Chapter 10
Benen seemed to be gauging my height. He compared me to Elber eye-level, then let out a deep sigh.
…What the? Don’t tell me he’s thinking of using me for manual labor?
Before I could even dig into Benen’s thoughts, the Duke spoke to Elber.
“Elber, introduce yourself to your younger sibling.”
“Pardon? I was at the facility—”
“A comrade is different from family. Go ahead and speak.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Elber straightened his back and looked at me. The sight made me unconsciously tense up and set down my fork.
Still only twelve, but already a handsome boy with a guaranteed future. No wonder he’s the male lead.
After he turns sixteen, he’ll awaken the power of the Schlaeger family, and even his eye shape will change. He’ll draw attention from every lady in high society.
“I’m Elber Olt Schlaeger.”
Unlike Benen, he inherited the middle name. I glanced sideways to see Benen’s expression—he didn’t look pleased. Elber didn’t seem to notice.
“I’m twelve this year. Your youngest older brother. Ask me anything if you’re curious.”
“Yes, I’m Sol. Um, can I ask just one thing?”
I pointed at my plate.
“How do I eat this?”
It looked like chicken, but I was pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to eat it like chicken. Elber smiled kindly.
“Sure. First, hold the fork in your left hand, and the knife in your right…”
“Okay!”
I followed his instructions exactly. The tender meat cut easily, even with a child’s strength. I popped it into my mouth.
“Wow…”
It melted in my mouth. Even better than the secret chicken we used to order behind the director’s back at the orphanage!
“It’s so delicious! What is this? Chicken? Duck? Or… Ah.”
Oops, I talked too much. I glanced at the Duke nervously.
“I’m sorry…”
“There’s no need to scold someone for honest feedback. Just lower your voice a little next time.”
“Yes! Ah, I mean… y-yes, sir…”
Face flushed red, I went back to cutting my meat. For some reason, Elber’s face was turning red too. Hey, why are you embarrassed?
Was the Duke angry? Hmm, hard to tell—he had his wine glass in front of his face. The wine just rippled. Better eat more while I can.
After the meat dish, we were served blueberry sherbet. It was better than the fancy convenience store ice cream I could only afford on payday.
While I was scraping the bottom of the dessert dish, the Duke returned, dressed in a coat, seemingly really intending to take me shopping. A servant stood beside him, holding a tiny coat—mine, presumably.
As I slid my arms into the sleeves, Benen approached.
“This was mine when I was little. Unlike my brothers, I wore my clothes gently—looks like it survived.”
“Thank you! I’ll wear it gratefully!”
I answered as brightly as possible. I did not want to make an enemy of this dark-hearted guy!
But as I buttoned up the coat, Benen muttered something.
“I said she could ask questions first…”
“Huh?”
“…Have a good trip.”
He trailed off awkwardly and retreated with a fox-like grin.
Oh right—he did say earlier I could ask him anything. Is he sulking because I asked Elber how to eat instead? Should I try to cheer him up?
No chance. The Duke Schlaeger—who’s a million times scarier than Benen—held out his hand.
“Let’s go, Sol.”
“Yup!”
“…Where did you learn to respond like that?”
In the factory.
Recalling Linda’s comment that I acted “too grown-up,” I tried to sound as childish as possible.
“‘Kay! Zooooom, let’s go down!”
“…”
The Duke covered his face with one hand.
…Guess that wasn’t the right answer either.
***
We rode a carriage into town.
It was late. The cobbled streets were empty. Shop windows lit here and there looked like stages with the curtains drawn back.
…But past the floral display in one shop window, a man with a rigid side-parted hairstyle glared at me like I had personally caused his overtime shift.
Well, yeah. The only shops open this late were probably the ones the Duke ordered to stay open.
Still, that shared grudge lasted only a moment.
“Excuse us.”
The moment the Duke stepped inside, the shopkeeper wore the expression of an employee who had been caught gaming by the CEO.
“Y-Y-Your Grace? I never expected you to come in person…”
The shopkeeper trembled, his slicked-back hair flopping over his nose. The Duke said in a low voice:
“Don’t mind me.”
The shopkeeper shivered like a man given an impossible task. Yikes—better pick anything and leave fast.
The Duke stepped back. Linda, who had accompanied us, cheerfully began picking out clothes.
“How about this dress?”
White frills fluttered. It looked like a jellyfish.
“Do you have something more comfortable?”
“Hmm, then how about this one!”
“Oh, it’s pretty!”
The second dress Linda picked was a plaid one. The shopkeeper opened the fitting room and said:
“Oh! So she is a girl!”
“Yes. We didn’t have girls’ clothes at first, so we dressed her in boys’ clothing!”
“It suits her well. Honestly, when I first saw her, I thought she was just a very cute little boy—”
At that moment, the Duke’s low voice echoed through the store.
“Leave.”
“P-Pardon, sir?”
Linda asked, flustered. But the Duke didn’t reply. He just walked out of the shop. I hastily bowed to the bewildered shopkeeper and chased after him.
“Your Grace, what’s wrong?”
