Chapter 36

***

At the end of the Thanksgiving Festival, the wind became cold, and the mansion became busy for other reasons.

Since it will soon be the 28th of October which is brother Damian’s birthday.

Of course, my mature and grown-up brother, told our parents.

“Since it will soon be the anniversary of the seal as well, it’s okay not to have a party on my birthday.”

Of course, my parents dismissed it as nonsense.

In fact, the birthday of my brother and the festival of the God sealing the great devil was very close to each other.

It’s because the festival is on October 31st.

“It’s a good thing to celebrate often, Damian. We won’t roughly do one thing and then move on.”

“But…..”

“My baby, please don’t take away mom’s joy.”

Instead of telling him not to be so considerate, my mother instead, stressed that she wanted to do it.

As expected, my mother knew my brother’s personality very well.

Perhaps because he is so mature unlike his age.

Instead of persuasion, such stubborn words tended to connect better with my brother.

Anyway, for that reason, the mansion was busy preparing for both my brother’s birthday and the festival.

That means.

“Baby, its been a while!”

Its time for this guy, Mikhail Leventis to visit the duchy again.

As soon as Mikhail arrived at the duchy, he ran to my room faster than greeting my parents.

I mean, aren’t you my brother’s friend?

“Look, I brought this to give to you.”

At the same time, Mikhail heavily put down the picture books.

He’s strong too.

Mikhail himself brought the pile of fairy tale books, and not his own servant.

“It’s been three weeks yet the baby is as small as ever.”

Mikhail smiled while saying that, then he approached me and reached out his hand.

Sigh.

He put one knee on the floor and his purple eyes sparkled as if he were eagerly expecting.

From some point on, whenever he had to leave the duchy for weeks like this, Mikhail would come back and reach out his hand to me at any cost.

‘But if you’re going to do it, shouldn’t this be first?’

This one is the greeting.

However, this guy would always come into my room noisily and start from pouring out gifts, then reach out his hand only after saying useless things—like “small”.

When I put my hand on his with a sour expression, Mikhail chuckled a little.

“Still, I’m glad that the youngest princess didn’t hate me more in the meantime.”

What kind of rude thing is he saying?

I can’t believe you see me as such a narrow-minded human being, this is why I just can’t see you in a kind way.

Anyway, Mikhail politely kissed the back of my hand, and almost at the same time, a heavy voice was heard.

“Mikhail.”

At the same time as that voice, Mikhail held my hand tightly.

In an instant, I could see that Mikhail’s whole body was shaking and stiffened.

“You didn’t even greet the Duke properly and came to the youngest lady first, is that how I taught you?”

At the same time as those words, Mikhail carefully released my hand and jumped up

and turned towards the elderly man who arrived outside the door in an attention position.

“No. Grandfather.”

“Then come out.”

“Yes.”

I’ve only looked at him for about a year so far, but it’s the first time that he’s being this nervous.

‘He was polite in front of my parents, but it wasn’t this to the point of this nervous feeling.’

I suddenly got curious so I tilted my head slightly to look at Mikhail’s grandfather, Grand Duke Leventis, who was standing outside the door.

Although he had a lot of gray hair, there was a sharp brilliance in his purple eyes which was similar to Mikhail.

However, unlike his strict way of speaking, his gaze at Mikhail was not cold.

I was so used to people’s negative gazes that I could be sure of something like this.

When Mikhail kept his discipline and went out of the room, Grand Duke Leventis took off his hat and silently bowed to me and apologized.

“Pardon me, my lady. I’ll officially say hello a little later.”

[tn—just to be precise, the Grand Duke addresses her as ‘youngest lady’ here but I put ‘my lady’ instead to fit w the english tl.]

After politely apologizing to me, who might not even be able to understand yet, Grand Duke Leventis headed towards the drawing room with Mikhail.

‘However… If you’re going to call for Mikhail, instead of coming himself, shouldn’t the Grand Duke just ask the servant?’

No, my parents would have done it that way.

Why did he have to personally walk (here)?

* * *

That evening, Grand Duke Leventis joined us for dinner.

Perhaps because of that, Mikhail was dressed very politely in a way I had never seen until now.

‘He’s had dinner here a few times so far, but he’s never dressed up like that.’

Well, back then, it was a normal meal time, so my family was also mostly dressed in comfortable indoor clothes.

However, as Grand Duke Leventis is here today, a feast was probably set up.

Thanks to this, my parents were dressed more formally than usual, and they dressed me and my sister in a cute dress.

Of course, my brother was also in a state where he had a well-tied tie.

‘Mikhail, you look really uncomfortable.’

Everyone seemed to be dressed up formally, but Mikhail’s expression looked particularly stiff.

