BRTV 09

Chapter – 09

“……”

“……”

Silence filled the bathroom.

But somehow…

I wasn’t afraid of the Duke anymore.

Maybe it was because…

This powerful man was kneeling in front of a child…

Carefully washing her feet.

Soon, we left the bathroom.

The moment the door opened, Lea—who had been anxiously waiting outside—hurried over.

The Duke gently handed me to her.

“Take her and apply some medicine.”

“Yes?”

“Medicine.”

“O-Oh! Right, medicine!”

Still flustered, Lea and the maids hurried down the hallway.

They were moving so quickly it was almost like running.

As soon as they entered my room, the maids collapsed onto chairs, catching their breath.

Lea carefully dried my wet hair.

Then she softly whispered,

“It’s alright, little one.”

“……”

“No one’s angry with you.”

“……”

“Everything is alright.”

Her gentle voice was so comforting…

That tears slowly welled up in my eyes.

For the next several days…

I lived in constant anxiety.

But the Duke truly never scolded me.

He didn’t report the Newt incident to the Empress.

He didn’t send me back to the capital.

He didn’t even show the slightest sign of anger.

And…

He didn’t throw away the flower I picked.

It wasn’t even a carefully cultivated flower.

Just a tiny wildflower that had happened to bloom in the garden.

Yet…

That little flower now rested inside the luxurious vase in the Duke’s office.

Seeing such an ordinary wildflower standing proudly inside such an expensive vase…

Made my heart strangely warm.

What exactly is he thinking?

If it had been anyone else…

I would’ve simply assumed they couldn’t bear to throw away a flower a child had picked in the middle of the night.

But this is Duke Dubblede.

Theodore Dubblede.

The man infamous for slaughtering countless innocent people.

Yet…

Ever since that day…

He had become noticeably gentler toward me.

This is so delicious!

The chicken, coated in a sweet sauce blended with fragrant spices…

Was unbelievably good.

The meat was tender.

The sauce was perfectly sweet and savory.

“……”

Why is he staring at me?

Does he want some?

Afraid he might steal my precious chicken drumstick…

I quickly pulled my plate closer.

The Duke’s eyebrow twitched.

That’s so unfair.

You’re already eating huge lamb steaks.

And now you’re eyeing a child’s meal too?

I was already grateful enough that he had overlooked the Newt incident.

After all…

Newt was an incredibly precious treasure.

When it had once fallen into the Emperor’s possession…

Even the Pope personally visited the Imperial Palace, requesting that it be entrusted to the Church.

Its historical value alone was immeasurable.

And its practical uses were endless.

After hesitating for quite a while…

I reluctantly broke off part of my precious chicken drumstick.

Holding it out with a sorrowful expression, I said,

“I’ll gwive it to you.”

(I’ll give it to you.)

The Duke stared at the tiny drumstick in silence.

“What…”

A short laugh escaped him.

“I’d really like to cut open your head…”

“To see what’s inside.”

Cut open… my head?

Terrified…

I immediately grabbed my head with both hands.

“Owpen it and ywo die!”

(Open it and you’ll die!)

A burst of laughter came from the doorway.

Nos had entered carrying a stack of papers.

He awkwardly cleared his throat after noticing the Duke’s gaze.

“Your Excellency.”

“This is the list of possible gifts for the Emperor.”

“What will replace the Newt?”

“We managed to secure a very promising item from some traders.”

“We’ve been informed it should arrive sometime this afternoon.”

So…

They had already found a replacement for the Newt.

I have no idea what it is…

But it must be unimaginably expensive.

Still…

I’m glad they found another one.

If Dubblede had intended to present the Newt to the Emperor…

Then they were surely expecting something valuable in return.

If that deal collapsed because of me…

My adoption would probably disappear along with it.

The item those traders found must be something extraordinary.

But…

I don’t remember hearing about any treasure valuable enough to replace the Newt around this time.

Without thinking…

I quietly murmured,

“Twade…”

(Trade…)

Nos smiled.

“Are you curious about traders?”

“Ung?”

“A trader is someone who buys and sells goods between different countries.”

Come to think of it…

That probably was a difficult concept for a child.

