Chapter 16
Hearing suspicious movement, I came closer — and to think I’d run into him of all people.
I never imagined I’d see Count Rusten again!
My heart was still pounding wildly. Ibi rubbed her cold fingertips together.
I should avoid running into the Count at all costs.
If anyone found out I’d run away from his household, I might be dragged back — forget adoption.
Besides, if what I just heard is true… the Count probably doesn’t want to see me either. Not right now, anyway.
A noble who’s lost a child through neglect wouldn’t be trusted as a recommender for adoption.
Anyway, I never expected that the orphan the Duke had adopted before my regression was somehow related to Count Rusten —
and that the Count’s side had planted him as an informant.
I can’t just ignore this. But… I can’t recklessly tell anyone either.
After all, I was still a young beastkin who hadn’t even fully humanized yet, and I had no proof.
“Piiu.”
There’s no helping it.
I’ll have to keep a close eye on the Duke myself — so I can tell him right away if the High Priest tries to fake the blessing!
* * *
Crovan Noctis often heard this kind of complaint from his subordinates:
“My lord’s piercing golden eyes make me feel like I’m being watched all the time! I can’t relax for even a second!”
Every time he heard it, the Duke would snort.
As if being watched by someone would ever make him change his behavior.
But now… he finally understood.
“Baird.”
It was a rare moment of rest after a storm of paperwork.
Normally, he’d nap. But this time, he hesitated and walked over to the bookshelf.
Taking down a thick, scholarly economics volume, he muttered quietly:
“…Is Ibi still watching me?”
“Yes, my lord. Staring holes right through you.”
“Damn it.”
“Jealous, honestly.”
“Shut up.”
Sure enough, through the small crack of the office door, Ibi’s round eyes were fixed on him.
“I have no idea what’s gotten into her lately. If I try to ask, she runs away.”
Baird couldn’t quite hide his smirk.
“Could it be that Lady Ibi’s gaze actually bothers you, my lord?”
“Think I could fix your face if I punched it?”
“I—It’s fixed already!”
Baird straightened up in an instant, wiping off his grin.
“Well, children often act in ways adults can’t understand. It’s probably some new game. She’ll get bored in a few days.”
But Baird’s prediction was completely wrong.
The next day, and the day after that, Ibi followed the Duke everywhere, watching him closely.
Because of that, the Duke couldn’t act as he pleased anymore.
When he went to light a cigar—
“……”
He’d feel that gaze again.
The curious eyes of a child ready to imitate everything an adult did.
…Damn it.
Grumbling inwardly, the Duke ground out his cigar with a disgusted face.
When he felt like grabbing some arrogant noble by the face—
“……”
That intense stare was back again.
The fascinated look of a child eager to learn.
Muttering “Damn it, damn it,” the Duke ended up ruffling the man’s hair roughly instead.
The poor noble was so terrified he foamed at the mouth and fainted.
And when the Duke accidentally stepped on some wildflowers—
“……!”
He’d hear a small gasp, feel that horrified look that screamed, “How could you!”
Muttering “…Damn it, damn it, bloody hell,” he crouched down and awkwardly tried to smooth the trampled petals.
But when the trembling gaze still didn’t move away, he found himself whispering through clenched teeth:
“…Sorry. For… stepping on you.”
Word spread quickly among the guests who witnessed it — that “the Duke has a bizarre affection for wildflowers.”
Some nobles even started sending him flowers as gifts.
After several days of this, Baird said in awe,
“My lord, congratulations! It’s been a week of no smoking, no violence, and nature conservation!”
“Shut it…”
The Duke crushed a cigar in his hand without thinking.
Baird, however, beamed with delight.
“Isn’t that a wonderful improvement? If Lady Ibi keeps following you like a father—”
Oops.
Baird clamped his mouth shut too late.
Cold sweat broke out as he cursed himself.
Why did I have to touch the one topic that sets him off?
He braced for a storm of insults or punishment, watching the Duke’s expression nervously.
Sure enough, the Duke’s sharp glare warned him to stop talking —
but surprisingly, he didn’t lash out.
“That little one doesn’t need a guardian.”
“Pardon?”
“She might look weak, but she’s got tough survival instincts. As long as she’s fed and sheltered, she’ll manage fine on her own.”
“I… suppose so? Still…”
Baird rolled his eyes thoughtfully before speaking cautiously.
“I think the reason Lady Ibi’s watching you so closely is separation anxiety.”
“That’s a new kind of nonsense.”
“Well, expert nonsense, my lord.”
