Chapter 81

Chapter 81

The Queen looked at her father with a hardened face. The father she hadn’t seen in a long time looked the brightest she had ever seen in her life. It was so different from her nervous mind that seemed to be getting sick of it.

“Tell me. What deal did you do with His Majesty?”

She had to speak, trying to pretend as calm as possible.

“What deal? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Father!”

But, her father’s brazen attitude forced the Queen to raise her voice.

Seeing the sudden change in the King’s attitude, he must have exchanged something with her father, but she did not know what it was, so her frustration grew.

She had always pretended to be on the side of her father, though it was clear that something suspicious was going on because the King was taking his father’s side in a conciliation meeting. Even though she didn’t know what it was, the Queen was certain that it wasn’t good.

“As before, what are you doing secretly behind my back?”

As her father with a history of doing so, it was obvious that he was using his hand this time as well.

“You just have to do what this father does. Have you seen me harm you? After all, didn’t I give you the position you wanted?”

At those words, she clasped her two hands.

Her father was talking as if it was all thanks to him. Her own pain, writhing in loneliness, he didn’t even seem like he could see it…

“The only thing I did was love you.”

She did not know that her love for him would hold her back. Even then, she was ignoring reality. The Queen pretended not to know, but again, she didn’t know if she was supposed to.

“Yes, so that’s why I gave you the Queen’s seat? Don’t be dissatisfied with what I’m doing anymore.”

Having said so to her, Caveran turned behind her and walked out of the room.

She gazed sadly at her father’s distant back.

‘Father, please tell me it’s not what I think it is…’

Though he just walked away without saying a word until the end.

* * *

“Marie, you don’t like the gift I gave you?”

Brielle, who had become pale when Marie never used the coupon he had given her, asked while eating breakfast.

“How could it be? I really like it.”

As if it was true, she looked into his eyes and answered.

“But, why don’t you use it?”

“It was a waste, so I didn’t use it. If I use the coupon, the Young Master is going to collect it.”

“Collect…?”

“Yes, you’re going to take the coupon back. It’s so pretty, I’m going to keep it.”

“No. Marie can take it.”

Brielle answered as he shook his head.

Seeing him talk about it in the morning, it must have been something that caught his heart, so Marie said that she would use it today.

“It’s real.”

“Then, I want to use the song coupon.”

“Hehe, good.”

She was intrigued by what the coupon would do, so she was excited. Brielle, with his eyes twinkling, uttered with conviction.

“Ellie, I need help.”

“Yes.”

Apparently, Ellie knew what it was.

“Marie, eat quickly, so you can see me sing.”

At the child’s urging, Marie quickly put her portion of soup into her mouth.

“Brielle, can uncle hear it, too?”

As Kentrail watched the situation, Brielle was troubled. It was because this was a gift for Marie, though he was wondering if anyone else could listen to it.

“Uncle can listen if Marie allows it.”

Kentrail turned his head and asked for her permission with his eyes after his nephew’s words. Noticing that, Marie’s playfulness was activated.

“Well, it’s my gift.”

As she spoke softly, his brow furrowed slightly and she continued, “I’ll see what the Count does for me, and I’ll make a decision in the afternoon. Can I use the coupon in the afternoon?”

After pondering for a moment, Brielle nodded his head.

“Yes. I have to prepare myself.”

And so, breakfast time was over.

* * *

“Follow me.”

Having said that to Marie, he started walking ahead.

After breakfast, Ellie headed to their room with Brielle, who was looking at Kentrail and Marie. She gazed at the children and walked with Kentrail. Even though she walked all the way down the hallway, he couldn’t be seen.

‘Where have you been?’

But, at that moment, his hand jumped out and grabbed her. Marie knew who it was by the familiar scent.

She was locked in his arms.

“You scared me.”

“How can you allow me?”

Marie laughed, knowing that he was asking for permission to listen to Brielle’s song together. He was a cute little man.

“Um… that is for the Count to find out.”

As she raised her head and spoke playfully, something landed on her lips.

“Like this?”

He smiled and asked softly.

Kentrail seemed to know that his own smirk worked for her. At that, Marie had to bite her lip to control her expression. She then drew his face close again. Since morning, love had flowed between the two.

“The Young Master will find out at this rate. We should have told him, but how are you going to say it?”

At those words, concern was added to Kentrail’s face.

“I know…”

Now, it seemed that he was passed the age he wanted to marry his mother or his nanny, though their troubles deepen as they didn’t know how Brielle would take this.

