CATBP~41

Chapter 41

“As a father who once had a daughter… I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Knowing Michael’s backstory from A Silent Night — how he had lost his daughter and carried that grief with him — made his words of gratitude hit even harder.

“I only sold information for a price. There’s no need to bow your head like that.”

“Ah. I see.”

Michael immediately straightened his posture.

His quick reaction left me momentarily speechless, but then he chuckled and waved a hand.

“Just kidding. Compared to the benefit I gained from that information, what I paid was far too little.”

As a guild master, pretending not to know anything would have been more profitable — but how could one put a price on a daughter’s life?

He muttered softly, then continued.

“I’ve been waiting for your return ever since, wanting to repay that debt properly. You said you’d come back, after all.”

Michael was showing clear goodwill — offering to take on something that would likely put him at a disadvantage as a merchant.

‘So he really is just like in the novel.’

In that case, I should make the most of it.

“I need information on the House of Marquis Baalje — everything from the basics to their dirtiest little secrets.”

“Understood. Consider it done.”

Michael agreed without hesitation. I smiled, satisfied, and made my next request.

“And secondly…”

I reached out my hand toward him.

“How about we make some money together?”

“Money?”

He blinked, clearly baffled.

“Yeah.”

I had valuable meta knowledge from the original novel — which buildings, people, or regions were worth investing in long-term, even where diamonds were buried.

But I hadn’t even been in this unfamiliar world for four months yet, so I couldn’t afford to ignore how little I still knew.

‘If I try to do this alone, I’ll probably get scammed.’

No — definitely get scammed.

After assessing my situation, I realized I needed a trustworthy partner.

‘And the one with information and a spine of pure loyalty — that’s Michael.’

In A Silent Night, there was a scene where Faye tried to persuade Michael to betray the Crown Prince, but he refused.

“Your Grace, you and His Highness were both my saviors, and I’m grateful for that. But I’ve already pledged myself to the Crown Prince, and I intend to keep that promise.”

“For someone like me, loyalty is worth more than gold.”

“If you had come to me before His Highness did, perhaps things might’ve been different.”

…Back when I was just a reader, I’d grumbled about his stubbornness.

‘But now that I’m living here, he’s the most reliable person I can think of. Life’s funny like that.’

Michael stared at my hand for a long moment, then finally made up his mind.

“All right.”

He took my hand.

“If anyone else had said that to me, I’d have thought them a fraud or a braggart.”

If I’d made this offer the first time we met, I’d have sounded like some shady salesman myself.

“But you knew something I didn’t.”

Michael’s lips curved into a knowing smile.

“May I hear the details?”

Seems selling him that earlier information really paid off. I grinned, pleased.

“Of course. But first…”

I hesitated, a bit embarrassed.

“…Can I borrow some money?”

After buying the holy relic, I had five gold coins left.

I avoided his astonished stare.

After finishing our discussion about future plans, I hurried back to the mansion.

Today was the day the painter I’d found through a random street flyer was scheduled to visit.

As I changed into something neat, a maid came to say the artist had arrived.

We had agreed to do the portrait in the greenhouse, so I headed there.

Inside were the Duke and the painter, Ace.

‘I heard Faye was supposed to be here already?’

I glanced around, but saw no sign of him — only a lush sea of flowers.

“Lucas, has Faye not arrived yet?”

The Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly — his golden gaze practically saying ‘are you out of your mind?’

What? What did I do?

‘I just asked where Faye was!’

I was genuinely innocent here.

“Auntie, I’m right here!”

Huh?

I turned toward the voice, but only saw flowers tended by the gardener.

One in particular caught my eye — it was especially lovely.

‘That’s about where I heard the voice… but there’s no one there?’

Weird.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again.

And right where that flower had been — now stood Faye.

‘…Huh?’

The flower had completely vanished.

I blinked twice, then slapped my own cheek.

‘I must’ve mistaken Faye for a flower in the flowerbed.’

No wonder the Duke was giving me that look.

I’d been fawning over Faye so much lately that I’d apparently lost it.

Ahem. I really needed to tone down the doting.

Feeling awkward, I turned my gaze toward Ace.

He was trembling like a leaf.

‘He was like this last time too.’

When I’d gone to his studio after meeting Michael, Ace had looked pale as a ghost — I’d even wondered if something had happened between him and the Duke.

Then I’d overheard him muttering, “I-I just accepted a commission from the Duke of Igaluk… oh gods…”

That had explained everything.

“You all right?” I asked.

