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Chapter : 18
Dante, who had been searched for three hours throughout the Princess’ palace with all the maids and servants of the Mirror Palace mobilized, finally walked out on his own as the sun began to set.
He looked as if he had simply gone for a casual stroll, and this made Isabelle, who was already boiling with anger, lose her temper.
“Where on earth have you been?!”
“…….”
“Can’t you just tell me the truth?”
“…….”
“Do you want to be locked in the stable for five days without a drop of water or a bite to eat before you finally come to your senses?!”
Dante remained silent. He kept his mouth shut and stared at something, the same expression he had when he was with his adoptive father.
The difference this time was…
‘Huh?’
His piercing gaze was not fixed on some empty space like yesterday—it was on me.
“Head maid—!”
Just as Isabelle, unable to contain her anger, turned around to catch her breath, Dante spoke for the first time.
“Dismiss the people.”
I looked around. Those who obeyed out of fear of the princess, and those who had been forced to move because of Gotte’s gaze, all had sharp expressions.
We had sweated for three whole hours just to find one little child. If we let this go without knowing the reason, there would certainly be complaints.
“Why? Everyone went through so much trouble to find you, shouldn’t we at least know what you were up to?”
“I am not bound by Your Highness’ retainers or the laws of this place. I will explain the reason, but I also wish to receive punishment from Your Highness.”
‘Is this really a child who just turned eleven?’
Despite likely not having received proper education, he spoke more fluently than most noble children.
And…
‘Look at him.’
Not only I, but even Gotte narrowed his eyes at Dante’s words.
“And… it’s a little… embarrassing.”
Dante’s bashful blush was enough to elicit some sympathy.
At that moment, a cheerful laugh cut through the silence without any sense of tact.
“Hahaha! Did the little one really need to go potty? That can happen! I sometimes do that too! Hahaha!”
‘Fione! Please!’ Betty quickly jabbed her side, but Fione, apparently unfazed, laughed heartily.
“I apologize. Perhaps he hasn’t completed the training period, so his upbringing isn’t sufficient. That is my fault.”
The head maid bowed her head, and normally Gotte would have stepped in to handle it, but he merely smiled quietly.
I took a step forward.
“Don’t worry. I’ll guide Dante properly myself.”
“……Thank you for Your Highness’ generosity.”
“It’s nothing. He’s my ward, so I’m responsible for him.”
Leaving the head maid with a subtle expression behind, I raised my voice.
“Everyone, you’ve all worked hard. Whatever the reason, appropriate punishment will be given, so return to your positions.”
As I said this, I curved my lips in a pleased smile.
The scheme of the mastermind seemed more likely to succeed than I had expected.
“So, where exactly did you go?”
Chomping away, I stuffed cookies into my mouth as I answered.
“I went for a walk.”
“Oh? Short on words today?”
Dante’s lips twitched as I dangled my legs off the sofa and asked.
“……They said you had reformed. That doesn’t sound like what I heard.”
“Yes. I’m even more impressive than the rumors suggest, right?”
“No. Even a stray dog in the market—”
“Ahem, hmm!”
“Not even as good as a stray dog—”
“Krhhhhh!”
“…….”
Dante’s lukewarm, half-asleep gaze turned to me.
“Hmph. Lately, my throat’s been itching.”
“……Then why are you stretching your shoulders?”
“My trapezius muscles are stiff from studying too hard.”
“…….”
“Anyway, if you’re going somewhere, at least tell someone. Thanks to you disappearing, my dessert turned out so pitiful.”
I flopped down on the sofa and grumbled.
Until lunch it had been fine, but even after the meal, Dante hadn’t returned, and the kitchen staff had been called in to search.
Unfortunately, only the head chef remained, so the dessert that was supposed to include opera cake, strawberry shortcake, and various dacquoise ended up as just three types of cookies.
‘Lunch treats are usually the best!’
Breakfast was just after waking up, and for dinner, we had to sleep soon. Only small, healthy snacks could be provided.
Lacking sugar, I was certainly feeling the debuff.
Thanks to this, Eirensia’s memory had been swayed to her liking.
‘I can’t even stop her.’
I was merely keeping minimal reins on her to prevent harm.
“Alright.”
Dante flopped onto the sofa opposite me and grabbed a chocolate chip cookie.
“……!”