So I widened my eyes.

“Wow!”

Pretending to be amazed.

“You want to see the traders?”

“Yes… thwat’s wight.”

(Yes, that’s right.)

Honestly…

I wasn’t curious about the traders themselves.

I was curious about what they had brought.

“You can come take a look.”

“They’ve brought many unusual items.”

“It’ll be fun.”

I’d love to.

But…

I secretly glanced at the Duke.

What if he thinks I’ll accidentally destroy something again?

Fortunately…

He said nothing.

Good thing I shared my chicken with you.

Soon afterward…

The Duke and Nos left the dining hall to continue discussing the Emperor’s birthday.

While waiting for the traders to arrive…

Lea took me to the library.

“You haven’t seen Dubblede Castle’s library yet, have you?”

“No.”

“It’s enormous.”

“There are books everywhere.”

The moment Lea pushed open the doors…

My eyes nearly popped out.

Oh my…

What an incredible library!

The room was as large as a riding arena.

The ceiling stretched impossibly high.

A magnificent spiral staircase wound upward through the center.

Bookshelves covered every floor.

Each shelf towered over three meters tall.

Not a single space stood empty.

Countless books filled every corner.

I slowly wandered toward the fairy tale section.

“Go ahead.”

“Pick whichever one you like!”

The maids smiled brightly.

They looked exactly like proud parents watching their child choose a favorite book.

Under those overwhelming gazes…

I awkwardly stood before the shelves.

I still have to pretend I can’t read.

I’d better just choose something with a pretty cover.

As I searched for the most colorful book…

Something unusual caught my eye.

Huh?

There’s no title.

The book’s cover was completely blank.

Even stranger…

Only half the book remained.

The other half had been cleanly torn away.

Curious…

I opened it.

This isn’t a fairy tale…

The greatest achievement of the Holy Founding Emperor Frid I was the defeat of the Evil Spirits.

According to Ivan’s records, there are two conditions required for an Evil Spirit to manifest.

First… contact with the New Material, the catalyst that awakens dormant power.

Second… obtaining a suitable medium capable of wielding that power.

That was all.

The remaining pages had been torn away.

That’s it?

It’s so short…

Just then…

Lea called me.

“Little Miss?”

“Have you chosen one?”

Startled…

I quickly put the strange book back where I found it.

Then I randomly grabbed another book beside it.

“Let’s go read together.”

Holding Lea’s hand…

I quietly left the library.

The maids enthusiastically acted out every fairy tale they read.

They were wonderful storytellers.

But…

My thoughts remained elsewhere.

That strange…

Untitled book.

Why would a book about Evil Spirits be kept there?

The topic felt uncomfortably familiar.

The Evil Spirit…

Was connected to me.

The righteous Goddess…

Mother of the Empire…

Had once sealed away the Evil Spirit, humanity’s greatest enemy.

But over countless years…

The seal weakened.

Only Mina…

The Child of Fate…

Could restore it.

And I…

Was sacrificed during that ritual.

The ceremony had been unimaginably painful.

Whenever I remembered it…

Hatred surged through me.

My expression darkened.

Lea noticed immediately.

“Why do you look so sad?”

I couldn’t tell her the truth.

So I quickly made something up.

“Bewcause I’m scawed of lions.”

(Because I’m scared of lions.)

“Kyaa!”

The maids squealed.

“Our baby is afraid of lions!”

They immediately pinched and rubbed both of my cheeks.

I could only endure it with watery eyes.

Just then…

A commotion echoed from outside.

Lea cracked open the door and looked into the hallway.

“It seems the traders have arrived.”

She reached out her hand.

“Shall we go take a look?”

I quietly took Lea’s hand.

Together…

We left the room.

When we arrived…

The Duke was already seated upon an elegant ivory chair.

Behind him hung the Emperor’s tapestry.

Covered in ancient script…

It symbolized the military might of House Dubblede.

Standing before him…

Was a man who appeared to be one of the traders.

The instant I saw his face…

I recognized him.

Why is that swindler here?!

Turva.

The merchant.

The very man who would later become one of the Empire’s most wanted criminals…

After selling forged paintings to the Imperial Family.