BDPVF 5

Chapter 5

Only after the fact did I realize what I had done, and I hurriedly covered my mouth.

“Eep…!”

No matter how embarrassed I was, I had actually yelled at that villain.

‘You’ve really lost your mind, Iris!’

But survival mattered more to me than embarrassment.

That lunatic never let even the smallest mistake from a child slide easily.

Trying to ignore my burning red face, I cautiously glanced at the duke.

Thankfully, he was still expressionless.

Phew…

That was when it happened.

While I was sighing in relief internally, the duke approached me with a terrifying expression.

‘Don’t tell me he’s going to kill me…!’

So he had only pretended to lower my guard before killing me!

Not only was the duke powerful, he was clever too.

To think he’d come up with such a twisted trap.

The kind of person who stabbed someone in the back just when they relaxed—that was the duke.

‘You jerk… just split in half and die!’

That’s what I thought inside, but before I knew it, my body was trembling like a leaf.

Tears blurred my vision as the duke steadily walked closer.

The distance between us quickly disappeared, and soon his veiny hand began reaching toward my neck.

‘He’s going to strangle me… I’m going to die…!’

I had died miserably after suffering in my previous life too, and it seemed this life would be no different.

It’s so unfair!

“Hic…! Waaaah!”

Unable to hold it in anymore, I burst into tears, overwhelmed by sorrow and fear.

Who wouldn’t cry when such a terrifying person was trying to kill them?

“I don’t wanna dieee!”

I collapsed onto the floor and bawled loudly.

“Oh my. What’s going on here…?”

At that moment, someone hugged me tightly from behind and lifted me up.

“Hic…?”

The duke, who had been staring at me with cold blue eyes, suddenly looked shaken for the briefest moment.

Who was holding me? Lisa…?

No, the voice was much lower.

“What made our little lady so sad…? Shall we find out?”

My body turned around, and I came face-to-face with the person carrying me.

Fiery orange eyes and hair like the blazing sun.

The unfortunate duchess who would soon be murdered by an assassin.

It was my first meeting with Selena.

Looking worried, she gently dabbed away my tears with a handkerchief she pulled from her arms.

Her touch was so soft that I found myself thinking this must have been what it felt like to have parents.

After patting me comfortingly for a while, Selena spoke once I calmed down.

“Do you feel a little better now?”

“Yes…”

“Why was our little lady crying? Did that scary duke perhaps do something bad to you?”

“No…”

I swallowed the rest of my words and cautiously observed Selena.

In the novel, Selena only appeared briefly whenever the duke was introduced.

She had no dialogue, nor any detailed description.

The only thing I knew was from the setting book that explained her death in more detail.

I didn’t know what kind of person she was.

“Lisa. Aren’t you scared of my eyes?”

Once, I had asked Lisa that question.

Lisa smiled brightly and answered me.

“What’s wrong with your eye color? You’re such a beautiful and adorable young lady! Ah, maybe you really are a devil since you’ve stolen my heart. Haha!”

That day, for the first time since coming to this world, I found someone I could rely on.

Now, through my tear-blurred vision, Selena—who also had red eyes like mine—stood before me.

Maybe I was truly starved for affection.

Enough to depend so heavily on someone I had just met.

I blinked once before speaking to Selena.

“Da duke was twyin’ to kill me…”

As soon as I said that, Selena’s eyes widened.

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

At that moment, Silas spoke.

“I was only trying to help her onto the chair.”

Liar…!

He was obviously trying to maintain his image in front of his wife.

Still, Selena looked kind.

Surely she wouldn’t allow a child who couldn’t even pronounce words properly to be killed.

Right…? Please…

Seeing my pitiful gaze, Selena seemed to understand roughly what had happened.

She smiled faintly at the duke and said,

“Would it be alright if I spoke with the child for a moment…?”

Her gentle voice echoed through the room, and silence followed.

I trembled nervously, worried the silence might lead to the conclusion that I should be killed.

After what felt like an hour—but was only a minute—the duke finally spoke.

“…Do as you wish.”

Though he clearly looked displeased, thankfully the duke allowed Selena and me to leave.

At least I survived for now.

And so, I followed Selena to her room.

* * *

Clink!

As soon as we arrived, Selena sat me down at a tea table.

Then she elegantly rang a small bell before sitting across from me.

I knew what that bell was for.

A bell to summon maids.

Sure enough, several maids soon entered carrying tea and snacks.

Like a rushing tide, they quickly set the table before disappearing just as fast.

Watching them, Selena smiled at me.

“If there’s anything you’d like to eat, feel free.”

“Y-yes…”

I answered, but the awkward atmosphere made it hard to move my hands.

Even a real child would feel self-conscious stuffing themselves with snacks in this situation.

And mentally, I was already a full-grown adult.

Perhaps sensing the mood too, Selena gave a bitter smile and asked,

“Hmm… would you like to try a croissant? A sweet one. It’s one of my favorite breads.”

As she spoke, she picked up a croissant with tongs and held it toward me.

I nodded slightly.

Smiling softly, Selena handed me the croissant.

“……”

I carefully watched her expression before taking a bite.

