Chapter 20

“This guy is Carren Hayes. He’s my son who just turned 12 this year. And that little one over there, believe it or not, is my lifesaver, Leciel, who’s 10.”

Carren, who had been wearing an indifferent expression as if persistently annoyed by Kael’s introduction, nodded politely in greeting.

Leciel, with a smile suggesting she appreciated the introduction, also returned the greeting.

Although Carren found the phrase that Kael added when introducing Leciel annoying, he refrained from saying anything.

“As I mentioned yesterday, since we’re going to be a family now, let’s try to get along without fighting.”

It would indeed be much happier if they could become affectionate lovers beyond merely getting along.

“I’m not a child. I have no intention of fighting.”

“You’re still a child at 12.”

“I don’t need to be treated like a child. I’m just not sure if we necessarily need to get along.”

It was really annoying that he kept emphasizing that they were going to become a family. Why did he have to be close to that child?

Carren displayed a somewhat sullen attitude.

“Considering we’ll be seeing each other for a long time, wouldn’t it be better to get along?”

“That doesn’t mean we have to get along.”

Although he would follow his father’s decision, from Carren’s perspective, Leciel was an unwelcomed guest and a stranger.

Moreover, Carren wasn’t naturally sociable enough to befriend someone who offered him no advantage.

“Be reasonable.”

Despite his words, Kael seemed indifferent as if he had expected Carren to react that way.

Meanwhile, Kael subtly observed Leciel’s reaction.

While he knew Carren had such a personality, Leciel might have been hurt by Carren’s words.

However, Leciel’s reaction was indifferent, as if she wasn’t deeply hurt by it.

Indeed, Leciel wasn’t particularly hurt by Carren’s reaction.

She understood his position well enough.

Even if it were herself, if her father suddenly brought a child and asked her to get along, she wouldn’t have simply agreed.

Of course, some children might, but that didn’t mean everyone had to.

So, there was no reason for her to be hurt.

Although his response was a bit disappointing from her perspective as someone who planned to become close to Carren.

However, it was enough that Carren didn’t dislike her.

Originally, all relationships were something to be cultivated.

Even if the other person didn’t intend to be close, one could never know what might happen if they tried hard enough.

“Well, considering she’s the , shouldn’t you pay a little attention?”

Carren, brushing off Kael’s complaint as if it were nothing, casually retorted.

“I’m already paying enough attention, aren’t I?”

“Not from what I see.”

“Why would you think that?”

Kael asked, expressing his doubt, believing there must be a reason for his son to speak that way.

“Didn’t you say that child was an esteemed guest of the Grand Duke? But who would think that seeing her like this? Even if I try to see it positively, she looks like nothing more than a beggar you picked up off the streets.”

While Carren’s words were somewhat harsh, they were not entirely incorrect.

Despite being properly washed and clean, her hair looked frizzy like it was swept by a broom, and the dress Leciel was wearing was embarrassingly inadequate.

Even a common child would be better dressed than her.

Leciel was the first to react to those words.

“A beggar! That’s too much!”

“Yes. Despite being young, she is a proper young lady.”

Kael nodded in agreement with Leciel’s words.

Carren had not said such things to belittle Leciel, but his words were still too much.

To a sensitive young girl full of emotions, calling her a beggar was hurtful.

Even though Leciel was not an ordinary young girl, she would still be hurt by those words.

But Kael didn’t know how to respond to Leciel’s subsequent words, so he made a blank expression.

“I’m not a beggar, but if we must classify, I’d say I’m more of a homeless person.”

Leciel confidently stated.

Both Kael and Carren seemed somewhat bewildered by these words.

Carren was even slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected this kind of reaction from her.

‘I never thought she would be ordinary the moment Father brought her here, but…’

This was truly unexpected.

“… is there a difference between a beggar and a homeless person?”

After a brief silence, Kael asked with a somewhat empty voice.

“Of course, there’s a difference!”

“What’s the difference?”@@novelbin@@

“A beggar refers to someone who begs for a living, whereas a homeless person simply means someone sleeping on the streets. Of course, I haven’t slept on the streets, but I don’t have a proper home either, so if we must classify, I’m closer to a homeless person than a beggar. I never beg.”

“… fair enough.”

Kael nodded somewhat awkwardly.

“But why are your expressions like that?”

For some reason, Kael and Carren both had somewhat strange expressions, which was making her nervous.

“… it’s not common for people to refer to themselves as homeless. Especially a 10-year-old child.”

Carren also nodded slightly from the side, as if agreeing with that statement.

“Well, it’s true, isn’t it? Even looking at myself, I’m clearly not good.”

“Even so, shouldn’t you be feeling offended rather than refuting it?”

“It’s offensive to call me a beggar when I’m homeless.”

