Chapter 7
The children were led to the drawing room in groups of five. Every one of them had a determined expression on their face. They were probably all dreaming of being adopted into the Duke’s household.
But a few moments later, the children who returned from the drawing room all had teary eyes.
“That was so scary…”
“What happened? What did they ask?”
“They didn’t ask anything really, b-but… his eyes were scary…”
The kids waiting in line grew tense as well. Seriously, Duke Villain, are you here to conduct a high-pressure interview?
After about three groups of kids returned, it was my turn. I had recovered enough to walk, and Elver also rose from his seat.
“Elver, are you going too?”
“I have to be by Father’s side anyway.”
“…Yeah.”
I gave Elver a light pat on the shoulder. For a moment, Elver gently touched the hand I had placed there.
Even as you’re heading back to hell, you’re still trying to comfort me. I hope you find the saint soon.
Soon, I stood before the Duke with four other children. Elver naturally took his seat beside the Duke.
The Duke didn’t spare a single glance at his son and looked down at us. His blue eyes rippled like waves.
A characteristic of those who possess the power of the Silver Dragon sleeping beneath the northern lands. Thanks to this, Duke Schlayger could control snow and ice.
The children, not knowing why, squirmed as a strange chill crept up their legs.
“More little ones, I see.”
Even his voice was cold.
“I won’t ask your name or age. Just tell me what you can do.”
It really was a pressure interview!
The children racked their little brains in thought. The child on the far right spoke first.
“I… I can eat bread without spilling!”
“I don’t cry even when I’m hungry!”
“I can read!”
“I’m good at greeting people!”
The one who claimed they could read puffed out their chest proudly. That was indeed rare in this orphanage.
That kid kept sneaking glances at me, maybe seeing me as their main rival.
Don’t worry.
I—
“I’m good at burping!”
The other kids’ eyes went wide. One of the Duke’s attendants, who had remained expressionless until now, covered their forehead for the first time. But I didn’t stop.
“I can do it anytime, anywhere!”
‘What can you do?’
That’s a question interviewers throw out to weed out troublemakers. They know everyone will try to say good things, so why bother asking?
Of course, the Duke isn’t here to take the best kid. He just wants someone suitable as a scapegoat.
Which means… in situations like this, you have to act like a walking red flag! Like, “If you get involved with this one, you’re doomed!”
“…”
The Duke looked at me. I raised my pinky finger to land the finishing blow.
“I can pick my nose, too.”
“Enough.”
The attendant stopped me.
The Duke turned his icy gaze toward the girl who said she could greet well and the one who could read. Both were girls.
The relief of no longer being a candidate lasted only a moment. Thinking about their future made me a little sad…
A life of emotional torment under a cold-blooded Duke, ending in death six years later. Knowing that, could I really let these innocent little girls be taken away? Wouldn’t future me regret that?
Just then, as the Duke lifted his finger—
“Father.”
Elver suddenly grabbed the Duke’s hand and moved it—pointing it at me.
Huh? Elver?
“Father, please take this child.”
“…Oh? And why is that?”
“She’s the brightest and healthiest child in the facility.”
The Duke’s gaze shifted back to me.
Please look at someone else! Don’t mess with the weird kid who proudly said she could pick her nose!
But the Duke seemed intrigued by me.
“Name. Age.”
“…Sol. I don’t really know my age.”
“You look a bit younger than Elver. Perfect for the youngest of the family.”
“Ugh, I don’t want a big brother!”
I stuck out my lip in a pout. Come on, lose interest already! Just leave this headstrong girl behind!
But then, Elver spoke with a hurt expression.
“Sol… you called me ‘big brother’ earlier…”
That was because I thought you were going to be taken away!
As I fumbled for words, the Duke’s lips curled slightly.
“What’s this about?”
“Uh… well…”
“Someone explain.”
The Duke raised his hand again. As the swirling cold began to form into the shape of a sword, the assistant teacher jumped in.
“When the Count tried to kidnap the young master, Sol clung to him to stop him.”
“Elver, is that true?”
“Yes. Sol risked her life to save me.”
“You owe her a great debt. Then as a father, I must repay it.”
The cold that had gathered like blades suddenly dissipated.
Amid a flurry of snowflakes like cherry blossoms, the silver-haired man rose and bowed before me.
His undulating blue eyes locked with mine. Like a deep sea trench from which you could never escape, he pronounced my fate.
“Sol, from this moment on, you are my daughter.”
* * *
A girl with black hair and amber eyes.
The girl I had possessed—of whom I knew nothing else—was adopted into the Schlayger duchy under the name ‘Sol’. One piece of paper with her name and information was all it took.
“The director said you were found in the snowfields. You don’t remember anything else?”
