Chapter 6
The duke praised as if his heart, not his head, was speaking. His mouth was slightly open, and while on anyone else it might have looked silly, his face was so handsome that it didn’t seem that way at all.
I wonder anew—why does the duke like my sister so much?
I should definitely ask him later. Honestly, neither my sister nor I have particularly impressive qualities, so it’s surprising that a man like a duke would care for us this much.
“…You flatter me too much, Your Grace.”
While I made that silent resolution, my sister’s face burned with embarrassment at the duke’s unfiltered sincerity. Seeing her cheeks turn a rosy pink, the duke’s own ears reddened, as if he’d realized what he’d just said.
The two of them seemed unsure what to do next, so I stepped in.
“May we sit?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
The duke hurriedly, though still gracefully, gestured for us to sit across from him on the sofa. I held my sister’s hand and moved to sit. The moment I touched the sofa, I felt its soft comfort—a truly stable seat.
“Though my younger sister mentioned it, I also want to thank you for inviting me.”
“I should be the one thanking both of you for accepting my invitation.”
The duke, trying to hide his embarrassment, cleared his throat and pointed to the long oval table.
“I heard that the young lady likes cheesecake and desserts that aren’t too sweet, so I prepared a little something.”
He called it “a little,” but the table was filled with a three-tiered tray and several plates, easily seven or eight desserts in total. Half were various types of cheesecake, and the other half were visibly less sweet desserts. Teapots and teacups were arranged in front of us, making it convenient to sip while eating. The care in both the arrangement and the food was evident.
“I also prepared a few for little Miss Lils, since she seems to like sweet things. Is that alright?”
The duke placed a plate of strawberry chocolate cake in front of me as he asked.
Ha… asking if it’s alright? Of course it’s alright—
“I love it. Thank you, Your Grace.”
I didn’t hesitate and took a forkful of the cake. The freshness of the strawberry combined perfectly with the chocolate’s sweetness, melting gently in my mouth.
Mmm, delicious.
The cream, seemingly made from milk, was smooth and sweet. The moist texture of the cake itself was satisfying. Suddenly, feeling someone’s gaze, I looked up.
The duke rested his chin on his hand, looking at me with a strangely content expression.
“…?”
Puzzled, I tilted my head. The duke explained by extending his hand.
“Oh, sorry. I’m just relieved that little Miss Lils seems to like it.”
Ah, if that’s the reason… fine. I nodded in understanding, and he raised the corners of his mouth slightly. That such a silly smile looked good on him was probably thanks to his handsome face.
Ignoring the duke’s face, I returned my attention to the cake, though I kept my ears open to their conversation.
“How is it? Tasty?”
“Really delicious. Did the duke’s chef make it?”
“Yes. It’s the cheesecake our family chef is most proud of.”
“No wonder—it’s so good.”
Instead of replying with words, the duke let out a low laugh, as if saying my sister was cute. Then, speaking in that still-laughing voice, he asked,
“How have you been? I was curious while we couldn’t see each other.”
“I’ve been well. And you, Your Grace?”
“Well, I’ve been fine.”
“I’m glad. I… also received your letter safely.”
For some reason, my sister mentioned the letter I had personally collected from the duke’s estate, blushing intensely. Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t read its contents yet.
Putting down my cake, I picked up my teacup. I wondered what the letter could have said as I took a sip.
“When you see the dew on the leaves, it reminds you of me…”
“Pfft!”
I almost spat out the tea.
“Kati, are you okay?”
My sister quickly handed me a handkerchief and wiped my mouth. Luckily, only a bit of my dress and a few desserts were dampened.
While my sister tidied up for me, I exchanged a glance with the duke.
‘Did you really say that?’
‘Didn’t you ask me to write it?’
‘I meant when looking at flowers…’
‘…Anyway.’
The duke averted his eyes, embarrassed, ending our silent conversation. He was more romantic than I’d imagined.
Well, seeing dew on the leaves and thinking of my sister isn’t bad—it’s proof of love.
But suddenly, I didn’t feel like eating any more cake. Quietly, I stood and looked at them.
I, Katarina Lils, may have the body of a six-year-old, but the mind of an eighteen-year-old.
“Can I go look at the garden?”
I knew when to step in and when to step back.
“Of course. I’ll guide you.”
The duke, clueless about giving us space, tried to follow.
“No! You stay with my sister. I’ll go with the maid or butler.”
