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Chapter 9
I quietly stared at the child sitting across from me.
She looked about six years old.
The child’s name was Echo Berto.
She was the illegitimate daughter born between the previous Marquis Berto—Violet’s father in the original story—and a maid. I knew she was still living in the marquis household even after Lucian Berto inherited the title, but…
“Lucian oppa said… there’s a shop that grants wishes…”
The child seemed very shy. She couldn’t even look at me and kept fidgeting with her small fingers.
My first impression of Echo Berto, whom I met in reality rather than in a novel, was this:
A timid child with a very shy personality.
But that gentle child would later become a villainess who tried to kill the female lead?
In the novel, the day before her execution, Echo said this during her meeting with Violet:
That she hated Violet for taking all the love from the family, and even stealing the prince she loved.
“O-oppa…”
When I didn’t respond for a moment, lost in thought, Echo’s eyes welled up as she called for Lucian.
I snapped out of it and tried to say something, but Lucian spoke first.
“Is there really no place for me?”
Lucian, who had been standing blankly beside Echo, looked around the shop as he muttered.
“There isn’t even a chair for three people to sit. Business must be tough?”
“If standing is uncomfortable, would you like to wait in your carriage?”
“Hm? No, that won’t do. Do you know how I got in here?”
Then stop complaining and stay quiet. Or at least pay attention to your sister.
You call yourself a guardian, yet you’re ignoring your sister’s pleading eyes.
As if only your own goal matters.
I let out a small sigh and looked back at Echo.
“So, you want to receive your parents’ love?”
Echo flinched and looked at me.
“Yes… I want to sleep with mom and dad… go on picnics too… like how they do with Sister Violet…”
What Echo wanted from her parents were very small, ordinary things.
Things that would be natural in a normal family.
How did you end up born into such a role…
Maybe because I had also become a villainess like her, I felt both sympathy and a strange sense of kinship.
“So I brought money too…”
Echo suddenly jumped off her chair and took out a piggy bank from her worn little bag.
Every time she shook it, silver coins spilled out from the cracked belly.
“……”
I silently looked down at the table.
Echo glanced at me nervously.
“Echo.”
“Yes, Lucian oppa…”
“The shop owner says this isn’t nearly enough.”
Lucian gestured toward me, and Echo’s face filled with shock.
“I’ll… earn money later and pay you back…!”
No matter how much I like money, I’m not someone who takes it from a child like that.
“Why is the customer paying?”
“Huh…?”
“You have a guardian right here.”
I stared directly at Lucian as I said that.
He wasn’t just any noble—he was a marquis. And with a contract with the Spirit of Wealth, he must be extremely rich.
As I thought of that spirit, my gaze naturally drifted to Lucian Berto’s chest pocket.
Gulp.
That position should have been mine…
“If you stare like that, it’s a bit embarrassing.”
Lucian scratched his cheek, looking unusually awkward.
Before Wit came running again from wherever he was watching, I shook off my thoughts.
“Then shall I explain the plan from now on?”
For the request, I needed to see Echo with her family myself.
Well… not me, but Wit.
After confirming Echo nodded, I looked at Lucian.
“I’ll also need the guardian’s cooperation for smooth progress.”
“Me?”
Me? Seriously, did he come here just to watch?
I smiled brightly and folded my hands politely.
“If you don’t like that, you may leave.”
Lucian stared at me blankly, then his eyes curved like crescents.
“So cold.”
“……”
“When did I say I didn’t like it?”
He still had a playful expression until the end.
* * *
That evening.
I was sitting at the table explaining tomorrow’s schedule to Wit.
“Wit, tomorrow we also need to do the laundry—”
“Isn’t that too lacking in distance?”
“…What? What did you say?”
Adriel, who had been sitting quietly without eating, suddenly spoke.
When I asked again, he stayed silent for a moment, then shook his head as if it was nothing.
I looked at him curiously as he took a spoonful of tomato soup.
He seemed… strangely down.
Did something happen?
“Hehe. Adriel, are you trying to grow feelings? Trying to grow them?”
“Wit?”
Wit stomped his feet on the table as if displeased.
Adriel didn’t even look at him and spoke coldly.
“My lady. Before I lose the will to sign the contract, please remove that demon from my sight.”
What? What is he saying?!
“Wit, go to your room right now.”
“Master!”
“Now.”
“Master, that’s too much! You’re only harsh to Wit!”
Wit shouted resentfully but eventually drooped his shoulders and flew into the room.
The door slammed shut, and after a short silence, a voice came from inside.
“It was the wind, Master!”
“Is that enough now?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Though his tone was blunt, Adriel seemed somewhat satisfied.
Was I wrong about him looking down earlier?
Tilting my head, I picked up my fork again.
“A child from the Berto family came today.”
“Huh? Ah… you must have heard everything inside.”
“Do you believe that kind of help truly benefits the child?”
That kind of help? Does he mean Wit’s help?
I didn’t understand at first, so I answered after a pause.
“Well… the customer said she wants her parents’ love. I’m just helping in my own way. What’s the problem?”
Adriel said nothing.
His expression revealed nothing.
Is it just that he dislikes using a demon’s help?
That would suit him.
I brushed it off and tried to resume eating.
“Love obtained by force is not true love.”
“Ah, I see— wait, what?”
I looked up in surprise.
Did that man just talk about true love?
He looked like someone who wouldn’t even have emotions, yet hearing that from him felt strange.
I calmed myself and replied.
“Force? It’s not that. It’s effort. Effort to be loved.”
“True love is when you can see someone as they are.”
Adriel slowly raised his head.
“Even without any conditions.”
His eyes were firm, filled with conviction.
I stared at him for a moment, then let out a small laugh.
Seriously…
“You’re very serious. Have you experienced that kind of love?”
“No.”
“Really? You spoke like you understood it well.”
“…It’s just something my father used to say often.”
“Cough—!”
Ah… I stepped on a landmine.
I knew from the novel what happened to his family.
I awkwardly pressed my lips together.
“I-I see… well, love should be genuine. I hope you meet someone good after you leave here and experience that kind of true love.”
I buried my face in my plate and pretended to eat.
“…?”
Why is it so quiet?
Feeling the strange tension, I glanced up.
Adriel’s expression had stiffened, as if he was upset.
Did I say something wrong?
Did it sound sarcastic?
Maybe bringing up his family made it worse.
I hesitated, then pointed at his plate to lighten the mood.
“S-so, how is it? I’m good at cooking, right?”
“…It’s edible.”
Despite his cold words, his plate was nearly empty.
There he goes again.
After all my effort, that reaction made me annoyed.
“Our knight really has such pretty words.”
When I said that bluntly, Adriel finally looked at me.
Maybe he remembered he said he wanted to get along.
He looked like he realized he made a mistake.
“I meant… it tastes good.”
“Oh, really.”
“…Are you upset?”
I replied with a flat gaze.
“What would you do if I am?”
Adriel looked troubled, his eyes darting around.
After thinking seriously, he finally spoke.
“Would doing that again make you feel better?”
“Huh?”
He avoided my gaze and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Like before… forcing my mouth open…”
My brain froze trying to understand.
“W-what did you say?”
He meant the time I force-fed him food?
And he thinks that would cheer me up?
“Ha… seriously, what do you take me for—!”
Huh?
H-hey. Why is your face turning red again?
This is getting weird!