“If I had said homeless, would you have been less offended?”

“Yes. And it sounds better than beggar, don’t you think?”

Of course, this was just her personal opinion.

And whether she liked it or not, what could she do if it was true?

Leciel was someone who would accept the fact and acknowledge it no matter how much she felt angry or unfair.

“… I see.”

He had never thought of Leciel as ordinary, but indeed, she was not like other children.

Carren felt similarly.

That too, just for a moment.

“… anyway, if you’re an esteemed guest of the Ducal House, shouldn’t we do something about those clothes first?”

Carren, who had managed to regain his original expression, remarked indifferently.

That was originally what he had intended to say, but somehow the conversation veered off track.

“It seems I lacked consideration.”

Especially since there were no young girls in the Grand Duchy. There wouldn’t even be temporary clothes suitable for Leciel.

He should have thought about that when bringing her.

“Now that you understand, I’m relieved. I trust you won’t just buy clothes but also other necessities.”

As he had said, they would become family, it seemed unlikely Leciel would spend just a day or two indebted to the Grand Duchy, but for that to happen, many things needed attention.

Starting with basic dresses, shoes, accessories, and various necessities for the child.

All of that needed to be prepared.

“I haven’t been completely thoughtless about it.”

Kael said somewhat indignantly toward her son, who seemed to look at him with pity.

“It’s fortunate for me too. A father as pathetic as that would be disgraceful.”

Carren said with a sarcastic tone directed towards his father.

Though Kaël’s eyebrows twitched, he didn’t say anything further. Thanks to Carren, today’s tasks could be decided.

“Good, since we’re already on the topic, go out with the little one after lunch to get what’s needed.”

“Why me?”

“I’m busy.”

More so because he hoped Leciel and Carren would become friendly with each other through this opportunity.

“Since you brought her, you should take responsibility. Don’t pass your work on to me.”

Carren was adamant, as if he had no intention of going out with Leciel.

“Then I guess there’s no choice. It’ll be tough right away, but after lunch, we’ll all go out together.”

“Why all of us? Please leave me out of it.”

Carren had his own matters to attend to, even if he wasn’t as busy as the Head of the family, Kael.

He didn’t want to waste his time on Leciel.

“There’s no refusal. If you don’t want to, take care of it yourself.”

Kaël said with a grumpy expression.

Carren’s expression visibly soured at those words, but he didn’t push back further.

Seeing how far he was willing to go, he felt his father might take him out forcibly even if he didn’t like it.

But he couldn’t really be the head of the family himself.

“Well then, little one, let’s meet after lunch.”

“Yes!”

Leciel responded with a bright smile, happy at the thought of getting a new dress.

Then, she glanced at Carren.

His demeanor and usual expression towards Kael made him seem blunt, but he didn’t appear outright cold.

Given that he was even paying attention to her dress, he seemed somewhat attentive and meticulous.

In that case, it was a good thing for her.

It seemed relatively easy to become friendly with him.

“Are you done speaking now?”

“I am, but what about the little one? Don’t you have something to say?”

“Well, I…”

It seemed like Leciel had something to say to Kaël.

Carren glanced at her irritably as Leciel fell into thought.

He wanted to return to his room quickly and enjoy his own time alone, but Leciel was delaying that.

Because of her, he was already forced to go out after lunch.

Thinking that he would leave them alone to talk, Carren was already planning to leave first.

Then, Leciel finally seemed to remember what she wanted to say.

“Our contract!”

“… contract?”

“We wrote a temporary contract, didn’t we? So, we need to write a proper one.”

Though a temporary contract would still be effective, it was better to do it properly.

“Ah, right. But we’ll have to go back to the capital to write it properly. We’ll need someone to notarize it.”

“Then it can’t be helped, but you won’t change your mind later, will you?”

“I won’t.”

If he had thought so, he wouldn’t have written a contract, even if it was a temporary one.

“Well, I trust His Excellency the Grand Duke wouldn’t deceive a child.”

Kaël chuckled at Leciel’s words, delivered with a particularly patronizing expression.

Then Kaël’s gaze turned to Carren.

“It looks like you’re curious about what the contract is about.”

“I wouldn’t refuse the chance to know.”

But contrary to his words, Karen was very interested in the word .

It was because he was curious about what kind of situation a contract between a 10-year-old and a duke could be.

“Yesterday, I said if you were curious, show a cutesy…”

“Enough.”

Carren cut off Kaël before he finished speaking.

“Well then, shall I explain?”

Seeing this as an opportunity for the two of them to talk, Leciel interjected with a sparkle in her eye.

“… alright then.”

Carren responded nonchalantly, seeming indifferent but willing to listen since Leciel offered.

However, he looked surprised at what followed.

“Then instead of cutesy, how about a wink?”