CATBP~39

Chapter 39

I roughly guessed what the Marchioness of Baalze was thinking.

“From the outside, it looks like an old, shabby music box.”

It made sense that she would be upset about giving something like that as a gift to her grandson. Even if her method was rude, in high society, as long as the Duke, Fay, and others sided with her, it would be fine.

If it had truly been a worthless, shabby music box, I would have been notorious in society that day as the cruel aunt persecuting Fay.

But she wouldn’t get away with such a trick when I knew that this music box was a sacred artifact.

“Auntie, Auntie! I love this music box! Can I open it?”

“Of course.”

“Yay!”

Fay giggled as she opened the lid. The moment it opened, music automatically began to play.

Talbrd and Charnel, along with a few others, had reactions that were completely different from before.

“Wow! Auntie, this music box is sparkling!”

“That’s because it’s a sacred artifact.”

I was about to respond, but the Duke spoke before me.

A sacred artifact.

When Fay looked at the Duke with wide, round eyes, the murmuring around us shifted completely.

No one here didn’t know the value of a sacred artifact.

“…That’s a sacred artifact?”

The Marchioness of Baalze muttered in disbelief, her voice full of shock.

“I prepared it hoping that your nights would be comfortable. And Fay can recognize it right away, huh?”

“Yup! It sparkled!”

“Your eye for things is truly remarkable.”

I complimented my child, and the Marchioness of Baalze’s face turned bright red.

“See? If you just stay quiet, you wouldn’t be embarrassed.”

I clicked my tongue. Then I decided to focus entirely on the adorable creature in front of me.

“I hope you like it.”

“Hehe. I love it!”

Fay held the music box with both hands and jumped up and down, as if expressing her joy with her whole body.

…Even if I died now, I would have no regrets.

I saw my mother waving from the ceiling.

Ah, maybe she wasn’t waving me over, but signaling me to leave?

“Where would I go leaving Fay alone?”

I kept my wits firmly in place.

I was worried the Marchioness of Baalze might pick a fight with me, but perhaps embarrassed by the earlier incident, she handed the gift to Fay without acknowledging me.

On the other hand, the Marchioness’s husband, the Duke, approached me and bowed his head.

“Duchess, please blame me entirely for my wife’s shortcomings.”

Sweating profusely, he kept apologizing and then stepped back.

Though small in stature, his mind seemed more grounded than anyone in Fay’s maternal family.

The younger Marquis, Widro, also gave a gift to Fay and then stood before me.

“Haha, I never thought you would prepare a sacred artifact as a gift for your niece.”

Every time he spoke, I could faintly smell alcohol.

There was no alcohol at a party hosted for a child, so I had no idea where or how he had managed to drink.

“I’m curious how you got the information to obtain such a thing. If there are other sources, could we… share the info?”

Before I could respond, Fay stepped in front of me.

“Nope! Auntie promised me!”

“Then, if we arrange a day when you’re free, would that be okay?”

“Tomorrow too! And the day after tomorrow! Ten nights from now, a hundred nights from now, even a hundred hundred nights later, I promise to meet only with you!”

A pile of promises suddenly appeared.

I’d welcome a lifetime of promises with Fay.

“Hmm. Then I suppose I’ll have to meet my precious niece while she attends her lessons.”

After this birthday, Fay would have a private tutor three times a week.

With that excuse, she couldn’t insist on making a promise. But support was nearby.

“Sorry, young Marquis. Helen already has a promise with me.”

The Duke wrapped his arm around my shoulder and smiled kindly.

“They probably won’t have the chance to meet you again.”

He meant that they would make sure Widro never met me again.

Even before I could intervene, the two of them were already taking the lead.

Seeing their small and large forms so reliable, I smiled softly.

“As you two have heard, I’m quite busy. Sorry about that, young Marquis.”

Widro’s brow creased.

“I suppose there’s nothing we can do. I hope we can cultivate friendship when time allows.”

I expected him to be furious, but perhaps he couldn’t bring himself to do so in front of the Duke, and he quickly withdrew.

“Thanks to both of you.”

I whispered my thanks quietly to Fay and the Duke.

Even if I had to handle it alone, I could have, but it made me happier that they intervened.

“I’m your protector, Auntie!”

Fay flashed a V-sign and smiled mischievously.

“……”

The Duke said nothing and walked away to converse with others.

Afterwards, the gifts from the Emperor and Empress, Frederick, and Talbrd, Charnel, and the others piled up beside Fay.

The party, being for a child, had a set end time. At that time, the guardian again offered thanks.

“Thank you, everyone, for attending Fay’s birthday party today.”

I placed my hand over my heart and bowed formally.

“This is the first birthday of Fay that I have celebrated as her aunt. It is a very meaningful occasion, and I may have been more nervous than Fay herself.”

A few light jokes brought gentle laughter.

The atmosphere was eased, yet all eyes were on me.

“I’ve been wondering for a long time—what can I do for Fay? How can I ensure that my presence won’t put her in danger, and that people won’t take her lightly because of me?”

“I have one declaration to make for my niece, who is like my own child.”

After much deliberation, I stood in this place.

“There is only one star in Igaluk, and that is Fay alone.”

A ‘star’ refers to a direct descendant.

In other words, there would be no children between the Duke and me.

Our relationship was considered temporary; the contract even stated that we would not have relations.

I couldn’t publicly call it a contract, but this was a way to remove any risk to Fay.

“This is it.”

After saying it, I felt much more at ease. I looked toward Fay.

“…Ah, nooo!”

Fay was completely stunned.

“Was Madam’s declaration made with the Duke’s approval? Why would you not inform your subordinate before taking such action!”

Dion was flustered.

It was the first time he’d shown such strong emotion since Lucas declared he would not marry.

He believed the two were well-matched.

Just today, seeing the Duke act for Madam, Dion felt gratified, certain his eyes hadn’t deceived him.

But then…

<One declaration to my niece, who is like my own child.>
<There is only one star in Igaluk, and that is Fay alone.>

Such a monumental event!

A private contract could be nullified by mutual consent. But this declaration would now spread throughout the capital’s high society, even the entire empire.

“Oh dear, oh dear. Why did you make Madam do such a thing!”

Helen had proposed this.

Lucas thought to himself.

Last night, Helen came and explained that she would make this declaration in front of others on the last day of the party.

Helen had carefully explained why she decided to do so, and what positive effects it would have on Fay.

<It’s in the contract, after all.>

Lucas’s hand paused on the vest as he put on a new piece of clothing.

“It’s true that I first stated my intention not to have children.”

The contract he wrote and handed to Helen explicitly stated that they would not have relations.

“Dion, when have I ever reported every single thing to you?”

“But…!”

“Enough.”

“……”

“Calm your excitement. It’s already decided.”

“Won’t you regret it?”

Dion asked quietly, his voice laced with concern for his master, as he handed over the vest and new clothes.

“Why would I regret it? Fay is here. I don’t need a child.”

Lucas tilted his mouth into a slightly arrogant, yet fitting smile.

“…That’s right. Master Fay is here. I had momentarily forgotten this is the Duke’s intention.”

Dion left the room.

Left alone, Lucas adjusted his tie in front of the mirror.

At that moment, Dion’s words echoed in his mind:

<Won’t you regret it?>

There was no reason to regret.

Everything had been done to ensure Fay inherited the Duke’s title safely.

He had agreed to Helen’s suggestion, and although the existence of the contract had always been a slight annoyance, he reassured himself that he had no regrets.

Then, he met the gaze of a dissatisfied-looking man.

The man reflected in the mirror.

It was Lucas himself.