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Chapter : 4
Completely overwhelmed by the atmosphere, I stared blankly for a moment before slowly getting up and lowering my gaze a beat late.
Sally also seemed startled by the sudden appearance of the Duke, but she quickly trotted over, composed herself properly, and…
“Duke, that child entered here without permission. Into this estate where you are present, no less.”
She immediately ratted me out for coming into the villa.
‘Hey, seriously, this girl!’
For a moment, I got annoyed at Sally’s tattling—but then a plan suddenly came to mind, and I froze.
…Wait. If I get on the Duke’s good side here, doesn’t that mean I could meet Rachel directly?
Whether I became a maid or a simple errand girl who worked under the Duke.
That would be much faster than gathering information from the servants.
‘Actually… this is better.’
Quickly revising my plan, I lifted my head with a satisfied smile.
Kaltz looked down at Vivian and asked in a calm voice.
“Who brought this child into the estate?”
“I-I did.”
James stepped forward, hiding Vivian behind him.
“She helped us obtain cheese. I felt bad just sending her away, so I planned to give her a snack and let her go. She did nothing wrong. Please hold me responsible.”
“…She obtained the cheese?”
“Yes. She even helped negotiate the price with the ranch owner.”
Kaltz’s sharp gaze shifted again to the girl hidden behind James.
She was pretty enough to draw attention, but that was all. Just an ordinary girl.
‘That young child negotiated with a ranch owner?’
As Kaltz observed her, Vivian carefully stepped out from behind James.
“Vivian, daughter of Dias Hesen, greets Your Grace, the noble Duke.”
Her etiquette was flawless.
“If it is not against protocol, may I say a few words about this situation?”
Kaltz looked at her and gave a light nod, as if telling her to speak.
Vivian continued calmly.
“The uncle said you are a man of honor who would never ignore someone who helped you, and that if the benefactor was sent away like this, you would surely be displeased.”
“……”
“So he said he would follow Your Grace’s will and repay me for my help.”
Of course, James had never said anything like that.
Kaltz could not know her true intent, but he understood it immediately.
She’s trying to prevent me from punishing him.
Because if he expelled Vivian and punished James in this situation, he would appear unjust and dishonorable.
And by praising him, she also lifted his mood while simultaneously protecting James.
Not something you would expect from an ordinary child her age.
Kaltz looked at her honey-colored eyes fixed straight on him.
Children her age usually avoided his gaze in fear—but Vivian didn’t.
Yet her gaze wasn’t insolent either.
It was steady: curiosity, a hint of fear, and polite restraint that never crossed the line.
‘A bold one.’
James, sensing the tension, quickly bowed his head.
“I will send her back immediately.”
“No.”
With a single word, Kaltz stopped him.
“I cannot treat a benefactor like that. Give her more food, and properly reward her for her effort.”
At the unexpected order, everyone, including James, widened their eyes.
Sally also looked between Vivian and Kaltz in disbelief.
“You mean you’re rewarding that beggar? Not punishing her? She entered the Duke’s estate without permission…”
“That child is a benefactor who helped prepare a prosperous dinner for House Edelvain today. As she said, it would be dishonorable to mistreat a benefactor under the name of Edelvain.”
In this mansion, the Duke’s word was law. Even Sally could not argue.
“Do you think I handled this incorrectly, Sally?”
At the Duke’s cold question, Sally lowered her head.
“N-no. I believe it is a merciful judgment.”
Vivian’s gaze could be felt from afar.
Sally wanted to scream, but she bit her lip hard in front of the Duke. It was infuriating.
Before Kaltz left the kitchen, Vivian quickly stepped forward and bowed again.
“Thank you, Your Grace! I will repay today’s kindness with whatever I can do in the future.”
Subtly implying she would be coming again.
Kaltz suppressed a faint laugh as he looked at the child acting like she was clinging to his sleeve, then turned and left the kitchen.
‘Smart… and quite cunning.’
People who are quick-witted are easy to use.
Even after arriving at his office, Kaltz kept thinking about the bright-eyed little girl and eventually called his butler.
“Owen.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“How old was that child in the kitchen just now?”
“She is said to be nine years old.”
Nine.
Close in age to Rachel, who had just turned ten this year.
‘Just the right age.’
He needed a play.
Someone who was not part of his inner circle, but who would believe Rachel was a girl and play along.
A publicly visible, acceptable image.
‘If an outside girl gets along naturally with Rachel, no one will suspect Rachel is a boy.’
And she was sharp enough to handle Rachel’s temperament.
And if, by any chance, she learned Rachel’s secret…
‘She’s a commoner. Easy to deal with.’
After a moment of thought, Kaltz made his decision. There was no reason not to take a piece that had walked right into his hands.
Chirp, chirp!
Another bright and peaceful day began.
“Yaaawn…”
Still half asleep, I yawned while sweeping the front yard of the shop.
Then my father, who had just finished organizing inside, came over looking proudly at me.
“Vivi, you’ve been waking up early lately. What’s gotten into our sleepy princess?”
I flinched at his words.
‘I only woke up early because I’m going to the estate later.’
If he found out I’d been going to Edelvain’s villa, I’d definitely get an earful.
‘But Father, my life is on the line here.’
…Of course I couldn’t say that. So I just smiled awkwardly.
“Mm, I decided to become a good and diligent Vivian from now on.”
“Eek!”
Just then, my father hit his glasses against the edge of a signboard he was lifting.
The glasses fell, but he caught them neatly midair.
‘Honestly, he’s so clumsy.’
He had a surprisingly careless side.
I checked his face immediately.
“Are you okay, Dad? Let me see.”
“Ah, yeah. I’m fine.”
He quickly put his glasses back on like he was afraid someone might see.
I squinted at him while he went back to preparing the shop.
‘Why does he even wear those glasses? They’re just in the way.’
As far as I knew, my father’s eyesight wasn’t bad.
He could walk around the house, cook, and read without them.
But whenever he met people, he always wore them.
‘What a waste.’
Those glasses were hiding that ridiculously good-looking face…
If he used that face, sales would probably go up.
I was mentally lamenting lost revenue when familiar voices came from the side.
“Oh my, Vivian. Helping your father again today?”
“How admirable. Our Peter should learn from her…”
They were Mrs. Loren from the general store and Mrs. Karin from the fruit shop—self-proclaimed number one fans of my father.
Visiting every morning to see his face was part of their routine.
“Hehe, good morning, aunties.”
Just then, my father, who had finished opening preparations, walked over briskly.
“Good morning, Loren. Karin.”
“Oh ho ho, good morning, Dias. Your face is especially bright today.”
As Loren teased him, Karin smacked her arm and said, “Honestly, you’re shameless!”
After laughing for a while, the two suddenly clapped their hands as if remembering something.
“Oh right, did you hear?”
“What about?”
As they were finishing their gossip, I noticed a customer entering the general store.
Seeing that, the two women quickly returned to their shops.
It was a normal start to the day.
My father looked down at me.
“Then Vivi, shall we get ready to open too?”
“Yes!”
We were about to head inside when my father suddenly turned around.
“Hm?”
Soon, the sound of horse hooves approached, and a luxurious carriage stopped in front of our shop.
‘That crest…’
The emblem on the carriage was unmistakable.
The Edelvain Duke’s family crest.
Who is it…?
As if answering my question, the person who stepped out of the carriage was……
