ABSVW~10

Chapter 10 

Why am I even doing this in Sladeiche?

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

‘Not only am I being carried around by the Grand Duke…’

I don’t eat properly. I don’t sleep properly. And what even are all these cute toys?

But it’s strange.

‘Hiiing… why is this actually so fun?’

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

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 turn back into a baby, giggling and playing like this.

But… the teddy bear is really soft.

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

I quickly hid the bear behind my back—but the door opened immediately.

It was the Grand Duke of Sladeiche.

“We’re going somewhere.”

“Where—”

“Come.”

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

Meanwhile

I had thought I was being summoned to sleep again, but instead I was taken to a meeting room filled with vassals.

All eyes turned to me.

“…That child is…?”

“Ignore her.”

At the Grand Duke’s words, everyone went silent as if nothing had happened.

Can they really just ignore me like that…?

‘Surprisingly, they can.’

Even the vassals of Sladeiche seemed just as afraid of the Grand Duke as I was, and immediately returned to the meeting discussion.

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

‘Hmm… there might be something useful here.’

Clutching my teddy bear, I carefully approached the table. It’s natural for children to wander around.

On tiptoes, I peeked over the desk.

‘Ah. That…!’

A map of the Undine Strait.

My mind instantly cleared.

So that’s why he brought me here.

I looked up. The Grand Duke was watching me.

“Continue speaking about the Undine Strait.”

The vassals began presenting their reports.

“If we secure this region, we can establish a trade route for the duchy. That would solve the food shortage.”

Sladeiche was rich in valuable minerals but had little farmland.

So they used mineral wealth to import food—but imperial trade route conflicts often interfered.

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

‘Sigh.’

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

But it is true.

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

“Understood. We will withdraw from the Undine Strait auction.”

“Excuse me?!”

The room erupted instantly.

“This is impossible, my lord!”

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

“This is our most important trade route!”

Despite their protests, the Grand Duke was still looking only at me.

‘Ah.’

I realized it.

This is a test.

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

“Grand Duke, were you drawing while you couldn’t sleep?”

“Lord, this child is—”

One vassal tried to protest, but the Grand Duke raised a hand and silenced him.

“She is simply observing.”

He probably thought I wouldn’t understand and was speaking vaguely.

Too bad.

I smiled even brighter and pointed at the map.

“Here—the goddess left a path in the scripture!”

Then I slid my finger elsewhere.

“But it’s not here.”

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

‘Sigh… being a baby body is so inconvenient.’

Silence fell. The gazes turned sharper.

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 inwardly.

Later

I sat on the office chair, swinging my legs while hugging a teddy bear almost as big as myself.

In front of me were the messy map and the Grand Duke’s cold face.

Gulp.

This was supposed to be a negotiation, but it’s still terrifying!

I hiccuped.

“Why are you doing that?”

“N-nothing…”

I thought he would dismiss me like a child again, but…

‘He’s actually listening properly.’

Unlike before, when no one ever believed a child’s words.

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

The Grand Duke was listening seriously. As if my words had value.

Somehow… I felt embarrassed.

Before I could answer properly, he added:

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

Huh?

I looked up at him.

His gaze was still cold… but somehow—

‘It feels a little gentler.’

I blinked.

‘My second card.’

Something I had told Remié in my past life. No one believed me then, and it all ended up credited to her.

‘But if that’s the case… Sladeiche also participated in the auction…’

The Undine Strait rights were handled through a special sealed auction.

‘Because it caused conflict within the empire.’

To prevent chaos, participation required an enormous entry fee.

One mistake and you could waste a fortune.

‘Then how did Remié get it…?’

There was only one explanation.

‘Someone leaked Sladeiche’s information.’

To the imperial palace—the organizer of the auction and Remié’s patron.

‘So Remié and the palace weren’t just in a sponsor relationship… but a collusion?’

Hmm.

Then maybe I should give Sladeiche the rights and ask to stay here as a priest.

Prevent it from falling into Remié’s hands—and gain favor with Sladeiche.

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

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

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

Alright. I just need to speak—

But when do I even start?

I kept looking up and down like a bobblehead doll.

On my tenth nod, the Grand Duke spoke.

“Anything else you know about the strait? I will reward you if you speak.”

Reward?

I tilted my head.

He continued 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 firmly.

My childish instinct took over again.

“I… I have to ask the G-god… It’s the G-god’s secret…”

“Why would you need permission from a god?”

The atmosphere in the room turned icy.

I froze, blinking.

“Ahem.”

The aide cleared his throat.

With soft green hair and green eyes, he smiled and spoke to the Grand Duke.

“My lord, perhaps you should be a bit gentler. She is still a child.”

“How exactly am I supposed to be gentle?”

“…Even I would find that difficult to answer.”

The Grand Duke frowned slightly, then stood up.

“I’ll step out for a moment.”

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 nodded politely.

“H-hello. I’m Nana.”

“The Grand Duke… is not actually as frightening as he seems. I understand why you think so. He is just not used to speaking with children.”

I tilted my head.

“Why?”

“Do you know about mana?”

The innate power of the Sladeiche bloodline.

A force similar to demonic energy.

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

Usually it was contained, but in those with overwhelming amounts, it leaked out.

“Yes.”

“The Grand Duke possesses more mana than anyone. That is why people cannot easily approach him.”

The aide smiled faintly.

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

His smile turned slightly bitter.

“…he once lost someone he loved when he did not want to. And the gods gave him no answer. Since then, he has kept others at a distance.”

I didn’t fully understand.

‘Someone he loved?’

Before I could ask, the Grand Duke returned.

He dropped something onto the desk.

Clatter—!

Gold coins spilled out, shining brilliantly.

My eyes widened.

“Are you ready to talk now?”

Beside me, El stared between the money pouch and his lord, speechless.

“No, you can’t just ask a child like tha—”

But I suddenly stood up.

Money?

That means I won’t starve.

More is always better.

“I… G-god has a-allowed it!!”

I declared confidently.

Even if the god didn’t, I already did.