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Chapter 8
The hidden mastermind Grand Duke has five younger siblings?
For a moment, Eleanor was so stunned that she nearly asked if that was really true.
And honestly, it was understandable.
It simply didn’t suit him.
Matthias was the world’s hidden mastermind—the sinister schemer lurking in the shadows, constantly plotting against the heroine.
A cold, bloodstained man better matched with ominous crows cawing in the dark.
And yet he had five adorable younger siblings waiting for him at home?
“Um…”
Eleanor carefully chose her words.
This was difficult. What exactly was one supposed to say in a situation like this?
“Well… you must have a very harmonious family.”
“Our parents were just unnecessarily affectionate.”
Matthias muttered coldly.
He looked utterly fed up.
…So not harmonious, then?
“Anyway, with that many younger siblings at home, things like this happened all the time. Someone getting hurt was practically routine.”
“Ah…”
“When you experience something like this for the first time, it’s easy to panic. So don’t blame yourself—just learn how to respond. Young children get sick often.”
“…Yes.”
“I suppose nothing like this has happened until now? You’ve been lucky.”
As he spoke, Matthias wiped the baby’s forehead once more with a damp handkerchief.
…Was he comforting me?
Eleanor fidgeted with her fingers.
What he had just said really did sound like comfort.
I thought he was a hidden villain who would only bring harm to my niece…
And yet, it was thanks to that very villain that her niece was safe.
Eleanor’s lips parted slightly.
She felt ashamed of herself for being less capable than Matthias—
and at the same time, still suspicious of him because he was the hidden mastermind.
But in this moment, what she needed to say was obvious.
“…Thank you.”
Matthias turned to look at her.
Eleanor didn’t avoid his gaze.
Clasping both hands tightly together, she summoned her courage.
“Thanks to you, Your Grace… the baby is safe. Thank you. Truly.”
After silently staring at her for a moment, Matthias gave a slight nod.
“Sit over here. We need to keep watch until morning.”
And so the exhausting night slowly passed.
Piacenna was a small village located in the southern part of the Empire.
The reason Eleanor had chosen it as her refuge while fleeing with her niece was surprisingly simple—
She had once read about it in a book.
A place where vast sunflower fields, shimmering like gold, embraced everyone.
As she had admired the illustrations spanning both pages, she had once thought that if given the chance, she’d like to visit someday.
Though she certainly never imagined she’d come here for this reason.
Chirp chirp.
At the sound of birdsong outside the window, Eleanor opened her eyes.
“Ah—the baby!”
Realizing she had accidentally fallen asleep while staying up all night, Eleanor immediately checked on the child first.
Fortunately, the fever seemed to have gone down.
The baby’s breathing was much calmer now.
Her tiny body was no longer burning hot like it had been the night before.
“Haa…”
Eleanor let out a long sigh of relief.
Last night had been so terrifying that it felt as though several years had been shaved off her life.
She gently brushed the baby’s bright golden hair away from her forehead.
“I’m sorry, little one.”
Your aunt is still lacking in so many ways.
But from now on… I’ll do better. I really will.
Feeling a little more at ease, Eleanor looked around her surroundings.
And then she suddenly realized where she was lying.
Why… am I in the Grand Duke’s bed?!
According to her memory, before dozing off at dawn, she had definitely been sitting in the chair beside the bed.
And yet now, she was lying in the bed with the baby.
Had she somehow climbed in unconsciously in her sleep?
Eleanor hurriedly scrambled out of bed.
Her cheeks burned red.
It felt like all the embarrassment she would experience in her lifetime had been concentrated into the last two days.
Where did the Grand Duke go?
The room held only Eleanor and the baby.
After a brief hesitation, Eleanor left the sleeping child behind and stepped outside.
But she didn’t have to search far.
Matthias was downstairs on the inn’s first floor.
He appeared to be eating breakfast, while Madame Sophie enthusiastically chatted beside him.
“Is the food to your liking?”
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
“Oh, thank goodness! I worked hard since yesterday to make this specially for you. Go on, try it. I make the best roast chicken in this village.”
“I was just thinking it’s the best roast chicken I’ve ever had. Though, Madame, please speak comfortably like you did yesterday. I don’t mind.”
“Oh my, really? I suppose yesterday I was too distracted by the sick baby to be formal. Still, if the baby’s father doesn’t mind… what a nice personality you have for such a young father!”
“That’s not really true. I hurt Eli, after all…”
“Oh, young people make mistakes! My husband caused me plenty of heartache when he was younger too. But look at him now—he turned out just fine.”
“Do you think Eli can forgive me?”
“Of course! The baby’s father is this sincere, after all. Still, keep begging. Until Eli’s heart softens.”
Their cheerful laughter carried all the way up the stairs.
Eleanor trembled.
What exactly are they saying about me right now?
He truly seemed determined to play the role of the baby’s father.
Deliberately making her footsteps creak loudly on the stairs, Eleanor appeared downstairs.
“Oh my, Eli! You’re awake! You need breakfast, don’t you?”
“Sophie…”
“Sit next to the baby’s father. I’ll bring your food right away!”
Sophie disappeared into the kitchen.
…Sit next to the baby’s father?
Apparently Matthias had already thoroughly charmed Sophie.
Eleanor glared at Matthias.
Without a hint of shame, he casually tapped the seat beside him.
“Sit down, baby’s mother.”
“Your Grace.”
“There are ears listening. Rather than ‘Your Grace,’ I’d appreciate it if you called me ‘the baby’s father.’”
“Why exactly are you the baby’s father?”
Filled with displeasure, Eleanor sat across from him.
She had absolutely no intention of sitting beside him from the beginning.
Sit next to him? As if.
Matthias smiled brightly.
“And the baby? You just left her upstairs? Yesterday you spent the entire day refusing to leave the baby’s mother’s room because you thought I might steal her.”
“I’m only bringing food upstairs. And could you please stop calling me the baby’s mother?”
“Yesterday, Miss Eleanor was the one fiercely insisting she was the child’s mother.”
“…That’s true! But still!”
Because I don’t want to be called the baby’s mother while you’re the baby’s father, you hidden villain!
Eleanor trembled.
For some reason, the more she spoke, the more she felt herself being dragged into his pace.
Right then, Sophie returned with breakfast.
Steam rose warmly from the dishes on the tray.
Cream stew piled high with meat, a large loaf of rye bread, and roasted chicken.
“Here, eat plenty. You had a hard time yesterday.”
“Thank you.”
“Take your time while you eat and talk things through. You two must have a lot to discuss.”
“No, actually, I wasn’t planning to—”
“Oh, don’t be like that! If people have misunderstandings, they need to talk them out. The baby’s upstairs, right? I’ll watch her for a bit, so don’t rush. Take your time, okay?”
As if encouraging her, Sophie patted Eleanor on the shoulder.
Then she even winked mischievously at Matthias before grinning suspiciously and heading upstairs.
Unbelievable.
Eleanor whispered quietly:
“I have no idea how you managed to win Sophie over like this.”
“She’s a woman full of sympathy.”
Matthias took a bite of bread and smiled slyly.
“I told her how much I missed my wife and child, how deeply I regretted everything. I even said that if possible, I’d turn back time.”
“Honestly… what an absurd lie…”
“Coming from someone who lies as naturally as breathing, that’s rather amusing… baby’s mother.”
Matthias sneered.
“Who would ever imagine that a genius everyone was desperate to recruit would be hiding in some remote countryside, pretending to be an unwed mother?”
There was simply no way to beat Matthias in words.
Or in information.
Eleanor swallowed a sigh.
At last, she made up her mind.
“…I will help you find Charlotte.”
