TGBGS 9

Chapter 9

Phew.

Fortunately, Kishan wasn’t as persistent as the Duke. He accepted my half-baked excuse without pressing further and let it go.

I washed myself with warm water and changed clothes.

The maid who would be taking care of me from now on was named Marie.

After helping me get dressed, Marie brushed my hair.

“Ariel, you really must never go in and out through the window again. You understand, right?”

She spoke while braiding my hair and tying it up.

Her hands moved so quickly, almost like she was performing magic, that my eyes couldn’t keep up.

“Yes. If you’re worried, let’s make a promise with Ariel.”

When I held out my finger, Marie stopped fixing my hair and hooked her pinky with mine. Only then did her tense expression soften into a gentle smile.

“But Marie, I didn’t have any clothes—where did these come from?”

“His Grace urgently asked a salon to prepare a few outfits. They’re ready-made, so they might not fit perfectly, but please bear with it.”

“They’re more than good enough! They’re sparkly and pretty!”

I beamed as I looked down at the glittering, beautiful dress.

“Marie, is Tirier very sick?”

“If it’s just a mild cold, he’ll be fine. Even though Lord Tirier looks frail, he’s actually sturdier than he seems.”

“Sturdy…”

That was a relief—but I was still worried.

If he’s a tearful and frail child, making him an emperor is going to be full of hardships.

“If you’re concerned, would you like to go see him? Since you were together earlier, he might be willing to meet you. No one’s said anything out loud, but everyone was extremely surprised.”

“Huh? Other people can’t meet him?”

When I voiced my confusion, Marie gave an awkward smile and looked away.

“Lord Tirier doesn’t come out of the annex very often.”

“Why?”

“Well… after the Duchess passed away, he became a completely different person. He hardly smiles anymore and focuses only on his studies. Do you see that big tree over there?”

Marie pointed toward the large tree visible outside the window.

“He used to spend a lot of time there with the Duchess, so once or twice a week, he goes there and just stares at it for a long while.”

So he bottles up his emotions all alone. I nodded, recalling Tirier’s red-rimmed eyes.

“Would he dislike it if I went?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t really know Lord Tirier’s heart myself…”

I didn’t want to do something he’d hate.

“I’ll go to the annex and ask Lord Tirier’s maid. I’ll also bring some warm cocoa, so please wait just a moment.”

I nodded, and Marie headed toward the door.

I climbed down from the chair and walked over to the sofa.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock sounded.

As Marie opened the door to leave, a maid spoke carefully.

“His Grace asks that you join him for dinner.”

At her words, I froze and blinked.

Did someone tell him everything…?

The Duke of Elpheus rested his chin on his hand as he looked at me.

Judging by his expression, he’d definitely heard a report.

I glanced back and forth between Kishan and Marie. Kishan calmly looked away.

It was you, Kishan!

I narrowed my eyes and stared daggers at him.

Tap, tap.

At the sound of fingers tapping the table, I turned my head. The Duke looked straight at me and spoke.

“Kid, you’ve got something to say to me.”

“Umm…”

“You didn’t break any promises.”

“A promise? Sounds like you did break something.”

His brow creased.

Huh? That wasn’t it?

This time, I quietly avoided his gaze.

Usually, when someone asked you to eat together, it meant they had something to say.

Duke Victoire always gave me good food whenever he wanted me to do something.

“Then why… did you ask me to eat?”

I asked without sparing a glance for the food laid out on the table.

“I heard you met Tirier.”

“Ah…!”

So they told him I was with Tirier! I said I wasn’t…!

So he hadn’t stopped asking—he just didn’t believe me.

“Ah?”

The Duke examined my expression, then curled his lips into a smile and echoed my sound.

“…I didn’t!”

I denied it outright.

Tirier might not like it.

If people found out, he might not be able to go to the tree and cry alone anymore. I didn’t want to take away his small, private space.

“Then why would Tirier ask about you? I never introduced the two of you.”

“…That’s strange, isn’t it?”

“So you’re going to keep denying it? Tirier did the same.”

“Tirier asked about me?”

“I thought you said you didn’t meet.”

