CHAPTER 68………………………
The day of the Academy’s opening ceremony.
After having breakfast with Piace, I moved to the reception room to drink tea.
“Where’s Piace?”
“She’s getting ready.”
“Isn’t it about time to leave?”
“I told her to make sure she’s ready so she won’t be late.”
“It wouldn’t make sense for a child of the Ibrante family to be late on the very first day.”
“Of course, my lord. Shall I pour you more tea?”
“No, that’s enough.”
“Yes, master.”
It was the day the household’s only child was going off to school, so excitement would have been natural. Yet the Ibrante mansion wasn’t particularly festive.
A few maids looked somewhat giddy, but most went about calmly as usual.
“D, Duke! I, I’m done getting ready!”
Piace came running into the reception room.
The pale yellow dress and green ribbon I’d seen a few days earlier. Her cheeks slightly flushed from mixed nerves and excitement.
The moment the child entered, the reception room seemed to brighten all at once.
“Where’s your bag?”
“Huh? Oh!”
Piace’s eyes went wide, and she dashed out of the room.
Soon, a commotion could be heard from outside.
“Sis, give me my bag, please!”
“Yes, young miss. Here… oh, miss! Don’t run!”
“O-okay! P-Piace won’t run!”
Despite her firm answer, I could still hear the sound of her running feet.
Normally, she was so cautious under my gaze that even her footsteps were quiet. She must be really looking forward to the Academy.
‘At this rate, she’s going to trip. Those shoes are new, too.’
I didn’t want to spoil the mood on a happy day, but I needed to temper her excitement a bit.
“D-Duke! I, I brought my bag!”
I slowly set down my teacup.
“Did someone tell you to run inside the mansion? That’s undignified.”
“Ah!”
“And why are you raising your voice like that? Should a child of Ibrante behave so frivolously?”
The reception room froze under the pressure of my tone.
‘…Did I go too far? She won’t cry, will she?’
Unexpectedly, Piace didn’t cry, nor did she shrink back.
She only blinked her large eyes a few times before cautiously asking:
“Fr-frivolous? What does that mean?”
“……”
“Pfft—”
I turned at the sound of laughter from the side. The butler quickly rearranged his face into a solemn expression.
“Not horse racing (gyeongma), miss, but frivolous (gyeongmang). It means speaking or acting carelessly and lightly.”
“Wow…”
Wow? Why “wow” right there?
Piace looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
“D-Duke, you’re amazing.”
…Why?
Her response left me utterly baffled.
‘Didn’t I just scold her? What kind of reaction is this?’
[Oh my, look at Piace’s eyes. That gaze of admiration toward our Lian! Isn’t it so adorable?]
That was admiration?
[Remember the day Piace comforted Lord Lian? Ever since then, she’s been extra affectionate.]
[She must’ve realized her contractor is weak against small, cute things. That little human is sly as hell.]
[Don’t be ridiculous, Salamander. Piace has simply opened her heart fully to Lord Lian. She trusts he won’t abandon her.]
Ah, so that’s it.
A lump rose in my throat as warmth welled up.
This child, hurt by adults before, was trusting one again—it was touching.
Piace gently hooked her pinky around mine.
“P-Piace will do well. I-I’ll be careful. I don’t want to disap… disappoint you, Duke.”
“…Of course you must.”
I answered as coolly as I could and lightly patted her shoulder. She broke into a radiant smile.
“C-can you pat my head too…?”
“How dare you demand labor from me? Such impertinence.”
But I tapped the crown of her head anyway. She chuckled sweetly.
She looked so adorable that my lips nearly curled upward unconsciously. Then suddenly, I felt prickling gazes.
As expected, the butler and maids were sneaking glances, their faces lit with surprise and awe.
Embarrassed, I cleared my throat and stood.
“Ahem. Butler, isn’t it about time to leave?”
“Thirty minutes remain, my lord.”
“……”
We departed exactly thirty minutes later.
For the autumn opening ceremony, the Academy bustled with people.
Children and adults, merchants selling gifts—all together, it was like a crowded marketplace.
With the throng, our carriage moved at a crawl, like a slug.
As we approached the Academy’s main gate, people ahead frowned and shot us annoyed looks.
