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Chapter 9
I ignored his nonsense and immediately started lecturing him.
“Raising a child isn’t something you should take so lightly. To you, it might just be some kid, but to that child, you become their whole world! Besides, if you need an heir so badly, why not just bring in one of your relatives? Why does it have to be a stranger?”
“You seriously don’t know? It’s because none of my relatives are worth using.”
Kain sounded genuinely dumbfounded.
I let out a sigh.
“And you think I know some talented child?”
“You have a good eye for people.”
Kain answered confidently.
“You’re the one who discovered my talent in the first place.”
“……”
For a moment, I could not speak.
His words brought back old memories.
My Academy days had started with hope, but in the end, they became a nightmare. That was why I desperately kept skipping grades and graduated two years earlier than everyone else.
But the story Kain mentioned happened around the time we first entered the Academy.
It was still one of the few precious memories I had left.
‘Still, that’s all in the past.’
There was no reason for me to help Kain now.
And besides…
“How did you know I was staying in Arendel?”
“I went to your office first, but you weren’t there. So I asked the Director, and he told me right away.”
“……”
Leaving my lodging address behind for emergencies had been a mistake.
“Anyway, no. I’m not capable enough for that, and I don’t know any suitable child.”
“Tessaaa……”
There he went again.
Well, plenty of women probably fell for that pitiful act whenever he lowered his huge body and frowned like that.
Back at the Academy, he had only been tall like a stick. I had no idea when his shoulders became that broad.
But if he thought it would work on me too, he was mistaken.
I knew that bastard’s true nature far too well.
I coldly turned my back on him.
“I’m glad you seem to be doing well. Don’t come looking for me again.”
At the very least, I thought he would have enough conscience to send me back to the hotel in a carriage.
Unfortunately, Kain Inkaris and conscience were one of the least compatible combinations in the world.
“How are you planning to get back? Walking?”
“……”
I stopped in place without saying anything.
His intentions were so obvious that I did not even want to respond.
“Uh, Tess. Are you angry?”
You only realized that now?
“I was joking. Sorry. Did I upset you that much?”
Even as his voice became more desperate, I did not react at all.
Kain quickly walked over and stood in front of me. His amber eyes desperately followed my gaze.
“Sorry for teasing you. I was just really happy to see you again after so long.”
All the subordinates around him looked completely horrified.
Well, of course they did.
Kain Inkaris was not a man who apologized easily.
…Unfortunately for me, I had heard it pretty often before.
Which only meant he had owed me that much in the past.
I crossed my arms.
“Well, I’m glad you know that.”
“Then, Tess… I’ll take you back.”
Hmm. At least he had some sense.
If he had tried to keep me there any longer, I was planning to expose all of his embarrassing secrets.
Still, I absolutely hated the idea of returning with him.
“Not you. I want that person to take me instead.”
I pointed at the soldier who had brought me here.
“With that bastard?”
Kain’s face twisted immediately.
“I’m way more reliable! And it’s been so long since we met. Aren’t you happy to see me? I still have a lot to talk about with you.”
“Kain.”
I slowly opened my mouth.
“What do you think your parents would say if they saw us like this?”
Kain rolled his eyes around.
“They’d probably like it. Both of them liked you more than they liked me.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
The former Commander-in-Chief couple of the Inkaris family absolutely did not like me.
Of course, they treated me well enough.
After all, I was technically their son’s benefactor.
But there was one thing Kain clearly had no idea about.
They had been extremely wary that some lowborn commoner might seduce their precious son and marry into the family.
As if I would ever marry that foul-tempered brat!
…I think that was the last thing I ever shouted at them.
I had assumed they passed those words on to Kain, but judging by his reaction, they probably felt too embarrassed by their own behavior to mention it.
“Anyway, I’d rather go with that person.”
“Tessa!”
Sadly, the soldier had absolutely no intention of helping me.
