Chapter 41
“Actually, it’s something I often heard when I was at the orphanage. They called me an orphan girl… I got hurt a lot because of it.”
Whenever she saw kids her age walking while holding their parents’ hands while selling flowers on the streets, her heart would sting. At those times, she used to feel gloomy, thinking, Why is my heart so fragile?
She had always repeated to herself that she didn’t need parents as a defense mechanism to protect her heart. But now, she no longer needed that protection. Why? Because…
“I’ve received so much love that my heart has grown strong! And it’s thanks to the Grand Duke that I became strong.”
“…Because of me?”
“Yes! Because you loved me so much. And you’ll always be by my side loving me, right?”
The child’s gaze, full of trust and faith, was fixed on him. That gaze left Alec speechless.
It’s all because of you!
The words that had left scars on Alec’s heart resurfaced. Words similar to what had been screamed at him now lingered in his mind.
“Because of me…?”
In the child’s eyes, he saw only himself. It felt as though the whole world of the child standing firmly on the ground had become him. Alec could not utter a single word.
What do children even see in their parents?
What is it that makes them look at you with that gaze? Alec, who had struggled to find warmth in a world that had never let a single ray of light in, felt tears well up in his eyes.
Alec, you know… I used to think that parents protect their children. But that’s not it. After raising a child, I understand. The way a child looks at me is what keeps me alive. It’s protecting me.
He recalled Claude’s words from long ago. Claude had said that while holding a sleeping child in his arms. Despite the exhaustion visible on his face, his eyes had been full of happiness.
“Ha…”
Alec exhaled, his chest swelling with emotion, and cautiously brought his hand to his eyes. Somehow, he felt he could almost see the shape of his own eyes. They would likely show fatigue, like Claude’s, but also overflow with happiness. Because that’s exactly how he felt now.
Drip.
Tears formed at the corners of Alec’s eyes, overwhelmed by happiness far beyond what he felt he deserved.
“Grand Duke, don’t cry! I really wasn’t hurt. I’m serious, not just trying to make you feel better!”
Eloise stomped her feet and spoke rapidly.
“It’s easy to tell that it wasn’t done with malice if you talk to Brizny. Of course, that doesn’t mean there were no mistakes, but…”
Eloise’s words faltered as Alec continued to shed tears.
“I’m sorry for making you sad.”
“That’s not it… No, it’s… thank you, for becoming my daughter.”
“I—I too! Ah… well, it’s the same!”
To think her stammered words were the same as his! She wanted to say “dad,” but the frustration made Eloise hit the floor in exasperation.
“…Today, I’d like to stay by your side until you fall asleep. Is that okay?”
Had Alec made a small selfish request? Or had he sensed what the child wanted to say? Either way, it didn’t matter to Eloise.
“You don’t need permission at all. You’re… my parent!”
What mattered more was the small but important step forward.
“Thank you.”
Eloise, her face red, shouted out as Alec looked on with a gentle smile.
“Ah! Let’s not just talk, let’s lie down together!”
Startled by the child’s insistence, Alec shook his head.
“You’ve gotten a lot of dust all over…”
“It’s fine! Quickly!”
The small hands grabbed Alec’s large hands with determination.
“Alright, just wait a moment.”
Unable to resist the child’s stubbornness leading him to her bed, Alec finally drew the sword at his waist.
“I’m lying down!”
He dropped the sword as far from the child as possible and turned his body. Eloise, already ready, looked up at him with sparkling eyes. Alec laughed lightly at the sight.
“Alright.”
Even with dust and monster blood on his clothes, Alec lay on the child’s bed. He could not bring himself to break the child’s stubbornness.
“Grand Duke, lie more comfortably.”
“Like this?”
“Yes!”
The child nodded and smiled brightly. Alec couldn’t take his eyes off that smile, laughing because he realized he would never win against the child’s stubbornness. Yet, even that made him so happy that he couldn’t stop laughing.
“Yes! Hehe… I really wanted to do this.”
Feeling his hands caressing her head, Eloise smiled.
“What is the wish that the little one wants?”
Alec asked, noticing how precious the child’s smile seemed as if it were her greatest wish.
“Hmm…”
Eloise rolled her eyes thoughtfully. She had already had all her wishes fulfilled. But she couldn’t just dismiss the question lightly.
I don’t want to brush aside the Grand Duke’s question.
After a moment of thought, Eloise spoke.
“I want to become strong so I don’t easily get into danger!”
“I’ll make sure nothing dangerous happens to you.”
“But I don’t want to be protected from behind. I want to hold your hand and be beside you!”
Firmly, Eloise asked the same question.
“And you, Grand Duke?”
“I’ve already had my wish come true…”
“Not like that! You have to tell me at least one!”
Eloise pouted, fussing.
I’ve already fulfilled all my wishes.
Through every moment of being entangled in the palace’s political schemes, he had never once desired the throne. He only wanted freedom. Just like commoners who value the happiness of their family over power, he wanted to live like that.
“If it’s a wish now… it’s to protect the happiness of you, Eloise, and Kylian.”
Yes. He would not hesitate to risk his life for the happiness of the children. His own happiness was right here.
The sound of turning pages. The crack of a wooden sword slicing the air. As usual, the day in Adlen’s garden began. Yet, unlike usual, the voices of other children could be heard.
“Kylian, wait!”
“Come on, hurry!”
Kylian, already holding a wooden sword, urged, and Lian hurriedly finished breakfast and ran.
“Training is good, but you mustn’t overstrain your bodies.”
Alec, finishing breakfast, watched the children with worry as they took up their wooden swords. He lowered his gaze thoughtfully, then stood.
“Let them be. They’ll manage.”
Claude’s words made Alec frown.
“They might overdo it and get hurt.”
“Getting hurt while training is part of learning, isn’t it? That’s also experience.”
Claude said it lightly, as if it were nothing. Alec’s eyes sharpened.
“You’re telling me to just watch the children get hurt?”
“That’s overprotective of you. Are you going to remove every stone from the path for them so they never stumble? No. They have to learn through experience.”
Sighing, Alec sat back down. Every clash of wooden swords made him anxious, but he knew Claude was not wrong. Yet, Eloise, watching alongside Alec, could not stop worrying.
“Count, if they get hurt, won’t it really hurt them?”
Eloise’s anxious, round eyes made Claude’s narrow eyes twinkle mischievously.
“Getting hurt while training is always possible…”
“That’s right!”
As if her concern grew worse at his words, Eloise’s expression darkened like a sky heavy with rain clouds.
Did I go too far joking?
Claude waved his hands apologetically.
“No need to worry so much! Even if they get hurt, they just need rest. It’s like catching a cold.”
“Really?”
“Yes! Don’t worry.”
At Claude’s firm reassurance, Eloise finally relaxed. Her worried gaze cleared, and Claude gently patted her head in apology.
“I’m sorry for making you anxious.”
But it wasn’t Eloise who responded. Alec, who had been watching with disapproval, spoke.
“You made my little one anxious, so of course you should apologize. And get your dirty hands off immediately.”
Claude froze as Alec’s rough, almost beast-like voice cut through.
“…Little one?”
Claude squinted suspiciously, as if unsure if the person who had just spoken was truly the Alec he knew. He carefully scrutinized Alec’s face, as if trying to discern his true identity.