Among them, I spotted familiar faces: Marchioness Moulton and Bianca.
Perhaps irritated by walking in the hot sun, Bianca’s cheeks were puffed in a sulky pout.
“Mom! I want to ride a carriage too! My legs hurt!”
“Bianca, only inconsiderate people bring carriages into such crowded streets. Isn’t that right, everyone?”
“Even if the parking is inside the Academy, this is too much. Do they not understand what a nuisance is?”
“Maybe they just wanted to show off their carriage. What, do they think we walk because we don’t have one? How unpleasant.”
“B-but… doesn’t that emblem look familiar?”
“Emblem? Where… Gasp! That’s the Ibrante crest!”
“……!!!”
The noisy crowd fell silent at once.
Especially the nobles who had been criticizing us—they now looked extremely tense.
‘Oh, so it’s not that they didn’t have carriages—they just chose to walk.’
Of course. Nobles wouldn’t be without carriages.
‘I really should’ve walked today. Bringing one was a nuisance.’
I hadn’t thought it through, distracted by the spirits’ chatter in my head.
“Stop here.”
“Yes, my lord.”
At Luna’s pull of the reins, the carriage halted.
As I stepped down, the nobles flinched back.
“O-oh my, it truly is the Duke… W-why are you getting off here, my lord? The parking is inside.”
“H-he must have gotten down here to avoid blocking the way. How thoughtful… Don’t you agree?”
“The Duke of Ibrante is, after all, famous for his consideration… and refinement.”
The nobles scrambled to ingratiate themselves once they recognized me.
All except the Marchioness of Moulton.
She kept her gaze lowered, lips pressed tight, looking distinctly displeased.
‘She’s brimming with resentment.’
No doubt convinced I was behind Fabius losing the plaza construction bid.
I smiled gently at the nobles.
After all, one of their children might become Piace’s friend.
“My apologies if my carriage caused an obstruction.”
“Eek!”
“N-no, not at all! Roads are made for carriages—it’s perfectly normal! We weren’t inconvenienced in the least!”
“Th-that’s right! We overreacted! Please don’t apologize!”
Their faces turned pale; some even backed away nervously.
If I apologized again, they looked ready to scream and scatter.
As the mood froze, Piace tugged at my dress.
“D-Duke…”
“What is it?”
“I-I want to greet the Marchioness.”
“…Do you?”
“Piace is an I-Ibrante. I won’t run away.”
Just as she had promised at the dress shop, Piace was choosing to face her fear.
I silently stepped aside, letting her approach the Marchioness.
“P-Piace Ibrante greets the Marchioness.”
With a graceful curtsy and polite words, her greeting was flawless—despite her stammer, it wasn’t the least bit awkward.
‘Our Piace, you practiced so hard.’
Was it only me who felt proud?
Glancing around, I saw others smiling faintly, watching her warmly.
The stiff atmosphere from earlier had already softened.
‘Of course—how could anyone not find her lovely?’
But the Marchioness of Moulton didn’t seem pleased.
Her voice was sharp with hidden thorns.
“It’s been a long time.”
“H-hello…”
“How is life in the ducal house? Better than in ours?”
“Yes, i-it’s really wonderful.”
Piace answered calmly and honestly, completely oblivious to the sarcasm.
The Marchioness blinked rapidly, thrown off.
“W-what’s so wonderful?”
“T-the butler is so kind, the maids are really nice, and the Duke takes such g-good care of me.”
Though unintentional, her words sounded like life in House Moulton hadn’t been pleasant.
The Marchioness’s lips twitched awkwardly.
“I-I’m glad to hear that.”
“Th-thank you for asking.”
After hesitating, Piace turned to Bianca.
She looked even more nervous than she had with the Marchioness.
“H-hi, s-sis. How have you been?”
“‘H-hi, s-sis. How have you been?’ Puhahaha! What an idiot.”
“……”
Bianca mocked her speech pattern and laughed at length.
The nobles began glancing at me anxiously at the child’s rudeness.
“So why are you here? Are you going to the Academy?”
“Y-yeah, I-I’m starting today.”
“You’re not supposed to, right?”
“Huh? W-what do you mean?”
“You’re just a dirty commoner. Commoners aren’t allowed at the Academy.”
