TPPE 10

Chapter 10

“They said it was an accident caused by touching a sword infused with mana before the body was ready.”

But since no one had witnessed the scene, the only thing anyone could judge was the ruined body that remained.

After that, other heirs were brought in as well—but every single one had to leave the ducal castle in a broken state.

It became the moment people saw with their own eyes what the so-called “living underworld” truly meant.

Nobles who had approached in hopes of a possible rise in status hurried to hide their children. Only street orphans remained—but at the mere mention of Stykia’s name, they would burst into tears….

In the end, the Temple and the Imperial Palace could no longer pressure him about succession.

Of course, that was far in the future.

Right now, the pressure had only just begun. No heir had yet entered, and Stykia’s infamy had not fully taken root.

The Duke would need a suitable child to fill appearances—and this was exactly that moment.

That was why I hadn’t snuck in like these thieves.

I had opened the gate myself.

To face the Duke directly.

“So… you don’t know who your father is, hmm.”

Muttering slowly, the Duke asked again,

“And?”

“Huh?”

“Is there no other reason?”

His eyebrow twitched slightly, as if telling me to speak my true intentions.

“Ah, well…”

I hesitated for a moment.

Honestly, it didn’t have to be Stykia. Since I’d been abandoned here anyway, Duke Agnito would likely declare me dead or missing.

Even so, I had wanted to come to Stykia because it was free.

As the master of a garbage heap, he would take no interest in whatever I did.

And besides…

“Miss.”

“What was your name again?”

“Yes, Hanisha. I know my face is handsome enough to leave even a bride-to-be dazed, but could you try to collect yourself?”

Before my regression, the Duke of Stykia had acted as though he meant to protect me.

I didn’t know why he had tried to protect me—an Agnito.

But whatever the reason, it was true that he had tried.

The only adult who called me by my name, even though I had achieved nothing special.

It felt like that adult would accept me if I stayed here.

Like he would let me breathe.

Of course, I can’t say that out loud….

So I would just give another reason.

Lifting my chin proudly, I declared,

“Because Your Grace—”

“Mmm, me?”

“—seems like the strongest and most handsome person of all!”

Before my regression, I had seen the Duke’s face without the blindfold.

Even in a tense situation, his dazzling appearance had been impossible to ignore.

That part, at least, was completely true.

But something felt strange.

Behind the Duke, the thieves’ mouths were hanging wide open—so wide that the shadows covering them seemed small in comparison.

Only the cold wind filled the space between us.

Did I make a mistake? Reading the room, I quickly added,

“A-And I like the cold, too.”

I emphasized the one thing I had learned in Agnito.

“And I like the dark as well.”

Among children my age, there probably weren’t many as accustomed to darkness as I was.

Bright places were nice—but enduring dark spaces was something I was best at.

Yet the Duke still said nothing.

“I-It doesn’t have to be as your daughter. I’d be fine as a s-servant…”

“……”

“Or I could b-be Your Grace’s eyes—ah!”

So bold just moments ago—

And yet, while approaching him, I tripped over the body of the thief already collapsed at my feet.

At this rate, I’m going to fall.

And onto snow covered in shards of glass!

Thinking that, I squeezed my eyes shut—

“…?”

But I didn’t feel anything.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was my two feet dangling in midair.

The Duke had caught me as I was about to fall. More precisely, I was draped awkwardly over his shin like laundry.

“You’re quite troublesome.”

With a languid sigh, he held onto my coat before I could tumble down.

“Th-Thank you. You’re very kind. I like kind fathers…”

“Mmm. I simply didn’t want another corpse piling up.”

He replied lazily, as though it were a bother, and extended his other hand—signaling me to take it and stand.

The moment I took that hand, I would likely be chased out of the ducal estate.

What should I do? I can’t exactly say I’ve regressed. Should I reveal the secret vault of Duke Agnito instead?

While my mind raced, the Duke suddenly grabbed me by the back of the neck.

“Enough with—”

“Ah!”

“—those other thoughts.”

My body lifted into the air!

