Chapter – 17
The bad children of Lactea.
Little devils, twins from hell, terrible troublemakers—there were many ways to describe Cecil and Caligo, but most people simply called them “Lactea’s mischievous twins.”
They were the worst twins in history, scattering trouble everywhere as they ran about using Lactea’s unique magic of foresight.
It wasn’t that their powerful ability to see the future was bad, but the wary gazes people cast upon them were the price they paid for the chaos they had caused over the past few years while roaming high society and playing cruel pranks.
Unaware of this, Marie looked at the employees moving in perfect coordination with a blank expression.
“Hurry! Go bring the duke!”
“You, go call the boss!”
“Opening time is almost here! Hurry, move quickly!”
The duke?
Were they planning to call a high-ranking noble?
Realizing that the situation had escalated, Marie slowly stepped back, holding back tears.
Letus might arrive soon, but it would be impossible to face him in the middle of this chaos. If nobles were being summoned, it wouldn’t be strange if the magical world’s security enforcers showed up too.
‘Run away.’
Though she felt sorry for Cecil and Caligo, Marie decided to leave and try again another time.
…If she hadn’t made eye contact with Caligo.
“Hey, Mariposa. Did you find the doll?”
Caligo mouthed the words silently. Marie flinched and stopped the foot she was about to step backward with, then shook her head.
After a moment of hesitation, Caligo nudged Cecil.
“Cecil, let’s keep playing until our dad comes.”
“Mm….”
Cecil’s silver eyes flickered like light bulbs. Then she smiled brightly.
“Yay!”
Caligo leaped up and threw himself into the pile of dolls. The baby dolls bounced and scattered everywhere, making the employees gasp in horror.
“Th-those damned—!”
“Young master, young lady! Please stop! Isn’t this enough already?!”
The people ground their teeth but didn’t dare reach out. They couldn’t bring themselves to lay a hand on the children.
“Young master, young lady…?”
Marie’s anxious green eyes watched the twins running wild like foals.
Those kids…
Could it be…?
“Cecil, Caligo!”
At that moment, the tightly closed door of the toy shop opened.
The one who opened it was Letus, who had rushed in while panting heavily, and a handsome man with black hair and thin silver-rimmed glasses.
“Get down from there immediately!”
Cecil and Caligo, who had been kicking their legs in the air and rolling around, froze stiffly.
Marie could guess.
Black hair and silver-gray eyes. A face that was almost identical.
Ah, so this was Cecil and Caligo’s father. And this was the duke she had been so afraid of!
Then Letus’s trembling eyes turned toward Marie, who had been ignored by everyone else.
And Marie realized one more thing.
All the plans she had made so far had turned into nothing.
She shouldn’t have asked Cecil and Caligo for help.
No—she should have confessed earlier to Croport that she had fed a gem to the doll.
‘What should I do!’
Marie pulled at her hair and made a miserable face.
Fortunately, Marie was fine.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Mr. Letus, I’m really sorry!”
Luckily, she wasn’t exposed as a human.
“Um, I accidentally fed the doll the cro—”
“Ahhh! Shh, shh! You must not say that person’s name!”
“Oh, oh, I fed the doll a magician’s gemstone by mistake…”
“A-about that, I’m sorry…”
Though it was rather rough, she managed to explain the situation to Letus.
“Cecil, Caligo! I told you to stay quiet this month, didn’t I? Don’t you want birthday presents? Why did you do something like this!”
“What? You mean you won’t buy us toys?”
“Caligo!”
“Ow, it hurts!”
The bad twins of Lactea—Cecil and Caligo—were scolded to the point of tears, but they weren’t taken away by the magical security guards.
Marie looked past the collapsed tower of baby dolls, the pale-faced Letus, the duke of Lactea busy scolding the children, Caligo who was still grumbling, and Cecil who was pretending to look sorrowful but actually looked reflective, and let out a hollow laugh that reminded her of Croport.
‘What on earth is this…?’
Did Cecil foresee this future? That must be why she helped me.
Marie wiped her arms nervously as she made eye contact with Cecil.
Cecil, who had been lowering her eyes pitifully, slowly lifted the corners of her mouth when she met Marie’s gaze.
A chill ran down Marie’s spine.
Then, the Duke of Lactea approached Letus.
“I am truly sorry, Mr. Rudičer. I never imagined the children would cause such trouble…”
“Oh, no, Duke. I expected some commotion when I heard the Lactea twins were coming.”
