey. It was like the gaze of someone genuinely in love.