Chapter 36

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 36

As soon as I got on the carriage, I reached out to the Duke of Icard with a proud expression.

“Father.”

“Yeah.”

“I have something for you.”

Saying so, I offered the gift I got from Marcel.

“…This is?”

Immediately, Duke Icard’s eyes were shaken greatly after seeing what I gave him.

“You said you wanted it earlier.”

“Laria, how did you…”

“I got it from priest Marcel.”

“How did you get it?”

“Marcel is a very powerful man, so it’s all right even if he doesn’t swear it”

“Is that… even possible?”

“Well, he gave it to me because it was possible, right? He said that he’s a talented priest you should recognize!”

“But, this is…”

“I want to repay Father.”

I said, placing the sacred ring directly on Duke Icard’s big hand.

“That’s, I was just… no, more than that, how did you get…”

Duke Icard backed down as if he didn’t want to show that he really wanted to have that relic. Though, of course, I knew how to press a person who stepped back.

“Hmm… don’t you want it?”

I added quickly, “Then, you give it back to me. I’ll return it to the priest Marcel.”

“No.”

As I expected, Duke Icard did not let go of my hand.

“Actually… I’ve been wanting this relic for quite a long time.”

“I’m glad to hear that. It’s a relief.”

“Still, I didn’t expect…”

In fact, this was the biggest problem. When he asked how I got it, I couldn’t think of a convincing answer.

“I was really persistent, and I think I looked so pitiful that he ended up yielding. Instead, he asked me to keep it secret from others.”

Hearing so, Duke Icard nodded surprisingly slowly as he thought about my reply, and decided to move on.

“Well… yeah, you do look pitiful. To do things for you if you ask too… Yes, it can happen.”

‘Hmm. Does that mean you think I’m pitiful?’

“…Yeah. If it were me, I would give you anything. So, I guess it’s possible. Did you cough or something?”

I answered without hesitation.

“Well, yeah, a bit…”

He finally sighed as though he was fully convinced now.

‘Did- did he fall for it?’

“Well, of course… Just as I expected.”

‘He did!’

“However, you didn’t have to…”

It was the first time that I had seen Duke Icard with such a surprised look.

‘As expected, a gift moves his heart more than a hundred flowery words.’

“You have given me physical care and even given me a blessing from the temple. I have received so much from Father. I’m sorry that you had to spend so much money because of me.”

“…I’ve adopted you, and that’s given. ”

“Still…”

I replied calmly with my hands on my knees.

“I want to repay you even a little bit. That’s just how I feel.”

Duke Icard sighed lightly, squeezing the sacred ring I gave him, and murmured while looking at me smiling.

“You’re soft-hearted. It must not have been easy to ask for this.”

“Well, still… It’s more important for me that father is happy.”

Wouldn’t a consistent mass of pretense be better than just a single pretense?

“Of course, even if the priest said it was okay, I felt so uncomfortable. Since I was coveting other people’s things… but I did it for father.”

With that thought, I added something heartwarming.

“You’re so nice.”

He smirked at my words.

“I can’t believe you put up with the inconvenience… You’re a member of the Icard’s family. If you devote yourself, you won’t feel uncomfortable in the future.”

Um… I wasn’t sure if the expression ‘devote’ was the right term here.

“Of course, and if you feel uncomfortable, you can return it to the temple. Whatever you want, father.”

“No way.”

Duke Icard took the gift and patted my head.

“I don’t know how long it has been since I’ve received such a pure and sincere gift.”

‘I’m sorry… I mean, it’s a gift that doesn’t have pure intentions…’

“…Thanks, Laria.”

‘Then, even if it costs you a lot of money, please save me for a while longer…’

Anyway, why the hell would he want to get a sacred relic? It didn’t really work for ordinary people. Nevertheless, I know instinctively that I shouldn’t ask him about the details because it is probably part of his big plan that I didn’t know.

As soon as we got back to the Duchy and got off the carriage, we ran into Evan, who was standing where the carriage stopped.

Duke Icard asked, frowning.

“Don’t tell me that you have been waiting for us here all this time?”

“No, I was just passing by on my way to the training field.”

“That’s in the opposite direction.”

“I was just taking a stroll.”

“Hurry through, then. Laria and I need to have some tea time.”

…What?

Father? Tea time…?

Obviously, I had no idea it was my next schedule.

