TGHB 41

Chapter – 41

“Practice your Authority?”

“Yes. I practice Authority and become suuuper strong.”

I’d thought it over, and this really did seem like the fastest way to earn the former duke’s approval.

‘Polish my Authority and prove I’m useful.’

It was a trivial Authority, sure, but it had to be better than having none at all.

“How do you practice Authority?”

“Well. I was born a genius, you see.”

Tsk.

“Th-then still….”

“Hmm. I guess the important thing is to use it a lot.”

The next moment—

Crack.

The fountain pen in his hand snapped cleanly in two.

‘Gasp.’

Ink dripped down his pale hand, splattering messily onto the floor.

Yet the person who’d broken the pen looked completely unconcerned.

“There. Would that count as practice?”

“…This…?”

“It’s just a broken thing.”

Seeing how flustered I was, he replied calmly.

“Abadi.”

“Yeah, marshmallow.”

“I don’t wanna get stronger.”

“Hm?”

“Even if I don’t get strong, I think that’ll be fine.”

“Do as you wish. This father will always support you.”

No.

You just crushed my motivation without mercy.

I let out an awkward chuckle and opened my book.

Whatever. I’ll just read.

But I couldn’t focus on the pages.

Before long, the conversation between Hudson and the duke drifted into my ears.

“The meeting is coming up soon.”

“Right. Do they really have nothing better to do? I don’t understand why they insist on gathering periodically for such pointless reasons.”

“Pointless, you say? Is that really something you should be saying, Your Grace?”

“Isn’t the real problem that they all act like idiots? They’re too busy lining their own pockets, bringing in plans that make no sense.”

Wow. Brutal.

“Still, this time you should take some interest. This meeting, in particular—”

What?

Why did he stop mid-sentence?

Listening in quietly, I lifted my head and glanced at Hudson.

And—

‘Whoa, that startled me.’

Our eyes met head-on.

But what was with that look?

…Why is he staring at me like that?

‘Like he’s looking at someone pitiful and full of regret….’

I was still mulling over the meaning of Hudson’s gaze when—

Pat.

A large hand came down on the top of my head.

“It seems the true star of this meeting will be our Marshmallow.”

“Huh?”

What does that mean?

‘Wait. Come to think of it.’

At a gathering of the duke’s retainers, there was no way my name wouldn’t come up.

Especially when, not long ago, one of those retainers had been thoroughly ruined—

Because of me.

‘Oh.’

Suddenly, I kind of wanted to pass out.

Chapter – 07

As though she had fainted and only just regained consciousness, time slipped away mercilessly.

“Young Miss, how can you possibly be this adorable? Is that even allowed?”

“Seriously. You look just like an angel! No—more like a fairy! A fairy!”

“Ahh… This is what makes being a maid worthwhile….”

The three maids spoke one after another.

Unlike me, whose face had turned pale with anxiety, every one of them was blushing bright red.

“…I’m cute?”

“Of course!”

“Without a doubt.”

“You’re unbelievably adorable, Young Miss.”

The answers came instantly.

‘Right. So I’m cute.’

I stole a glance at myself in the full-length mirror.

I slowly spun to the right.

Then to the left.

‘Hmm. I really am pretty cute.’

Even I had to admit it today.

My hair was braided into twin plaits.

A large ribbon decorated the top.

A bright yellow dress.

And a pair of little wings attached to my back.

‘Wait… are these butterfly wings? Or chick wings?’

Well, whatever they were, they were undeniably cute.

‘Nothing beats being adorable when it comes to making a good first impression.’

There was a very good reason I was obsessing over looking cute.

Today was the long-awaited Retainers’ Council.

“Are you very nervous, Young Miss?” Aina asked worriedly.

I rolled my eyes.

“…A liiittle?”

No.

Actually, I was terrified.

My hands and feet were so cold they felt like ice.

‘The retainers won’t be nearly as easygoing as the servants.’

Unlike the servants, they didn’t merely work for House Panteive.

They were people who held influence within it.

Naturally, many of them wouldn’t welcome the duke’s suddenly appearing illegitimate daughter.