“Woo… I’m worried, I need to replenish my energy.”

And then, he found her again.

* * *

“Huh? Uncle, did you get permission from Marie?”

In the afternoon, Briel asked Kentrail, who was with him in the piano room.

“Yes, Brielle.”

When Brielle looked at Marie, she nodded her head. Meanwhile, Ellie glanced at the two of them, sighed, and sat down at the piano.

Seeing that, Marie looked at the child with anticipation, as she had never seen Ellie play a proper tune. It seemed that Brielle asked her to do accompaniment.

“Then, uncle can take a look, but you have to understand even if I’m not good.”

This was not because he learned it from a professional teacher or watched a performance, but because he learned it while playing the piano and singing for fun with Ellie. Having said that, Brielle ordered the two of them to sit in the middle chair.

The next moment, he went and stood in front of the piano. Looking closely, it seemed that he had even changed his clothes.

Marie and Kentrail clapped as they raised their hands to greet Brielle.

“…If you offer flowers to the dragon, your wish will come true. So, have hope. Hero.”

Brielle’s voice echoed through the room.

Although the child’s sweet tone was different from Kentrail’s low voice, Marie alternated between Brielle and Kentrail, whom she thought were sweet.

“…Pray for your dear one. Hero. But, keep it in mind—”

She then gazed at Ellie as she was playing the accompaniment to Brielle’s song. When did she have such a big hand that she was able to press two notes that were far away at the same time?

‘…Will you grow up a little bit slower?’

Suddenly, she remembered the first time she had quarreled in Kentrail’s arms.

The child was old enough to complain. Ellie, who had matured too early for her, was caught in her heart, and tears welled up in Marie’s eyes before disappearing. Kentrail, who was glancing at Marie, held out his handkerchief.

Before the children saw her, she quickly wiped her tears and looked in front of her.

“—that it could take away your precious things. So, you have to be careful with your wishes.”

Even the song was about dragons.

Marie and Kentrail stared at each other. Even after getting older, Brielle’s love for dragons didn’t seem to go away.

After the song ended, applause filled the room. The children stood up and bowed to greet each other as if they were happy that someone had heard their performances and song—like any accompanist and singer.

* * *

Derek was in a difficult situation.

People who went hunting with him said he deserved a full distribution because he had caught a bear, and they left too much meat in front of the accommodation at will.

‘…I can’t throw this away.’

He also frowned if he were to sell it.

It felt like he had to share it with someone. At that, he sighed at the first person that came to mind, who was the only person he knew. It was because he was struck by the word that the man had a sick wife since he certainly wasn’t even getting a share.

Eventually, Derek left his accommodation with a bear hide and some chunks of meat.

‘He said the red roof.’

He planned to leave it secretly at the door. Passing the market that had been moving busily since morning, Derek turned his head in search of the red roof.

‘I can’t see it?’

But, somehow, the house with the red roof was nowhere to be seen. In the end, it seemed that the only way was to ask around.

“Welcome.”

Derek went into a nearby fruit shop and bought an apple and asked the shopkeeper.

“Are there any red roof houses nearby?”

“Red roof? No—Ah…! Maybe there?”

After listening to the owner’s explanation, Derek sighed as he couldn’t see the red roof in the market. He wondered what the idea would be to live away from the village deep in the forest and find the red roof.

He was afraid to go back to the middle, so he went back to the forest.

* * *

Brielle was in a good mood.

He took a shower with his uncle, and he decided to sleep with him today. Unlike his childhood, he now also liked to sleep with his uncle.

“Brielle, let me dry your hair.”

After dismissing the maids, Kentrail directly wiped off Brielle’s water and put his clothes on.

“I can do it alone.”

“Uncle wants to do it for you.”

“Really…? Hehe.”

Seeing this, he could feel that Brielle had really grown. In the past, there were times when the child’s entire arm wasn’t even half his arm’s length.

“Should we sleep now?”

“Yes.”

Laying next to him, he gazed at his uncle. Kentrail also looked at the child, wondering what to say about his relationship with Marie.

“Brielle…”

“Yes?”

“How would you feel if uncle found someone I like?”

“It’s okay as long as I don’t separate with Marie.”

“What…?”

At Brielle’s answer, he opened his mouth to say one step further.

“Then, uncle and Marie…”

“Uncle, I’m sleepy.”

Unfortunately, however, Brielle, who could not sleep before, stopped talking to him before turning around and fell asleep.

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