“Vice Director, I suddenly don’t feel very well, so I should leave now. I think I might become a burden otherwise…”
“Oh, really? Then what about that person—”
“S-Sorry! I suddenly have a terrible migraine too…!”
“Then that person—”
“Sorry!”
It was as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.
Every single one of Kain’s subordinates only repeated apologies.
Beyond their pale faces, Kain showed me a bright and beautiful smile.
“Now you have no choice, right, Tessa?”
…This damn bastard.
“Be careful, Tessa.”
The moment we were left alone in the carriage, that was the first thing he said.
I stared at him from across the seat.
“About what?”
“Grand Duke Kardicha.”
“……”
As expected, asking me to help him adopt an heir had been an absurd excuse from the start.
There was no way Kain did not know that the Child Protection Bureau practically handled work unrelated to children most of the time.
Kain frowned.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but that man is not someone you should underestimate.”
“I know.”
I answered shortly.
“And knowing that, you’re spending time with his younger sister?”
“It just happened somehow.”
“Tessa……”
Kain sighed.
“That man is dangerous. I want you to stay away from the Grand Duke’s family.”
My body stiffened on its own.
Surely Kain had not discovered the Grand Duke’s rebellion plans. If he had, he would have spoken far more directly than this.
Still, there had to be a reason he was warning me.
“…I just happened to become acquainted with the young lady. You don’t need to worry.”
“Melissa is only ten years old. Do you really think that explanation makes sense?”
“Whether it makes sense or not, it’s the truth.”
Kain let out a dry laugh.
“You seriously don’t know anything, do you? There are rumors everywhere that the Grand Duke is interested in you.”
“……?”
I blinked.
Surely Kain was not implying…
“What are you talking about?”
“There are rumors that the Grand Duke wants to make you his mistress.”
Kain kindly explained it to me.
“Of course, I don’t believe it. You care way too much about looks. And the Grand Duke is a bit… lacking.”
What nonsense was this bastard saying?
Achilles Kardicha was such a handsome man that simply looking at him could leave someone dazzled.
Even I, someone who normally never got flustered by appearances, had almost been captivated for a moment.
Still, realizing this was all just a misunderstanding made me feel much lighter.
I scoffed.
“So ridiculous rumors like that are spreading around?”
“It’s believable enough. Ever since his fiancée died a few years ago, Grand Duke Kardicha hasn’t shown interest in any woman. Then suddenly you appeared.”
I frowned.
‘People don’t know the full story… and since the Grand Duke suddenly started acting like my supporter, I guess rumors like that were inevitable.’
“Thanks for telling me. I’ll be careful.”
Kain had even come all the way to the Child Protection Bureau because he was worried about me, and now he had followed me to my vacation spot.
Even if he owed me from our Academy days, I felt bad for doubting and being wary of him.
A little while later, the carriage arrived at the hotel.
Kain left immediately after I got off, without even properly saying goodbye.
…Not that I felt disappointed.
Definitely not.
Thankfully, the book was still lying on the table where I had left it.
To calm my complicated thoughts, I picked it up again, and the story became more and more exciting.
By the time I finally reached the last page, an irritated voice stabbed into my ears.
It was the kind of conversation impossible not to overhear.
“There are no rooms…? What do you mean by that?”
“I’m sorry, Madam. There are currently no available rooms. Perhaps you could try another hotel—”
“That’s ridiculous. We sent a servant here two months ago. Did that servant fail to make the reservation properly?”
“There has never been a servant from the Marquis Dever family.”
The hotel manager awkwardly flipped through the documents.
“We record all reservations, but as you can see, the Marquis Dever family does not have a single reservation here…”
“Hmph.”
Marchioness Dever glared at the servant standing respectfully beside her while holding the luggage.
Smack!
A sharp slapping sound echoed through the lobby.
The small servant collapsed onto the floor, lowering their head without saying a word.
‘Wait a second.’
My eyes widened automatically.
At first glance, I thought it was just a very small servant, but after looking carefully…
‘That’s a child.’
