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Chapter 34
“Haah…”
A heavy, irritated sigh escaped as if the floor itself were collapsing.
“Dad?”
Nivelia tightly held Caleo’s hand. Aref also grabbed his empty hand, trying to read his expression.
Caleo quickly composed himself and gave a faint smile.
“Sorry. It’s nothing serious, so just go ahead…”
“Marquis Deiamore! Marquis!”
“Fuu…”
Caleo’s smiling lips twitched as if in a spasm.
The voices calling his name had been getting closer since a while ago.
“Kids, can you wait just a little?”
“Okay.”
“Yes.”
Nivelia and Aref, still holding each other’s hands, quietly stepped back behind Caleo.
Caleo patted their heads once and asked for their understanding again.
Then, his expression turning cold, he stared at the man approaching him.
“Petra Youngsik.”
The man called Petra Youngsik had an impressive presence.
A thick, well-groomed mustache gleamed as if oiled. He wore a monocle with a golden chain over his right eye.
“Marquis Deiamore! If you were visiting, why didn’t you give me notice! I could have at least greeted you properly.”
Petra Youngsik let his eyebrows droop, feigning disappointment.
Though his friendly demeanor could have been appealing, the way he bowed excessively and rubbed his hands like a fly made him seem obsequious.
“What business do you have here in the middle of being busy?”
Caleo spoke in a heavier tone than usual.
“I just wanted to finish my business quietly and leave.”
“Since you’re here, would you like some tea…”
“No, that’s fine. I need to leave soon with the kids anyway.”
“The kids?”
Petra Youngsik’s gaze lowered slightly.
Only then did he notice Nivelia and Aref behind Caleo.
“Ah.”
He looked genuinely disappointed but quickly smiled and greeted them.
“Nice to meet you. I am Seleck Petra.”
“…….”
But Nivelia didn’t even speak her name and buried her face deeper against Caleo’s leg.
Caleo didn’t press her either.
“She’s shy around strangers, so please understand.”
“That’s okay. Kids are like that. By the way, she’s very beautiful—resembles the saint greatly.”
“…….”
“And who is this child?”
Petra Youngsik’s gaze turned sharp as he examined Aref.
“His clothes are high quality…”
Aref, tense, swallowed hard.
“Ah, this child is…”
“I’m…!”
Before Caleo could speak, Aref stepped forward.
“I’m Aref. I live with the Deiamore family.”
“Oh, a servant then.”
Petra Youngsik smiled widely as if understanding.
“Like a play servant for the young lady? Marquis, you’re quite something, taking someone like that around…”
“Aref is a precious benefactor of the Deiamore family.”
Caleo cut him off firmly.
“He’s a fine fellow I dare think of as a son.”
“Uh…?”
“Well, we’ll be going then. I promised the kids we’d visit the square. If there’s a chance later, we can have a proper conversation then.”
Caleo carried Nivelia in his arms, holding Aref’s hand tightly as they left the bank.
“…….”
Nivelia watched over Caleo’s shoulder.
Petra Youngsik remained standing in place, but she couldn’t see his expression.
After leaving Petra Bank, Caleo took the kids to explore the square as promised.
They bought spicy snacks from street vendors and watched a puppet show for children.
“Sorry about the bank earlier.”
Caleo finally apologized as they entered a restaurant.
“Is he your friend, Dad?”
Nivelia asked, chewing on pre-meal bread.
“No.”
Caleo’s face showed his exhaustion as he replied.
“We only know each other through work.”
“Is he a bad person?”
Aref asked.
Caleo fell silent for a moment, as if unsure how to answer.
Seeing her father hesitate, Nivelia said,
“Then he must be garbage.”
“Nivelia!”
Caleo shouted in shock.
“Where did you learn to say such terrible things!”
“Long ago, Monatos taught me.”
“You mean the lawyer grandfather taught you that?”
“Yes.”
The elderly lawyer now worked as Rubeo’s legal advisor, but forty years ago, he was a berserker who fought monsters with twin swords.
Not knowing this, Caleo shut his eyes tightly in despair.
“That’s a very bad word, so you must never use it. Got it?”
“Like my finger?”
“Finger?”
“This one.”
Nivelia raised her middle finger.
Caleo panicked and immediately folded her finger down.
“Neither is allowed.”
“Hmph.”
“Anyway, Petra Youngsik isn’t even Dad’s friend, and we don’t really know if he’s good or bad.”
Fortunately, their ordered food arrived, ending the conversation naturally.
