Chapter 9
“Morality?”
It sounded like a very grand word.
The Duke froze for a moment when he saw the look in my eyes — as if he hadn’t meant to bring that up at all.
But he had already mentioned noblesse oblige, and I was looking up at him, expecting an explanation.
“…Those who have. Yes, you’re one of them — we are the ones who have.”
I didn’t quite understand.
The Duke sat on the edge of the table. Since the desk was quite low, it looked like a chair for him.
He picked up a blank sheet of paper and held out his hand to me.
“Pen.”
“Ah… here.”
I handed him my quill, embarrassed because it was stained with ink.
‘If I’d known, I would’ve cleaned it first.’
But the Duke didn’t care. He took it and began to sketch something quickly on the paper.
Even though his hand moved fast, his lines were beautiful.
“Here. Can you see?”
“Yes.”
I hunched my shoulders slightly and looked down at the paper.
“These are the nobles, these are the middle class, these are the commoners, and these are the slaves.”
He had drawn a large triangle divided by four horizontal lines.
At the very top point of the triangle, he drew a small crown.
“And at the very top,” he said, “is the royal family.”
Then he continued:
“There is no pope in the Haspelt Empire. The Emperor holds divine authority himself. So above this…”
He drew something above the pyramid.
“There are only the Divine Beasts.”
It looked like an animal — part lion, part dragon. The sketch wasn’t detailed, so I couldn’t tell exactly what it was.
When I looked up, the Duke was watching me. He pointed the tip of the quill toward me and said:
“And you are above even those Divine Beasts.”
“…What?”
“It’s a famous saying from the Empire’s founding myth: Above the Emperor stands the Divine Beast, and above the Divine Beast…”
He paused.
“…is the Child of Prophecy.”
Then he wrote four letters above the animal drawing:
‘Adel.’
“I… don’t really understand.”
“You will, eventually. I heard from Ehin that your attitude in class is exemplary. Well done — keep it up.”
“…”
More praise. My eyes went round in surprise.
“One month. You only need to endure one more month.”
The Duke rummaged through his pocket and took out a white handkerchief, wiping the ink from his fingers.
‘One month…’
The words made my breath hitch.
Come to think of it, Ehin had also said before class, ‘I look forward to working with you this month.’
So… does that mean I’ll be abandoned after a month?
“Would you like to wipe your hands too?”
He offered me the handkerchief.
It was smudged black here and there with ink. I nodded silently.
The handkerchief had gold embroidery stitched into it.
‘Beasirta.’
‘…Bea…sir…ta.’
I sounded out the letters under my breath. Probably the name of whoever gave it to him.
It looked expensive — smooth, soft, and unfrayed.
It carried a calm, subtle scent.
It was still warm from his hand, and somehow, that made me feel guilty as I wiped my fingers.
When I looked up to return it, he was watching me with a curious expression.
“Thank you.”
I handed it back. He tucked it into his breast pocket, then glanced at the paper again.
“In times like these, some nobles shirk their duty to serve in the military. But that’s not right. Nobles must give because they are nobles. Whether it’s for commoners or slaves — in the gravest situations, they must be willing to lay down their lives.”
I stared at him.
I’d never heard a noble say something like that before.
I still didn’t understand why the Child of Prophecy had to be a noble lady, or for how long I would remain one… but for that moment, I was glad that this Duke was my father.
‘So that’s how it is…’
It hit me all at once.
This wasn’t a dream.
This was real. He was truly an adult — my guardian, my father, my family.
‘It feels strange.’
I’d thought of him as Father before. I’d even called him that — though never in front of him.
But now… he really felt like a father.
“The price of a luxurious life must one day be paid. There’s no people who’ll serve a noble who only takes and never gives.”
He said it so matter-of-factly, as though it were obvious that I was a noble.
That calm, cool gaze met mine — steady and sharp.
It felt strange. Unfamiliar.
‘Just a little while ago, I was still an orphan — a commoner.’
Wasn’t it too fast to adjust to all this?
Everyone called me “Lady,” but I was still used to the warmth of sleeping beside Madeleine at the orphanage.
Yet the Duke truly saw me as someone noble, precious.
“Noblesse oblige… I’ll remember it.”
Something tickled deep inside my chest.
I let out a shaky breath.
It felt like snowflakes landing on my eyelashes, or like soft foxtail grass brushing against my cheek.
Just being aware of my breathing made it feel unnatural — and being aware of his gaze made it hard to remember how to make a normal expression.
The Duke was looking right at me.
I smiled — any smile I could manage. His red eyes made him look intense, even when he wasn’t trying.
“I wish someone had told me that when I was your age.”
He leaned back lazily and rummaged through his coat again.
