Chapter 05…
“If you had spoken honestly, I would have answered sooner. Foolish behavior.”
“Father, this child was not brought here for combat purposes.”
“You have a sharp tongue, Gilbert. Even though you know it’s useless.”
“…….”
Wilhelm, having briefly silenced Gilbert, lowered his gaze to look at me.
“I will allow you to be formally enrolled. Though you are still a ward, you shall be treated as the Princess of Grimroir.”
Even someone in a position that couldn’t refuse a military order would be treated as a princess? It seemed I wasn’t the only one who found it shocking.
“That’s outrageous!”
Kaulen jumped up in place.
“This is the person who tried to harm my daughter! How can you allow them into the house instead of punishing them?”
“Do you wish for punishment?”
“Well….”
Pressed by Wilhelm’s authority, Kaulen mumbled.
“Logically speaking, isn’t that the correct course of action? You prevented her from using the medicinal ointment, she caused a disturbance in a solemn place, and also…”
“Yes. You are correct. I intended to overlook it as childish mischief, but if you insist, I too shall demonstrate fairness.”
Thud. Wilhelm’s gaze fell heavily.
Contrary to Kaulen’s expectations, Wilhelm’s head turned toward a blonde girl.
“Ib Maria.”
“I—I didn’t do anything wrong! She fell by herself!”
“If it wasn’t your fault, then why did you heal her?”
A sharp question.
It’s true what they say: someone who is terrifying as an enemy can be reliable as an ally.
‘Strictly speaking, are they even an enemy?’
In my previous life, I had been adopted under Kaulen and lived a repressed life, so I had no meaningful connection to Gilbert or Wilhelm. After the failed negotiations, tensions rose at the border, and the two returned to the battlefield.
‘Kaulen took advantage of that and completely took control of the Grimroir dukedom.’
That’s when Grimroir began its path to ruin. Father destroyed the family, daughter ruined the country—utterly.
“When a maid was injured right in front of you, you didn’t act, yet even though you are young, your actions lack consistency.”
“……sob!”
Ib Maria, hiccuping like a leaking faucet, finally burst into bitter tears.
“Uwaaaah!”
“Father… really. You can just buy a new vase if it breaks. Do you make a child cry over a ruined object?”
You demanded punishment. When your own child misbehaves, it’s cute mischief. When it’s someone else’s child, it becomes a heinous crime?
‘I cannot allow the honor of the family to be tarnished by such a person.’
Gilbert, deeply knowledgeable in swordsmanship, was the most suitable heir for the militaristic Grimroir family, but Kaulen stubbornly insisted on primogeniture. He abandoned old-fashioned brawls and focused on business to run the family, subtly exploiting military secrets. Using the gathered information, he developed weapons and new technologies, achieving commercial success.
But a long tail is bound to be stepped on. The intelligence Kaulen leaked reached the enemy, resulting in massive casualties.
‘This time, the disaster must be prevented. No mistakes.’
The prospective next head of the family was at the academy, so delaying succession was the priority.
Kaulen disappeared down the hallway, coaxing and appeasing his daughter. Wilhelm, who had watched silently, also left without a word.
‘They left without a word. Well, at least my adoption has been approved.’
I now had the most important caretaker.
The only remaining task was to convince Gilbert that I was his biological daughter. That was unlikely to go smoothly.
Gilbert, left alone, held his head and let out a long-suppressed sigh.
“Ha… this just got complicated.”
Injured, I obediently leaned into Gilbert. Judging by his direction, he intended to entrust my treatment to the competent physician in the main house.
Wait. I’ve come this far—it would be a shame to leave empty-handed.
I tugged on Gilbert’s shirt.
“Um… sir. Can we take this with us?”
“The broken vase? It’s fine. Don’t worry. The servants will handle it.”
“No, it’s… I thought we could sell it second-hand and make some money…”
“…….”
Don’t look at me like that.
I have my reasons, okay?
My plan was simple.
Be adopted by a new guardian.
Find allies with shared interests.
To handle matters both inside and outside the family in a child’s body, I needed allies. Step [1] was complete, so it was time to look for potential helpers.
I feigned innocence, pretending to be amazed.
“Wow, amazing! It doesn’t hurt at all after applying the ointment.”
“I’m glad it works,” said the physician, tying off the bandage proudly.
“Really doesn’t hurt?”
For some reason, a mischievous Gilbert pressed the wounded area.
I flailed like a freshly caught fish.
“Eek! What are you doing?!”
“Does it hurt?”
A truly insane person.
“Just in case, I’ll take a few more.”
No. He’s a practical madman.
Judging by how he slyly pocketed the ointment, he clearly had a plan.
Still, it’s important to leave a good impression on the household staff.
“Thank you for treating me, doctor. I’ll see you again.”
As I left the treatment room in Gilbert’s arms, I waved desperately.
“You better not meet them again, brat.”
Gilbert pinched my cheek.
With my cheeks squished like cheese, I blinked and looked up at him.
“What if your ugly face gets more scars?”
Though his tone was harsh, his face clearly showed concern. A tsundere, indeed.
“Ooofff.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Realizing my intent too late, he released his grip on my cheek.
“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
There’s nothing more foolish than stubborn pride. I know when to bend.
But Gilbert’s reaction was unexpected.
“The doctor is the doctor, and I am just ‘sir’?”
He grumbled, dissatisfied. He hadn’t even accepted me as his child, so what did he expect?
“Then… should I call you Dad?”
……
……Huh?
Not doing it?
He turned his head sharply.
“The timing is tricky. I have delayed tasks to handle. Will you eat alone?”
“Yes.”
I knew he was just using it as an excuse to nap, but I didn’t argue—I was hungry.
“I’m curious about the menu. Beef stew with wine and strong coffee?”
“Meatballs and vanilla pudding. Fresh milk.”
Might as well have given me baby food. Reincarnation is great, but this is the problem.
I secretly worried about tampering with the food.
In my previous life, I had often eaten stew with mosquito larvae or meatballs mixed with manure.
‘Was that kind of thing instructed by Ib Maria’s brother?’
He was at the knight academy. Even if a student skipped classes, a generous sponsor could easily get a certificate. The academy with Gilbert’s son was only similar in name.
For whatever reason, with my enemy absent, I could eat comfortably.
Having safely finished my meal, a slight headache hit me without a chance to enjoy the fullness.
“Ugh… not sure I can match it perfectly again.”
A poor brain means a suffering body. Alone in my room, it had worked fine; now I could only hope luck would follow once more.
Nervously, I knocked on the study room door.
Knock knock. The insignificant sound was met with a thunderous voice.
“Who is it?”
St-stay calm… surely he won’t eat me?
“Hello, Head of the House. I’m Levieta. May I come in?”
“You may enter.”
“Uh… the door won’t open, could you…?”
Bang! The large door suddenly swung open, and I leaned forward.
Fortunately, I had something to lean on, or I would have fallen…
Huh? That support… it’s Wilhelm’s leg!
“The door is open. Struggling with such little weight? Fragile body.”
Please consider human standards, not monster standards.
I knelt politely, but he didn’t even glance at me.
“Why have you come? I thought our business was concluded.”
“I have something to show you.”
I dumped the ceramic shards I had brought from the bag onto the table.
