TNBCT 20

Chaoter 20

Marquis Pinch’s Estate.

While it could be considered an exceedingly small family compared to the Grand Duchy of Akion, the Marquisate of Pinch was counted among the wealthiest of the capital’s nobility, as it monopolized over half of the western continent’s mines.

Famously known for throwing parties at the drop of a hat—prompting others to say they had no history but plenty of money—the star of this particular party was, without a doubt, Daphne, the youngest daughter of the Grand Duke of Akion.

“Do you really think that troublemaker actually defeated a band of thieves?”
The story of Daphne defeating the thieves and protecting the merchant caravan was already the talk of the entire capital.

Following the Crown Prince’s infidelity scandal, the nobles, hungry for fresh gossip, had all been cautiously eyeing each other, hoping for a chance to see Daphne in person. The winner of this subtle standoff was the Marquise of Pinch.

Normally, inviting a young child was primarily for fostering friendships with one’s own children. However, over half of the capital’s noble children had a history of being beaten up by Daphne. Thus, the Marquise of Pinch gained the upper hand. Her child had not been on the receiving end!

“Now, Brysa. You haven’t forgotten what your mother told you, have you? What are you to do when Daphne Akion arrives?”
Holding her daughter Brysa’s hands, who had just turned eight, the Marquise asked. Brysa, twisting her pink hair, replied.

“When Daphne Akion arrives, I greet her from a distance, and then when she seems to be in a good mood, I give her dessert!”
“And if she never seems to be in a good mood?”
“Then I stay as far away as possible! I don’t talk to her! Rather than risk getting beaten up by talking to her unnecessarily, it’s better not to get close at all!”
“My daughter is so clever. Yes. That’s exactly what you do.”
The instructions were delivered with the gravity of teaching someone how to handle a caged beast… but there was no helping it. Daphne Akion was a child with a foul temper that you couldn’t take your eyes off for a single second.

‘The Grand Duke must have it tough.’
She had heard that even the main estate couldn’t handle Daphne and had stashed her away in a separate residence. Considering Daphne’s devilish disposition, it seemed a justifiable course of action.

Anyway, unlike Daphne, after earnestly instructing her angelic daughter, the Marquise melted into the crowd of partygoers.

“About what time did Young Lady Daphne say she would arrive?” someone asked the Marquise.
“Well, it seems she’s running a bit late due to the distance. But she sent a reply saying she would attend, so she should be coming.”
“Actually, I had a prior engagement today, but I canceled it after making my apologies. How could I pass up the chance to see the famous Daphne Akion!”
“Hehe, me too. I’ve been waiting for this day!”

As the ladies chatted happily, a few men inserted themselves into the conversation.
“However, surely not all the ladies gathered here believe that rumor, right?”
“There’s no way a mere five-year-old child could have defeated a group that even the Onhol Mercenary Band struggled with. The guild master must have exaggerated somewhat.”

The ladies’ smiles stiffened slightly.
With gossip like this, the truth wasn’t the important part. What mattered more was how much interesting conversation they could generate from the person at the center of attention!

So why did men always have to come and spoil the fun? The ladies fluttered their fans and exchanged knowing glances.

“Well, that’s true. I also heard Daphne Akion is quite sickly.”
“Right. They say it’s an incurable disease?”
“And that’s why her unruly behavior is tolerated. They say, ‘She’s a sick child, so let her do what she wants.’”
It was publicly known that Daphne had an incurable disease, not the ‘Black Butterfly’ illness. So people spoke of it lightly.

“Which makes it all the more unbelievable. A child who’s supposedly at death’s door suddenly swings a wooden sword and beats up a band of thieves? Does that sound plausible to you?”
“It makes me wonder if the Grand Duke’s household, which hasn’t been receiving summons from His Majesty the Emperor lately, is trying to make some kind of move.”

The men spoke in a conjectural tone, but they were actually quite certain.
They believed that the Grand Duke, who had not received direct orders from the Emperor since the dragon subjugation, was using his daughter to generate favorable publicity.

