Chapter 56
Something about Dindin giving me baby clothes as a gift was suspicious.
“…Did you know everything?”
Apparently, Dindin had figured out there was a child in my mansion.
“Of course. You didn’t exactly try hard to hide it, sis.”
…That was true.
Rumors about the Marquess of Luweiz were so nasty that few people dared approach the estate. And I didn’t think there was any need to hide or lock up Seraphina.
“So why did you send children’s clothes?”
I didn’t think he did it just to show off he knew.
“Sis, choose me.”
What Dindin said was completely unexpected.
“…What?”
Dindin was three years younger than me, and six years younger than Asel.
Even if you considered how Asel had trained to be a leader since childhood and was unusually mature, Dindin still acted far more childish—sometimes on purpose.
It was a tactic to lower the guard of his negotiation partners and control the discussion from a higher position.
But maybe because there was no reason to play games now…
He stared at me with a serious expression. He looked more serious and heavy-hearted than ever.
And then, the words he spoke…
“That child… is the Crown Prince’s, right?”
…That question was a bit deflating.
“Huh?”
“Don’t even try to deny it. I know everything. Who else in the Empire has disgusting blonde hair like that, other than the Imperial Family? No one, right?”
Like Angel, he automatically associated ‘blonde hair’ with the Imperial Family.
“No, she was naturally born that way because she’s loved by the gods…”
“You’re just saying that so you can raise her without a father. But you don’t have to say that stuff in front of me.”
“No…”
She really wasn’t!
“Come on, the signs are obvious. The Crown Prince didn’t make you his Crown Princess. He didn’t register the child as a royal princess either. That just means he doesn’t want to take responsibility.”
“I told you, that’s not it.”
“You don’t have to defend that bastard in front of me, sis.”
…So Dindin believed in the ‘Asel is trash’ theory too.
“Anyway, I can help.”
“…Help with what?”
“The child needs a guardian, right? And the more guardians the better. I don’t know why that Crown Prince bastard has been hanging around you lately, but just in case he tries to take the child—I’ll…”
Just then.
Maybe the noise disturbed her nap, but the door opened and the child came in.
She rubbed her eyes with her tiny hands, walked over, and stood beside me, looking up at Dindin.
“…Daddy?”
The moment Seraphina’s and Dindin’s eyes met—
“…Daddy my ass, that’s f***ing creepy!”
Dindin yelled.
* * *
“Why the hell is the Saint showing up here…?”
Dindin backed away from Seraphina like he’d seen the worst thing in the world.
Seraphina didn’t care at all and was focused on devouring the carrot cake that had come out as a snack.
Dindin barely managed to sit in a chair.
But even seated, he couldn’t calm down and kept muttering while looking at Seraphina.
“Raising that bastard’s kid would be better than this… Of all people, the Saint?”
Back when Seraphina had worked as a Saint…
She and Dindin had constantly butted heads in childish fights.
Even though she remembered none of it now, Dindin seemed to hold a lot of lingering resentment.
“…But why does she look like that now?”
Clicking his tongue, Dindin asked.
After hearing the whole story, he shook his head.
“Why the hell does that so-called god always act like air?”
“As expected of the great merchant lord. Such insight.”
I agreed enthusiastically.
Cursing out Rudina was always the right thing to do.
– God Rudina shakes her head, saying there’s no one here she finds worthy.
‘If you think everyone sucks, maybe you just came to the wrong world?’
– (ŎםŎ)
We chatted about nonsense for a bit.
Then Dindin became serious again.
“Anyway, I’m not saying this lightly… just think about it.”
“Hmm… but I don’t think Seraphina will need a guardian. Her curse will be lifted eventually.”
Dindin uncrossed his arms.
He lowered his head and looked straight at me.
“…The kid was just an excuse. You know that, right?”
That I’m trying to win you over.
“Because I like you.”
The next thing that came was raw honesty.
There was no trace of playfulness in his eyes, and I couldn’t smile anymore.
Because this wasn’t a joke.
Even before the curse, Dindin had teased me.
But it was always just playful, like between close friends.
He had never said anything about having deeper feelings.
So I didn’t know.
“If the Crown Prince lost his memories, then can’t I stand next to you instead?”
I never thought I’d hear something like that from Dindin.
…The weight of those words was too heavy for a joke.
You should always respond to sincerity with sincerity.
“…You know, I…”
“…”
After giving Dindin a vague reply, I went to see Asel.
Half of it was impulsive…
‘But this is right.’
The more I walked, the more I felt like I should’ve done this sooner.
Because I knew better than anyone how cruel it was to leave someone drifting in hope—or despair—wondering what might be.
Asel was in his office.
As always, the hardworking man had black ink staining his pinky finger.
The moment he heard I was there, he lifted his head.
“You’re here.”
“I have something to say.”
Maybe it was because he read the forced smile on my face.
“No, maybe say it later…”
Asel tried to stop me first.
“No. If I wait any longer, it’ll feel like deception.”
Because I like Asel too.
Because I know what it’s like to wait for someone, I wanted to say it properly.
“I… Your Highness…”
I want to—
Asel knew how stiff a body could get from sitting at a desk too long.
That’s why he had a fixed schedule to move every day at the same time.
In the evening, when the heat of the ground cooled slowly—that was when Asel and Angel had their sparring session.
“Your Highness, I’m coming in…”
As usual, Angel entered Asel’s office and—
“Your Highness?”
He saw Asel staring blankly into space like he’d lost his soul.
Angel turned to look at what Asel was staring at, then waved his hand in front of him.
“Your Highness.”
“…”
“Your Highness?”
When there was no response, Angel shouted outside.
“Get the royal physician immediately! His Highness is out cold with his eyes open—”
“…No, wait!”
Asel snapped out of it at Angel’s voice and sat up straighter.
But his face hadn’t fully returned to normal.
“I heard Lady Luweiz visited. What happened?”
That woman had been quiet lately—did she cause trouble again?
“…No.”
Asel briefly explained what happened.
He said Laura only answered his question.
“What did she say, exactly?”
For some reason, Angel swallowed hard.
From Asel’s state, he could guess the answer, but there was a cruel curiosity to confirm it.
And Asel said:
“…She said she doesn’t have the luxury.”
As expected, it was a rejection.
But it was a rejection with room for interpretation.
“Luxury… you say?”
“Yes.”
Just two hours earlier,
Laura had said:
[I remembered the things you once said to Princess Marienne. I realized the position of Crown Princess comes with great responsibility.]
[So I thought about it.]
No.
Asel had wanted to say that the moment he sensed her rejection, but his throat closed up.
[To take on such a role… I already have a life I must be responsible for.]
Right now, she had to care for Seraphina.
[So I can’t sit in that position.]
Asel could only watch her walk away.
He was the one who had said those words to Marienne before, so he had no counterargument.
Asel muttered bleakly.
“…Maybe I should’ve rejected the princess differently from the start.”
“No, Your Highness. You handled it well. Back then, you had to make things clear with her. There couldn’t have been better words.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
Asel rubbed his cheek. His hand was surprisingly weak.
“But still, for her to give up the position for the child’s sake… It seems she’s serious about raising her.”
“She definitely seems that way.”
Recently, Asel had learned more about Laura’s upbringing.
From what he discovered while cleaning up the Marquess of Luweiz’s estate, and through Jeppetto’s testimony.
Maybe Laura wanted to raise her child full of love—unlike how she herself was raised.
Angel suddenly thought of something and blurted it out.
“Your Highness, if she’s refusing your proposal for the child’s sake… doesn’t that mean she might still consider someone to be the child’s father, even if she can’t afford love for herself?”
“…Huh?”
