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Chapter 31
The atmosphere around Maricel was distinctly different from usual. Morgan flinched slightly.
He felt strangely tense as the woman he held in his heart narrowed her eyes.
What words would come from that tiny mouth…?
‘…?’
But the words that seemed on the verge of spilling out never actually emerged.
Her petite lips quivered as if a flower bud was hesitating to bloom, opening and closing repeatedly.
Heh.
Morgan couldn’t help but smile faintly.
How could even something like this look so beautiful?
He thought, I want to press those rosy lips with my fingers…
But he didn’t act on it. If he moved rashly, Maricel might feel burdened and distance herself from him.
“What are you worrying about so much? Why don’t you stop worrying and just speak?”
“…!”
Maricel lifted her head in surprise.
‘Haah. This is dangerous in its own way.’
Morgan ran a hand down his face to compose himself. Then, looking down at Maricel gently, he asked kindly:
“Do you need more time?”
“Ah, n-no…”
Maricel exhaled softly at his kind words, then spoke with a motherly expression:
“Your Highness… you want the heir, Gongja, to grow up to be confident, right?”
‘Why does her introduction have to be so elaborate…’
Morgan found her expression amusing, but the way she began speaking also piqued his interest.
“Of course.”
With his arms crossed and a look that said obviously, Morgan looked down at her.
‘She took the bait. Good.’
Maricel, thinking he had taken the bait, pushed forward boldly.
“In that case, I’d recommend subtly and carefully letting him win sometimes.”
His face twisted slowly.
“You’re telling me to cowardly lose on purpose? Do you know how humiliating that is for a knight?”
“I know very well. But Your Highness, Gongja is only six years old, a mere sapling. A sapling needs hope that they can surpass the person they admire. It’s about nurturing that hope, not preserving a knight’s honor.”
Morgan’s expression softened even more.
To be told to let someone win. This was a first in his life. Even when he was six, no one had ever said this to him. It was a shocking request.
Seeing how startled he was, Maricel felt like she’d hit a wall—and, in a small way, found it a bit amusing.
From her perspective, the talk of chivalry seemed like an excuse.
She had seen his lips twitch every time he won a game, yet he was now speaking of chivalry as if it were some rigid rule.
“Your Highness, this isn’t a duel of swords—it’s simply a game with a child. In such a game, it’s a virtue for adults to carefully let the child win. Wouldn’t you agree?”
‘Agree…?’
Morgan flinched at Maricel’s unusually serious expression and tone.
Come to think of it, she was right—this wasn’t a duel, it was a game. Talking about chivalry didn’t quite fit here.
“Ahem… Fine. I’ll… agree to this… unusual request.”
Morgan’s awkward acceptance prompted Maricel to respond immediately.
“Thank you, Your Highness. Truly, it’s an excellent choice.”
She narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled.
‘Haah. This is maddening.’
Even just looking at her made his heart flutter. Her violet eyes and gem-like smile…
After realizing his feelings, Morgan found it impossible to maintain composure whenever he stood in front of her.
A woman whose face could make anyone fall for her while simultaneously awakening a protective instinct.
And that smile was like pouring fuel on fire.
‘If anyone else saw that smile…’
The mere thought filled him with irritation. Just because someone looks beautiful to him, does it mean they would appear differently to others?
A sudden wave of anxiety swept over him.
“You. Don’t smile like that from now on.”
“Yes?”
Maricel looked up at him as if struck by a bolt from the blue.
‘What’s he talking about all of a sudden?’
She thought he was picking an unnecessary quarrel.
“…Wait. No, could it be… my smile really looked that strange?”
‘Still, there’s no need to be so serious about it.’
Feeling embarrassed at the possibility that her smile had caused an issue, Maricel replied:
“Ahem… I-I’ll be careful.”
Despite lingering unease, she quickly regained her composure since Fleur was waiting.
‘Still… it leaves a weird feeling.’
“Ahem! If there’s nothing more to say, let’s go.”
Morgan also concluded the situation with a meaningless cough, feeling shy about expressing his true feelings.
‘She said she’d be careful… that’s enough.’
“Yes… nothing more. Your Highness, let’s go.”
Morgan strode ahead toward Fleur.
Upon hearing footsteps, Fleur quickly composed himself as if he hadn’t been crying at all.
But the redness in his eyes betrayed him.
Seeing Fleur, Maricel felt a pang of frustration and shot Morgan a sharp glare.
‘You made my child cry, didn’t you?’
Morgan sensed her gaze but chose to ignore her cute scowl, pretending not to notice.
“Gongja, shall we resume the game?”
By now, Fleur’s resolve had renewed, his eyes sparkling with determination.
“Yes. This time, I’ll win for sure.”
