Chapter 10
Giselle pretended not to notice the arrow-like gaze of Arcayd, keeping her eyes fixed only on the strawberry cake that had dared trouble the young lady.
“Didn’t you say children definitely like sweets?”
Arcayd tapped the table with the tip of his index finger, as if to draw Giselle’s attention while she tried her hardest to look away.
Giselle began sweating profusely.
Meanwhile, Ror had just emptied the little cup of milk. The sweetness had faded, leaving only a dry taste in her mouth.
Muul… isn’t there any water?
Looking around the table for something to drink, Ror’s eyes landed on a transparent glass filled with a golden-yellow liquid.
It looked delicious, shining like a sunflower, like the sun itself.
Taking advantage of the adults’ silence, Ror slipped down from the chair and toddled toward the glass.
Balancing on tiptoe, she stretched out her short arms and managed to grasp it.
“Ugh-cha.”
“Ror?”
The little grunt she let out while lifting the glass—heavier than any fork she’d ever held—finally made Arcayd and Giselle turn their heads.
Arcayd moved as if to stand up, unwilling to let Ror carry anything heavier than a fork.
But Giselle stopped him with a glance and whispered just loud enough for him to hear, “Let her do what she can on her own. She’s a clever, brave little lady.”
Gulp, gulp.
By then, Ror had already drained half the glass. It tasted like fruit juice.
She didn’t know what fruit it was, but unlike the overly sweet strawberry cake, this was sweet and tangy in just the right way. She loved it instantly.
“Waaah!”
Ror’s face shone as brightly as the sun.
“This fruit juice is delish!”
Reaally delicious!
It’s tangy and sooo refreshing—it washes my tongue all clean!
Overwhelmed with delight, Ror raised the glass again.
Before long, both Giselle and Arcayd found themselves watching her intently.
“That’s good, is it—”
The moment Arcayd spoke, Giselle quickly whispered, “My lord!”
Catching her warning look, Arcayd changed his tone, softening the end of his sentence and raising his voice slightly.
“—isn’t it?”
He had taken Giselle’s advice to heart: children fear adults who speak in low, heavy tones like the Grand Duke usually did, so he tried to sound brighter and lighter.
Because he didn’t want to see that child—who looked so much like Elaine—be afraid of him too.
“Yes! It’s delicious!”
Hehe.
Ror grinned wide, showing the gap where one of her front teeth was missing.
“…Ah.”
That warm, dazzling smile froze Arcayd in place.
For in that instant, Elaine’s face overlapped with the child’s.
Even though he had never once seen Elaine smile that brightly.
“Hyaaah…”
Like an adult savoring alcohol, Ror let out a tiny sigh after finishing the glass completely.
That little sound melted the ice around Arcayd’s heart, warmth spreading inside him like fresh buds sprouting in spring.
“Find the chef who made that juice and send them to the Grand Duke’s mansion at once.”
He gave the order in an unusually curt tone, as if trying to smother the feeling inside him.
Ah, was that too stiff?
He thought it was fine since the order was directed at Giselle—but Ror had also heard it.
Realizing his mistake, Arcayd quickly turned to the girl, forcing his voice to be as “gentle” and “kind” as he could.
“You’ll be able to drink this juice every day—until you get tired of it.”
“Wooooow!”
Ror squealed in joy.
I can drink this delicious juice every single day!
I’m sooo happy!
“Daddy’s the best!”
She raised both arms high, stamping her little legs on the floor as she shouted, “Hooray!”
Arcayd found himself laughing along without realizing it—only to stop short.
When… was the last time I laughed like this?
Not once since Elaine had left.
It was as if laughter had vanished from the world with her.
Ever since, everything had been gray. No matter how much glory he achieved in war, no matter how many rewards the Emperor himself bestowed upon him, he felt no joy.
His world had lost its light, smothered by emptiness and shadowed by longing.
But this child… she shone. Like sunlit ripples on water, she glittered. Her smile brought color back to his gray world.
And more than that—her laughter rang like a stream thawing after winter, bright and full of life.
It tickled his heart, and he found himself laughing with her.
“Ah!”
Ror suddenly cried out, as if remembering something.
Arcayd’s smile disappeared at once.
Before he could even ask what was wrong, Ror darted forward.
Arcayd shoved his chair back, rising quickly, thinking she meant to dash off somewhere.
“Young lady? What’s wrong?”
Has she tired of sweets already? Where is she going so suddenly?
But before he could act, Ror leapt—
Plop!
Landing perfectly on Arcayd’s lap.
Even as surprise flickered through him, Arcayd couldn’t help but smile with pride.
…Good reflexes. She takes after me.
Swift, precise movement—no wasted motion. She’d probably be good with a sword someday. No, wait—her body is weak, I mustn’t allow that…
He kept his usual stone-cold expression, but his mind ran with thoughts.
“Why—”
Just as he was about to ask why she’d climbed onto his lap, Ror stretched out her little hands and grabbed both his cheeks, pulling his face closer.
No one had ever dared such bold contact with the Grand Duke of Atteleon. Surprised, Arcayd nevertheless let her do as she pleased.
Smooch!
“Oh my!”
Ror pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Giselle gasped but quickly clamped her mouth shut.
The young lady looked far too adorable, but she knew instinctively this moment must not—must never—be disturbed.
“Hehe.”
Ror beamed proudly.
“Thank you for thinking of me, Daddy!”
Because she liked the fruit juice, and Daddy had promised she could have it every day.
Mama once told her: when you like someone, you do the things they like. That must mean Daddy likes her too!
Not just her liking Daddy—but Daddy liking her back!
The thought made her heart float so high she couldn’t hold it down.
So just like she did when she felt overflowing love for Mama, Ror ran to Daddy and gave him a big smooch on the cheek.
“Ah…”
Truthfully, Arcayd had already broken inside the moment she climbed into his lap.
No one but Elaine had ever approached him so freely.
And now, as the child’s soft lips touched his cheek—
A wave of emotions surged through him, sweeping away everything. His world, which had only glimmered faintly around her, suddenly burst into full, radiant color.
Ahh…
Arcayd carefully wrapped his arms around Ror’s small body. For a long while, he simply held her.
Ror too stayed uncharacteristically quiet in his arms.
Sometimes, Mama also held her silently like this.
Ror didn’t know why, but she always did something in those moments.
Swipe, swipe.
Patting and stroking gently, as if to say “Good girl, it’s okay.”
That small hand made Arcayd hug her tighter.
From his arms to his heart, the little girl’s warmth seeped in, soft and tender.
Afraid to lose it, he did not let her go.
And in his embrace, Ror only giggled happily.
Watching quietly, Giselle let out a breath of relief.
Yes, she had to admit it.
The first part of the “date course”—visiting a dessert shop—was a complete failure.
If the young lady hadn’t done something so sweet at the very end…
Giselle shuddered at the dreadful thought.
Ugh, I don’t even want to imagine it.
