Chapter 54

It was an impulsive decision. He wanted to see with his own eyes how well the children of the nobles with high status lived. This is because he has no power and has a low status, that’s why his daughter passed first. He wanted to see with his own eyes what power and status are.

Demalo’s colleague was bewildered by his decision, but soon said with delight.

“That’s a good idea! The noble you’re escorting is Lady Adelia Sorne. She’s a high-ranking aristocrat, and it seems like her family doesn’t care much about her. There’s less interference compared to other young lady’s escorts. Maybe it’s not that hard. Take this opportunity to relax!”

Adelia. Of all things, her name reminded him of his daughter. Thus, Demalo accepted the favor of aristocrats with an impure purpose. Adelia Sorne, the first aristocrat he met, was rude and used vulgar language.

He didn’t feel that way because he had an antipathy to the aristocracy, but the real person herself was so mean.

“Shoulders.”

Adelia ordered proudly. Demalo sighed and knelt down. Then Adelia climbed eagerly onto his shoulder.

“Let’s go pick apples!”

“…just let me do that.”

“No, I don’t want to. I’ll get it.”

Demalo clenched his teeth.

“A little more to the side! No, to the left. Well, just a little to the right… Oh! That was perfect just now!”

He wandered around under the apple tree with the girl on his shoulder for about an hour. The daily life of escorting the noble lady was the opposite of what he thought. The girl’s surroundings were extravagant, but the girl herself was not. She wasn’t much different from the children of her age that Demalo knew.

‘What’s the matter with parents not showing their faces.’

He belatedly found out, the mansion where the girl lived was a family villa. They let a young child, an aristocrat, live alone in a villa. From what Demalo heard, even the children of concubines were recognized as members of the family and lived together. This is because they were people who thought their blood was important.

‘I don’t think they’re financially strapped.’

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If it was for financial reasons in the first place, they wouldn’t be able to keep the villa.

“Your dad and brother are busy this time too” 

“Yes, something suddenly happened in the territory, so they both left for it.”

“…I see.”

A shadow was cast over the girl’s face in the family that did not come even on her birthday. Soon the girl spoke in an irritated voice.

“But I have to have my birthday party. All right?”

“Yes, I’ll prepare everything.”

The girl hosted a birthday party with some servants. However, none of them sincerely celebrated the girl’s birthday. Those who were forced to fill their seats because of the girl’s stubbornness. Demalo briefly clicked his tongue at the most pitiful sight.

I think I came to the wrong place.

This wasn’t what he thought the life of a noble was like. But now he couldn’t get out. If he breaks the contract, the penalty is considerable.

‘I only have to endure a few months anyway.’

Demalo decided to relax for a few months, as his colleague said. There’s nothing he can’t endure if he thinks it’s a request for rest.

Time flew by. He always feels that children grow up fast. Demalo’s contract expired. Demalo smiled pleasantly thinking that he would finally get away from the girl. Had it not been for the girl who came to his room in the middle of the night, he would have left the mansion as planned.

knock, knock.

“Are you sleeping?”

“Yes, I’m sleeping.”

“Lie. How can a sleeping person answer?”

Demalo sighed deeply and opened the door to the troublesome little girl. Adelia entered Demalo’s room without hesitation and sat in the most comfortable-looking bed.

“Are you going to disturb my sleep now?”

“If you just write your name here, I’ll be right out.”

Adelia said, pushing in a piece of paper. Demalo was handed the paper and checked what it was about.

‘Contract extension?’

The identity of the paper handed over by the kid was an additional contract to extend the request period.

Demalo looked down at Adelia with a laugh.

“Hurry up and write your name.”

“No, my employer. I don’t think I can sign this”

“Why? Why?”

Adelia asked Demalo with a startled look. The figure was quite desperate, making one side of Demalo’s chest uncomfortable.

“Well, I’m thinking of getting another quest after this one.”

“…no.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s not up to you to decide.”

“I’ll give you a lot of money. I have a lot of money.”

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“That’s your dad’s money.”

“…no, this is… My dad gave it to me in exchange for neglecting me, so it’s my money.”

Demalo’s face was stiff at the moment due to Adelia’s remarks.

This kid knew it. That she was abandoned by her parents.

‘That’s difficult…’

Demalo was weak with children. No matter how mean and disobedient a kid is. Adelia’s little mouth breathed an unbecoming heavy sigh.

“I know that. That my father and brother hate me. Maybe it’s because I was born after taking away my mother. Otherwise, my personality won’t be this eccentric.”

