ABSVW~07

Chapter 07

Why am I even doing this in Sladeiche?

I let out a long sigh while sitting surrounded by toys. Then I started folding my chubby little fingers one by one.

‘Being carried around by the Grand Duke…’

Not eating properly. Not sleeping properly. And what even are all these cute toys?

But it was strange.

‘Hiiiing… why is this actually so fun?’

When I woke up this morning, a mountain of toys had been placed on my bed—probably by the maids.

From teddy bears, star-shaped cushions, rabbit hand puppets, and more.

“Bear ribbon—huh?”

What am I even doing right now?

The moment I let my guard down, I turned back into a baby, giggling and playing like this.

But… the teddy bear is really fluffy.

As I pressed and squeezed its little paws, someone knocked on the door.

I quickly hid the teddy behind my back just as the door opened.

It was the Grand Duke of Sladeiche.

“We’re going somewhere.”

“Where—”

“Come.”

And just like that, I was once again carried away like luggage, teddy bear dangling in my hand.

Meanwhile

I had thought I was being called to sleep again, but instead the Grand Duke brought me to a meeting room full of his vassals.

All their eyes turned to me.

“…That child is…?”

“Ignore her.”

At the Grand Duke’s words, the room moved on as if nothing had happened.

Can they just ignore me like that…?

‘Surprisingly, they can.’

Even Sladeiche’s vassals seemed just as afraid of him as I was, because they immediately looked away and resumed the meeting.

I sat on a sofa a little distance away and watched them.

‘Hmm—there might be useful information here.’

Clutching my teddy bear tightly, I tiptoed toward the table. Children wandering around is totally normal behavior.

On my tiptoes, I peeked at the documents.

‘Ah. That…’

A map of the Undine Strait.

My mind instantly cleared.

So that’s why he brought me here.

I looked up at him. He was watching me.

“Continue speaking about the Undine Strait.”

The vassals presented their reports.

“If we take control of this area, we can secure a trade route for the duchy. That would solve the food shortage problem.”

Sladeiche was rich in rare minerals but lacked farmland.

So they used wealth from minerals to import food—but imperial trade routes often caused friction.

“Rumors say there are mana stones buried beneath the Undine Strait—”

‘Sigh.’

So it didn’t work after all. They don’t believe me when I said it was a lie.

But it’s true.

As I fidgeted with my teddy bear’s paw, the Grand Duke suddenly spoke.

“I understand. We will withdraw from the Undine Strait auction.”

“Pardon?!”

The vassals erupted instantly.

“That is impossible, my lord!”

“If we abandon it, Sladeiche may lose enormous wealth!”

“This is our most important trade artery!”

Even as they protested, the Grand Duke was still looking only at me.

‘Ah.’

I understood.

This is a test.

So I carefully placed my teddy bear on the map and smiled brightly.

“Grand Duke, were you working so hard you couldn’t sleep?”

“Lord, this child is—”

A vassal tried to protest, but the Grand Duke raised his hand, stopping him.

“She is simply observing.”

He probably thought I wouldn’t understand and said it vaguely.

Too bad.

I smiled even brighter and pointed at the map.

“Here—this is the path left by the goddess in the scripture!”

Then I slid my finger somewhere else.

“But it’s not there.”

I climbed higher on my toes, leaning over the desk as far as I could.

‘Sigh. Being a baby body is so inconvenient.’

The room fell silent. The gazes around me sharpened.

I looked up at the Grand Duke with sparkling eyes.

‘You remember the Miracle Trading Company, don’t you?’

That was the look I gave him.

As expected, the Grand Duke dismissed everyone except his aide.

I smirked internally.

Later

I sat on a chair in the office, legs swinging, hugging a teddy bear almost as big as me.

In front of me were the messy map and the cold-faced Grand Duke.

Gulp.

This was supposed to be a negotiation, but… still scary!

I hiccupped.

“Why are you doing that?”