“Hungry? Let’s eat quickly and head home.”
Caleo served the kids their meals.
After finishing, the three got into a carriage.
Once it started moving, Nivelia said,
“Dad, I want to go to the neighbor’s house.”
“Neighbor’s?”
“Ari and Rubens.”
“To the Deigladis mansion?”
“I want to show off my bankbook!”
She wanted to brag about how much she earned while working.
“Then let’s send a letter first to ask.”
“Can’t we just go? They didn’t ask before either.”
“You always ask by letter. And don’t call them ‘those guys.’ They’re older than Soless.”
“They’re Nini’s subordinates!”
Still, Nivelia was a polite young lady.
Since she earned 15 praise stickers in kindergarten, she agreed to get permission by letter as Caleo advised.
“What a naughty child.”
Making her write such a thing for the leader.
“…I wrote the letter, though?”
Dether, who had been asked to write on her behalf, smiled wryly.
The reply came quickly.
Surprisingly, it was directly from Duke Kallarof Deigladis.
“The Duke says you may visit anytime.”
“Oh, he’s perceptive!”
“Don’t ever speak like that in front of the Duke.”
After preparing to go out, Nivelia and Aref headed straight to the Deigladis mansion next door.
It took about three minutes by carriage, fifteen minutes on foot.
The neighbors welcomed them warmly.
Even Duke Deigladis and his sons came out.
“Nini! Aref!”
Rubens especially welcomed them as they got out of the carriage.
“Come on! I was just about to play with you!”
“Rubens.”
Kallarof gently scolded the excited second son.
“You must greet guests politely.”
“Ah.”
Clearing his throat, Rubens addressed them formally.
“Miss Deiamore, and Aref. Welcome to the Deigladis mansion.”
“Of course.”
Nivelia nodded as if it were natural.
“Pfft!”
Ari, trying not to laugh, quickly turned her head.
Chuckles spread around at Nivelia’s shameless response, even Kallarof smirked.
Rubens didn’t really care.
“Nini, you’re still funny! Aref, you brought your paybook, right? I’ve worked really hard!”
“I brought it. And we made an account today too.”
“Nini got a bankbook? Jealous?”
Although they couldn’t carry the bankbook freely due to Caleo’s warning, Nivelia and Aref wanted to share their news eagerly.
“Say you’re jealous!”
Nivelia was especially excited to brag.
“Nini, shall we go inside then?”
Rubens pulled Nivelia’s hand away from his sleeve.
“The chef is baking chocolate cookies just because you’re coming. We’ll eat them together later.”
Nivelia nodded enthusiastically.
“You’re sharp. I like that!”
“Haha! Thanks for the compliment!”
Kallarof followed the children slowly into the mansion.
“Nini, can you climb the stairs? Want me to carry you?”
“I can do it myself!”
“Miss, please hold my hand.”
“It’s faster if I do it alone! Look!”
“Wow, really? Even at four years old? Nini, are you a genius?”
The children cheered Nivelia on as she climbed step by step.
‘Even that becomes a game.’
The kids really play however they want.
As Kallarof watched proudly, someone approached.
“Duke.”
Dether, who had followed Nivelia and Aref, handed over a letter sealed with wax.
“This is the letter the Marquis ordered me to deliver.”
“Sending the kids wasn’t pointless, it seems. They made accounts, right? At Petra Bank?”
“Yes.”
“They must have met Petra Youngsik. Send the reply with the kids when they go.”
Kallarof let out a short “Ah” as he put the letter in his pocket.
“Are Muniel and Ardorres at the mansion?”
“They’ve been staying at the construction site for a few days. I haven’t heard when they’ll return.”
“Inform the Marquis as soon as they arrive.”
“Yes, sir.”
While the chocolate cookies baked, the children gathered in Rubens’ room to play with wooden blocks.
“Wow, so you turned all the money you earned into deposits by making accounts?”
Rubens praised them.
“Brother, should we make accounts at the bank too? Let’s save all the money we earn!”
“Good idea. Let’s ask Dad later.”
“People who work are all cool.”
Nivelia carefully placed a doll on the block tower.
Thus, the teddy bear conquered the wooden block castle.
“But there was a weird man.”
Nivelia asked Aref to agree.
Aref nodded.
“A man named Petra Youngsik.”
“The one with weird nose hair!”
After hearing about Petra Youngsik at the bank, Ari nodded knowingly with a meaningful smile.
“Seems like Petra Youngsik was in a hurry.”
