Chapter 4
After finishing his official duties, Duke Elphiers left his office, intending to head to the training grounds.
Albert remarked that he couldn’t stop thinking about that little child.
“I knew Your Grace would be angry, but I went looking for her afterward. I couldn’t find her anywhere.”
“That’s for the best. It seems she wasn’t completely without a place to go.”
“But if she truly is the Sea God’s daughter… might she not be a guardian who came to protect the Elphiers family?”
“Albert. Guardians have never come looking for us of their own accord.”
He wasn’t naïve enough to believe the nonsensical tale of a child who suddenly appeared, claiming to be the Sea God’s daughter and a guardian.
Of course, the land the child had pointed out was intriguing—but it could just as easily have been a coincidence.
“The Elphiers family worships the Sea God… and I’m his daughter.”
The child’s eyes had looked a little desperate.
Tsk. What pointless thoughts.
Duke Elphiers shook his head and quickened his pace.
As he passed through the corridor and descended to the first floor, about to head outside, the sound of laughter stopped him.
…Laughter?
After his wife passed away, his only son, Tirie, had shut himself away in his room from the shock. Since then, laughter had gradually disappeared from the ducal estate.
No one had ever said anything outright, but it had been a long time since such loud, carefree laughter echoed through the halls.
Duke Elphiers turned toward the sound. Soon, he stopped in front of the kitchen.
There, in the middle of a crowd, was the little child, smiling brightly and being showered with affection.
“Huh?”
At the same time, strange looks were directed at him.
Faced with gazes that seemed to regard him like some sort of beast—disrespectful stares—Duke Elphiers’ eyes narrowed naturally.
“Why is that little one here of all places?”
“Your Grace.”
Kishan approached him.
Ariel got up from her chair, then hid behind Philip, peeking her head out timidly.
“They said Ariel can stay here!”
“Who decided that?”
“Um, not Ariel.”
She didn’t back down an inch.
When Duke Elphiers looked at Philip, the man stepped forward, shielding Ariel behind him.
“Your Grace, no matter what, chasing away a child who came looking for her father was too cruel.”
“…What?”
“That’s right. She must have come here because she had nowhere else to go. I never thought you were the sort of person who shirks responsibility.”
Father? Responsibility?
Only then did Duke Elphiers understand the looks they were giving him. They had clearly misunderstood the situation.
“Don’t tell me you think that child is my daughter.”
“…Is she not?”
“Do I look like such a shameless lord to you? Besides, she’s barely any younger than Tirie. There’s no way she could be my daughter.”
“…Ah! So that’s how it is.”
As if she’d realized something, the little girl set down her bread and jumped to her feet. Then she bowed deeply to everyone and apologized.
“I’m sorry. I think this misunderstanding happened because I didn’t explain properly. I’m Ariel, the Sea God’s daughter. I came here to protect all of you!”
She then properly introduced herself to the servants.
Watching her, Duke Elphiers let out another hollow laugh.
“Oh? Then what about what you said earlier—about being rejected for adoption…?”
“That part is true. The duke rejected me.”
The little girl drew in a breath, concentrating, and formed a droplet of water above her palm once more.
It was slightly larger than the one she had shown earlier.
“My power is weak right now, but I’ll get stronger later! So since things have turned out like this, couldn’t you give me just one more chance? Why don’t you at least hear out my plan first?”
Facing Duke Elphiers, Ariel clasped her hands together and asked politely.
For a moment, he was at a loss for words as he met those sparkling golden eyes.
They were far too intelligent to belong to a mere four-year-old child.
I was suddenly grabbed by the nape of my neck and lifted straight up.
I dangled helplessly, caught in the duke’s grip.
“Y-Your Grace!”
“Eek! You’ll drop her—stop it! You’ll hurt the child!”
Kishan and the others reached out in alarm.
Scowling, Duke Elphiers spoke to Kishan.
“Do you know anything at all about this child?”
“…But she’s only four years old.”
“She could be a guardian—or she could be a spy. There’s no certainty either way. And yet you, a knight of the ducal estate, let her wander freely?”
“…I apologize.”
Silence fell.
Duke Elphiers ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
I was still dangling from his hand like a piece of baggage.
Everyone’s getting scolded because of me.
I shrank back, watching the situation nervously.
“I-I’m sorry. It’s my fault, so please don’t scold them. They’re all people of the ducal estate….”
“At least you understand that much.”
Holding me carelessly, Duke Elphiers left the kitchen. With his long legs, he strode briskly down the corridor toward somewhere unknown.
His pace was faster than I expected. Frightened, I clung tightly to his arm.
“Y-Your Grace, l-let’s talk this out first. Could you please put me down? I’m really scared… If I fall, my bottom will be completely smashed.”
My feet couldn’t reach the ground, and panic set in. I flailed my short arms and legs, and the duke looked down at me with a dismissive gaze.
That look is so mean….
I clung to his arm even tighter.
The duke let out an incredulous laugh, but I ignored it.
To be honest, I was flustered by how different he was from the Duke Elphiers I remembered from my previous life.
“I’m a four-year-old baby, you know! Your Grace, you’re being way too violent!”
“What?”
“…V-violence is bad. No. Don’t. Stop.”
Duke Elphiers halted, wearing a dumbfounded expression. Then he set me down on the floor.
Only then did I let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew.”
“With legs that short, you really did manage to follow along.”
Before I knew it, we were standing in front of his office.
He opened the door and went in first. Albert, who was inside, startled and looked back and forth between the duke and me.
“Y-Your Grace?”
“You said she might be the Sea God’s daughter.”
“Well… ahem. Have you changed your mind?”
Duke Elphiers glanced down at me, then plopped into his chair.
“Little one, are you hurt anywhere? We were worried.”
“As you can see, I’m fine.”
I carefully walked inside and headed toward the chair opposite the duke.
It was quite tall for a child, and I struggled, stretching my arms and wriggling as I tried to climb up.
“I’ll lift you.”
“No, it’s okay. Ariel can do it by herself.”
When I reached out to stop Albert, he looked flustered and turned to the duke.
The duke waved his hand as if to say it was fine.
If I can’t even sit on a chair by myself, he’ll really think I’m useless.
My arms and legs were short, but my determination was stronger than anyone’s.
“Heave—ho!”
After several minutes of struggle, I finally managed to climb onto the chair.
When I looked at the duke with a proud expression, he swallowed a hollow laugh and pressed a hand to his forehead.
“I truly don’t know what to do with you.”
“It’s simple. You just raise me until I grow up.”
“…Simple?”
Duke Elphiers clicked his tongue again.
Perhaps, just perhaps, his resolve had wavered a little.
I fidgeted with my fingers, carefully watching his expression.
I worked this hard to get here—don’t give up now!
“Your Grace… are you going to kick me out again?”
“……”
“You already checked the land chosen by the Sea God, so if you promise not to send me somewhere else, I’ll tell you everything I know.”
For now, I needed to make him feel that keeping me here was necessary.
I need something solid. Think, Ariel—think of something.
I pushed myself hard.
I couldn’t turn back after coming this far. Recalling the past I wanted to forget made my stomach churn.
I hurriedly sifted through my memories.
I skipped over the painful ones, desperately trying to recall only the information I needed.
Then, suddenly, something brushed past my mind.
That important thing—why hadn’t I checked it?
