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~Chapter 9~
I’m doomed.
I just called the head of a ducal house a gardener.
At this point, even if I got punished for insulting nobility, I’d have nothing to say in my defense.
Even Calypse’s eyes wavered slightly, as though this was completely beyond his expectations.
My short little legs dangled helplessly in the air, trembling with nowhere to go.
“…E-Even Mr. Gardener held me like this too.”
“……”
“S-So I guess everyone in the Crost Ducal House is kind and cool and tall and strong.”
“……”
“Hehe.”
I’m doomed.
My awkwardly raised smile was practically cramping. Cold sweat burst from the top of my head.
Honestly, it would’ve been better if he’d just gotten angry.
Was he so dumbfounded he couldn’t even speak?
‘Well, of course. I just called a duke a gardener.’
Now he was probably going to throw me in prison.
…Or maybe not?
Maybe he’d just execute me on the spot?
‘I don’t want to die like this again. My dream is to live until I’m a cackling old grandma and die peacefully of natural causes!’
Unable to endure the pressure, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Then—
“A gardener? What nonsense. Must’ve been a slip of the tongue.”
Instead of fury, a deep sigh came from across from me.
“Huh?”
“Get a hold of yourself and read this.”
Carefully opening my tightly shut eyes, I saw Calypse hand me a piece of paper he’d somehow produced in the blink of an eye.
Then he sat down on the sofa opposite me.
That alone was strange.
Normally, a duke would sit at his desk.
But this man sat across from me as if I were his equal.
“…This is…”
As I looked down, I realized it was the contract from before.
“The contract is still valid, brat.”
“Huh?”
“So there’s no need for you to tremble in fear. If you bring me the direct descendant young lady, I’ll still have you adopted as the daughter of a viscount family.”
My eyes slowly widened.
“…But I’m a spy from the Pose Ducal House.”
“I know.”
“And you’re still being this nice to me?”
“Don’t you want to live? That’s why you exposed Dorothy’s identity as a spy.”
“Uh…”
Then…
Was it really the duke himself who’d spread the story that I had exposed Dorothy?
“Duke.”
“What.”
At times like this, I really needed to stay calm.
“…You’re my savior.”
But unlike my intentions, the words slipped out on their own.
For the first time, those red eyes behind his mask widened slowly.
“……”
For a moment, he said nothing.
As though slightly flustered, his wandering gaze lingered on me before dropping to the paper.
Then—
“Stop saying useless things and go rest.”
By the time he returned to his desk, he had once again transformed into the head of House Crost.
“Yessir!”
I answered brightly and skipped out of the office.
For a second, it really did seem like my words had startled him.
…Or maybe that was just my imagination.
That evening—
“Hey, mister. You know… I don’t think Duke Calypse is as bad as I thought. Actually, I think maybe I misunderstood him.”
My legs swung cheerfully through the air.
Mr. Gardener stared at me as I chattered excitedly.
Ever since he’d shared that sandwich with me, we’d started eating together often.
Now, visiting the garden at mealtime had become part of my daily routine.
Leaning against the outdoor table with one elbow propped up, he idly touched his temple.
“Really? In what way?”
Using his handkerchief to wipe bread crumbs from my mouth had also somehow become routine.
I eagerly told him all about what had happened that afternoon.
“—So then, I called him Mr. Gardener, and he let it slide! Not just that—even after I did something really, really bad, he still trusted me!”
“Something really, really bad?”
After silently listening the whole time, he finally interjected.
“What did you do?”
“Secret! That’s a secret just between me and the duke. Even if it’s you, mister, I can’t tell you.”
I crossed my arms with a smug little huff.
Obviously, revealing that I was a spy was forbidden.
I wanted to tell Mr. Gardener because we were close, but rules were rules.
“…Is that so?”
“Yep. Secret. Classified.”
“If it’s a secret between you and the duke… then I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Surprisingly, Mr. Gardener didn’t pry any further.
Maybe it was just my imagination…
But the moment I said “a secret with the duke,” it almost looked like he smiled faintly.
After that, things progressed quickly.
When Dorothy was discovered, Duke Pose insisted she wasn’t his spy.
In the end, it was only after House Crost sent Dorothy’s corpse—along with fabric embroidered with identifying letters—that an official apology finally arrived.
Thanks to that, Calypse gained the perfect excuse to declare House Pose untrustworthy and set out for the Kingdom of Doctia with fifty knights.
This wasn’t permission.
It was practically a threat.
And Duke Pose couldn’t even squeak a protest.
After Calypse left—
“So you’re Aisha? Aren’t you hungry?”
As rumors spread that I was the one who exposed Dorothy, the servants’ attitudes toward me changed completely.
Especially after hearing I’d personally been summoned by the duke.
They became much kinder.
Some of the maids even started sneaking me strawberry tarts.
“Is Mr. Gardener not here again today?”
But there was one problem.