I waved my hands quickly to indicate he should stay. Let them have their conversation—especially about the proposal.
The duke hesitated, seemingly understanding.
“But…”
“Hehe, it’s really fine. I’ll just take a quick look around.”
Nothing serious could happen in the Rapeur estate garden. With a casual tone, the duke stepped back, and my sister gently grabbed my shoulder.
“Kati, come with me.”
“No, sister. You haven’t had any cake. Eat with the duke.”
“You like the cake more than I do.”
“I’ve had enough. I’ll just look at the garden.”
I hadn’t eaten much, but I pretended otherwise. Even if it was a pity to leave the remaining desserts, I wasn’t greedy. I bid farewell to the treats.
My sister wanted to follow me, but I firmly stopped her, and she returned to the sofa. I waved to reassure her and stepped out into the garden with the waiting maid.
The Rapeur estate garden was enormous.
How could they possibly maintain such a place? Every plant and flower looked fresh and vibrant. Clearly, the family gardener was skilled.
Even notoriously difficult-to-grow flowers were in full bloom. It was a visual delight.
“I’ll explore alone from here.”
I turned to the maid trailing behind. She hesitated.
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Yes, I want to explore by myself.”
“Then I’ll stay nearby in case you need me.”
After sending her back, I strolled leisurely through the garden. The sunny weather and peaceful atmosphere made it a pleasant walk.
Going straight until hitting a wall, I turned a corner and saw a cluster of flowers unlike any I had seen before. Red at the top, fading to white at the bottom.
I widened my eyes, recognizing them.
Huh? That’s it.
An imported species from a distant country—the Herbruin flower.
Long ago, a wizard named Herbruin artificially created it. Though ornamental now, in nine years, the flowers would thrive spectacularly. They had been discovered as ingredients for purifying dark magic.
Until then, they were notoriously difficult to cultivate, with few growing them before the Rapeur matriarch bought them in bulk for the garden. Nine years later, their use in warfare on the northern border made them valuable.
For a time, they enhanced the family’s wealth, but later became a source of misfortune. The emperor forced the duke to a campaign because the Rapeurs monopolized the Herbruin flower. That strained relations between the emperor and the matriarch, and the duke returned with permanent leg injuries.
The Herbruin flower brought money and misfortune alike. Though widespread after the war, I, having lived in a modest household, had never seen it. Thinking its price would exceed a million gold per bloom in nine years felt strange—it looked just like a uniquely pretty flower.
Curious, I approached. The scent was strong, a mix of fragrances, almost pungent. The white petals seemed tinged with red at the edges.
I reached out, wanting to touch it—but before my fingers could brush the petals—
Smack!
Someone sharply swatted my hand away. Startled, I looked sideways and saw a child with angelic features, like a painting come to life.
Wow, beautiful.
Curly blonde hair, emerald green eyes, a straight nose, soft pink cheeks. You couldn’t tell if it was a boy or girl at first glance. Judging by the pants instead of a dress, probably a boy.
I had never seen someone so pretty—it startled me beyond the pain in my hand.
But who is this?
The duke was unmarried; no children were possible. Clearly noble, but who had the audacity to strike me in the duke’s garden?
“Who are you…?”
“Don’t touch what isn’t yours.”
My question was cut off by the child’s sharp voice. The high-pitched, clear voice sounded sweet but brash, making me snicker. Anyone would think I was caught trying to rob the family treasury.
“What are you talking about?”
“I said don’t steal.”
“I didn’t steal anything!”
“You were going to sneakily sell this flower, weren’t you?”
I was speechless. Me, stealing a Herbruin flower from the Rapeur garden to sell it? Insane.
Do I look poor enough to steal flowers?
I was dressed decently, thanks to my sister. Judging by my outfit, did he really think I’d sell flowers instead of jewels?
Angry at being judged, I lifted my chin and glared. The child flinched slightly.
“I never intended to steal this flower! How dare you accuse someone without knowing?”
The green eyes shimmered with surprise. Flustered, the child’s face turned red, lips trembling. I continued glaring, unimpressed. The child frowned, offended.
“Don’t lie! If you weren’t stealing, why did you reach out?”
Determined not to lose, the child argued with absurd logic. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the ridiculousness.
There’s a simple way to counter that. I grabbed his hand and pressed it to the flower.
“If touching counts as stealing, then by this logic, you’re stealing, aren’t you?”
