Chapter 12 — “Being a Daughter Fool Was Just a Concept, Duke!”
“I should go get a refund,” the words climbed up my throat… and then dropped back down.
A refund for a bonus item? What nonsense! I can’t make the already notoriously difficult Duke Schlayger look even worse.
While I was figuring out how to respond, the Duke’s handsome eyebrows twitched impatiently.
“If you don’t like it?”
“I-I’ll just bury it!”
I blurted nonsense and reached for the cuff button. But I didn’t touch anything.
“As if you’d throw it away.”
He slipped the tiny gift box into his inner jacket pocket.
“I’ll accept it.”
“Uh… Are you really okay with it?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Is he really okay? Or is this one of those things—like when a cat brings someone a bug, and they pretend to eat it to not hurt its feelings?
Maybe the Duke is trying to be considerate in his own way.
Then, the Duke said something truly shocking.
“I should give you a gift as well. I can’t be in your debt.”
“In debt? But you bought me clothes, Duke.”
“You picked those clothes. A gift only counts if the giver chooses it.”
Is he serious? You know how to interact with people… like a person?
As I nervously watched him—
“Staring won’t get you anything. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
“I wasn’t asking!”
Did I look too eager?
I waved my hands and sat back down. But my heart was already pounding.
A gift… What could it be?
The moment we arrived at the Duke’s mansion, the servants began carrying the clothes to my room.
“The wardrobe’s been organized, yes?”
“Shoes go over here. Hm, add two more hangers.”
They’re working late. But now’s not the time to worry about others.
It was already 10:30 p.m. My eyelids were drooping like a proper sleepy child.
The Duke looked at my face and said,
“You seem tired.”
I didn’t even have the energy to be polite.
“Yes… Thank you for todaaaaay—yawn.”
A yawn escaped me. The Duke’s piercing gaze hit like a jolt. Whoa, now I’m wide awake!
To avoid his stare, I bowed deeply.
“Well then, goodnight—”
“This isn’t a situation for goodbyes.”
“Huh? …Eek!”
Just then, his arm slipped under my armpits—
He lifted me up. His left arm supported my bottom.
“D-Duke?”
“Stop flailing.”
“Yessir!”
“Don’t answer like a soldier. Where did you even learn that…?”
At the factory. But seriously, why’d he suddenly pick me up? Did I look cute or something?
As he climbed the stairs, the Duke said,
“Let me be clear so there’s no misunderstanding.”
“Yes?”
“I carried you because I didn’t want you tumbling down the stairs half-asleep. Don’t expect me to carry you again.”
Of course.
But the Duke wasn’t finished.
“Don’t mistake others’ help for kindness—and certainly not for affection. That’s a truth of this world.”
“……”
“Don’t be swayed by sweet gestures from outsiders. It might all be a ploy to use you and destroy House Schlayger.”
“I understand.”
I know all too well. Even scammers would say things like, “Se-yul, I heard the class rep scolded you? Let me buy you a coffee to cheer you up!”
Soon, the Duke set me down in front of my room and turned to leave. I watched his retreating back without him looking back once.
His hair shimmered like it was spun from moonlight. He looked like a creature from a fantasy. Being held by an adult—it was something I’d only imagined before.
…It still feels like I can feel his arm around me. Is that what having a father is like?
With complicated feelings, I opened the door.
The room was neat, thanks to the servants who had finished tidying up—
“Sol!”
Suddenly, a boy popped out in front of me.
It was Elver!
“Elver! What are you doing here?”
“I was waiting for you.”
“Huh?”
But he wasn’t the only uninvited guest. Behind him, Benen appeared, smiling brightly.
“Hi, Sol.”
“Um… Hello?”
“Sorry for coming in uninvited. We were waiting in the hallway, but—”
Benen pointed at Elver.
“The moment he saw Father coming up, Elver bolted in here—”
“Hyung!”
“What? It’s true.”
Elver’s face turned beet red. He huffed at his older brother, but Benen just kept looking at me.
Well, that sibling dynamic is clear. For now, I should focus on Elver.
“I get it, Elver. The Duke is scary, after all…”
“N-No, he’s not! I’m not scared!”
His face got even redder. Oops, backfired…
Time for plan B.
“I was really scared.”
“Huh?”
“When we talked alone earlier, it was terrifying. In the dark hallway, he just stared down at me without changing expression… I almost cried.”
“R-Really? Being alone with Father feels like facing a wolf, right?!”
Elver immediately puffed out his chest. Aww, so cute.
I wanted to smile like a proud mom, but… Ugh. The scheming older brother who doesn’t appreciate cuteness is still here!
“By the way, what brings you two here?”
“‘You two’?”
Benen smiled slyly.
“We came to settle that exact question.”
“What?”
“Now, what are you supposed to call me?”
My lips stuck together. He wants me to call him oppa.
…He’s fifteen.
“U-Um…”
My Confucian soul resisted. A fifteen-year-old, wanting to be called oppa?
But then—
“Not ready to become part of the Duke’s family, I see?”
