Chapter 29
Because Daphne’s body was weaker than Theophanes had expected, she ended up bedridden for several more days.
Hearing this news, Jacquette ran straight to Daphne’s room. But this time, unlike before, Becky stood firmly in front of the door.
“ Is Mom sick again…?”
“Yes, young lady.”
“Then I want to stay with her.”
Jacquette anxiously shifted her weight from foot to foot, eager to go inside.
But Becky didn’t budge.
“No, you can’t. The Duke gave strict orders.”
“Dad? But what does ‘strict orders’ mean…?”
Jacquette tilted her head, confused by the unfamiliar words.
Becky thought for a moment, trying to explain in simpler terms.
“Well… Since it’s cold this time, he told me to stop you from going in because you might catch it too.”
Seeing Becky standing so firmly by the door, more serious than ever, Jacquette’s expression fell.
“Dad said that…?”
“Yes….”
Jacquette’s big eyes wavered, and Becky suddenly felt guilty, as if she were the bad guy.
She was sure the young lady knew just how to look pitiful on purpose.
Becky struggled to keep her resolve, forcing herself to stay firm.
“Really…?”
“Yes.”
Jacquette saw Becky’s eyebrows droop slightly. That look on Becky’s face told her she wouldn’t give in this time.
Realizing there was no way to get inside, Jacquette turned around. Disappointed, she stumbled a little as she walked away before dramatically collapsing onto the floor in the middle of the hallway.
She looked like a tragic heroine from a novel.
“Young lady…?”
Where did she even learn to act like this?
Becky started to rush forward to help Jacquette up.
But before she could reach her, Jacquette suddenly sprang to her feet, looking as if she had made up her mind about something.
She turned swiftly and marched toward Becky.
“Where can I find Dad?”
“The Duke is on this floor. Just go all the way to the opposite side of Madam’s room…”
“Thanks!”
“Young lady, what are you planning?”
“It’s a secret!”
With her short legs, Jacquette ran off in the direction Becky had pointed.
But she hadn’t thought about one thing—the mansion was too big.
She ran and ran, but the long hallway tired her out. Soon, she was panting, stopping to catch her breath.
Just then, she sensed someone nearby.
She looked down at the shoes in front of her, then slowly lifted her head.
“Young lady?”
“Uh… uh….”
She had seen this person in the training grounds a few days ago.
But she couldn’t remember his name.
“I’m Emil.”
“Oh, Emil!”
Even though Emil told her his name, Jacquette responded as if she had remembered it herself.
Seeing this, Emil chuckled warmly.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was going to see Dad, but I got tired, so I stopped to rest.”
Unlike Becky, Jacquette tried her best to sound mature.
She knew from a very young age that adults didn’t like kids who threw tantrums.
So, whenever she was around new people, she acted like the quiet and obedient child she had been at the orphanage.
“I’m heading that way too. Want me to take you?”
“Really?”
Jacquette’s eyes widened in surprise at Emil’s offer.
Her legs were a little sore, after all…
“Yes, I can even give you a piggyback ride.”
“A piggyback ride? What’s that…?”
Before she could finish asking, Emil suddenly lifted her.
“Ahh! W-Wait…!”
Jacquette panicked as Emil placed her on his shoulders.
Startled, she instinctively grabbed a handful of his hair, clutching tightly.
“Ow, ow! Young lady, you don’t have to hold that tight!”
“But… It’s scary.”
She felt like she might fall at any moment.
But Emil looked like he was in pain…
After thinking for a moment, Jacquette slowly released his hair.
“See? You can hold my hands instead.”
Emil reached up, offering his hands, and Jacquette quickly grabbed them.
Just as he said, holding his hands made her feel more stable, and she didn’t feel like she was about to fall anymore.
“Emil’s piggyback ride is ready to go!”
As soon as she held on, Emil started walking again.
From up high, everything looked so different—it was fun!
At some point, both of them forgot their original destination.
“Emil, again! Do it again!”
What started as walking turned into running through the hallway.
They had already gone back and forth several times, but as an Umbra knight, Emil showed no sign of exhaustion.
“You two are planning to keep this up until sunset, I see.”
In the middle of their fun, a voice made them freeze.
Turning around, they saw Theophanes standing by the door of his office, arms crossed.
“Huff… Master…”
“I thought a wild colt was running loose, but turns out it was my student and my daughter.”
“Haha… A colt, you say…?”
“The paperwork you were supposed to bring me—where is it, Emil Dudley?”
Hearing this, Emil’s mouth dropped open.
He had been holding it… but now, it was gone.
His mind raced.
“Jacquette, come down now.”
“Okay—”
Jacquette, who had been holding onto Emil’s hands, naturally reached for Theophanes when he stretched out his arms.
She was a little sad, but she knew she couldn’t ask Emil to play with her forever.
“I should go find the documents….”
Seizing the chance, Emil hurried off to search for the missing paperwork.
Jacquette waved enthusiastically as he ran off.
“How did you run into Emil?”
“I was going to see Dad…”
As Theophanes asked, Jacquette remembered her original purpose and grabbed onto his clothes.
“Dad!”
“Yes?”
Hearing Jacquette’s urgent call, Theophanes knelt at her eye level.
“You promised to make Mom happy!”
At her sudden outburst, Theophanes took a moment to process what she was saying.
“You got kicked out of Mom’s room, didn’t you?”
Jacquette nodded furiously, placing her hands on her hips.
“You promised to make her happy, so I agreed to call you Dad.”
“I’m trying to make her happy right now.”
“But how can being sick make her happy?!”
“That’s an unexpected complication.”
“A complication what?”
“A problem I didn’t see coming.”
“Hmm…”
Even after his explanation, Jacquette still seemed confused.
Watching her, Theophanes thought he might need to find a teacher for her soon.
Daphne wanted to wait until Jacquette settled in, but at this point, she could probably learn while adjusting.
“Anyway! You promised to make Mom happy, and a promise is a promise!”
Hearing her determined words, Theophanes thought she might have a knack for negotiation in the future.
“A promise is a promise!”
“Then…”
As he smoothed down her messy hair, an idea crossed his mind, and he smirked.
Then, he placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and put on a serious expression.
“Jacquette, if you do this one thing, I think Mom will be even happier.”
Jacquette’s face turned just as serious.
“What is it?”
“It’s…”
