Chapter 31

Chapter 31

As the treasure hunt progressed, I had no choice but to realize how excellent Mikhail Leventis’ physical abilities were.

I am still apologetic about my previous treatment of him, so I thought I would use my power to find the treasure if needed.

‘Why are you that good at climbing trees…?’

No, can I even express that as ‘climbing a tree’?

Mikhail leapt with a strong kick on the ground, put his foot on the tree trunk once, and lightly lifted himself into the air once more, grabbing a thick branch at once.

Soon after reaching the top of the tree, he waved at me after finding the treasure box hidden by the knights.

‘No, more than that, it’s a treasure hunt for children….. But the soldiers hid it in a place like that?’

That’s a big problem, my brother isn’t the type of person who can use his body well like Mikhail.

As the heir of a duchy, brother Damian diligently mastered swordsmanship and combat skills.

However, unlike his brilliant mind, him using his body was close to normal.

Rather, in terms of reflexes alone, my young older sister is much better.

‘Even so, my sister wouldn’t be able to climb a tree.’

Is the difficulty of this treasure hunt really for young kids?

Although, contrary to my worries, Mikhail only looked excited.

In the midst of that, I heard a murmur from my side.

“……. I didn’t expect you to climb up there yourself.”

It was the voice of the knight who followed at a certain distance for safety.

Thanks to that, I realized.

‘If you ask to take out what’s over there, *they were assuming that the knight would assist us.’

[tn— the ones who hid the treasure I guess]

But that monster-like Mikhail climbed the tree without giving time to stop him.

Well, it’s fine as long as you’re having fun.

“I’ll go down quickly!”

“Yeah.”

I slightly stepped back from near the tree, thinking that he should be ‘careful’ rather than ‘quick’.

On the contrary, the knight approached the tree in case Mikhail fell.

“Never, ever jump off. Little Duke. Since you might hurt your leg.”

“It’s alright.”

“You can’t!”

At the words of the knight, I also clicked my tongue inside.

You can’t get hurt, my parents are also your guardians.

Mikhail grumbled a little at the knight’s request, but came down with a much calmer gesture than when he climbed up.

Before I knew it, this was the sixth treasure box.

‘Since my brother and sister have five so far.’

We’re going to win.

Seeing that the sun is already setting.

While waving the fallen leaf that Mikhail had given me and leisurely predicting the winner and loser of the treasure hunt, Mikhail approached me.

He held a small box in one hand and put one knee on the floor in front of me and made eye contact with me.

“Please tell me I did a good job, baby”.

Hey, you seem to be a little more childish towards me today.

Still, I decided to accept his request without hesitation.

I’ve been sorry for what happened in the meantime.

“Gwoo wob.” [Good job.]

“I will definitely win for you.”

I didn’t want to destroy Mikhail’s face, who was so proud of such a trivial gesture.

* * *

The treasure hunt ended with the victory of me and Mikhail, thanks to the active participation of Little Duke Leventis, whose condition was excellent today.

However, the knights decided to give everyone a reward.

“Since Lady Lara and Young Master Damian also found treasures. We should at least give you as many treasures as you found.”

I thought that it was a relief hearing that cheeky talk to make them feel good.

‘Just in case my sister felt sad.’

Of course, my sister’s heart was very big, but I don’t want to see her hold back her disappointment.

She’s not at the age to know the severity of a competition anyway.

I thought that it was much better for children to be childishly rewarded for their efforts.

“Here, this is the treasure that Lady Lara found.”

My sister’s knight said so, and held out a box wrapped in pink wrapping paper.

“May I open it right away?”

“Of course.”

The knights slightly exclaimed at the appearance of my sister with twinkling eyes.

Every time my sister shook her body as if she was excited, her tied hair fluttered like rabbit ears.

“Wow—!”

My older sister, who checked the gift, alternately looked at the box once and the knights who gave the box as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Is this really Lara’s?”

“Of course, My lady.”

“Really, really?! This was the treasure?!”

“It’s true, you said you wanted it.”

“I love it!”

The identity of the gift was none other than leather armor for children.

Is it because she’s close to the knights?

My sister used to talk as if she was singing from some point on.

“Lara also wants to wear Sir knight’s clothes!”

“Knight’s clothes?”

“Yes! Because Lara is a warrior! I’m going to wear a knight’s clothes like this.”

Although at her word, my mother slightly laughed saying, “Not a princess?”

It looks like the knights remembered those words.

As if considering the child who would wear it, the softly trimmed leather had a soft pink color due to how it was dyed.

There were small pieces of black metal and red rubies engraved on the shoulder part, as if to give an accent, and my sister especially liked that part.

“It’s Shasha and mom’s color!”

“Do you like it, my lady?”

“Yes! Lara is also a warrior now!”

“Oh my, you’re loveliest warrior in the world.”

I also inwardly agreed strongly at the words of the maid next to her.

They gave my brother new boots for horseback riding, and gave me a baby hat that was modeled after the helmet design of the Knights Order.

It wasn’t leather, it was made of cloth, so it was completely useless for defense.

“Oh my, You look so cute!”

“Our youngest lady is really so cute no matter what she wears, you can be sister knights with Lady Lara!”

