Chapter 30
“Hmm… what’s for breakfast today?”
“Sandwiches and hot chocolate.”
“Right?”
At Kylian’s smug tone, Eloise turned away with a pout.
“…I’m going to go read.”
She leaned back against a tree and popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth to comfort herself.
Even if her pride had taken a blow, chocolate wasn’t to blame.
If anyone was to blame…
“I don’t know which part of the book is wrong, but please look at this part! I did really well here!”
…it was that voice.
Eloise’s hand, which had been turning a page, froze at the sound.
“The Rise and Fall of the Continent’s Ruler, the Hertia Empire.”
She muttered the name of her next tormentor—waiting, no doubt, to give her a headache—after Kylian.
The book’s title alone looked as heavy as the thick volume itself.
“Is this really something a seven—no, an eight-year-old is supposed to study? And this book…”
Eloise squinted at the worn, dog-eared volume.
Different handwriting covered its margins, showing clear signs that it had passed through many hands.
“On Hertia Beneath the Black Sun.”
The title omitted the word Empire, referring simply to “Hertia.”
And the phrase Black Sun—Eloise knew that one. She’d heard it back when she sold flowers on the street.
It was a derogatory nickname for the Emperor.
“This is clearly a banned book…”
Eloise narrowed her eyes at Cain’s choice of reading material.
Giving a banned book—and such a difficult one at that—to an eight-year-old?
There was nothing about this situation that didn’t raise suspicion.
‘Well… that is just like Cain.’
She shook her head and turned to the page she’d stopped at yesterday.
“Try slashing horizontally first.”
A deep, heavy voice.
It was followed by the sharp whoosh of a sword cutting through air.
Eloise turned the page, using Alec and Kylian’s sword practice as background music.
“You’ve only just started using a sword, but you’re improving very quickly.”
As dawn gave way to morning, darkness lifted from the sky, and the sun’s light warmly bathed them.
The sound of servants’ footsteps soon filled the garden as they bustled around carrying trays of food.
A mouthwatering aroma drifted through the air.
“Morning already, huh? Let’s eat.”
“Haa, haa… Please teach me the next move tomorrow!”
Kylian wiped the sweat from his forehead, still panting.
“For now, focus on building your stamina. Without it, sword training will only harm your body.”
Alec smiled, ruffling Kylian’s hair.
“Kylian, hurry up! Lord Alec, come on!”
The scent of sweet hot chocolate was too tempting—Eloise was already at the table calling for them.
“Coming!”
Kylian dropped his practice sword and ran over.
His stomach growled in protest—the result of both exhaustion and hunger.
“Enjoy your meal, both of you.”
Alec’s gentle tone was warm as always. He sat down, glancing over a few papers as he lifted his cup of coffee.
The soft aroma of coffee filled the air, catching Eloise’s attention. She stared at him.
“…Does it not suit your taste, Eloise?”
Alec asked, concerned, when she didn’t touch her food despite running over so eagerly.
“Can I have just one sip of coffee?”
Alec froze midair, cup in hand. The dark liquid trembled in his hesitation.
“…”
It had been quite some time since they’d last sat down to speak heart-to-heart like this.
Eloise had grown used to life here—and she’d learned one thing about Alec:
If she persisted long enough, he would never say no to her.
“Please?”
She pressed again, driving the nail in.
“Oh? I want to try too!”
Kylian piped up, curious after hearing the word coffee.
“Well, that’s…”
Now completely flustered, Alec faltered under the combined assault of two eager children.
Eloise, confident of victory, stretched out her hand for the cup.
“That will not do.”
A firm, commanding voice cut in.
“Bella!”
Eloise scowled at the unexpected intruder.
“Young Lady, Young Master—you’re both far too young for coffee.”
The word young instantly ignited Kylian’s pride.
“Too young?! I’m nine years old!”
“Yes, that’s still quite young,” Bella replied evenly, her expression unchanged.
“No, it’s not!”
While the children squared off against Bella, Alec tried to mediate.
“Eloise, Kylian—eat what’s on your plates first.”
“Uncle Alec! I want coffee too!”
Kylian had already tuned him out, fired up by the word young.
“Me too, Lord Alec!”
Eloise stretched out her arm again.
“Well, um…”
Under their relentless attack, Alec’s voice sounded like that of a man surrendering.
“It seems the young master isn’t quite ready for breakfast yet,” Bella said crisply, stepping in like a knight shielding her lord.
“I suppose I’d better call Ryan over from the storage room to help serve.”
“Ugh… using that as a threat, seriously?”
“I’ll attend to you myself, Young Lady—please eat comfortably.”
“This doesn’t feel like service… it feels like surveillance.”
Unfazed, Bella bowed politely, having completely neutralized both children’s offensive.
“My apologies, Master Alec, for not being here sooner to assist at breakfast.”
“Ah, no, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Alec looked at her in amazement, impressed by how effortlessly she had subdued them.
“Young Lady, if you need anything, please let me know.”
Bella offered Eloise the untouched cup of hot chocolate.
Eloise took it with a sulky expression, eyeing Bella for any opening.
“Do you need something, Miss?”
But Bella showed no weakness—no opening at all.
“…Forget it.”
Eloise glanced toward her only ally, Kylian, but he had already given up and gone back to eating.
‘You gave up that easily?!’
She shot him a look of betrayal, then turned her determined gaze on Alec’s coffee cup.
‘I’ve come this far—I can’t give up now. I’ll drink it somehow!’
As she waited for the right moment, her eyes sparkled.
Alec set his cup down—and Eloise made her move.
But just then, the stack of papers beside it caught her eye.
She glanced over—and froze at a familiar word.
“…Swinton?”
Alec looked up, realizing she’d seen it.
“Ah, I forgot to tell you. The Swinton Count and his wife will be visiting tomorrow with their children.”
At his words, Eloise’s expression darkened.
She told herself it couldn’t be what she was thinking—but her heart wavered.
After all, she was technically a member of the Swinton family now.
“When they come… will I have to go back with them?”
If you’re anxious, you can ask.
If you don’t want something, you can say so.
No matter how childish or stubborn she was, Alec had always looked at her with warmth.
‘It’s okay… Lord Alec would never hurt me. He cherishes me too much for that.’
Her eyes steadied again.
“That will never happen,” Alec said firmly, erasing her worries.
“You’re my daughter, and of course, you belong by my side.”
He added gently, “We’ve already settled everything about that matter. Their visit is purely personal—there’s nothing for you to worry about.”
My daughter…
Eloise repeated the words in her heart, feeling as though sunlight had broken through her chest.
“Yes!”
Kylian, watching their exchange, tilted his head in confusion.