‘What if everyone says I should be kicked out?’

Of course…

I didn’t think the duke would actually throw me out.

Especially since I had that contract now.

Still…

You never know.

“It’ll be fine, Young Miss. Nothing bad will happen.”

“…What if they don’t let me live here anymore?”

“Oh, that would never happen!”

“But… I don’t have dark powers….”

“So what? You have your own divine authority, don’t you?”

“But it’s not Panteive’s authority….”

“It doesn’t matter, Young Miss! Just trust the Duke and stand tall as the young lady of the house. All right? And if you’re still worried…”

Aina suddenly grabbed both of my hands with an expression full of determination.

“Just tell on them to the Duke! Say, ‘That person looked at me disrespectfully!’ Got it?!”

“…Mm-hmm.”

Somehow…

I had a feeling they’d hate me even more if I did that.

And yet…

Oddly enough, it made me feel better.

‘Phewww….’

With anxious eyes, I looked at myself in the mirror again.

No matter how many times I checked…

I was still adorable.

‘Maybe if I’m this cute, even the retainers who dislike me will soften up a little.’

People were naturally weak against small, cute things.

Besides…

‘Just in case, I prepared my secret weapon…!’

After wiping the sweat from my palms, I reached toward Aina.

“Aina… my teddy bear bag.”

“Ah! Right away!”

She hurried off and returned with the little teddy bear backpack.

“But it’s really stuffed full.”

“You’re right. Did you pack something inside?”

“Mhm. I packed presents.”

“…P-presents?”

I nodded vigorously.

Then I slung the teddy bear bag over my shoulder.

Phew.

Now I felt much more secure.

I happily patted the teddy bear’s face.

Just then—

Creeeak.

Someone shoved the door open.

Without so much as knocking.

Standing there with his usual slouched posture.

“So today you’re a marshmallow chick.”

The same teasing smile as always.

“…Abadi!”

But for some reason…

I had never been happier to see him.

“You’ve already heard the news, haven’t you?”

“About that child? Of course I have.”

“Hah… Honestly, can you believe this? An illegitimate daughter suddenly appears out of nowhere.”

“And I heard Count Speldia was dismissed because of that child.”

“Well… that man—I mean, that count—had his share of problems to begin with.”

“That’s true, but this isn’t something we can simply overlook. To dismiss one of your retainers over a child who might not even be his real daughter…”

“If this goes badly, the reputation of House Panteive will take a serious hit.”

Inside the ducal family’s council chamber…

Those seated around the long conference table busily whispered among themselves.

Only because the master of the meeting had not yet arrived.

The murmuring finally stopped when the former Duke, Carlos, entered.

“Lord Carlos.”

“Our respects, former Duke.”

“It’s been a long time. I’m glad to see you’re still in such good health.”

The retainers quickly gathered around him to greet him.

“Indeed. It’s good to see you all again.”

“Haha. Looks like we’ll be attending another council together.”

The speaker was Count Bontino.

He was the elderly head of House Bontino, one of House Panteive’s oldest and most loyal vassal families, as well as Carlos’s longtime friend.

“You’ve certainly had a difficult time of it, Lord Carlos.”

“Ahem.”

Carlos answered only with an awkward cough.

‘Honestly… what kind of suffering is this?’

Truthfully…

Since stepping down as duke, there had been no reason for him to attend these council meetings anymore.

Yet…

Even three years after relinquishing the title…

He still attended every meeting.

To outsiders, it might have looked as though Carlos intended to rule from the shadows.

But the reality was far less dignified.

‘Tch. When will I finally be free from these damned meetings?’

He hated this position.

He was lazy.

Half the time he barely listened.

Everything felt like a nuisance.

And with his foul temper and nonexistent social skills…

The only reason he continued sitting through these meetings…

…was to clean up after his hopeless son, whose personality was even worse than his own.

“Speaking of which,” Count Bontino said with a smile, “I hear you’ve gained an adorable little granddaughter.”

At those words…

Carlos slowly narrowed his eyes.