Chapter 79.1

Am I dreaming?

If this is not a dream, what could be a dream?

Is it because I’m so tired that I suddenly fainted and had a dream? Those thoughts filled my head. However, no matter how I looked at it, it was not a dream.

As if I was not the only one who was surprised, the child, who was shaking in front of me, looked at me with his eyes wide open.

The difference was that he was a bit shorter than me and skinnier than me since he couldn’t eat as much. One by one, there were differences such as disheveled long hair and a dirty face, but it was clear that we resembled each other physically.

I slowly approached the child as if attracted by something. But before I could do that, the Grand Duke picked me up.

“Oh…”

There was no time to be surprised by the sudden action.

“It could be dangerous.”

“Oh, but… he looks just like me.”

It wasn’t until I heard what the novels were saying, who were standing at the long table before approaching us. Their reactions were different. Some were astonished to the point of silence, while others only uttered an ‘ah’.

Among them, the Marquis and those surrounding him only looked at the child without changing their expressions.

“I think there’s someone who shouldn’t have been here. How did such a mishap happen in the Grand Duchy? Don’t worry about it. We’ll go and do some research.”

The child’s body trembled with fear at the words. The boy who looked just like me stepped back, scared.

“Why? You must be scared to get caught, right?”

The Grand Duke dropped me off next to Allen as he spoke those words.

Then he approached the child himself. I wanted to go so I tried to follow after him, but Allen held my hand tightly.

“Why… I want to go.”

Still, Allen was adamant, and I had to take a step back and look at him.

“What do you mean he got caught?”

“If you’re not trying to hide your child because you got caught, why are you trying to take him so suddenly?”

“That’s… something that shouldn’t have happened. The one who doesn’t know who he is or where he came from is the Grand Duke, and he’s in the sacred meeting hall, so we need to investigate. If anything, I think he’s a bit different than usual.”

“I see. You’re right.”

“Yes, so I’ll take him out.”

“But you know what? Isn’t it weird? This has never happened before, but why did it happen today? Is it just a coincidence?”

Some nobles nodded awkwardly.

“It can’t happen unless it’s a coincidence.”

“That little boy came to the Grand Duchy through the forest, where it’s hard even for an average adult to come… He came into this meeting room by chance, but not in the kitchen with food?”

“Well, that’s…”

“It’s very strange. Even now, I can’t believe a trembling child came into the most crowded meeting room.”

The Grand Duke, who was slightly drooping, leaned down and looked at the child.

“It would be nice if you could tell me if you really came in here by chance.”

“…”

“I don’t think he’ll tell me.”

Meanwhile, several knights approached him.

“It’s dangerous, Your Highness.”

“What’s so dangerous about a kid this small?”

His large hand reached out to the child. The child who looked just like me couldn’t hold his hand easily. Instead, his eyes scanned around and looked at me.

I nodded. Somehow, I felt like I had to do that. The mumbling child walked out slowly this time and grabbed his hand.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to take this child with me.”

“But it’s dangerous, Your Highness.”

“Stop. He’s a visitor to my castle.”

“But…”

They couldn’t even make a proper counterargument and just kept saying it’s dangerous. Meanwhile, the child, who completely came out, quickly hid behind the Grand Duke.

“But I didn’t expect Allen to find out.”

“Yes?”

“I thought someone would be here today.”

He looked at Allen with a small smile.

“I’m kind of amazing. I knew it as soon as I got here!”

Allen, who proudly moved his shoulders, held my hand tightly.

Allen seemed to be wondering about the kid who looked like me, but he didn’t even think of going to him because I was here.