Seeing his indifferent face made me shrink a little, and that’s when Michael, standing behind him, stepped forward.
“Your Grace, children shouldn’t be exposed to—”
“I quit.”
The Duke cut him off curtly.
What he pulled out wasn’t a cigarette — it was a long, white candy stick.
Holding it between his fingers, he muttered irritably,
“Whose idea was it that candy helps you quit smoking?”
Then he cursed under his breath and bit down on it.
His dark, dignified face looked strangely fitting with the candy — ridiculous, yet somehow natural.
“It tastes awful.”
He said it so seriously that I almost laughed.
He snapped the stick in half between his fingers; fine white dust scattered in the air.
Michael raised an eyebrow, then quietly stepped back. The Duke shrugged and stood up.
“Are you leaving like this?”
“Should I not?”
The Duke’s tone was flat.
Michael glanced at me; the Duke followed his gaze.
‘Is he really leaving?’
I got up from my chair. It was so tall that I had to stand on tiptoe just to reach the floor.
I hurried over to the Duke and bowed politely.
“Goodbye.”
“See? Even she says I can go.”
“Your Grace, that’s not what I—”
“Then what?”
Michael fell silent.
The Duke frowned slightly and turned to face me again.
He was enormous — tall enough to block out the light, like the moon covering the sun.
I looked up at him.
We’d grown a little closer than when we first met. And I liked him more now.
I’d liked him before, because he was family — but the more time we spent together, the more I liked him for him.
Noblesse oblige.
Such a beautiful phrase. I savored the first words he’d ever taught me.
“Um… could you hold out your hand?”
“My hand?”
“Just… in the air, like this.”
I demonstrated, stretching my arm into the air.
He looked puzzled but did as I asked, extending his hand.
His palm hovered just above my head.
Then I stepped forward — and rubbed my head against his palm.
“…?!”
His hand was warm.
Not like the warmth that lingered in the handkerchief — this was softer, gentler.
Even though I was the one moving, it felt like he was petting me.
‘When I finally had a family… I wanted the first thing to be someone patting my head.’
The Duke just stared at me, stunned.
It felt even better than I’d imagined — real, vivid, nothing like a dream.
Tera’s face turned red, like she’d just seen an adorable teddy bear.
“Ah! Break the building, why don’t you!” she shouted, punching Fabian next to her in embarrassment.
Poor Fabian, who hadn’t even done anything, just pouted without a word.
Everyone was looking at me.
I quickly stepped back, nervous.
What if he’s upset?
But the Duke just stood there, his hand still frozen midair.
Then, slowly, he turned his palm over and stared at it.
After a long silence, he spoke.
“…Did you wash your hair?”
“…”
If I hadn’t, he probably would’ve pulled out another handkerchief.
At the orphanage, I couldn’t wash my hair often, but here, I did every day.
I remembered washing it before bed last night and nodded.
“Yes.”
“…”
Michael’s face looked less than pleased.
The Duke seemed to think for a moment — then lightly rested his hand on my head.
‘Ah— heavy.’
Rather than a gentle pat, it felt more like he tapped my head.
Clumsy. No softness at all.
“Child, you just wanted to be praised, didn’t you.”
Then he withdrew his hand.
I couldn’t see my own face, but the Duke looked down at me and… smiled faintly.
“Grow up well.”
“You too, Your Grace.”
This time, he truly walked away.
He had drawn close without a sound — and left the same way.
Michael met my eyes and bowed slightly, whispering an apology.
I was happy.
All he did was pat my head — and I was happy.
‘It tickles.’
I couldn’t stop smiling.
‘Studying really is amazing.’
My trust in Michael grew even stronger. Violet eyes don’t lie — they’re too pretty for that.
Sarina carefully escorted me back, and my guards fretted over every step I took.
I was just walking a little faster because I was happy, but they looked like they feared I might fall.
“You must sleep early.”
That was the first thing I said as soon as we reached the white building. Michael’s words had become law to me.
Sarina replied kindly,
“Yes, my lady. I’ve already prepared your bathwater. The chef is making a special dessert for you — enjoy it after your bath and rest at your leisure. The sun has only just set.”
At the word dessert, my eyes widened.
“It means a sweet treat. The chef is the cook.”
“Wow…”
A treat?
Just having proper meals every day made me happy — but snacks too?
My mouth watered.
‘I’m so happy.’
Was it really okay to feel this happy?
Would I suddenly be punished for being a bad child who had it too easy?
But no one scolded me.
Even when I dozed off in the bath holding a rubber duck, Sarina only smiled.
They dried my hair, and when the dessert was placed before me, everyone treated me gently — as if I were precious.
Nom.
I cut a piece of cake and put it in my mouth.
Sweetness spread across my tongue.
I was happy.