He looked like he was enjoying my discomfort. Ugh, my pride!
Fine. I forced my lips open out of pure stubbornness.
“Of course I’m ready. Nice to meet you, Benen-oppa!”
“…!”
Benen’s eyes widened in shock.
You didn’t think I’d actually say it? Then I’ll hit Elver too while I’m at it.
“Elver-oppa…”
“W-Wait!”
Elver covered his face.
“Warn me first!”
Warn you… for what?
While I stood dumbfounded, Benen returned to his usual smirking self.
“That was… refreshing. Never heard that before.”
“It’s been a while for me too.”
“You’ve said it before?”
“There was a close older boy at the orphanage.”
“…Well, we’re your real oppas now, so forget about him.”
Who said I would? Ugh. No, calm down. They’re just kids.
…And besides, he is someone I need to forget anyway.
I swallowed Eugene-oppa’s name and looked at my two little oppas.
“Let’s get along well, Benen-oppa, Elver-oppa.”
“I’m looking forward to it too, Sol.”
Benen offered a handshake. His adolescent hand was large but soft.
“I hope you’ll start speaking casually with us.”
“I’ll do that when I’m ready.”
“Too bad. But talk to me however you like. I won’t get mad.”
For now, I’ll stick with formal speech. If I get too casual, I might slip into the way I talked to little boys at the orphanage. I’m trying to play the good little sister here.
Now, Elver’s turn.
“Elver-oppa—”
“….”
His face was still tomato red. As soon as our eyes met, he covered his ears.
“N-No! I’m not ready for this…”
“I called you oppa first, didn’t I? And you’re just hearing it. Why do you need to be prepared?”
“J-Just stop talking so politely!”
Suddenly, Elver jumped up. Trying to flee, it seems.
“Sorry, Sol! I’ll come back when I’m ready—”
“Wait! Don’t go! I have something to give you!”
At the word gift, Elver stopped.
“A gift?”
“Huh?”
Benen looked surprised too. His eyes went wide like a startled rabbit.
“A gift? From you? For us?”
“It’s nothing big.”
When I picked a gift for the Duke, I also grabbed a couple for these little guys. I couldn’t give to one and not the others.
“When I was at the store, they gave me some men’s accessories. This one’s for Benen-oppa, and this one’s for Elver-oppa.”
I handed them each a small box. They stared like I’d just handed them alien minerals.
“My arms hurt.”
Only then did they snatch the boxes from me.
Benen opened his first. It was a handkerchief embroidered with brown vines around the edges.
But his eyes…
He looked like he was checking it for poison.
“You’re fifteen, so I thought you’d be attending official events. I figured a handkerchief would be useful.”
“…That was your idea?”
“The store clerk recommended it!”
Oops. A ten-year-old talking about official functions probably seems weird.
Benen still looked suspicious, but he eventually flipped the handkerchief, checked it, and closed the box.
“Thanks. I’ll use it well.”
“Really? Please do! I picked it carefully!”
“Hmph.”
He snorted and stood up.
“It’s good to make a good impression with family. Seems like you’ll fit in.”
“Wow, Benen-oppa. Do you like me?”
“…Depends.”
He forced a half-smile and left the room.
Ugh. He’s still a teen, but already a budding villain. That stare of his is no joke.
I was rubbing my arms from the chills when—
“Me too! I’ll open mine now!”
Elver called out.
He was waiting? I turned to see Elver with wide puppy eyes.
Oh god… how am I supposed to call this boy oppa? I should be saying, ‘Awww, did our little puppy get a present?’
Still, I held onto my superhuman patience.
“Yes, oppa.”
“Just speak casually with me.”
“Okay, Elver.”
“…You’re fast, huh?”
“I’ve always been fast. Open it already.”
Elver chuckled. He’s easy to get along with—just play along.
He untied the ribbon on the last box. And inside—
“Huh…?”
“W-What?”
It was a bunny-shaped brooch.
“That’s weird. I thought I got you some half-gloves…”
“Half-gloves?”
“For sword practice.”
Elver from <Rank 99> is, like a proper romantic-fantasy male lead, a master swordsman. I figured he must’ve been training since childhood, so I picked gloves commonly used for practice.
I did worry a bit—what if he hated swordplay? But…
That worry is meaningless now!
“Maybe the clerk mixed them up. I’ll go exchange it tomorrow.”
“…No, it’s fine! If it’s okay with you, I want to keep this.”
“Huh? Really?”
A bunny brooch with a pink ribbon? Anyone could see it’s meant for girls.
Well, Elver’s cute enough that it might suit him. But if the Duke sees it…
‘Elver, what is that excessively cute brooch?’
‘A gift from my sister.’
‘Receiving a gift doesn’t mean you must use it. I’ll go help refine Sol’s taste.’
That’s probably how it’ll go. Just imagining it is awkward!
“Elver, you’re going to wear that?”
“No.”
Then… why ask for it?
Just then, Elver held up the bunny brooch and said:
“Sol, can I… pin this on you?”
