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Chapter 09
It had been a month since I started living in Uncle Aiden’s house.
Quite a bit of time had passed, but nothing particularly noteworthy had happened in the meantime.
Going to the market to buy what I needed, eating meals and chatting with him—my days were made up of nothing more than ordinary routines.
Because of that, each day felt all the more precious.
Still, I knew I wouldn’t be able to enjoy this peace for long.
As usual, I woke up early and organized my plans in the cozy room Uncle had prepared for me.
“Looks like it’s about time for Uncle to leave the house again…”
Just like last time, Uncle Aiden was a mercenary, so he couldn’t stay in one place for long.
Of course, the biggest reason was that he was being pursued by a certain faction.
Whenever a mercenary job ended, he would drop by here at irregular intervals.
He’d carefully replenish whatever was lacking for daily life and teach me various things—reading, writing, basic etiquette.
Back then, I used to long for the days he would come back…
But now, the fact that he wasn’t leaving made things a little troublesome.
“In a few months, Duke Papiope will choose one person from the talent training institute to adopt.”
Before that, I needed to enter the institute and make an impression on the duke.
Duke Papiope.
Back when she was still a young lady, she eliminated all the elders and collateral relatives who had threatened her life, then ascended to the ducal seat.
After that, she ruled the ducal house without any internal interference…
Perhaps because of that?
She announced a radically unprecedented method of choosing heirs—something no other family would dare attempt.
She would adopt children to inherit the Duchy of Papiope.
There had been plenty of controversy, but in the previous timeline, that very decision ended up making House Papiope even more powerful.
“Anyway, I’m not interested in the succession struggle. All I’m aiming for is to be adopted into House Papiope.”
All I needed was the status of a noble.
To properly protect Uncle Aiden, having a noble title made everything easier—raising funds, building connections, all of it.
“The problem is… if I miss this year’s adoption, I’ll have to wait at least three more years.”
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Enter the talent training institute
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Win the adoption selection competition
Those were the two steps required to be adopted by Duke Papiope.
So I knew that even if I entered the institute right away, the schedule would be tight.
Still, I couldn’t just leave without saying a word to the man who had taken care of me.
Just then, there was a knock, and the door opened as Uncle came in.
“Tania, stop sleeping in and get u—ah. You’re up early again today.”
When his eyes met mine as I sat at the desk, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
“I’ve prepared breakfast, so come on out.”
After tidying up the cluttered desk, I slowly stepped outside.
Today’s menu was white bread toasted golden in butter, with strawberry jam.
“Wow, that looks delicious!”
As I gratefully spread the jam and brought the bread to my mouth, Uncle began speaking with a serious expression.
“Tania, there’s something important I need to tell you.”
At the heavy tone of his voice, I forgot all about the bread and looked at him.
[Overlaying the current point onto Save Point 1.]
The moment I saved the point out of habit, Uncle Aiden’s low voice flowed into my ears.
“I travel around the empire, taking on various requests. I stayed here for about a month to look after you, but I can’t always remain this long.”
Oh, so he really was about to leave to take care of his backlog of jobs.
That was a relief—at least I could carry out my plan to enter the Papiope training institute without being late.
When I just looked at him without replying, he hurriedly continued.
“I’m not saying I’m leaving to throw you out. Tania, I want you to keep living in this house.”
“Then that means…”
“I won’t be able to come often, but I promise I’ll at least make sure you don’t go hungry.”
In the previous timeline, Uncle had made me the exact same offer.
Back then, when I was constantly anxious about being kicked out, those words had felt like salvation.
But in this timeline, it was still too soon to keep living with him like this.
“Uncle, there’s actually something I wanted to tell you too.”
“Go on.”
“I’m planning to enter the Papiope talent training institute.”
“What?”
“I mentioned it when we first met, but I think it’s time for me to take the entrance exam.”
After hearing my plan, Uncle asked in a darkened voice,
“…Is this place uncomfortable for you?”
“No! Not at all. I’m truly grateful for everything you’ve done for me.”
“I have no trouble feeding you. You could live here for as long as you want.”
“It’s not that I don’t like you. I just don’t want to keep being a burden.”
“Tania, that place is where all the empire’s top ability users gather.”
“I’m an ability user too.”
“I’m not saying you can’t pass. I know that if you set your mind to it, you could pass immediately.”
Growing more restless, he continued,
“But that place is like a jungle. The kids there will do anything to be adopted by Papiope.”
“All the more reason my abilities will shine, don’t you think?”
Unpredictable, sudden actions? Those didn’t work on me.
“Please trust me.”
He fell silent for a long time, clearly conflicted.
Perhaps the thought that leaving me here alone without a guardian might be worse than letting me go there weighed on him as well.
In the face of my firm resolve, his eyes wavered slightly.
Of course I wanted nothing more than to live peacefully with Uncle.
But knowing how this story ended, I couldn’t afford to settle for comfort.
As if trying to change my mind, he asked,
“Then… what about leaving together with me?”
It was an absurd suggestion.
No matter how capable I was, how could a mercenary take a young girl who struggled to walk even a few hours along with him?
Whether clients would tolerate it aside, I’d clearly become Uncle Aiden’s greatest weakness.
“Uncle, I—”
Just as I was about to refuse again, the quiet words that followed stopped me from finishing.
“I don’t want to send you away. Letting you go like this, without warning… I’ve grown too attached.”
I knew that despite his gruff exterior, Uncle was actually very kind and affectionate.
Still, I hadn’t expected to take root in his heart so deeply in just one month.
What should I do…?
✦ ✦ ✦
In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse Uncle’s request.
So I decided to postpone entering the training institute until he returned from his job.
While he was away, he wanted to entrust me to the Ageratum Trading Company.
But I stubbornly refused that.
If someone else was around, it would be hard to move freely outside.
Even more so if I were placed there “for protection.”
Once our negotiation ended, Uncle prepared to leave the very next day.
Judging by how rushed he was, it seemed like an important request had come in.
“Food will be delivered every day by the lady next door.”
“All three meals?”
“Yes. I paid proper compensation, so if she ever neglects you, get help from Ageratum. It’s dangerous, so promise me you won’t go far outside. And…”
Sensing that a long lecture was coming, I quickly cut him off.
“Don’t worry. I may look like this, but I lived on the streets for quite a while.”
“Even so, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re a child who needs protection.”
“Hehe, that’s true.”
Becoming a child wasn’t exactly pleasant, but I did like how Uncle treated me as one.
After looking at my beaming smile for a moment, he turned and grasped the doorknob.
“…I’ll be back.”
“Ah, wait!”
I threw my arms around him and chattered like a child seeing her father off to work.
“Don’t get hurt, and be careful. I’ll be waiting for you.”
He stood still for a moment, then hugged me back as if he might crush me.
“I’ll return as quickly as I can.”
Creeeak. Bang.
As I looked at the door now firmly shut, I quietly curled my lips into a smile.
“You told me to stay home… but time is money. I can’t afford that.”