“Of course. This time, you will win, Gongja. The one who wins at the very end is the true victor. Hohoho.”
Maricel smiled, setting the stage, and sent Morgan a signal.
‘You know what this means, right? If you make my child cry again, I won’t let it slide!’
Morgan was both exasperated and amazed at how protective she became where Fleur was concerned.
“The world of competition is merciless, Fleur.”
Morgan deliberately spoke with a hint of anxiety to show off to Maricel.
‘Is he seriously planning to win again?’
Maricel’s stomach churned with worry, but she had to hope it was just her imagination.
She couldn’t show her frustration in front of Fleur.
‘Morgan, I’m counting on you.’
Maricel clenched her lips and gave Morgan an intense look.
‘Does this uncle even understand what I’m saying?’
As the game progressed, her anxiety crept up steadily.
Facing the remaining blocks and the precarious tower, her feelings of betrayal and anger toward Morgan skyrocketed.
Her fists trembled violently.
But Morgan, unfazed, reached for a block on his turn.
Then—
“Zuenha. I-I’m… sorry.”
Maricel couldn’t hold back. She clamped her teeth and grabbed Morgan’s hand, stopping him.
Morgan stared at the wrist gripped by her.
His wrist, held by a woman for the first time.
He slowly turned his gaze toward her.
She looked up at him with triangular eyes, filled with fury: Are you seriously doing this?
Her anger was obvious, unhidden, and somehow charming.
He sighed and laughed quietly.
‘She’s desperate to make sure I don’t break the promise.’
Seeing her expression sparked a mischievous impulse.
Feigning ignorance, he said casually:
“It’s my turn, though?”
He pulled his hand away from her grip nonchalantly.
“Oh! I-I see? I must have… mistaken… my turn, Zuenha.”
Maricel narrowed her eyes, forcing a laugh at his words.
And the game continued.
Now, truly, it was the last round.
Maricel stared at Morgan intently, obsessively, desperately.
Please fall, please fall, she silently prayed.
Morgan felt the deadly energy emanating from her.
‘She looks like she’s about to kill someone.’
He had originally planned to let her win when she grabbed his wrist.
But when she couldn’t trust him and grabbed him, it only fueled his playful stubbornness.
Yet now, she was glaring at him with piercing eyes, seemingly ready to attack.
He looked at Fleur, whose tension was evident.
The child’s furrowed brow, his determination poured into holding up the precarious tower—Morgan hesitated.
Was he really supposed to let him win? Even if a child, was it deceitful?
Then he looked at Maricel again.
This time, her eyes pleaded like a gentle doe.
Her doe-like gaze pierced his chest more than any talk of chivalry ever could.
‘Haah. No one else must see this.’
Maricel had far too many things that must only be shown to him.
Things she would never share with anyone else.
Her plan worked. Morgan’s focus wavered as he reached for the blocks.
At that moment, the tower that had been holding on precariously collapsed.
“Wow~! Maricel, the tower fell! I won!”
“Oh! It did!”
Maricel cheered loudly and clapped.
“Finally, Gongja has won! Our Gongja is the embodiment of perseverance—a man who never gives up! Hehe, well done! Congratulations, Gongja!”
Fleur and Maricel high-fived, jumped around, and even twirled holding hands.
It was clear now.
Maricel and Fleur were allies, and he was the opponent.
Morgan felt both pleasure and bitterness at the bond between them.
After enjoying their victory, the allied duo glanced at the ‘enemy’.
“Your Highness? Has losing once damaged your lofty dignity in the slightest?”
Morgan let out an incredulous chuckle, thinking of a cat-and-mouse game.
How should he reply? Maricel was slightly audacious.
But as the head of the Grand Duke’s household, he knew exactly how to handle the heir.
“Who do you take me for?”
He congratulated Fleur.
“Congratulations, Fleur. You focused and challenged yourself with perseverance, and in the end, you claimed victory. Your dedication until the very last moment was admirable. You have the makings of a fine leader.”
“Yes, Uncle! I’ll work hard to become someone you recognize as excellent—just like you.”
“Good. I’ll be expecting it.”
Morgan patted Fleur’s head proudly.
Maricel also smiled at Fleur, then leaned close to Morgan, cupping her hand like a megaphone and whispered:
“Your Highness, thank you for keeping your promise. This stays our secret, okay?”
Maricel’s breath on his ear immediately made Morgan’s face and neck flush red.
He covered his ear with his hand, thinking:
‘Does she even realize how dangerous this is?’
No… probably not. That’s why she did it. If she knew, she would never have dared.
He realized fully how much he loved this innocent yet utterly captivating woman.
And separate from that, his heart was already racing uncontrollably.