“No. I was at the orphanage when I woke up.”
“Tell me if you remember. For now, we’ll say you’re ten years old.”
The Duke settled everything concerning me simply.
The Count and his followers were reported as having died in an avalanche on the mountain road. Their corpses would be eaten by wild animals and insects.
The assistant teacher and the orphanage director received a hefty bribe for their silence. Of course, they wouldn’t be laughing forever—if they ran their mouths, they’d lose their heads.
At least the cupboards were now full, and the children were thrilled.
The kids came to the door to say goodbye.
“Bye, Sol!”
“Lucky you! When you become a noble lady, bring us some delicious food!”
Will I live long enough to become one? I smiled as best I could and waved to the kids.
We weren’t even that close, but kids are kids. They all saw me off with sincere expressions—some teary-eyed, some jealous, some sad.
Jackson was bawling. The ones who were always the most grumpy tended to cry the most at farewells.
After patting his broad back, Elver and I climbed into the Duke’s carriage.
There were two carriages. One for Duke Schlayger and his attendant, and another for Elver and me.
After the carriage set off, I asked Elver,
“Elver, why did you tell him to take me?”
“Huh? Why? You don’t want to?”
“I said I didn’t want to be adopted!”
“Still, this place was too awful. My father isn’t exactly a good man, but at least he won’t feed you to monsters!”
“…”
I grabbed my head.
I knew it. This kid really meant well. How could I tell him, “Your father is going to kill me!”?
“Sigh…”
All I could do was sigh.
Can I really change my fate? In those transmigration romance novels, the characters use their knowledge of the plot to prepare.
But I had possessed a throwaway side character who exists only to highlight the villain’s cruelty. Who knows what happened to her during those six years? Probably not even the author!
Besides, that “cold-blooded duke” from the novel… his blue eyes were terrifying.
Just remembering them made my hands tremble.
At that moment—
“Sol.”
Elver reached out and grabbed my hand tightly.
“My father is, uh, really scary and weird.”
“…I noticed.”
“But still… I’m the one who brought you with me!”
With those clear blue eyes—still as calm as spring water—Elver said as if making a vow,
“If it makes you feel safe, I’ll become whoever I need to be.”
A twelve-year-old boy’s vow.
I stared blankly at Elver’s face.
Maybe in Korean age he’d be in sixth grade or first year of middle school? If I were still my original self, Han Seyul, I would’ve laughed and found it adorable. Like, “Oh my, this little guy’s trying to take responsibility?”
But… maybe since I’ve gotten used to this body, my thoughts have regressed too? Or maybe…
Maybe I was remembering those days in the orphanage, when I had no one to depend on. My eyes started to sting.
I quickly leaned back against the seat.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. I’m not relying on you.”
“…Sol, are you crying?”
“Why would I cry!”
“But your eyes—”
“Why are you staring at my eyes? Is it because I’m pretty?”
This is the go-to line when fighting with elementary school boys and you don’t want to cry.
‘Do you like me or something?’ ‘Why are you staring? Am I that pretty?’
They always go “Eww!” and back off. Except… Elver didn’t seem fazed at all.
He propped his chin up, stared at me thoughtfully, and finally said,
“…Sol. In bright light, your eyes look just like amber gemstones.”
“…”
“So yeah, I was staring because they’re pretty—”
“No! I was crying! I didn’t want to be adopted and it made me sad!”
“What’s the problem? You want to freeze to death out there?”
“Do I look like the type to freeze to death? I would’ve set the orphanage on fire first!”
“With that attitude, you’ll survive just fine at our place! You were shameless even in front of Father!”
Elver and I yelled at each other at full volume. Maybe living in that orphanage for a few weeks had made me mentally ten years old. But who cares? I am ten right now.
For the first time in a while, I emptied my mind.
Quarreling with the young male lead, who still didn’t know about his tragic future or that he would one day be saved by the heroine…
And after crossing several mountains and rivers on a very long journey—
As the world outside the window turned a glowing blue, Elver excitedly slapped my shoulder and shouted,
“Look! From here on, it’s our land!”
“Where— …Wow.”
Outside the carriage, a field of rolling blue meadows stretched like waves. And beyond them, the silver mountains where the Silver Dragon was said to sleep framed the landscape like a snowy picture frame.
This must be…
Count Flogel’s territory.
Latiger Alt Schlayger. He holds two titles.
One is the Duke of Schlayger, passed down to those who control the power of the Silver Dragon. The other is Count Flogel, whose domain lies beneath the silver mountain range.
People think it’s too cold for farming, but that’s just prejudice. From spring, when the ice melts, to the short summer, rare specialty crops grow here. The Duke also owns several mines.
After passing through the massive gates, our carriage continued on for some time before finally coming to a stop.