Even the ladies who had initially scowled at the men’s words felt slightly swayed. If their speculation was correct, then they had all been played by manufactured gossip.

“But there’s no way to prove it, is there? No means to verify whether it’s true or not.”
“Of course, that’s true, but we can certainly verify her capabilities, can’t we?”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”

Just then, a servant guarding the door came running over to the Marquise.
“Oh my!”

The Marquise informed those around her that Daphne had arrived, and the chattering crowd fell silent, each person staring intently at the door about to open. All to see the rumored Daphne!

Creeeak—

The door slowly opened.

Through the open doorway walked a young child at a leisurely pace. Shimmering golden hair and snow-white skin, eyes so large they seemed to take up half her face, and pupils that sparkled like emerald jewels! One could truly say she was the cutest on the continent.

But just as their earlier conversation suggested, Daphne looked genuinely very ill.
No matter how cute the dress she wore or how pretty her hair accessories were, the sickly pallor on her face couldn’t be hidden. Her unnaturally sunken eyes and hollowed cheeks, her skinny limbs… It was a sight that evoked sighs from onlookers.

And so, everyone thought to themselves.
‘The guild master’s words were bragging, after all.’

But did that really matter? Anyway, Daphne, the center of the capital’s gossip, was right before their eyes!
Whether the rumors were true or false, if they could exchange just a single word with Daphne, they’d have something to boast about for days.

The people’s eyes burned with anticipation.

‘Why is everyone staring?’

Daphne furrowed her brow.
She was already in a bad mood because the long carriage ride had drained her stamina, leaving her feeling brittle.
Having dozens of human eyes fixed on her at once was not pleasant.

“It’s Daphne Akion.”
But she couldn’t just skip the greetings. Giving a slight nod of her head in greeting, Daphne looked around. She was searching for a place to sit down.

Fortunately, there was a table and chairs near the central staircase of the hall. Without a second thought, Daphne went over and sat down. She was, of course, unaware that this spot was the reserved seating for the host family, the Marquis Pinch.

“……”
No one spoke to Daphne, who sat there as naturally as if it were her own seat from the start.
First, because Daphne’s temper was infamous.
Second, because the rumors, while widely known, were still sensitive to ask about directly.
And third, the final reason was…

‘She looks sick!’

She looked so fragile, as if she would collapse with a mere ‘boop’.
Just managing to sit there like that seemed impressive enough.

‘Is she even in a condition to hold a proper conversation?’
‘Should someone that ill even be out and about?’

The nobles each tried to gauge the situation and read the atmosphere. Whoever stepped forward first would be the brave one. But I’m not going to do it.
The subdued atmosphere in the hall even caused the musicians’ playing to waver slightly, a note slipping out of place.

“Hmm.”
Completely oblivious to this peculiar atmosphere, Daphne rested her chin on her hand and looked around.
Truthfully, she hadn’t wanted to come to something like a ball. But she had accepted thinking she might glean some information by meeting children her own age. It was absolutely not because of Anne and Anna’s begging and pleading.

She planned to ask the children about what the original Daphne had been like and what would be good to do going forward.

But…

‘Why is no one coming over?’

Daphne narrowed her eyes at the children standing in the distance. They were huddled together, most with their eyes cast down and shoulders hunched.

‘Looks like they were dragged here against their will too.’
Unaware that she was the cause of their state, Daphne clicked her tongue tsk tsk and stood up. She judged that, sharing the common ground of discomfort, it might be a good idea to try starting a conversation.

“You there.”
Daphne approached the huddled children. She put on her most harmless smile and spoke to them.
“What are you all doing just standing there?”

“Gulp!”
“Eek!”

However, there was something Daphne failed to realize: having almost never smiled in her normal life, her smiling expression was quite awkward.
Awkward to the point of being bizarre, even.

Combined with her past history of beating up other children, it couldn’t help but come across as frightening.

The children inhaled sharply and shrank back.