Is it because of his outfit or is it because of Grand Duke Leventis sitting right next to him?

Mikhail looked nervous, which was not like him.

‘Still, it’s not that it didn’t suit him.’

He was a very pretty, no, he was a child who became more handsome day by day.

The beautiful blonde hair that was usually left disheveled when it was rumpled, but was rarely brushed well to slightly reveal his forehead.

The shirt that was buttoned all the way to his neck had a tie that was neatly tied in place.

The navy blue vest and jacket fit his body perfectly, so I thought that the active boy usually full of playfulness, was like a little gentleman today.

While I was looking at him for a while, Mikhail’s gaze met mine.

Then the boy’s mouth corners, which had been stiff with tension, slightly relaxed.

Then, as if joking, he asked, “Why?” by forming a shape with his mouth.

There was nothing to it.

I just looked because it was unusual.

Expressing such intentions, I turned my head to my own plate.

Well, even if I act like this, Mikhail will just laugh at it.

I somehow felt like I was getting caught up, so I tried not to pay more attention to Mikhail and focused on the meal.

In the meantime, my parents and Grand Duke Leventis talked about several things.

“Thank you for coming like this even though you must be busy. Grand Duke Leventis.”

“No, I left you in charge of my grandson, on the contrary, I’m sorry that I couldn’t come often.”

“Don’t say that, since it’s also a good thing for the children to have a friend.”

“On the contrary, that’s something I’m more grateful about.”

The Grand Duke said so and bowed his head politely.

To the point where my father was very embarrassed.

“I’m aware that even if this guy does something wrong in many ways, you always overlook it generously.”

“Oh no, Mikhail is very diligent.”

Diligent? Well, that’s true.

He always came to me quickly than my brother or sister, so I thought he was skipping practice.

But that wasn’t it, Mikhail only asked for understanding from the head of the knights and got up earlier than usual to start practicing.

That way, he can play with me.

‘What was so fun playing with a baby?’

I knew well enough that I wasn’t a friendly baby.

There were also many cases where I did that on purpose.

Nevertheless, Mikhail seemed to have sacrificed even his precious morning sleep, as if he liked something about it.

“Also, at this age, I think it’s good to be curious.”

“Thank you so much for saying that, Duke Endeblanc.”

My father shook his head with a smile at those words.

The conversations that followed were generally like conversations between teachers with the parents who entrusted their children, so I didn’t focus on it and instead focused on the meal.

However.

‘Why does one side of my cheek keep stinging?’

That’s why I looked up but, I couldn’t see any gazes at me again.

What is this?

What the hell?

That’s why, while I was eating, I learned the pattern of the gaze that touched me.

If it’s this repetitive actions, I can take the  the initiative first.

I paused for a moment with that thought, and the moment I raised my head, the one my eyes met with is.

‘…….. Grand Duke Leventis?’

Grand Duke Leventis, who made eye contact with me, naturally turned his head without any sign of embarrassment.

‘Really, what is it?’

It was really odd and suspicious.

‘Also…. did I see it wrong?’

For some reason, before turning his head, I felt like the mouth of Grand Duke Leventis moved slightly.

Should I say that he was strangely like a caring grandfather?

I often don’t see things wrong.

However, even when I looked again, Grand Duke Leventis continued to have a stern face.

Even when he was looking at Mikhail for a moment.

As I looked at Grand Duke Leventis as if observing -since a baby is forgiven for its curious glance- it was Mikhail who felt a little sad.

“Can’t you play with me?”

He whispered to me very quietly, but of course, there was no way that Grand Duke Leventis who was right next to him, couldn’t hear it.

Instead of words, the Grand Duke strictly warned Mikhail with just a glance.

The boy, who would have usually looked as if sullen on purpose, just straightened up his posture.

‘Amazing. To think that there is someome who can make him unable to move like that.’

I heard that Grand Duke Leventis had a strict personality by nature, so Mikhail deliberately asked my parents for more.

Anyway, such small incidents on the table passed by, and around the time when we were eating dessert, Grand Duke Leventis quietly opened his mouth.

“Duke, are you not planning to go to the capital city this social gathering season as well?”

“Yes, the children are still young as well…. I was only planning to show my face for a while during the New Year’s Festival. If I don’t go, His Majesty the King will be uncomfortable.”

He even rushed back during the middle  my kidnapping last year.

Then Grand Duke Leventis breathed out briefly and carefully opened his mouth.

“It might be a good idea to go to the capital this time.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s a rumor that occasionally comes out from the court but.”

The forehead of the Grand Duke slightly frowned.

“It seems that the Her Majesty the Queen has a child in her womb.”

It’s usually something to celebrate.

Suddenly, my parents’ faces became very serious.