────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 16

The Duke was frowning.

Watching it, Taonel was unknowingly nervous.

“Since when did I care about them?”

“….”

Taonel’s body was frozen. The Duke’s gaze at him, who was so nervous that his fingertips were cold as he repeated his words.

“When did we start to be wary of them?”

“I’m sorry…”

“I know what you’re trying to say. And, I know it’s not bad to be careful.”

After saying that, he remained silent for a while, but Taonel was even more nervous.

“However, if we do what you say, the temple and Imperial Family will act bolder to us.”

“That’s right.”

“Then, why did you say it even though you knew that?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it.”

The Duke briefly clucked his tongue. He then said,

“The Imperial Family was always wary of Creighton Dukedom, anyway. We have mines and monsters. Adding one more doesn’t make a difference.”

“But…”

“The temple? Do you think they would dare to attack a place where the child of fate lives?”

“Eurenia and Jerome…”

“What about those two?”

After saying that, the duke seemed to be thinking for a while.

“If they were to come back…”

“Taonel, I think I have to send you on a mission.”

When the Duke said that, he hurriedly lowered his head.

“Yes.”

[ ‘The Librarian of Nipur’ said that a change will take place. ]

I paused, seeing the message window in front of me while reading fairy tales.

Change…?

I scratched my head when I heard that change was suddenly taking place. I’ve never seen a message window like this before.

What is it? Is there a change?

‘…Oh, no way?’

There’s only one thing that could be related to me here.

‘The children of the duke will come back?’

Obviously, they are studying abroad. Is there any reason they would be back?

Well, I’m not sure about that. They must’ve come back for a reason. What’s important is next.

Now, how should I deal with this?

I tried to think for a while, but soon realized that it was useless.

‘Ah, whatever.’

What’s the point of imagining it when I don’t even know the children’s personalities? I’ll think about it after they come.

Nonetheless, I should be careful, though.

Since my final purpose is just to gaze at the main characters from afar, I should avoid any incidents. Still, It would be nice if I could figure everything out…

However, I can’t even figure out why the Duke signed a contract with the demons in the original story. It’s funny that even though I wrote it down myself, I didn’t even know anything. Why would the duke even do something that would make him be treated as the enemy of mankind…?

‘I don’t know.’

I honestly have no idea.

Since no information is given, I can’t think or deduce anything hastily either.

Eventually, I closed the children’s book that I had opened up. Then, as if it had been waiting, Sita approached and sat next to me.

‘Ah, right, Sita.’

[ ‘Guardian of the Golden Field’ looks at it with high expectations. ]

It’s not just a cat, is it?

[ Of course, because it has to help the Creator. It couldn’t be normal. ]

Meow.

I stroked the meowing Sita’s head as if I knew nothing.

Well, um, why would it not be normal, though? What makes it not normal?

I headed to the snack box, ignoring the message window that popped up. I just need to eat and wait for things to unfold peacefully. When something comes up, I might not be able to eat this tasty thing anymore.

And, exactly a week later, the Duke’s children, Eurenia and Jerome, returned to the mansion.

“Sophie, are you all busy?”

Today, the maids were very busy.

As I asked her that, Sophie replied with a small smile, perhaps embarrassed.

“Yes, Eurenia and Jerome are coming back today.”

“Who is it?”

“It’s the young lady and master.”

It’s the daughter and son of the Duke. Finally, the children are back.

“I should meet them, too?”

“Of course, Miss Beatrice.”

I was smiling while saying that, though Sophie, on the other hand, was not smiling at all. I think I can understand. She’s worried if I’ll be accepted by the kids or not, right?

‘Sophie is nice.’

She cared about me like that. Of course, you may say it’s natural for an adult to pay attention to a child, but that’s not the case in this kind of environment. People’s attitudes change due to power and wealth.

Besides, I’m merely an adopted child. I think it’s better for Sophie to be nice to Eurenia or Jerome better than me.

“Then, I’ll wear pretty clothes and wait.”

I’m proud that my tongue didn’t slip that much these days. Yes, I have to wait in pretty clothes. First impression is important, after all.

“Of course, Beatrice. The Duke sent you clothes.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Can you choose the outfit you like?”

When the maids put the clothes on hangers, I was honestly tired of seeing the maids bring many clothes for me to choose.

‘Why do they have so many clothes for kids…?’

It’s a waste because I can’t wear it again once I got older. Oh, I can’t think like that. The Duke is rich, so this is nothing.

I chose a dress and changed, confirming that the dress I chose was great.

As expected, diamond is the best.

“You arrived?”

When I arrived at the drawing room with Sophie, the Duke said as though he was waiting for me.

“Come here.”

He spoke as he gently beckoned. It seemed that the Duke’s eyes become gentle when he saw me.

“Did you hear that Eurenia and Jerome are coming today?”

I nodded.

Seeing that, he then reached out and gently patted my head. “It’s your siblings. You don’t have to be so nervous.”

“They might not like me…”

“Why do you think so?”

“Just because.”

I said it nonchalantly, but I didn’t say anything wrong. Since a commoner has been adopted into a noble household, what would noble children think?

“You don’t know that unless you’ve met them.”

The Duke said so as if reassuring me not to worry. I nodded calmly at the words.

Moments later, the Duke picked up a cookie and handed it over. When I received about three cookies and ate them, I heard that the children had finally arrived.

Then, the Duke stood up from his seat, holding me in his arms. He strode to the entrance of the mansion.

The entrance was noisy. And, strangely, I felt like I could hear a sharp cry of birds.

‘…What?’

I wondered what was going on and opened my mouth at the sight.

Behind the luxurious carriage, two large griffins were raising their heads as they nervously flapped their wings. Next to the griffins, there were people in armor lined up as escorts.

“Father!”

As the carriage door opened, the boy ran out. There was still baby fat left on him, though if he was older, it seemed like he would make several women cry later.

“Father, I’m back.”

A blonde girl got off after the boy. The girl was also as attractive as the boy. She would definitely make men cry when she’s older.

Is it the power of genetics?

They’re young, yet it felt like they have halo on their heads.

I gazed at the Duke and the children alternately with such thought. The children’s eyes were also facing this way.

As the Duke carefully put me down, he immediately reached out and grabbed my hand.

“You’re back safely. Eurenia, Jerome.”

The children blinked seeing me. It seemed as if they didn’t know the current situation.

“Okay, you can greet each other.”

With that said, the Duke gestured to me.

Good. I’ll say hello first.

“H-hello…”

But, I’m still a little scared! Suddenly meeting your sibling like this is very awkward.

After greeting, I held the Duke’s pants and hesitated to hide behind him. Seeing that, he narrowed his eyes slightly and said, looking at the children.

“She’s Beatrice. I informed you about her in the letter. She will live in a mansion with us.”

No, wait! Duke, you’ve gone too fast!

I wanted to scream at the Duke’s actions. How can you throw a bomb like this as soon as the children came back from studying somewhere else?

Even if they know by letter, hearing directly will be different than reading about it.

I knew he was not good at dealing with children, although I didn’t know it would be this bad.

I regretted not making the settings properly and carefully. Even though I have regretted it several times so far, I don’t think it was this much…

With anxiety, I hid behind the Duke and peered at the children.

After a while, the girl, Eurenia, came forward.

The child’s eyes, which approached with incredibly light and elegant steps as a child, were red, resembling the Duke.

No, in the current situation, I thought they looked unnecessarily alike.

Her eyes are so cold that they don’t look like children!

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────