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Chapter 41
After Nox suggested taking Marimo along,
living together secretly with the baby had turned out to be surprisingly manageable.
“Princess, are you awake?”
In the morning, when Head Maid Mai greeted me, I would naturally slip the little fluff ball into the blanket and sit up, keeping only myself upright.
When I had lunch with Lucas or dinner with him and Uncle, the baby stayed alone in the bedroom.
At first, I worried the baby might crawl off somewhere, but most of the time, the baby spent sleeping.
Worried something might be wrong, I even read a book called “The Only Being That Rules Nobility: Cats”, and thankfully, it said it was normal for newborns to sleep a lot.
“The real problem is bringing the baby to the Marimo—or Marasamo—gathering.”
I groaned, lost in thought.
“Sir Nox, but… do you think Uncle will allow just the two of us to go out?”
“If he doesn’t, I’ll just take the creature by myself.”
“What if the baby doesn’t like you?”
“We could put it in a wooden box, I guess.”
Despite being a monster enthusiast, Nox was somewhat lacking in consideration for living things.
Although the chances of being discovered were low, I still felt uneasy.
“What if the baby faints from fear while in a wooden box?”
And so, the imagination spiral began.
“Are all the people at the Marimo gathering like Nox, MBTI T types?”
Gasp. Then, Nox would put the terrified baby on the table, and all the monster-obsessed people would swarm around, inspecting, dismantling, and studying our baby.
A starfish-shaped hand spread wide in horror.
“No!”
Before I knew it, I shouted—
“What’s not allowed?”
Lucas blinked, looking at me in surprise while cheerfully eating cake and tapping his foot.
Ah! Right. I came back to reality and awkwardly pointed at the cake.
“This! This! I wanted to eat this…”
Only one piece of strawberry cake remained.
“Uh…”
Flustered, Lucas hesitated for a moment but handed me the last piece for his little sister.
“I saved it just for you. Eat quickly!”
But his eyes were trembling like leaves in the wind.
“Hehe, just kidding~!”
Giggling, I snatched the fork from Lucas and gently touched it to his mouth.
“Just kidding? You scared me like that! Anyway, thanks.”
Finally exhaling in relief, Lucas happily devoured the cake.
Watching Lucas lick the plate clean, I came to a conclusion.
“I have to attend this Marimo—or Marasamo—gathering too.”
I am the baby’s guardian. I will protect the baby!
To do that, I needed Uncle’s permission.
“Sir Nox is going to the royal palace soon, right? I bet the palace is super shiny and fancy, huh?”
Acting cute again, trying to smooth things over, I barged into the office and sat wriggling on the chair across from Uncle.
Then, I put my chin in my hands, sparkling eyes locked on him.
“…….”
Uncle Calypse sighed, taking off his glasses under the weight of my gaze.
“What is it?”
“I want to go. I want to see the palace too.”
“No. The incident during the heir exam was so recent. What if something dangerous happens on the way?”
“But Nox will be there.”
“He’s weaker than you.”
“Then I’ll protect the baby myself!”
“No.”
Uncle firmly refused, glaring with those sharp triangular eyes, then swiftly turned his head back to work.
“…….”
I pouted.
“What to do…”
My charm wasn’t working. Uncle’s worry outweighed all my cuteness.
Then I had an idea.
“…Then, maybe I can try calling him Dad?”
A small memory surfaced from my subconscious.
A whisper Uncle had muttered to himself:
“Now that I think about it, I call Lucas ‘brother,’ but she still calls me ‘Uncle.’”
Looking back, Uncle had subtly felt jealous.
“Then I’ll ask while calling him Dad!”
It was a cheat code. A cheat code!
Though a part of me internally protested that calling him Dad for this reason was selfish,
“This is for protecting the baby!”
I closed my eyes tight, determined.
Father. For the sake of the golden seed, today I shall become a fire-element seed for the greater good.
Forgive your foolish daughter.
“Kiddo.”
It happened then.
Noticing me still perched on the chair, Uncle Calypse finally looked over.
“You still haven’t gone?”
“…….”
“I understand wanting to see the palace, but it’s a worry,”
“Dad.”
I whispered in a voice barely audible.
Uncle flinched and looked at me wide-eyed, disbelief written across his face.
“Hmm. Saying ‘Dad’… feels kind of embarrassing.”
Then—
“Aisha.”
He called me again, noticing my hesitation, and I fidgeted with my fingers.
“Aisha, what did you just say to me?”
“Ah… D-Dad.”
“What?”
He clearly heard me but asked again.
“I didn’t hear, say it again.”
His smile slowly widened as he repeated himself.
“…You said Dad.”
I bowed my head, mumbling softly. Uncle Calypse’s mouth twitched upwards, resisting a grin but ultimately giving in.
“Aisha.”
“…….”
“You want to go to the palace, so you called me Dad?”
Father. Must you embarrass me like this?
So I obediently nodded, lips puckered like a little duck.
“Yep.”
I quietly replied and mustered the courage to look at Calypse.
But—
He was smiling.
Showing his white teeth in a bright grin.
“Real daughters….”
He trailed off, shaking his head, curling his lips, and rested his chin on his hand, gazing at me.
Then, without hesitation, he agreed.
“Alright. You can go with Nox.”
“…Huh?”
I thought he was teasing me, but his unexpected approval left my eyes wide.
“However, I’ll send a bunch of knights with you, so no solo adventures. I’ll warn Nox too. You’ll be under 24-hour supervision.”
“Y-Yes, got it!”
“I’ll send a notice to the royal family beforehand, so follow their instructions when you arrive. Understood?”
“Yes!”
“And in return—”
I smiled in anticipation, but the warning hanging on “in return” made my expression freeze.
Calypse, staring meaningfully at me, tapped his cheek with a finger and smiled.
“A kiss on the cheek.”
Oh my goodness.
As expected of Duke Calypse, he never makes a deal without gain.
I asked cautiously,
“Wasn’t calling you Dad enough?”
“Parental love is endless.”
He chuckled, turning back to the paperwork.
I had no choice.
From fire-element dutiful daughter to… dutiful daughter of filial piety with a little extra.
I climbed onto the chair and leaned forward to press my lips to his cheek.
“Better now?”
He nodded, restraining the smile tugging at his mouth.
“Go to the palace.”
“Yes! Oh yeah!”
A little later—
“Sir Nox, I did it! Dad said yes! Now I can legally go to the royal palace too!”
I ran to Nox, showing a victory sign.
Nox, usually unreactive, widened his eyes at my words.
“Princess?”
“Yes?”
“You just… said Dad?”
“…?”
Ah. His question caught me off guard, and I realized I had naturally called Calypse Dad.
Oh no.
From now on, we were truly family.