“Hmm?”
Daphne frowned.
“Why aren’t you answering?”

Wondering if these children were also in pain somewhere, Daphne’s mouth tightened slightly.
To think there were parents who would drag their sick children to a ball by force…! These damned humans haven’t changed a bit! Daphne gritted her teeth.

“W-wait a moment! Lady Daphne! P-please don’t be angry!”
Just then, a child at the very front of the group threw up her hands and cried out.

The girl with pink hair tied in twin-tails with ribbons looked slightly frightened, but she wasn’t backing down.
Why? Because she was Brysa Pinch, the daughter of the Marquis hosting this ball!

As the host, she had to resolve any problems that arose. Even if her mother had advised her to run away if she saw an unhappy Daphne Akion!

“We’re all just nervous! It’s only natural to be nervous and awkward when meeting you, Lady Daphne! That’s why we couldn’t answer right away! Please forgive us!”

So Brysa, grabbing the sleeves of a few other children, bowed deeply. The quicker-witted children followed Brysa’s lead and bowed likewise.

“P-please forgive us!”
“Please let it slide this time!”
“……”

Daphne was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained her composure.
“So, you’re telling me you’re all prostrating yourselves in fear because I am such a great being?”

It seemed like nonsense, but Brysa and the children were quick on the uptake.
“…Yes!”
“It’s because you are so great, Lady Daphne!”
“Oho.”

Only then did Daphne curl up the corners of her mouth in a smirk.
“How mannerly, for ones so young. I am pleased.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Good. Then, stop being afraid and come talk with me…”
“U-um, Lady Daphne! Please stay seated, we will bring you a drink!”
“Y-yes! You must be tired, please sit down! We’ll bring you some cookies!”

As soon as Daphne tried to move closer to the group, several children shot their hands up and shouted. It was a plea for her not to come over and just stay seated, but Daphne, of course, didn’t pick up on that.

“The humans these days are quite promising. I am very pleased.”
It seemed Anne and Anna had worried for nothing. Weren’t these children being exceptionally kind from the get-go? It seemed like the perfect time to have some refreshments and get to know each other.

“I must boast when I return. I shall say everyone recognized my greatness.”
Hmm. And I should also tell them I’ve acquired some subordinates. Daphne chuckled to herself.

From Daphne’s perspective, completely oblivious to the surrounding atmosphere, the ball was quite peaceful.
So, having relaxed somewhat, Daphne failed to notice the murderous gaze fixed upon her.

“Daphne Akion!”

The owner of that murderous gaze was Mark Brown, the second son of the Brown Duchy, who still hadn’t outgrown his boyish looks. He pushed through the crowd and shouted loudly.
“It’s been a long time! Not a single day has passed since you broke my nasal bone that I have forgotten you! All for the sake of my revenge! Come at me! This time, I’ll deal with you properly!”

His words were awkward and uneven, as if reading from a prepared script, but Daphne paid no attention to that.
Instead, she stood up and slowly walked towards Mark.

Daphne, merely 5 years old, and Mark, 9 years old. The difference in their physique was significant. Daphne naturally had to look up at Mark.

“……”
Gulp.

Everyone’s eyes gathered, and tension filled everyone’s chest.
But no one thought Daphne would actually do anything. The primary reason was that Daphne looked far too ill. She looked like she’d collapse with a ‘boop’ and be at death’s door.

Should someone intervene? Just as the hostess, the Marquise Pinch, leaned forward slightly, right at that moment—

THWACK!

“GYAAAAAAAH!”

Mark’s body, with a head twice the size of Daphne’s, went flying.
He literally floated through the air before being thrown backwards.

I-is this even possible?
People’s mouths hung open as their eyes darted around.

“You.”
Daphne gritted her teeth, putting force into each word. Then, she tilted her gaze slightly to the side. At the end of that gaze was Brysa, who had been pushed over by Mark.
“You dare push my subordinate.”

Daphne’s small fist clenched tightly.
“Bite down on your molars.”