“N-nothing…”

I thought he’d brush off my words like before because I was a child, but…

‘He’s actually listening properly.’

Unlike before, when no one ever took a child seriously.

“Explain why you said the Undine Strait is a lie.”

The Grand Duke was truly listening to me. Like my words had value.

Somehow… I felt embarrassed.

Before I could answer properly, he spoke again.

“You don’t have to know the answer. I’m only asking.”

Huh?

I looked up at him.

His gaze was still cold… but somehow—

‘He feels a little kinder.’

I rolled my eyes.

‘My second card.’

Something I had told Remié in my past life. Of course, no one believed me, and it all ended up being credited to her.

‘But then… Sladeiche also joined the auction for the strait.’

It was a sealed imperial auction.

‘Because of political disputes.’

To prevent chaos from excessive competition, participation required a huge entry fee.

One wrong move, and money could be wasted into nothing.

‘Then how did Remié get it…?’

There was only one possibility.

‘Someone leaked Sladeiche’s information.’

To the imperial palace—the very place hosting the auction and supporting Remié.

‘So Remié and the palace weren’t just in a sponsor relationship… but something more.’

Hmm.

Then maybe I could just give Sladeiche the strait rights and ask to remain here as a priest.

Stop Remié from getting it—and get on Sladeiche’s good side.

But then I’d have to decide how much to reveal.

Too much, and I’d lose my leverage. Too little, and I’d just sound like a babbling child.

‘My goal is to become an official citizen of Sladeiche.’

Alright! I just need to speak—

But how do I even start?

I kept looking up and down like a bobblehead doll.

On my tenth nod, the Grand Duke spoke.

“Is there anything else you know about the strait? I will reward you if you speak.”

Reward?

I tilted my head.

He added lazily:

“I will grant you anything you want.”

Anything?

But if I say too much…

‘You’re too greedy.’

A memory from my past life surged up.

I shook my head quickly.

My childish instincts took over again.

“I… I have to ask the G-god… it’s a secret from the G-god…”

“Why would you need permission from a god?”

The air in the room turned icy.

I froze, blinking.

“Ahem.”

The aide cleared his throat.

With green hair and calm green eyes, he smiled gently at me and turned to the Grand Duke.

“My lord, perhaps you could be a bit more gentle. She is still a child.”

“How exactly am I supposed to be more gentle?”

“…Even I would struggle to answer that.”

The Grand Duke’s brow furrowed slightly. Then he stood up.

“I’ll step out for a moment.”

And he left.

Now it was just me and the aide.

He knelt down to meet my eyes.

“Nice to meet you, little priestess. I’m El, the Grand Duke’s aide.”

I bowed politely.

“H-hello. I’m Nana.”

“The Grand Duke… he is not actually as frightening as he seems. I understand why you’re scared, though. He’s just not used to speaking with children.”

I tilted my head.

“Why?”

“Do you know about mana?”

The power unique to the Sladeiche bloodline.

A force similar to demonic energy.

It was so powerful that ordinary people felt fear just being near it.

Most of it was usually contained, but in people with a lot of mana, it leaked out.

“Yes.”

“The Grand Duke has more mana than anyone. That’s why people can’t easily approach him.”

The aide smiled faintly.

“So he is not used to forming normal relationships. And above all…”

His smile turned slightly bitter.

“…he once lost someone he loved when he didn’t want to. And the gods gave him no answer. Since then, he has kept people at a distance.”

I didn’t fully understand.

‘Lost someone he loved?’

Before I could ask, the Grand Duke returned.

He dropped something onto the desk.

CLINK—!

Gold coins spilled out, flashing brightly.

My eyes widened.

“Now, are you ready to talk?”

Beside me, El gaped, looking between the money pouch and his lord.

“N-no, you can’t just ask a child like that—”

But I suddenly stood up.

Money?

That means I won’t starve.

The more, the better.

“I G-god has a-allowed it!!”

I declared proudly.

Even if the god didn’t, I just approved it myself.