“Y-yes. It’s just… this mansion is so grand and beautiful… I feel like I shouldn’t even be standing here…”

“Your personal works at the studio were wonderful. Don’t worry too much.”

“Th-thank you…”

Even with my reassurance, his voice was still shaking.

If only I had some herbal calming medicine to give him — but this world didn’t have things like that.

Maybe a priest could help…

‘Ah!’

I turned to Faye.

“Faye, could I borrow your music box for a bit?”

“Uh-huh!”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

I kissed his cheeks twice and called Sally over.

Soon, Sally brought the music box, and once I wound it up, Ace gradually relaxed.

Then, with impressive focus, he began painting.

Time passed. The sky turned orange.

“I’ll stop here for today,” Ace said, setting down his brush.

Curious, I leaned over to see the canvas — and my jaw dropped.

‘It’s like a photograph!’

He had captured Faye’s likeness perfectly.

I looked at him with genuine awe.

‘If the finished piece looks this good, I’m commissioning him again for sure.’

While I was quietly resolving that, Ace finished packing his supplies.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“I’ll see you out,” said the Duke, standing up.

“Wh— oh, no, please! You don’t need to trouble yourself for someone like me! I insist, it’s fine!”

“It’s because I like the painting.”

Ace protested repeatedly, but the Duke was firm. In the end, Ace left looking both nervous and deeply honored.

“Faye, shall we go too?”

He looked exhausted after sitting still for so long.

His eyelids drooped halfway.

‘Well, of course. Even I feel stiff after that, and he’s still a child.’

Plus, he’d been busy helping the maids lately.

“Yaaawn~”

He opened his mouth wide in an adorable yawn, little teardrops hanging from his lashes.

‘How is it possible to look cute even while yawning?’

When I yawn, I just look ridiculous.

I was staring at him, enchanted, when he reached his arms toward me.

“Auntie, I’m sleepy… can you hold meee?”

He said it in a soft, drawn-out voice, his body melting like a sleepy little slime.

I quietly pinched my nose.

Drip.

Too late — a nosebleed.

‘At least Faye’s too sleepy to notice. Thank goodness.’

Sally gasped.

“Ma’am! Let me carry the young master!”

“No, I want to.”

I quickly wiped the blood with my sleeve and picked him up.

“But your nose—”

“It’s fine. I want to hold him while I still can — kids grow up so fast.”

“Ma’am…”

Sally looked torn, but she stepped back.

“I get it. I can’t carry my little siblings anymore either…”

Her voice softened with understanding.

‘That’s… not exactly what I meant,’ I thought, but didn’t correct her.

“Then I’ll go move the holy relics!”

“Please do.”

Holding my nose with one hand to stop any more bleeding, I carefully carried Faye to his room.

By the time I laid him down, the bleeding had stopped.

‘Hmm. Dinner’s soon… what should I do?’

He was fast asleep, and I couldn’t bring myself to wake him.

‘He’ll be hungry when he wakes up.’

But eating too late wouldn’t be good for him either.

‘Maybe I’ll bring some fruit later — something light on the stomach.’

Decision made, I pulled his blanket up to his chin.

Then, after watching his peaceful sleeping face for a bit, I headed to the dining room.

The Duke was already there.

“Where’s Faye?”

“He fell asleep. Poor thing must’ve been exhausted — today was a long day for a child.”

Seeing him asleep had stirred something like guilt in me — like a conscience I thought was long gone.

“Still, he was so happy when he heard we’d be doing a family portrait.”

Oh, that was true.

He’d been smiling from ear to ear, bouncing with excitement.

“I don’t really see why that would make him that happy,” Lucas said honestly.

I paused to think.

‘Hmm.’

For me, photos with my mom had always been precious — permanent keepsakes that held our smiles, something I could look at years later and still feel the warmth of that moment.

‘Though… I can’t see her anymore.’

But Faye’s still young, so for him it’s simpler.

“Maybe it’s just because it’s something special to share as a family,” I said, looking at him for agreement.

“Now that I think about it, there are portraits of Faye alone, but none of the two of you together — or of just you.”

“…Family.”

Lucas murmured, then fell silent for a while.

“I… only hold the title of Duke temporarily. I never wanted to leave any personal trace in this mansion. I suppose that’s why it never occurred to me that Faye might want something like that.”

His brows drew together — thoughtful, almost pained.

I smiled softly.

‘You’re really growing into a good guardian.’

That meant I could leave with peace of mind someday.

I gave him a big thumbs-up in silent praise.

He looked at me like I was being ridiculous — and then suddenly froze.

“Lucas?!”

He grabbed my wrist.