“Ummm…”

Evan remained expressionless, but he did not move from his spot. Instead, he spoke bluntly.

“I’m actually not in the best condition for training. I think a good cup of tea would be perfect for a good night’s sleep.”

He had an overly lively face, and he didn’t even blink when he spoke.

“The sunlight has been so intense in the room lately that I can’t sleep.”

“You’re making a fuss about nothing. Don’t be so sensitive, just sleep.”

Duke Icard replied bluntly. It looked like he was not interested in such a trivial matter.

“Well.”

He, who ignored Evan’s words and was about to move away, immediately stopped at my words.

“It’s a little sunny this morning. I woke up a little early today as well.”

“Really?”

Turning towards me, Duke Icard questioned again seriously. “Should I have them reposition the bed?”

“Yes?”

“Or, I’ll talk to the butler immediately for a blackout curtain.”

“But, I thought you don’t care about little things…”

“No, doesn’t the blackout curtain hurt the atmosphere of the room? Why don’t we just move your room in a different direction?” He continued without listening to my words.

“F-father?”

“Yeah, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to designate a room in the east, west, north, and south, and move every season.”

“Hhm…”

“I will host a meeting tomorrow morning to make the best decision.”

‘No… What’s with this difference in reactions?’

6 — Godmother Tigress

After the visit to the temple, my treatment was completely formalized.

Everything began to go smoothly.

First of all, Borotna’s villa was extensively constructed. Although I had to stay at the Duchy until the villa was completed.

Around that time, two important letters arrived at the Duchy. The first letter came from the Academy to Evan. There was a request for him to participate in the upcoming youth swordsmanship competition.

“Hmm…? Why are they specifically asking for you?”

“Because I won first place in the last tournament.”

Evan spoke calmly.

“Normally, the winner of the last competition will be the judge, and hand over the trophy at the awards ceremony.”

“Oh, I see. Though you’re thirteen, and you’ll be a judge?”

“Usually, the winners are around seventeen.”

“Then, you’ll be judging people older than you. Sounds fun.”

However, he replied immediately to my words.

“Oh, that’s not gonna happen. I’m not going.”

“Why wouldn’t you?”

When I asked him with my eyes wide open, he replied casually. “Even if you don’t watch the preliminary round, it will take mostly a week.”

“And, what’s the problem?”

“Only the participants and officials can watch it.”

“So, why is that an issue?”

“I have to leave the Duchy alone.”

“Is that…a problem?”

…How did you leave the Duchy and live in the academy dormitories until now?

He frowned slightly at my question.

“I have to be away from you.”

“…Evan, you’ve been away from me for thirteen years.”

“….”

“If the last winner is the judge, then it’s only this year that you can judge. Why don’t you go?”

“…You’re sick, and you’re also about to leave…”

“Just because you’re here doesn’t make me get better. I hate that you wouldn’t attend such a big event because of me.”

He didn’t even seem to listen to me very much, but I genuinely wanted to send Evan to the academy.

Ludva might have hurt his heart, but if he went there again and saw others, he might recover a little. In the book, while being in the Duchy, Evan kept thinking about Matilda, so he felt like he had nothing and became depressed.

Therefore, I wanted him to go out and cheer up among those who praised and looked up to him.

“You know what?”

I decided to take a little detour.

“Wouldn’t the scene of handing over trophies at the Youth Sword Contest also appear in the newspaper article?”

“It will come out. It comes out every year.”

“Then, can’t there be a picture of you, too?”

“I won’t go. I’m not going.”

“However, if you go, you can be in it.”

I spoke slowly as if singing a song.

“It would be very meaningful if we both came out in newspaper articles this year.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just… it’s amazing when couples are side by side in a newspaper article the year they got married.”

“What does…”

“I would be so happy to see my husband in the newspaper article, wearing the clothes I picked for him.”

“….”

“I’m going to cut my picture at the racetrack and hang it on the album.”

“….”

“Ah. Then, I would be going to the recovery villa and hanging your article as well. And, I’ll think, ‘Oh, my husband is truly amazing,’ every day I see it.”

Evan jumped up and sat on his desk.

Oh, he took out the letter.

“Evan? What are you doing?”

“…I’m replying that I’m going to participate.”

The way he spoke was blunt, but strangely, it was really cute.

Perhaps, because of that cuteness, I, who only thinks about my comfort here, wanted to do as good as Evan.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────