It’s delicious…

I couldn’t remember what croissants tasted like in my previous life, but this was definitely hundreds—no, thousands—of times better.

Crunch.

“Mmm…!”

The buttery sweetness filling my mouth completely captivated me.

I devoured the croissant in a daze.

And after finishing it all—

“Is it good?”

Selena’s amused voice snapped me back to reality.

W-what…?

The croissant had vanished instantly.

Staring blankly at my empty hand, I thought,

Am I way too weak when it comes to food…?

At this rate, I might really follow anyone who offered me candy.

My thoughts ended with Selena’s warm laughter.

“The duke was really scary, wasn’t he?”

Here it comes.

Pretending to swallow my bread, I gulped and answered.

“Yes… he was scawy.”

“He does seem that way, but he isn’t a bad person. He’s actually someone with many wounds, so he lives with his thorns raised all the time. Like a hedgehog.”

“Hedgehog…”

“That’s right. A hedgehog. Your name is Iris, correct? Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself properly. I’m Ariarre Selena. You can call me Selena.”

“I’m Iwith. Nice to meet you, Thelena.”

“Nice to meet you too, Iris. By the way, would you like to try some other sweets?”

At those words, my gloomy mood instantly shattered.

What kind of conversation flow was that?

Still, I didn’t dislike the snacks or her, so I nodded.

She’s probably just not used to comforting people.

In fact, several times her lips moved like she wanted to say something before stopping herself.

Yet despite that clumsy awkwardness, there was warmth in her actions.

Maybe that was simply the kind of person she was.

“Please enjoy.”

As always, she smiled gently and handed me another dessert.

This time it was a brownie covered in chocolate, and it looked incredibly delicious.

No way I can resist this.

I immediately took a bite.

Sweet chocolate was always the right answer.

“What I wanted to say is… well… you don’t need to be too afraid of the duke.”

“Ah, okay…”

I couldn’t agree with that at all, but I answered obediently anyway.

Otherwise, I felt like I wouldn’t survive in this household.

“The reason you were summoned this time is probably because of your grades.”

That was unexpected.

I thought it would be related to money.

“Gwades?”

“That’s right. Rumors about how smart you are have spread all the way here. That’s amazing.”

“I-is that so…?”

They said praise could make even a whale dance.

Before I knew it, I was twisting shyly in my seat and smiling from Selena’s compliments.

I am a little smart after all…!

Selena really did seem like a good person.

* * *

Selena looked at the child sitting before her, cheeks slightly flushed pink.

“Hehe…”

Was she really that happy from a little praise?

The child’s expressions changed with every single word Selena said.

Watching her, Selena couldn’t help but think that if Lagrasha had lived, perhaps she would have been like this too.

Unfortunately, the child was not Lagrasha.

“Mmh…?”

Iris was unbelievably perceptive.

It was probably because of those red eyes.

The same suffering Selena herself had endured before marrying Silas.

At least Selena had parents she could lean on.

Iris had no one.

They said she was abused at the orphanage too.

There was a reason Silas had later investigated orphanages so obsessively and rooted out corruption.

The conditions described in the reports had been horrific.

For a child like this to survive alone in such a terrible place…

The fact that Iris instantly noticed every change in expression wasn’t simply because she was naturally observant.

“Would you like to try this too?”

Hurriedly changing the subject, Selena used sweets to redirect the child’s attention.

Thankfully, despite everything, Iris was still a child.

Whenever snacks appeared, her red eyes sparkled brightly.

“Tank you.”

After receiving a small chocolate cookie, Iris stared at it for a moment before bowing her head politely.

“You don’t have to bow for something like that, Iris. Cookies are… well, there are plenty of cookies.”

In truth, Selena found conversations difficult.

Despite her status as duchess, those red eyes often caused her to be looked down upon in high society.

Because of that, she had worked very hard to survive socially.

I can insult people politely or mock them indirectly, but…

Your life is truly pitiful and insignificant.

That kind of smiling speech she normally used wasn’t appropriate for a child.

Children were difficult.

She had almost misspoken just now too.

“Mmm…”

She noticed again…

The child reacted sharply even to the slightest change in expression.

How frightening must Silas have seemed to her?

He always wore a cold expression and had such an intimidating face.

“The duke was twyin’ to kill me…”

Remembering Iris’s earlier words, Selena barely suppressed a smile.

Not because she was mocking her, but because she found it genuinely adorable.

Silas had probably really been trying to help the child onto the chair.

Though Iris believed he was trying to kill her, he actually seemed rather interested in her.

Otherwise, there was no reason for a man who cared about nothing except Lagrasha to personally summon Iris to his office.

For a moment, Selena recalled the child smiling brightly in her arms.

Perhaps it’s finally time to let Lagrasha go…

Just then—

“Thelena. Here, have this.”

The adorable nasal voice tickled warmly at her ears, interrupting her thoughts.

“Oh my…”

With her tiny arms, Iris shyly offered Selena a cookie.

How could anyone refuse that?

“I’ll enjoy it.”

Accepting the cookie, Selena thought:

Perhaps… there may actually be a way to save my husband.