It was definitely cute.

Although I don’t know if it’s enough to make a fuss like this.

However, my older sister shook her head with an unusually serious face at the maid’s fuss.

“Not that, because Shasha is a princess.”

“Princess? But you like doing things together with the youngest lady.”

When the maid said that, my older sister puffed her chest and put both hands on her sides and made a “Tsk tsk.” sound with her mouth.

“I’m saying, Shasha is a princess! That way Lara can save her!”

“Wow, that’s right. Lady Lara’s words are right.”

“Then, shall we build a hut for playing on the tree next time?”

“That’s a good idea. After the harvest festival is over……”

For some reason, the knights seemed to have been inspired by my sister’s words for their next game plan.

Still.

‘I do think it’s going to be fun, but what do you mean by a hut on a tree?’

I’ve never had that before.

No, I’ve never been allowed to go inside.

Even in places where there was such a culture, I was forbidden to even come close to it.

Pettily.

Anyway, thanks to this generous reward, Mikhail also gained the right to spar with my father as he wished.

He turned to me and talked with a proud face.

“I’ll definitely succeed, so you have to keep your promise. Baby.”

“Woong.”

Mikhail Leventis smiled again.

It was his characteristic smile that was proud and arrogant, but somehow I didn’t think that it was as cheeky as before.

‘……..Did I become fond of it?’

For that reason, the time we spent together today was shorter than the time we spent together so far.

* * *

It was the second spar between my father and Mikhail.

I felt that the boy who had longer arms and legs compared to half a year ago, had made remarkable progress in the meantime.

It wasn’t just me.

“Oh my, The little duke is really growing fast.”

To the point where my father, who was Mikhail’s opponent, unconsciously admired it.

‘I was surprised to see him climb the tree in the blink of an eye…’

There were also many cases where your body is usually agile when you’re young.

It’s because it’s flexible and light.

However, Mikhail’s skills was something that could not be simply explained by such advantages.

Hit–!

A pounding sound was heard as he amazingly penetrated into one of my father’s protective pads.

It was the first valid hit by Mikhail.

“Two times.”

“What are you talking about?”

Mikhail smiled at my father’s question.

At his confident smile, my father penetrated a little boldly with a face that seemed to say, ‘look at this guy’.

‘Uhh, at that rate……..’

It was an attack that caught him off guard, so I knew he would naturally fall, so my heart pounded.

No, I really support my father more but.

‘I, for some reason, *didn’t take care of him in the meantime, so I wanted to cheer for him today.’

[tn— like ‘treat him well’ i guess.]

However, Mikhail struck the ground with his arms and adjusted his balance, then did not miss the opportunity and pierced my father in the shin with a wooden sword.

“One more.”

“You’ve really improved a lot. I should be more nervous too. Little duke.”

Although of course, it was a spar where my father gave up a few moves.

I thought ‘Isn’t he being too much like that when his opponent is a six year old’…….

‘And I also wondered if my father’s expectations for Mikhail are that high.’

Because my father is also one of Mikhail’s swordsmanship teachers.

Although the commander of the knights usually looks after him.

Compared to the previous two times, the third one did not come very quickly.

The boy’s breathing became very rough.

“Why don’t we slowly stop now, little duke.”

My father said worriedly.

“A little more please. Duke.”

“However……..”

I wanted him to stop as well.

Because even now, I could see that he already pushed himself too much.

‘You’re going to suffer from muscle pain tomorrow.’

Sweat flowed down his skin.

The beautiful blonde hair was wet and clung to his cheeks, and I could see even from a distance that the arm holding the wooden sword was trembling.

It was enough for a child to do this much.

I had no intention of cheaply not telling a child that he was cool because he couldn’t hit his opponent three times.

However.

“A little more! Because I won the treasure hunt.”

Mikhail said so and ran straight to my father.

Is it because he is a father of children no matter what?

There was a gap in my father’s movement.

And Mikhail Leventis didn’t miss that gap.

Shhk—

The third one grazed his side as if passing by.

“I did it!”

And at the next moment, as if Mikhail’s serious expression until a while ago had gone somewhere, the joy of achieving his goal was fully expressed all over his face.

My father laughed at that sight and patted Mikhail’s shoulder as if saying he did a good job.

“Are you satisfied now, Mikhail?”

“Yes!”

As soon as the spar ended, the title also changed to the usual, calling his son’s friend.

Mikhail bowed to my father and greeted him politely, then ran straight to me.

His eyes were coyly open like a cat waiting for reward.

“Baby, I succeeded three times. Did you see that?!”

Don’t you know that normal babies don’t know what three attacks are?

However, I only grumbled in the inside, and said to Mikhail with a light smile.

“Woong.”

Mikhail’s eyes grew bigger at my answer.

“You wew coo.” [You were cool.]

At my words, Mikhail lifted his chin and showed a face like he was tightly holding something back.

Then, he lowered his body as if to make eye contact with me and carefully grabbed my hand.

“Then are you going to let me be your older brother too?”

You’re already my older brother you know?

I was somehow shy again so I didn’t tell him directly, but I replaced my answer by just shaking my hand.