Chapter 6
Erica swallowed dryly.
Then, Sebastian opened his mouth.
“You’re lying.”
At the sudden statement, the girl, who had been staring only at her clasped hands, lifted her trembling eyes like a quivering aspen leaf.
“Lying…? What do you mean?”
She was flustered.
“W-what are you saying?”
Not because she had something to hide, but because she truly didn’t understand what was going on.
Her mouth went completely dry.
When she began showing signs of nervousness, Sebastian scrutinized her even more intensely, his gaze full of suspicion.
“I really hate lies.”
Unintentionally, Erica inhaled sharply.
She had undergone endless training at the marquisate to play the role of the fake daughter and studied the Acliff ducal family thoroughly.
Though Sebastian was only fourteen, he was known to be colder, more rational, and sharper than most adults.
‘Did he somehow pick up on something I said without realizing it?’
Needing to check if she had made a mistake, Erica glanced sideways to gauge Bonpiju’s expression.
‘Hm?’
Bonpiju also looked completely bewildered.
‘Judging by Bonpiju’s expression, I haven’t made any misstep so far.’
Which meant even Bonpiju didn’t understand why Sebastian was suddenly saying this.
Her previously rattled heart gradually began to calm.
There was no retreat anyway.
Erica clenched her small fists tightly.
‘For now, I just have to bluff my way through!’
She steadied her breathing.
Aside from Bonpiju, no one here knew she was the fake daughter of the marquis.
And since Bonpiju had been directly ordered by the marquis and was in the same boat as her, he had no reason to expose her identity here.
“I-I!”
The girl raised her voice with uncharacteristic firmness.
Dealing with Sebastian was no easy task, but she stared back at him with determined eyes.
“Which part of what I said makes you think I’m lying?”
“How bold.”
With his arms crossed, Sebastian pointed at Erica with a jut of his chin.
It was only a fleeting moment, but to Erica, the pause before he spoke again felt like an eternity.
‘What exactly is the problem?’
The girl stared at his lips anxiously.
At last, Sebastian twisted one corner of his mouth and spoke.
“How could anyone look at you and believe you’re ten years old?”
“…What?”
Her eyes widened like a startled rabbit as she looked herself over.
But nothing seemed out of place.
‘What’s wrong, exactly?’
Just as she tilted her head in confusion, Sebastian’s sarcastic voice continued.
“No matter how important this marriage is, trying to pass off a child who still needs her parents’ care as ten years old? Unbelievable.”
Sebastian clicked his tongue harshly.
‘A child?’
She blinked slowly.
“So what you’re saying, Your Grace… is that you don’t believe I’m ten years old?”
Sebastian nodded with an expression that said isn’t it obvious?
“Isn’t it obvious? You’re tiny. Even being generous, you look seven or eight at most.”
His voice was unwavering, as if there was no chance his judgment could be wrong.
In the Empire of Angelica, early marriages did exist.
However, since the practice of formal engagement also existed, it was rare even among noble families to marry off children that young.
Moreover, there was a legal minimum age for weddings—ten years old.
Objectively speaking, Erica wasn’t well-developed for her age, so it was natural for Sebastian to doubt her age.
Just then—
A quiet snort came from the young priest.
‘Seven years old…’
Erica’s face turned crimson, and she clamped her lips shut with resolve.
Being mistaken for that young—it stung.
Where did that courage come from?
Erica, without meaning to, raised her voice in a pout.
“I… I really am ten years old! I may be short, but I’m not seven!”
“Getting worked up makes you look even more suspicious.”
“It’s true!”
But Sebastian didn’t take her protest seriously.
‘Why does this upset me so much?’
Her face flushed red, and tears welled in her eyes.
Then, the elder priest who had been observing with a smile said calmly:
“Your Grace, this young lady is indeed ten years old. We’ve verified her birth records.”
“…Is that true?”
Sebastian frowned slightly as he asked again, and the priest nodded solemnly in reply.
Sebastian looked genuinely bewildered.
“This… is ten years old?”
He muttered under his breath, still struggling to accept Erica’s age.
“Hah. This little lady is ten? I can’t believe it. They seriously need to change the registration age for the coming-of-age ceremony—make it from birth.”
His tone was almost like he was grinding his teeth.
In the Angelica Empire, the coming-of-age ceremony was referred to as one’s “second birthday.”
When nobles turned nineteen, they would go to the temple and register by dropping a single drop of their blood into holy water.
This was possible only because the entire continent believed in one god.
Though the ritual seemed simple, it was a profound act that touched life and soul—and therefore couldn’t be performed on children with unstable souls.
Only after undergoing this ceremony could one be acknowledged as a true individual.
‘That’s why the Marquis of Blanche told me to endure only until I come of age.’
If that time passed, his real daughter would remain in the shadows forever, unable to appear in the world again.
At that moment, Sebastian’s aide, Milrod, stepped in, trying to ease his master’s suspicions.
“Your Grace. The young lady from House Blanche is indeed smaller than average, but she certainly looks older than seven.”
“Don’t take sides. When I was ten, I was a whole head taller than her.”
Milrod replied in an exasperated tone.
“Yes, I’m aware. But not everyone grows as fast as Your Grace. Besides, the young lady mentioned she was sickly as a child.”
“Even considering that, she’s still tiny, don’t you think?”
It didn’t sound like he was picking a fight—more like he was genuinely concerned. But for Erica, unfamiliar with him, it was hard to tell.
Meanwhile, Milrod’s gaze naturally shifted toward Erica again.
“Hmmm…”
Erica clutched her hands together and looked up at him with desperate eyes.
She hoped—prayed—that his opinion would be different from Sebastian’s.
But Milrod didn’t even hesitate before nodding.
“She does… look quite young.”
He muttered quietly, worried it might be impolite, but Erica had sharp ears.
She pressed her lips together tightly.
Then, she deliberately rose slightly on her tiptoes—just a bit—to look taller.
Noticing this quickly, Sebastian reached out his hand toward her and waved downward.
“Down. You’re still short. It’s pointless.”
His expression barely changed, and yet…
For some reason, it felt like he had smiled faintly.
‘Did I imagine it?’
Erica tilted her head.
Then, a cold breeze blew past.
It stole her body heat in an instant, making her shiver.
“Achoo!”
Before she could stop it, a cute little sneeze escaped her lips.
Everyone’s eyes turned to her immediately.
Erica hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands, trying to stop the sneeze, but it was no use.
“Achoo—ing!”
Another perfectly enunciated sneeze burst forth.
‘Oh no. I’ll get scolded by Bonpiju again for lacking decorum…’
She had to stop… but how?
In that brief pause, Erica took a deep breath and tried to hold it in.
Then—
Something draped over her shoulders.
‘…Huh?’
The warm fabric blocked the cold wind and thawed her frozen body. Erica slowly opened her tightly shut eyes.