Did I do something wrong? Did he suddenly not want to buy me clothes anymore?
The Duke spoke.
“How can I trust the taste of someone who can’t even distinguish between a boy and a girl?”
“…Huh?”
But still…
“I’m still young, and I was wearing boys’ clothes, so it’s understandable if he got confused—”
“Not at all.”
Looking down at me from a lofty height, the Duke tilted his head and said:
“You’re clearly a girl.”
“…”
“Let’s go to the next store.”
And he boarded the carriage.
Well, he did raise only boys. Maybe he can tell at a glance. Still, did he really have to be that snappy?
I waved at the shopkeeper, who still looked like he’d seen death. Only then did he finally relax and close his shop door.
We visited several more stores afterward. To prevent the Duke from throwing his weight around, I made a point of cheerfully announcing:
“Hello! I want a pretty dress, please!”
The shopkeepers always greeted me with, “Oh my, what a cute little lady!” Then they’d look up and spot the Duke—and freeze.
What an intimidating man.
Even the Duke seemed to know it. He just folded his arms and leaned against a wall.
The nervous employees relaxed visibly when Linda started chatting cheerfully. A rainbow of clothes was laid out below my neck.
“Oh my, this suits you perfectly! How about this one?”
“It’s pretty.”
“Thank you!”
“…Huh?”
Before I could ask why she was thanking me, the dress was already being handed off to be gift-wrapped.
Excuse me.
“Little lady, how about this next one? I think it’s super cute!”
“Uh… y-yeah, it’s cute.”
“Thank you!”
Another dress added to the wrap pile.
Wait—just saying it’s “cute” means I’m buying it?!?
Linda smiled like this was perfectly normal. This place is terrifying. I can tell at a glance all these clothes are expensive!
Next, the clerk brought over a coat.
“It’s still chilly out, so you’ll need a coat. What do you think?”
The glossy fur shimmered. Gray, yet it didn’t look dull. Very cute.
The clerk’s eyes sparkled—must be expensive. Winter’s almost over anyway. I shook my head.
“I don’t like it. I don’t want to wear it.”
Sorry. The coat is beautiful! But if I praise it, they’ll force me to buy it!
As soon as I said no, the clerk looked visibly flustered, then bowed deeply.
“I-I’m terribly sorry!”
Huh?
“I failed to read the Lady’s taste and presented such a dull item. I sincerely apologize!”
Seriously? Do I have to choose between getting pressured into buying or having the clerk cry and apologize?
Just then, the Duke stepped forward, his shoes clicking ominously. The staff froze like they’d seen Medusa.
The Duke spoke.
“When serving the head of House Flogel, only the finest goods should be displayed. Do I need to explain this to you?”
“N-No, sir!”
“Show me. I’ll judge for myself.”
The clerk opened the coat desperately like someone given one last chance. The Duke examined the fur and said:
“Lifram wolf fur from the Silver Mountains. Caught without arrows—top grade.”
“Yes! It’s full-hide with minimal stitching!”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
The employees fell silent. Guess it’s my turn to talk?
But saying “I changed my mind, it’s pretty” now would make me look like a problem customer. Admitting “I lied because it looked expensive” might get me scolded for doubting the Duke’s wealth.
Damn it, why am I even worried about the villain’s budget?
With no good options, the only answer I could give was…
“…Is it okay for me to wear the same coat as the Duke?”
I recalled the moment he kicked down the orphanage door. He was wearing a coat made of this same material.
“On the day you came to the orphanage, you wore a gray coat just like this. You looked like a wolf leader—I remember it clearly.”
“…”
“So I wondered… would it be too much if I wore a coat like yours? It might not suit me…”
I trailed off awkwardly, head bowed. Weak excuse, but it’s all I had.
The Duke replied—
“What a strange thing to say.”
“Your Grace?”
“From the day I brought you here, you’ve been my daughter. For a father and daughter to wear the same fur isn’t strange at all.”
“Oh…!”
“Do you like the coat?”
“Yes! Um, actually—it is really pretty!”
“Good.”
He held the coat up under my chin and gave a short remark.
“A wolf cub may be difficult, but you could pass for a baby flying squirrel.”
That sealed the purchase.
A servant handed over a signed check. The employees, looking like they’d escaped death, began wrapping the coat.
You all worked hard today. It must be tough serving a villain boss.
Before climbing into the carriage, I spun around once in my new coat to show off.
And when I did, I caught a glimpse of the staff smiling brightly—as if they’d just witnessed the final scene of a heartwarming drama.
Not the “yay, we made a big sale” kind of capitalism smile. Something more genuine. Well, no need to correct the misunderstanding.
Interestingly, the Duke, seated in the carriage, had noticed their smiles too. His blue eyes shimmered strangely.
“How peculiar.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s the first time the townsfolk have acted so carelessly even before my carriage leaves.”
That’s not “careless,” you villain. That’s called a “genuine smile.”
The Duke kept staring at the boutique long after the carriage started moving.
Hmm…
Looks like something stuck with him.