“No, dear. He’s on leave again today.”
“Again?”
“At this rate… I don’t think he’ll be back anytime soon. Why don’t you just stay indoors?”
After Calypse left, Mr. Gardener had vanished too.
And once again, I was gently shooed away.
My shoulders drooped.
‘If he was going on long-term leave, he could’ve at least told me!’
I’d come all the way here planning to eat lunch with him.
At some point, Mr. Gardener had become someone special to me.
He was the first adult who’d helped me.
And after transmigrating, he was the closest thing I had to a friend.
‘…But maybe not for him. To him, maybe I’m just one passing person.’
Shuffle, shuffle.
My disappointed gaze flattened.
“…That young lady is lucky. She has a father searching the whole world for her. I’ve never had parents like that.”
Not in my past life.
Not now.
I’d never had parents. Never had family.
A strange emptiness made my body shiver.
So I went back to my room and ate my sandwich alone.
No.
Things were going well.
So why did I feel so gloomy?
“Mood change! Mood change!”
Smacking my forehead, I forced myself to focus and unfolded the nearby newspaper.
I couldn’t waste time being depressed over Mr. Gardener.
Today was important.
‘Today is the day I get adopted into the Frisia Viscount House!’
With laser-beam intensity in my eyes, I reviewed the newspapers I’d carefully collected.
The maids had been giving me old papers they were done reading, and they were packed with useful information about the viscount’s family.
‘This is what it means to be a prepared daughter!’
While the maids braided my hair, I thoroughly memorized everything I could about House Frisia.
And soon—
“So you’re Aisha? We’ve heard so much about you from His Grace. He said you’re a very clever child, so we wanted to meet you over lunch.”
As promised, Viscount Frisia and his wife arrived.
“Oh! Y-Yes!”
“What a lovely name. It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”
Their kindness didn’t seem fake.
The viscountess’s fingertips trembled faintly as she carefully reached out for a handshake.
Soft brown hair.
Gentle green eyes.
Not just their appearance—even their smiles radiated warmth.
Shff.
After quickly scanning them both, I clenched my tiny fist beneath the table.
A wealthy, loving set of legal guardians.
There was no way I was letting this opportunity slip by.
“…Hello, Viscount Frisia. Viscountess.”
After shaking hands, I stood and gracefully lifted the hem of my dress.
Naturally, noble etiquette had been drilled into me thoroughly during spy training.
“She’s already been taught noble manners?”
“Not formally, but I studied hard in preparation for meeting you both.”
My determined answer made the viscount blink in admiration.
“His Grace called you bright, and he wasn’t exaggerating. Don’t just stand there—sit down.”
“Yes, sir.”
Whew.
First impressions: success.
I carefully calmed my pounding heart and sat.
“How old are you?”
“I’m five.”
“I see. And have you heard much about House Frisia?”
The interview begins.
“Yes. Of course.”
‘I’ve been preparing for this for a whole month.’
I gave the sort of polite smile adults adored.
“House Frisia was the first commoner family in the Frozen Kingdom to be granted noble status, and His Grace Calypse personally bestowed land upon you.”
“Oh my.”
“The territory, Frendia, is fertile farmland surrounding the riverbanks. Your primary export is wheat.”
“…Oh?”
As my words poured out like a nonstop stream, the viscount couple’s eyes widened.
Was this enough?
No.
I needed to seal the deal.
I maintained my smile flawlessly.
“If I’m adopted, I’d like to study swordsmanship in House Frisia. My original goal was to become a mercenary, but if you permit it, I’m also considering becoming a knight commander. Of course, for House Frisia’s glory, I’m fully prepared to marry as well.”
“……?”
“But these are merely my personal ambitions to become Frisia’s golden wheat, so if you have any suggestions, please feel free to tell me.”
Sip.
I drank my milk like refined tea and smiled brightly.
“Goals can always change, after all.”
“……”
The viscount stared at me in utter fascination before quietly whispering to his wife—
“…At this point, do you think His Grace originally wanted to raise her himself, but recommended her to us because we don’t have children?”
“…Honestly, I’m beginning to think so too.”
Secret praise was usually the most honest kind.
My peaceful future in House Frisia seemed all but guaranteed.
And then—
Knock knock.
A maid entered, bowing her head.
“Viscount, forgive the interruption during your meal, but His Grace has returned. We thought you may wish to greet him.”
“What? Already?”
“When he departed for the Kingdom of Doctia, they did not permit portal access, so he traveled directly…”
She lowered her head further.
“But on his return to the Frozen Kingdom… he used the portal and arrived much sooner.”
“I see. Then… did he return with the young lady?”
The viscount stood.
I straightened too, suddenly tense.
For a moment, it seemed like the maid would answer immediately.
Instead, she hesitated.
Then—
Closing her eyes tightly, she bowed.
“…The young lady was not with him.”
…What?
The fork slipped from my hand.
The original story…
Had changed.