“Your personality is eccentric… No, by the way, you were born after taking away your mother?”

“You didn’t know? I thought the butler told you. I was born after taking my mother’s life.”

Demalo couldn’t understand what the kid was talking about.

“Why do you think so?”

“Well… ’cause that’s what people told me?”

Demalo changed the question by washing his face dry.

“Let me ask you again. Why do people say that?”

“…my mother died giving birth to me. Unlike me, my mother was loved by my father and brother. So, they hate me for being born after taking away my mother.”

A shrill laugh came out of Demalo’s mouth. He understood a little why this little girl was behaving rudely. He hates to admit it, but the kid was lovely. It wasn’t because of her looks. Although she sometimes plays a bad joke, the playful smile and shy apologetic expression belongs to a child. Although she was tiresome, she wasn’t a bad kid.

“Huh? Please. Please write your name. I heard from the butler that you’re leaving this house after your contract is over. Then who do I play with?”

“…do you have any friends?”

When asked by Demalo, the girl asked back, as if she were dumbfounded.

“Did you see me bringing a friend all this time?”

“…no.”

The girl’s expression turned cold. It was as if she would resent him for the rest of his life if he did not extend the contract.

“You promised to go on a picnic with me.”

For a moment Demalo doubted his ears.

“When did I do that?”

“…when I went to buy a dress and Demalo was dozing off. I asked you to go on a picnic, you said, ‘Okay, Lia. Let’s go on a picnic.’“

He felt like he was covered in cold water.

Demalo’s face stiffened and Adelia called his name with an anxious look.

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“…do you not mean it?”

Demalo has been silent for a while. He couldn’t get over the shock.

“It’s…”

“As expected, … It was a lie.”

For a moment, Adelia and her daughter’s face overlapped. It was as if the spirit of his dead daughter could not return to Vishna and blamed him.

Why didn’t you keep your promise?

“…no.”

“Really…? Are you really going to go on a picnic with me? Then there’s nothing we can do. I need to extend your contract.”

Adelia hastened Demalo again. Demalo signed the contract as if possessed, knowing he had to refuse. Adelia smiled satisfactorily at the corner with a satisfied smile.

***

The little girl, who began to learn manners, became more and more mature. Of course, she returns as a child when he plays pranks. However, the level of pranks was much lower than before, so it was barely manageable.

He wasn’t the only one who changed.

Adelia was often called by her father to go to the capital’s mansion. Adelia was elated that the parents who abandoned are finally calling her. But the little girl’s joy didn’t last long.

On the first day she was called to the capital, Adelia stayed in her room and cried all day. He asked her what happened, but she didn’t tell him. She’s just relieving my sadness by herself.

Demalo couldn’t figure out what had happened, but he could imagine it roughly. The cold-blooded Marquis must have said something hurtful. After that day, Adelia thought about how to be recognized by her family.

“Is it really necessary to… No, do you need to be recognized by your parents?”

“Indeed, Demalo’s a fool. What’s left of me except for the name Sorne?”

“…….”

Demalo unable to say, ‘No. You can live well without Sorne.’

It is true that she is not loved by her family, but she is still a nobleman, and they supported her in the name of their family. If she were to be abandoned by her family, everything that makes up her will fall apart. Demalo sighed and stroked the kid’s head, which would take a long time to grow up.

“Ah! My hair looks pretty today! You fool!”

Demalo ignored Adelia, who barked like a little pet dog, and suggested one thing.

“Do you have any thoughts of learning a sword from me?”

Adelia, who was irritated, opened her eyes wide.

“Sword…? From Demalo…?”

“Yeah, just in case you have a talent for swords?”

“Ah… Then will my father accept me as a true Sorne?”

Demalo felt guilty looking at the little hope in the girl’s eyes. In fact, at a glance, he could see that Adelia did not have the talent for sword. Nevertheless, just in case something happens.

When one day he disappeared and was left alone, he hoped she could protect herself.

Demalo answered Adelia’s question with a pretentious smile.

“That’s a good chance.”

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“I want to do it! I want to do it no matter what!”

“All right. Let’s start right away tomorrow.” 

Adelia shouted, unable to control her excitement.

“Yeah! I’ll tell the butler to prepare it!”

“Children’s wooden swords and horseback riding suits are enough, so don’t bring anything else.”

“All right!”

Adelia ran outside immediately to tell the butler to be ready. Demalo stared at the girl’s back with complicated eyes. Soon he turned his eyes away. It was hard to accept the feeling that he felt while looking at the girl. This feeling reminds him of a happy time with his daughter.

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