Startled by the sweet taste that hit him all at once, Dante looked down at the cookie, then slowly put the remaining piece in his mouth, letting out a low hum of enjoyment.
“The cookies are mine.”
When I narrowed my eyes, he shrugged and popped the black tea cookie into his mouth as well.
“So, did you check properly?”
I shoved half the cookie toward him, and his face softened.
“You went to confirm if what I said yesterday was true, right?”
“Sort of.”
“Your impressions?”
“Not great. Now I understand what it means that there’s no one to trust.”
Apparently satisfied, Dante busied himself with the chocolate chip cookie.
“It’s not that there’s no one. Gotte is trustworthy.”
“Your Highness……”
Gotte seemed moved to tears by Dante’s words.
I didn’t even glance that way and bit into my portion of the cookie.
“You heard the rumors, huh?”
“The servants talk too much. Within thirty minutes, I had heard quite a few stories. Well, only a handful were useful.”
“Stories?”
“Even I could see the rumors were maliciously exaggerated. I heard tales of you breaking the arms of the Baroness’ daughter or maiming servants.”
“Oh… right……?”
That… wasn’t exaggerated though…?
“Seems like the ‘reformed’ part isn’t true either.”
At that point, I realized.
“Dante, you really have no judgment.”
“Ridiculous.”
He said it with genuine conviction, but Dante smirked.
“It’s true.”
“……You have terrible taste then.”
Watching Dante’s pout, I popped the remaining cookie into my mouth.
‘Chocolate chips really are the best.’
The king of snacks, as expected.
Dante had already finished his portion of the chocolate chip cookies.
‘Not on my watch!’
I slapped away his hand creeping toward me and glanced at Gotte.
Even with Dante’s ridiculous misconceptions, Gotte smiled kindly without changing expression.
Truly a palace specialist.
‘Maybe half-enlightened too.’
“So… you’re going to trust me now?”
I asked as I popped the last chocolate chip cookie into my mouth, and Dante’s dark eyes sparkled.
Watching the cookie disappear into my mouth, he looked up.
His still-wary eyes pierced me.
“This palace is pretty secluded.”
“Because you’re despised by the Emperor.”
“Not enough servants to manage such a large palace, and even those present didn’t seem very diligent.”
“Yeah. You noticed the poor management too? Ah, I’m not blaming Gotte. There’s just not enough staff.”
Dante raised his eyebrows.
I quickly interrupted before he could say anything else.
“Want some?”
I offered a butter cookie, and Dante quietly swapped it with his black tea cookie.
I reluctantly looked at the black tea cookie in my hand before taking a bite.
“But what are you complaining about? Weren’t you trying to hold my hand? I helped earlier, remember.”
“Well… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I reinforced my authority. Clearly drew a line.”
Normally, Gotte would have stepped forward to take charge, but he wisely stayed back.
The head maid must have been furious at losing the authority to punish Dante.
“I judge that—”
Dante, leaning back on the sofa, straightened up.
“Not all the rumors were false. There were many who actually suffered because of you.”
Cheeks puffed with butter cookies, Dante suddenly hardened his expression.
“Isn’t it ironic? A master with no hesitation in harming others, a secluded palace, lax servants, and people uninterested in this insignificant place.”
Hmm?
I sensed the atmosphere shift strangely at that moment.
Dante gulped down milk, leaned forward, and whispered.
“To me, a place where no one’s attention is focused… is perfect for a secret ritual.”
“Secret ritual?”
“Whether as a trinket or an experimental subject, there must have been some purpose in bringing me here.”
“The purpose is for you to serve as my aide, remember?”
“I’m no fool. Unlike snotty kids whining for cookies, I can tell when you’re lying.”
“……Oh, really?”
I lowered my gaze slightly. My reddened hand fumbled over the empty plate.
“I know your kind well. You think lying to an insect you could crush anytime won’t tarnish your dignity and honor.”
Dante stared intently at me.
A fire blazed in both our eyes.
‘The walls are higher than expected.’
Still, supporting my hand in front of the head maid was a positive sign.
Maybe he wanted to draw a line with the palace staff…
‘He’s still only eleven.’
It was more reasonable to see it as him leaving room for my suggestion.
“Ah.”
The cookies had just run out.
I stared at the white cookie dust on the corners of his mouth before brushing myself off and standing up.
“You haven’t eaten anything today, have you? Hungry? It might be a bit early, but… let’s at least have dinner.”
