MCQN 33

Chapter 33

No one had pointed it out before, so I didn’t pay it much attention—but maybe others do find it jarring?

‘Besides, the fairies were the ones who freaked out when I used baby talk!’

└ [Respectfully saying: I actually find that baby talk adorable.]
└ [That’s literally why I started reading this—it’s a childcare novelㅠㅠ]

The fairies’ attitude suddenly changed.

Maybe I should’ve practiced that toddler lisp ahead of time.

Trying my best to act like a five-year-old, I blurted out:

“Heh, hehe? Hewwo? I don’t weawwy undewstaaand……”

└ [No, that just sounds dumb]
└ [Ugh, the lisp…]

What do they want from me?

My attempt at sounding like a child failed miserably, and the private tutor, who had been quietly observing, finally stepped into the conversation.

“Rose is exceptionally bright for her age. Even though the lessons are at the level of academy freshmen, she’s keeping up well. And with a study buddy, young master Damian seems to focus much better.”

Great. With praise like that, pretending to be a normal five-year-old is pointless.

I gave up on the lisp and quietly gauged the mood. The Duchess still looked unconvinced.

“I still can’t believe the Duke brought a child home saying he’d be her guardian.”

But her suspicion didn’t seem to be directed at me.

“Is it true that the role changes the person? Maybe becoming Duke changed his mindset.”

“Ah, actually, I’m not officially under his guardianship yet. He keeps telling me to go back to the orphanage…”

“What?”

This time, a frown creased her forehead.

“No wonder something felt off—starting with the fact you’re wearing Damian’s clothes!”

Embarrassed, I looked down at my outfit.

Yeah… Maybe I shouldn’t have worn the young master’s clothes?

Even if I had permission, they were probably chosen and tailored just for Damian.

Meaning—they weren’t meant for me.

“Let’s go.”

The Duchess took Damian’s hand with a look of clear disapproval.

I must’ve rubbed her the wrong way.

Well, I am just an uninvited guest here.

└ [Wow, what a petty momㅡㅡ]
└ [Don’t act like you know Rose when she becomes a saint later]
└ [Nothing’s progressing in the Duke’s estate, so why even cling to staying there? I’m dropping this story. Frustrating.]

Just as the comment fairies started furiously criticizing the ducal house—

Something warm touched my hand.

I looked up and saw the Duchess holding my hand with her free one, meeting my eyes.

“Today’s an outing.”

└ [Best mom~~^^]

* * *

The Duchess—well, former Duchess Hestina—took Damian and me to a shopping street near the Duke’s residence.

I wasn’t sure what we were doing there, but then…

“How cute. The green dress suits her too.”

“With a pretty little lady like this, everything looks good. This hairpin goes with the dress! Elegant and stylish!”

“Her hair’s a bit short, though. Oh well. I’ll take everything she tried on. Wrap them up.”

└ [That’s what I’m talking about!]
└ [Has she tasted soda? She’s refreshing like one]
└ [Finally, satisfaction~]

Hestina seemed to have found a spark of joy in her dull routine as she shopped freely.

The fairies in the comments were just as thrilled.

But from my perspective—the one receiving all these gifts—I felt a bit different.

“Is it really okay for me to accept all this?”

“Don’t children love presents? Why wouldn’t you take them?”

“Uh, because… I don’t have any reason to receive them?”

When I used to receive donations from noble sponsors at the orphanage, I accepted them gratefully without thinking too much.

But if someone personally gave me something, I felt like I had to repay them somehow. And I had nothing to give back.

└ [Repay her with your cuteness]
└ [Sigh… our heroine overthinks. It’s a gift, not a bribe.]

…Maybe my thinking got warped from growing up in the Torto family, where gifts were always transactional.

There, nothing was ever given for free.

└ [Rose never got a proper giftㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
└ [This reminds me of that time the second prince’s ring gift was delivered to the wrong place]
└ [Ugh, let’s curse this rotten world with disasters]

The fairies, who had been having fun a moment ago, suddenly turned violent.

‘Am I the bad one for thinking this way?’

The shift in tone after just a few thoughts was jarring.

Even Hestina seemed displeased by my response, letting out a quiet sigh.

“Act your age.”

“Ah, y-yes. Thank you.”

But even as I tried to show gratitude, my face didn’t brighten.

Noticing that, she softly explained:

“This is something I need to do too.”

“Something… you need to do?”

“Yes. Spending money is a noble’s duty. If the wealthy don’t spend, how are merchants supposed to make a living?”

└ [She’s right]
└ [Noblesse oblige, baby]
└ [A refreshing noble family that shatters clichés—what is this household]

Listening to her words and seeing her face, I could tell she genuinely enjoyed spending.

Thanks to that, I felt a little more at ease.

Apparently interested not just in shopping but in the district itself, Hestina chatted with the shopkeeper.

“This street seems quieter than expected. Are sales doing okay?”

“Since the capital’s close by, most of the big shops moved there. After the war, everyone thinks people will start spending again, so now’s the time.”

But that wasn’t the only reason, and the shopkeeper glanced around before lowering their voice.

“This land used to belong to a now-ruined noble house. Since merchants often have close ties with their lords, some fled to avoid getting caught in the fallout.”

Ah… the previous Duke who got purged owned this area, huh?

Some moved to the capital. Others distanced themselves to avoid association.

That’s why, even though this was prime land directly granted by His Majesty the Emperor to Duke Valentine, the commercial district hadn’t fully revived yet.

“I see. I was thinking of buying some property since the location’s good. With the Duke’s knights here, security shouldn’t be a problem.”

Not realizing Hestina was the Duke’s former wife, the shopkeeper lowered their voice again.

“Some say that’s why they avoid opening shops here.”

“Hm?”

“They say if even a minor problem happens, swords come out immediately. I guess being from the battlefield, they’re used to solving things with force…”

That sounded similar to the rumors I’d heard from the maids.

└ [Should you be saying that in front of the Duke’s wife?]

That concerned me too, so I glanced at Hestina—but she looked surprisingly unbothered.

Maybe she was hiding her identity to get more honest opinions?

“I see. I’ll take a look around. Looks like the clothes are all packed. Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

For the record, Damian had gone off separately with guards to check out a weapon shop.

When our carriage arrived at the weapon shop, Damian came out holding something long in his arms.

“Rose! I found a great sword for sparring—”

He excitedly rushed over but froze the moment he saw me in a dress.

Then his jaw dropped in shock.

└ [Is it because she looks so pretty?]
└ [omg is this finally turning into a romance?!]
└ [Whoa, did he just go from older-brother to male lead candidate??]

“What are you wearing? That’s so impractical for movement!”