Startled, I instinctively reached back and grabbed his wrist. Because his gloves were short, I ended up clutching his bare skin.

And in that instant—

The Duke froze.

I slowly opened my eyes.

He was staring at me. More precisely, at the wrist I was holding.

Well… he can’t actually be looking, since he’s blindfolded.

Worried I had offended him, I hurriedly let go.

“…It’s been a while since someone used this method.”

He muttered in a voice as low as a cavern.

But it didn’t sound displeased. If anything… he sounded amused.

Before I could question it—

“Not bad.”

“……”

“Eyes… yes. Let’s go with that.”

With that lazy murmur, he extended his hand again.

This is…?

I stared blankly at his gloved hand. As if luring prey, he gave it a small beckoning motion.

Take it.

It felt like I heard that whisper.

Without thinking, I clasped his hand.

Yet he still didn’t move.

“…Perhaps not?”

“……?”

“Hmm… Should I take off the glove like before? I’d rather not…”

He only muttered incomprehensible words.

Had I unknowingly violated some noble etiquette?

Reading the situation nervously, I pulled the puppy—no, the demonic beast’s—paw and placed it neatly atop our joined hands.

“Hah.”

A quiet laugh escaped the Duke.

“Your Grace!”

A voice called from afar. People in knight uniforms approached, along with a man wearing a monocle.

At that moment, the Duke suddenly scooped me up.

H-He’s holding me…?

While I stared wide-eyed, the Duke calmly faced the approaching figures.

The knights halted when they saw me.

“Your Grace, you were here… Who is that child? Surely you’re not planning to kill her?”

“Kill her? I should be revering her instead.”

“Revere… her?”

“Who exactly is she?”

“This child is… hmm.”

As if thinking, the Duke glanced back at me.

“What was your name again? I heard it but forgot.”

“Ah, I haven’t told you yet…”

“One cannot become great by worrying over trivialities. So, your name?”

He flicked his hand as if urging me to hurry.

“Hanisha….”

“Yes. Hanisha.”

Repeating my name under his breath, he smiled brightly and said,

“Allow me to introduce my daughter.”

“……Your daughter?”

“Yes. Isn’t she lovely? I can’t see, so I wouldn’t know—but if she resembles me, she must be beautiful. I don’t know the mother’s face either, but she chose a pretty name.”

The Duke answered smoothly.

“Ah… I see.”

“Your daughter, then. I see.”

The knights’ expressions turned indifferent.

Every single one of them wore a look that clearly said, Here we go again.

It couldn’t be helped. Claiming abandoned orphans of Stykia as his own children was nothing new.

Then the Duke tilted his head slowly.

“Your reactions are rather lukewarm. Weren’t you all pestering me to adopt someone?”

But his next words made them stiffen.

“…Adopt?”

“You mean to say you truly intend to take her in as your daughter?”

“Is there such a thing as falsely adopting a child? That would make one quite unfit, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s not what we meant…!”

A knight burst out in frustration.

Amid the commotion, I simply blinked.

Really?

Not just accepting me—but truly intending to adopt me? Just like that?

While I stood there stunned, someone stepped up beside the Duke.

“I expected you might cause trouble somewhere, but I didn’t think it would be this sudden.”

It was the calm-faced man with the monocle.

“Let us escort the young lady inside for now. This way, miss.”

When I was set down from the Duke’s arms, the monocled man naturally extended his hand.

It looked so familiar that I unconsciously took it.

“Ah, but Your Grace.”

Just as we were about to head inside, the man turned back.

“What shall we do with them?”

At his question, the Duke cast a glance toward the thieves. Though their eyes didn’t meet his, the men flinched violently.

“Ah.”

As if only just remembering them, the Duke addressed the monocled man.

“Recover the items they stole.”

“Understood.”

“And.”

The thieves, who had begun to relax at the thought that it would end there, froze.

“They touched what belongs to me. It’s only fair we steal something in return.”

“Shall we take their eyes?”

“That would be fitting. It so happens I’m in need of a pair.”