Baird pulled out a parenting book tucked under his arm — Super Dad Returns.
“It says separation anxiety happens when a child hasn’t formed a stable attachment to their parent.”
“Hah. Are you implying I should’ve cared about that sort of thing?”
“Of course not! I just mean… Lady Ibi is still a child, so she might see you as her protector.”
“……”
Baird glanced fondly toward the window where Ibi was hiding.
“Maybe she’s watching you because she feels anxious. She probably knows she’ll have to leave someday.”
“Good. That’ll make things easier.”
The Duke replied coolly.
“If she cries when it’s time to go, that’ll just be annoying.”
Indeed — she’d be leaving soon.
His retainers were already searching for a suitable beastkin family to adopt her.
But most noble beastkin families looked down on those with low bloodline power…
“……”
Images flashed unbidden through the Duke’s mind —
Ibi being shunned for being an adopted child.
Ibi, left out of warm family dinners, digging through an empty pouch alone.
Ibi, still a flying squirrel while her siblings wore fine clothes.
Ibi, crying every night toward the direction of the Duke’s mansion—
until she coughed blood and collapsed.
Thud!
The Duke slammed the economics book back onto the shelf.
His hand — steady even when cutting down enemies — trembled for a moment.
But his voice remained as cold as ever.
“…Baird. Set a tea table in the winter garden.”
* * *
Watching from afar, Ibi tilted her head at the Duke’s unusual behavior.
She secretly followed him and soon saw the grand greenhouse garden.
Weird… since when does the Duke take interest in gardens?
Thinking rather impolitely, Ibi found a spot where she could clearly see him and hid.
Then the Duke, seated at the tea table, looked straight at the tree she was hiding behind.
“Come here.”
Gasp!
Ibi froze.
But she’d hidden perfectly!
He couldn’t have known from the start… could he?
Embarrassed, she scurried over and climbed into his open palm.
“Cough!”
A small cough escaped her before she could stop it.
Though she’d been much better lately thanks to regular exercise and care, it hadn’t completely gone away.
The Duke’s face darkened at the sound — even more severe than usual.
Eek. Why’s he looking like that again?
Startled, Ibi tried to back away, but the Duke’s large hand gently covered her back.
“Is catching a chill and coughing your new hobby?”
“Piiu. (No.)”
“And why are your cheek pouches so empty again? You look pitifully skinny.”
Frowning, the Duke pushed a bowl of nuts toward her.
When Ibi only picked one up, his brow twitched — so she hurriedly stuffed the rest into her cheeks all at once.
They’re empty because I’ve been following you around all day! So unfair!
Still, maybe she really had caught a bit of cold. She could feel another cough building—
“Cough… huh?”
Strange. The cough vanished halfway.
And she suddenly felt… stronger.
She blinked, realizing the Duke’s warm palm was still on her back.
Wait. The last time he touched me, my bleeding stopped too, didn’t it?
Something she’d once read came to mind:
Beastkin recover faster when they come into contact with pheromones similar to their own.
But a flying squirrel and a black wolf couldn’t be more different…
Maybe it was some mystery of life — divine intervention, even.
And come to think of it, her long-dormant divine blessing had first appeared after meeting the Duke.
Her poor health and weak blessing had all been due to feeble pheromones—
So the Duke’s pheromones must be helping mine! Like… a multivitamin!
Alright then. Time to confirm!
“Piiu!”
Ibi wriggled deeper into his palm and rubbed her head against it like a cat.
Swoosh, swish.
“Piiu.”
“……!”
“……!”
The Duke froze.
Baird dropped his stack of papers with a thud.
Quickly shoving tissues into his nose, Baird whispered nasally,
“See? I was right, wasn’t I? The separation anxiety— it’s definitely because of you, my lord!”
“……”
The Duke shot him a look of pure disapproval but didn’t deny it.
Meanwhile, oblivious to their reactions, Ibi looked around, ready to test her newfound blessing.
What should I try it on?
Inside the large greenhouse, all kinds of flowers and trees bloomed in full color.
Her eyes soon landed on a white oak tree beside the Duke.
“Pii?”
Oh, acorns!
Noticing what she was looking at, the Duke’s expression shifted subtly.
After a pause, he gestured for Baird to fetch one.
He handed the freshly picked acorn to Ibi.
“Do you like that tree?”
“Piiu!”
(Of course! It has acorns!)
“…Then you may eat all the ones from that tree.”
“Piiu? (Really?)”
“Yes.”
His eyes softened, his voice lowering.
“The one who planted it… is gone now.”
