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Chapter : 03
“…Pardon?”
“Where did all the blessings of Lumiere go?”
The man narrowed one eye slightly and clicked his tongue, grabbing my wrist.
‘Wow, it really is tiny.’
His hand—bigger than an average adult man’s—and my hand—smaller than an average child’s—looked like he was holding a toy.
The wolves, who had been tense and alert, immediately growled the moment he touched me.
Hey, hey, calm down. It’s cute how you’re trying to be brave with your tails all curled up like a hermit crab.
‘Besides, this contact is basically emergency treatment.’
Maybe my lifespan just increased by about three minutes.
Suppressing a satisfied smile, I answered his question.
“I wasn’t starved… but I didn’t eat much.”
“How little?”
“Uh… one small piece of bread and two slices of carrot. Sometimes just a spoon of soup.”
I clenched my free hand to show the size of the bread.
The Duke’s expression hardened.
It really was small. It wasn’t even three bites.
“And that’s all for a meal?”
“No, for a day.”
“…Ridiculous.”
With that face, saying such harsh words makes me feel like I’m the one going crazy.
He was different from what I expected—or maybe exactly what I should have expected.
The Duke of Bastion didn’t fit the typical “noble” image.
Not arrogantly flashy, but quietly overwhelming. Dignified in a way that couldn’t be challenged.
‘Wait… isn’t this actually the peak form of nobility?’
In a world full of loud, arrogant nobles, he felt like a rare exception.
Absolute dominance, unwavering control—it almost looked like pride in its purest form.
What? My opinion suddenly changed too much?
First, his face. Second, my estimated lifespan just increased to about seven minutes. Let’s move on.
The Duke lightly held my wrist as if it were a fragile cookie and asked:
“Is the temple going bankrupt or something?”
“No.”
It was a small rural cult-like temple, but thanks to William’s “secret business,” it was actually quite wealthy.
They charged high prices for the “products,” and customers also paid extra under the excuse of secrecy.
“Then do they force children to endure hardship?”
I shook my head again.
No way. Hardship? In that fake temple?
The priests and knights there weren’t even practicing fasting or discipline—they ate and drank meat and alcohol every day.
Only products like me were restricted.
“It’s just… if I eat too much, they said I’d get fat and look ugly…”
A sudden coldness swept through the air.
Who turned on the air conditioner? It wasn’t this cold before.
As I shivered, I heard a sigh above me.
He muttered something like “so they even discarded her…”
“Get inside.”
Inside where? A coffin?
Before I could tilt my head, my vision suddenly rose.
“Huh—?”
The Duke had lifted me effortlessly and started walking down the mountain.
The wolves hurriedly followed behind him.
‘W-what?! This is too fast! That’s not human speed!’
But even more terrifying than the speed was the height.
If I fell from here, I’d be going straight into a coffin for real.
Without realizing it, I clung tightly to his neck.
He paused for a moment—then, perhaps just my imagination, slowed down slightly.
“Your Grace?”
“What are you holding onto…?”
“Whoa, wolves!”
Soon we arrived at the mansion’s rear courtyard, and chaos broke out.
Knights on patrol immediately pointed their spears at the wolves.
“Wait, wait, stop!”
“Who are you—?”
Startled by the sudden appearance of a child, they hesitated.
I waved both hands quickly.
“They don’t bite! Don’t attack them!”
The knights looked confused, then turned to the Duke for guidance.
I also looked up at him with pleading eyes.
“Please don’t attack them. They look scary, but they’re really nice!”
“…Leave them.”
With just that, the Duke walked on again.
Relief washed over me.
I poked my head over his shoulder and signaled the wolves.
“Sit!”
“Woof!”
“Stay still!”
“Woof woof!”
Good. That should do it.
The wolves sat neatly in a line, while the confused knights remained frozen.
We moved toward the mansion entrance.
The building was so large it took a while just to walk from the courtyard to the garden.
‘Wow… I don’t know much, but this looks ridiculously expensive.’
From afar it looked dark and gloomy, but up close it was actually elegant.
As I was admiring it—
“Your Grace!”
A shout came from the front entrance.
A man with dark circles down to his upper lip rushed out.
“Running away through windows again during work!”
“I didn’t run away.”
“Of course you did! I’m going to quit—!”
He stopped when he saw me.
“…Your Grace… kidnapping now…?”
“It’s just your imagination.”
“I can’t handle this anymore…”
The messy green-haired man rubbed his forehead in despair.
“Then who is this child?”
“My daughter-in-law candidate.”
“…Excuse me?”
The Duke walked inside without waiting for the man’s reaction.
Inside was not as gloomy as expected.
It was moderately luxurious, bright, and warm.
‘Huh? I thought it would be a dark obsessive villain mansion.’
While I looked around, the Duke carried me upstairs and finally placed me down in a room with a soft carpet.
Maybe…
‘Did he carry me because I had no shoes and looked cold?’
If so, that’s surprisingly kind for a demon duke.
He pulled a bell cord.
Knock knock.
Soon an elderly butler in a formal tailcoat entered.
He wasn’t even surprised to see me.
“You called, my lord.”
“Food.”
Even with such a short command, the butler understood perfectly.
“For the young lady’s meal, correct? Is there anything else needed?”
“Something to cover her.”
“Understood. I will prepare a blanket and indoor shoes sized for her, and light the fireplace.”
The butler’s sharp intuition amazed me.
A true professional.
After he left, I was left alone with the Duke.
This is my chance.
Maybe he really did bring me here because I looked pitiful.
What if I act sick and stay here permanently?
I coughed weakly.
“Cough… sorry… I think I might be catching a cold…”
“With that holy power, you’d be fine even in ice water.”
“Cheh.”
I clicked my tongue.
He laughed faintly.
Still, I wasn’t giving up.
He brought me here knowing I wouldn’t die or get hurt easily, just because I looked pitiful.
I climbed onto the sofa opposite him, then suddenly ran over and placed my hands on his knees.
Looking up at him with sparkling eyes, I asked:
“Can I have hope?”
“What hope?”
“The hope of becoming your daughter-in-law candidate. Can I start planning the wedding hall and dress already?”
I was already planning my retirement life.
The Duke looked somewhere between amused and exasperated.
“Well, there might be a possibility.”
“Then I want peony flowers. Pink ones.”
“Your chances are extremely low.”
Why?! I already picked my bouquet!
I shook his knee dramatically.
He didn’t move at all.
“You said hope is the cruelest thing!”
“There are far more cruel things in this world.”
Before he could elaborate, I quickly let go of his knee.
This man was not easy to deal with.
Kind to children, but emotionally locked down otherwise.
The Duke territory, known as the “Monster Dam,” matched its ruler’s reputation.
At the northern edge of the continent, bordering the “Forest of Sorrow,” the only monster spawning zone.
Constant monster waves poured in.
Only the elite knights managed to hold them back through constant training and raids.
That was why it was called a “dam”—because it held back monsters like water.
If it ever broke, the entire empire would drown in monsters instead of water.
‘And this Duke is known as the Monster Butcher…’
Suddenly, he felt distant.
Trying to become the daughter-in-law of someone like him might be ridiculous.
“…You’ll regret it.”
“Hm?”
“If you lose me, you’ll regret it!”
I won’t lose in confidence!