Of course, smashing a tower of fifteen hundred baby dolls was beyond expectations…
Letus wiped the sweat flowing down his face and waved his hand.
“Fortunately, the dolls were protected by magic, so there is no damage. However, the packaging will have to be redone. If you could compensate for the packaging costs and the delay in the opening time…”
“Of course. Please do not worry about it.”
The duke nodded politely.
Letus’s expression lightened considerably.
Meanwhile, Marie blinked in confusion.
Would a nobleman of duke rank usually speak respectfully to a toy shop owner? And bow his head like that?
‘No, isn’t it strange that the duke is setting up a tent and waiting for toys?’
Was the social hierarchy in the magical world different from the human world?
Marie’s green eyes wavered in confusion.
At that moment, the duke’s silver eyes turned toward her.
“By the way, who is this child? She seemed to be with our children earlier…”
“Oh, no. This child is someone I know…”
Letus hid Marie behind his back. Marie tensed up and looked at the Duke of Lactea.
Their eyes met.
“…Hmm.”
The duke’s sharp gaze lingered on Marie’s face.
After tilting his head slightly, he bent his upper body a little and spoke to her.
“You must have been caught up in my children’s trouble. I am sorry.”
“Ah, no. I am… rather the one who…”
Unlike when he spoke to the twins, the Duke’s voice was warm and calm. Marie quickly blushed and lowered her head.
‘The twins did cause a lot of mischief, but in a way, it was because of me…’
She was not in a position to receive an apology like this.
Marie clenched her fist and carefully met the duke’s eyes.
“Cecil and Caligo did this to help me. It’s all because of me…”
“M-Ma-Mariposa! More importantly, we have something to talk about, don’t we?”
“Huh? Yes?”
“Alright, Duke. Let’s talk about the costs later. First, we need to send this child home!”
“Oh…”
The faces of the duke and Marie both turned puzzled.
Thinking Letus had another reason for sweating so much, the duke nodded lightly.
“Understood. Let’s do that.”
Then he spoke kindly to Marie.
“Child, if you suffer any damage because of Cecil and Caligo, you can tell me anytime. I am their father. Just come to the Lactea Duke’s mansion.”
“Yes, thank you very much…”
Marie bowed her waist stiffly.
The Duke of Lactea smiled gently, exchanged eye contact with Letus, and returned to the twins.
He was not at all like a typical noble.
Marie stared blankly at the black back of his head as he walked away.
“Hey, Mariposa.”
“Gah—yes!”
Letus walked over to Marie and asked carefully.
“Well… tell me honestly. Did you come to our shop…”
Letus swallowed.
“W-was it ordered by that person?”
“That person?”
“Yes, that person. Your guardian…”
“Croport?”
The startled Letus hurriedly covered Marie’s mouth. Marie’s eyes widened in shock as well.
“You must not say that name!”
“W-why?”
“That is… ugh, anyway, you can’t!”
Marie nodded in confusion.
Letus, sweating profusely, sighed deeply and took out a handkerchief.
Wiping his forehead, he said,
“Child, you can be honest with me. Did that person really send you here?”
“No. As I said earlier, I came here by mistake.”
“I see…”
Letus’s red handkerchief became damp with sweat. He even took off his hat and wiped his shiny scalp.
“Mariposa. Does that person treat you well?”
“Eh? Yes?”
“You’re not being forced to stay or anything like that, right?”
Marie’s mouth fell open.
“That’s not it! Cro—”
“Name!”
“T-that person is very good to me and Shasha. He gives us delicious meals, teaches me magic…”
Of course, due to his lazy personality, housework was always postponed, and he would lock himself in the storage room or study whenever he could, leaving little time to talk. Still, Croport was a good temporary guardian.
All she needed was good food and a warm place to sleep. That was all she needed to repay his kindness.
Marie answered firmly.
“That person is a good man. So please don’t worry.”
Letus blinked his brown eyes. Admiring the intelligent look in Marie’s eyes, he nodded.
“I see… It’s somewhat reassuring to hear that he treats the children well…”
A red hat was placed on Letus’s shiny head.
He looked around the shop, still busy with cleanup, and said to Marie,
“I think I should contact that person. I have to clean up anyway, so why don’t you go inside and wait? It won’t take long.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you…”
“Yes, yes.”
Marie’s half-lost mind snapped back at the mention of contacting Croport.
She had not only fed a gem to the doll but also caused a huge accident while searching for the doll. How could she possibly explain this?
‘I’m going to get scolded really badly!’
The fear of being kicked out this time filled Marie’s head.