The Duke leaned back in his chair with a grin.

As he tapped the table, my eyes darted around.

“What on earth you two are up to… well, it doesn’t matter. Get along.”

“Your Grace. Did you ask me to eat with you because you wanted to entrust frail Tirier to me?”

“Well, let’s say that’s part of it. One more thing.”

I cautiously met his gaze, and he pointed upward with a finger.

Following his fingertip, I looked up at the chandelier sparkling above.

“That rain earlier. Was that you, kid?”

“…Ah! You saw it? That was me!”

“I thought you were supposed to wait until your power awakened.”

That part confused me too.

In my previous life, I’d awakened my power at seven. I’d assumed it would take a long time again.

“But it worked out well, didn’t it?”

It was thanks to Tirier, but if I said that, I’d have to explain everything—so I glossed over it.

“Your Grace, I think I’ll grow up just fine on my own.”

I puffed out my chest and smiled brightly.

Seeing my confidence, the Duke shook his head slightly.

“Kid. Be careful when using your power. Today, it was raining, so no one will think much of it—but drawing attention to yourself is never good.”

“Ah…!”

I hadn’t thought about Victoire.

I’d acted rashly, focused only on awakening my power.

I nodded quickly.

“No one in the Empire is unaware of whose protection our house is under. There will be many eyes watching.”

“…I’ll be careful. I didn’t think it through.”

I’d been so excited that my power had come earlier than before. My shoulders drooped as I lowered my head and fidgeted with my fingers.

“Hurry up and eat. It won’t taste good once it’s cold.”

“Yes… but Your Grace, didn’t you catch a cold?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking? I’m not someone who gets sick.”

Even though he’d been soaked more than Tirier, he looked perfectly healthy.

“Tirier is Your Grace’s son—why doesn’t he take after you? …He must’ve been eating tasty things all by himself.”

“……”

“Take better care of him from now on. If he’s frail, he won’t endure. Do I really have to nag you about this too?”

“Kid.”

At the Duke’s single word, I speared a small piece of cut meat and stuffed it into my mouth.

Chewing diligently, I focused on eating.

“Honestly… you’re too perceptive.”

Of course I was.

If I hadn’t been perceptive, I wouldn’t have survived in a ducal estate—I’d have died even sooner.

“What? Th-that kid—no, Father’s guest—asked if she could come see me?”

Tirier sprang up from the bed. Startled, Bippy hurried over and picked up the towel that had fallen.

“Yes, Marie came to ask me.”

“So?”

“Of course I said no.”

“…What? Why?”

“Huh?”

Surprised by his reaction, Bippy asked back instead.

She’d assumed it was obvious—why would she allow a meeting with someone he didn’t know? So she’d refused on her own authority.

“Should I go back and say it’s okay?”

“…No. There’s no need. But why did she ask to see me?”

“She must’ve heard you caught a cold. Perhaps it was just her way of showing concern? She’ll be staying at the ducal estate from now on.”

“…Staying?”

She’d said she came to protect me and Father—maybe it really was true.

“I heard she’s the Sea God’s daughter, here to guard the Elpheus family. And from what I hear, she’s extremely cute…”

“Well… she was small, so I guess she was cute.”

“Oh my? You’ve already met Lady Ariel?”

“N-No?!”

Tirier shouted reflexively. His flushed face grew even redder.

Bippy smiled as she soaked a fresh towel in water.

“I heard you asked His Grace about Lady Ariel.”

“…That was…”

He’d just been worried she might’ve caught a cold.

“That kid? Did you already meet Ariel?”

“…I just saw a child outside in the rain.”

“I heard from Marie that she’s perfectly fine. More importantly, Tirier, you don’t look well.”

“This is nothing.”

“If you’re curious, you can join us for dinner.”

Just as his father said, Tirier was curious—but after greeting him, he quickly returned to the annex.

He didn’t want the child who claimed she’d protect him to see him looking so weak.

“You feel strange because you suddenly have a little sister, don’t you?”

“…A sister? She’s just Father’s guest.”

Turning his back to Bippy, Tirier lay down and closed his eyes.