IGMDSML 22

 Chapter 22

2nd Floor Living Room

I was reading a fairy tale and drawing pictures with Fleur.

“Wow. Your drawing is amazing, Gongja-nim.”
“Hmm, Maricel, your drawing is pretty too.”

We were so absorbed in coloring and praising each other’s work when suddenly, a commotion came from outside.

A dozen or so knights were dismounting from their horses and unpacking their gear.

Some attendants were leading the horses to the stables, while servants carried the knights’ luggage, looking busy.

At that moment, Reno appeared near the entrance.

‘They came back safely.’

I felt relieved.

“Gongja-nim, Sir Reno has returned with the knights. Should we go downstairs to greet them?”

“Is that okay? Won’t my uncle scold me?”
“Hm… I don’t think so. You’re the rightful heir of the Ergana-Joheim Grand Ducal family. So it should be fine for you to greet the knights. And if you’re worried, you could ask your uncle first.”

Fleur was cautious. She didn’t immediately follow my suggestion.

I could see the strict heir training from the marquis’s household had influenced her. She always thought like an heir, not a child.

“I think if you just say a word to appreciate their hard work, Gongja-nim, the knights will feel encouraged. If you’re unsure, asking your uncle might be best.”

“Okay. Do you think he’s in the 1st floor, or in his office?”
“Let’s check the office first. If he’s not there, we can just go downstairs, and see the knights as if by coincidence. It will look natural.”

I smiled and reassured her, taking her hand, then knocked on Morgan’s office door.

Inside, it was silent.

“It seems Your Highness isn’t here. Let’s go downstairs.”
“Okay.”

Fleur responded sweetly.

When we reached the bottom of the 1st-floor red carpeted stairs and the middle of the central hall, Morgan appeared, walking from the reception room.

“Uncle.”

Fleur greeted him cheerfully, and Morgan quickened his pace to approach us.

“What’s going on?”

Fleur nodded in acknowledgment.

Morgan’s eyes softened at the sight.

“Right, what is it?”
“Um, Uncle, where are you going?”

Fleur asked cleverly, as if calculating whether she could naturally follow him.

‘Smart,’ I thought. Sometimes she seemed wise beyond her six years.

“The knights have returned. I’m going to see them.”
“Then, Uncle, may I come too?”

Morgan raised an eyebrow, surprised.
“You want to come along?”
“Yes.”
“Is there a reason?”
“They worked hard for the Grand Ducal family, so I want to thank them.”
“How will you do that?”

Fleur paused to think, then confidently answered:

“Like you, Uncle.”

“Haha. That’s simple and clear.”

Morgan seemed pleased with her answer.

‘See, she’s clever. My little one. So lovely.’

I felt proud and happy, wanting to hug her and pat her, but I held back.

“Then, let’s go.”
“Yes.”

Fleur nodded firmly and followed Morgan, who adjusted his pace to match hers.

“Your Highness.”
“My lord.”

The knights, upon seeing Morgan, saluted properly, placing their right fists on their chests.

“Good. Well done.”
“Sir. Ronan. Mission completed, safely returned. We will finish unpacking shortly after reporting.”
“Very well.”

A man with short sky-blue hair and gray eyes, who identified himself as Ronan, gave Morgan a brief greeting, then glanced at Fleur and me.

Morgan noticed Ronan’s glance and gave a subtle signal that Fleur could greet them.

“Well done.”

A small, cute voice spoke, making the knights’ eyes widen in surprise.

They looked at each other as if to confirm they heard correctly.

“No, thanks to Gongja-nim’s concern, we returned safely. Thank you.”

Ronan and the other knights saluted Fleur as they had Morgan.

“Okay.”

Fleur smiled brightly and looked up at Morgan.

Morgan gently patted her head.

‘Good, good. It seems time to move to the next stage of raising her.’

It seemed a strong bond had formed between Morgan and Fleur.

I looked at them fondly, but then I noticed someone staring—Ronan.

“Your Highness, is this lady the governess of Gongja-nim?”
“Yes.”

I quickly introduced myself, bowing slightly.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Maricel Manua.”
“I am Ronan Pillow, Commander of the 3rd Knights. I pay my respects to Miss Maricel.”

He extended his hand, and I naturally offered the back of mine.

Ronan lowered his head to kiss my hand in the knightly fashion.

But suddenly, another hand intervened between his face and mine.

“…?”

Ronan and I looked to see who it was.

It was Morgan, the grand and imposing head of the Grand Ducal family.

He radiated authority and seemed extremely displeased with the situation.

‘Why…?’

There was no reason to stop the greeting—it was proper etiquette.

“You are the governess, not the lady. There is no need for a knight to greet you.”

His cold, low voice was like an early frost.

‘So if I’m a governess, I can’t even accept the knight’s greeting?’

I felt frustrated but accepted it.

Ronan, however, looked confused.

“Ah… I understand.”

He scratched his head and tried to understand the situation, then suddenly spoke to me:

“You are beautiful.”
“Eh?”
“You are beautiful. Truly.”

Ronan seemed embarrassed, but I felt my face warm.

“Thank you, Sir Ronan. That’s not unpleasant to hear.”

I couldn’t help but smile shyly.

Ronan had a refined appearance, with gray eyes that drew attention like they were filled with melancholy.

Looking into them, it was hard to look away. Hearing even a small compliment made the heart flutter. Most would react shyly like me.

I tucked my hair behind my ear, and our eyes met Morgan’s.

‘Sigh… what is he upset about now?’

He looked scowling, almost grim.

‘Huh? Fleur too?’

Fleur had never frowned like that before.

‘Is it wrong to be called beautiful?’

Determined, I decided to at least thank the person who complimented me.

I reached out my hand to shake Ronan’s.

“Nice to meet you.”

Ronan stared at my hand, then reached to grasp it, but Morgan intervened again.

“Enough. Let’s take Fleur inside.”

‘What is this man doing?’

I frowned at Morgan’s incomprehensible actions.

Ronan looked stunned, but then smirked slightly, as if he had accepted the situation.

‘Finally, Ronan seems resigned to the lord’s whims.’

I felt sorry for him.

“Maricel, yes. Let’s go inside quickly.”

‘Huh?’

Fleur also seemed eager to comply, tugging my hand.

“Yes, yes… Gongja-nim, let’s go in.”

I quickly greeted Ronan and left.

“Gongja-nim, take your time going up.”
“No, I want to go up quickly to finish my drawing.”
“Ah! I see. Then let’s go quickly.”

As we climbed the stairs, I said:

“Now that Sir Reno has returned, we can plan a little outing with Uncle.”

Fleur climbed the stairs energetically, then looked at me seriously and asked:

“Maricel, do you want to go on an outing with Uncle too?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, do you want to go on an outing with Uncle?”

I thought for a moment. Was she worried because she thought the outing was only for her and Uncle?

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I? Gongja-nim is going, so I’ll go too.”

“No. Do you want to go on an outing with Uncle too?”

I realized that being too honest might make her sad, so I carefully explained:

“Well, probably everyone wants to go on an outing with Uncle. He is the Grand Duke. And he’s your favorite Uncle. How could I dislike it? If Gongja-nim goes with Uncle, of course I want to go too.”

Fleur’s face suddenly lit up with joy, and she hopped up the stairs like a little rabbit.