* * *
Letting go of the child I’d had with me for a few days felt unsettling—but also, a little freeing.
She was just a kid. She’d probably be too busy snacking to notice I was gone for long.
“S-Sir! Ah!”
But just then, a loud thud behind him made Kassel stop mid-step as he was heading to the carriage. He turned around.
His face hardened immediately.
Aika had fallen at the bottom of the steps.
She got up on her own.
She brushed the dust off her clothes as if she were fine, then stood still with her head lowered.
He expected her to yell at him the moment she lifted her head.
But that wasn’t what happened.
“Hrk, snff, hngh…”
Kassel quietly inhaled.
Aika stared up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks, biting back any sound.
Her eyes, looking so much like his own, felt like they were glaring into him.
He needed to leave. Quickly.
But his feet wouldn’t move, like they were chained to the ground.
“…Why are you crying.”
What on earth was there to cry about?
And yet Aika, one knee scraped, stood tall, her small fists clenched, tears dripping nonstop from her chin.
Like a faucet turned on full blast.
Kassel briefly worried she might cry herself into dehydration at this rate.
She could’ve at least yelled at him like usual.
His Adam’s apple moved stiffly, up and down.
“…I asked why you’re crying.”
“…Snff, hic… Because you… hic… you’re abandoning me.”
“Who said I’m abandoning you.”
“Snff… Y-you are…”
Her face crumpled again.
The tears came again, even faster.
Kassel just stood there, watching her.
“…”
“Snff…”
Neither of them moved to close the distance.
The sound of water spilling from the garden’s fountain cut between them endlessly.
“…I don’t know anymore.”
Kassel muttered, as if in surrender, then walked over and picked Aika up without warning.
Startled, Aika squirmed and tried to push him away, but her strength wasn’t even enough to faze him.
“You damn brat! Making a child cry and just walking off?!”
The Duke of Valliart stormed out, roaring in fury. He’d come out so fast, he hadn’t even grabbed his cane.
Still carrying Aika under one arm, Kassel headed toward the carriage and paused halfway to turn back slightly.
“I’m off to raise a kid. Live long.”
And with that, he boarded the carriage and slammed the door shut, leaving the old Duke behind.
“Hey, you ungrateful bastard! Put my grandchild down this instant!!”
The Duke’s furious voice chased the carriage down the path.
* * *
Sniffle, snfff.
The inside of the carriage was filled with Aika’s soft, sniffling sobs.
Her whole face was soaked—red eyes, red nose, red mouth.
She looked absolutely pitiful, like a baby rabbit caught in the rain.
Kassel didn’t feel any better.
Facing Aika’s tearful glare in this tiny, enclosed space… it was hellish.
He’d brought her back because he couldn’t bear to leave her, but now he couldn’t see how this would ever work out.
Just as he was about to avert his gaze to the window, the carriage jolted from hitting a stone in the road.
Aika, being so light, bounced slightly into the air, making her wobble.
Kassel, after watching for a beat, slipped his arms under her armpits, lifted her, and sat her on his lap, then encircled her with his arms like a safety belt.
Aika flinched in shock and twitched.
“Don’t—”
“Just sit still.”
And with that, Aika immediately quieted down in his arms.
But she kept hiccupping, her small head jerking with every jolt.
What’s that smell—strawberries?
Kassel wrinkled his nose.
Had she devoured every last strawberry dessert on her own? The sugary scent was practically radiating from her.
The coachman, blissfully unaware of the stormy mood inside the carriage, cheerfully sang loud enough to be heard from within.
* * *
It hadn’t been long since we returned home, but soon it was already dinnertime.
My eyes were puffy like a goldfish’s, but in the end, I’d made it safely back to Uncle’s house.
And before getting out of the carriage, I even got an apology from Uncle.
“It was my fault, so stop crying.”
That was all he said.
Still, hmph! I’ll forgive him just this once. Even adults can make mistakes.
“Your swelling’s gone down a bit. Does it still sting?”
Zenda lifted the cold towel she’d been using to soothe my eyes.
“Nope. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Young Miss.”
“Hm?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Zenda bowed her head.
She told me she had known that Uncle was planning to send me to Grandpa’s house.
She apologized for not warning me. For not stopping him.
“It’s okay. I won!”
I smiled wide with my swollen eyes.
“Young Miss…”
Zenda looked at me with eyes brimming with tears.
“Zenda, but hey.”
I lowered my eyes and gently rubbed my belly.
“Yes, Young Miss?”
Zenda’s expression turned serious.
“I’m hungry.”
Even though I’d had so many snacks at Grandpa’s, I was hungry again as soon as I got home.
And honestly, if I didn’t say something now, Zenda might just stay sad forever.
Her eyes went round with surprise. She set down the towel and quickly stood up.
“Oh! Dinner! Young Miss, I’ll get it ready right away!”
“Thank you!”
Zenda dashed out, asking me to wait just a moment.
I waited while thinking about what delicious foods I wanted.
Click.
“Zenda…!”
At the sound of the door opening, I spun around.
But it wasn’t Zenda carrying my meal—it was Uncle.
I was just about to beam with joy over food, but the moment I saw who it was, I instantly tensed up.
He placed a tray full of yummy-looking dishes on the table and walked straight toward me.
I tried to scurry to the middle of the bed to avoid him, but he grabbed my clothes and easily dragged me right back.
He really was ridiculously strong!
“…Done crying?”
“…”
I just stuck out my lips instead of answering, and Uncle flicked my forehead with his finger.
“Hit me if you’re pissed.”
“…Ugh.”
Only if you get a taste of your own medicine, Uncle.
He might think it’s a soft flick, but that heavy, blunt strength? It’s brutal.
Someone just like Uncle needs to flick his forehead for once!
Still sulking and rubbing my forehead, I puffed out my cheeks.
Uncle straightened up.
“Eat. Don’t whine about being hungry later.”
And then, off he went again, walking out like nothing happened.
I was so stunned, I was about to call after him when—
Zenda came in.
“Young Miss, one moment. I’ll set it up for you!”
In a flash, Zenda turned the table into a little banquet with her lightning-fast hands.
I sat down after she tied a big napkin around my neck.
That’s when I noticed an envelope sitting next to my plate.
“What’s this?”
“Oh, I think Master left it. It has your name on it. Would you like to read it after eating?”
As I reached for the envelope, I realized what it was.
I’d seen it a few days ago sticking out of a pile on Uncle’s desk—a letter addressed to me.
The imperial seal was still intact.
“Can I read this first?”
“Of course. Shall I open it for you?”
“No, I want to open it!”
Zenda helped only with the seal, and I pulled out a thick, fancy card.
I read it word by word—until the very end, which made me look up at Zenda in shock.
“The Emperor.”
“Pardon?”
“The Emperor invited me to visit!”
“Wh-what?!”
“Here!”
I thrust the card toward Zenda.
She read it, and her eyes went wide like a startled rabbit.
“Goodness… It’s true! An invitation from His Majesty himself. Well, Master is said to be a close friend of the Emperor…”
“My mom was friends with him too! Oh, but Uncle…”
I trailed off and frowned.
If I asked him to come with me, he’d probably say I was being clingy again.
Or that I was being annoying. Or he might not even let me ride in the carriage.
“Zenda.”
“Yes?”
“Is the Imperial Palace far from here?”
Zenda tapped her chin, deep in thought.
“If you take a carriage, maybe thirty minutes to an hour? I’ve never been, but that’s what I’ve heard.”
“Oh…”
I couldn’t hide my disappointment.
So that means I have to get Uncle’s permission, huh?
