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~Chapter 26~
“Aisha. Let’s meet at dinner time. Don’t forget 6:30!”
Lucas, who had received my permission, left the chaotic physician’s office smiling brightly.
Then there was a brief silence.
“Looks like you’ve already become family with Lucas.”
The uncle broke the uncomfortable silence with a grin.
‘That old man is sulking!’
I could tell.
Even though he was pretending not to, the duke’s eyebrows were raised about 10 degrees higher than usual.
‘Emergency. Emergency!’
While trying to assess the situation with a malfunctioning expression and staring blankly into the air, I soon had a good idea and clapped my fist into my palm.
“T-This is the harm of forced education!”
“What?”
“I kept hearing ‘big brother’ from Lucas all day, so it just came out unconsciously!”
“I see.”
Then the man—Calips—took a chocolate from his pocket, slowly unwrapped it, and placed it in my mouth.
“…Then I wonder if the word ‘dad’ would also be possible.”
“Huh?”
Unfortunately, I missed his words because I was distracted by the sweetness of the long-unseen chocolate.
“Nothing.”
Calips smiled faintly and shook his head as if it was nothing, then wiped the corner of my mouth with a handkerchief.
‘…Wow. That’s strange.’
His expression was clearly indifferent, but I could feel affection in his gaze.
Munch, munch—
The chocolate somehow tasted sweeter. Feeling good, I unconsciously wiggled my toes.
“Aisha.”
“Yeah?”
The uncle who had been quietly watching me continued carefully.
“You still haven’t told me something besides the matter of how to address each other.”
“Huh?”
“About Lucas being kidnapped by the circus troupe. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Thud.
My dancing toes stopped.
It was a simple question without detailed explanation, but his single sentence came crashing over me like waves—the pressure and loneliness I felt before going to the circus.
Did he notice that my body had stiffened?
“I’m not scolding you.”
A low, firm voice sounded. Then he bent his upper body and started unwrapping another chocolate.
“I’m worried. So can you answer me?”
The uncle once again brought chocolate to my lips.
I had no choice but to open my mouth, but I couldn’t think of what to say.
‘Afraid of losing trust?’
When he looked at me with those eyes dripping with affection?
I felt like such words would hurt him.
‘Then, afraid that if I fail once, I won’t be trusted twice?’
To say that, I would have to bring up the contract story again, and I didn’t really want to make him recall the story about the lost noble daughter.
Hmm.
As my 고민 (worries) dragged on, a short sigh came from the opposite side.
“Little kid. You’re thinking too much again.”
Startle.
Just as I was getting even more lost in thought, I finally opened my mouth.
“I think I can explain that.”
“?”
“……?”
A familiar voice echoed from somewhere.
Both Calips and I looked around in surprise.
Poing—!
A man jumped upward from a flowerpot placed in the corner of the hospital room.
No, to be exact—
“I apologize, Princess.”
The man wearing a plant-shaped headband rose from the soil.
“May I have time to offer my sincere apology?”
It was Knox, the Crost Duke’s aide.
* * *
At the same time — Maid Head’s quarters.
“I’m getting old; my eyes are getting blurry trying to knit.”
Massaging her tired eyebags with her fingers, Mai unfolded the finished scarf.
Compared to items in city salons, it was plain, but the careful knitting and the small wolf embroidery in the center gave it a fairly luxurious feel.
She was packing the scarf into a blue box matching its color when—
Knock, knock.
“Head maid. Lord Knox is calling for you.”
The servant nodded as if everything was ready.
‘Finally, the time has come.’
“Yes. I’ll go now.”
Mai left the corridor with a pounding heart.
The place she arrived at was the physician’s office, where the young princess Aisha was staying.
“…….”
Standing in front of the closed door, Mai took a slow breath and knocked.
Knock, knock—
“This is Mai. I will enter.”
The physician’s office was filled with people welcoming the young princess who had come back to life.
* * *
And so, now.
Knox and Mai were kneeling respectfully in front of me, sitting on the bed.
‘This is so uncomfortable! What is this situation!’
My eyes spun around, unsure where to look.
At first, I flailed and tried to stop the two adults.
“Why are you kneeling! Please get up, especially Head Maid Mai—your joints aren’t good at this age!”
But sensing something was strange, the uncle grabbed my flailing hands.
“Let them be. They have something to say to you, Princess.”
“A lower-ranked person. Lower-ranked people, huh!”
Strictly speaking, it was correct, but Calips had never treated Mai and Knox that way before.
So I kept my gaze raised, trying not to look directly down at the two kneeling adults.
“So.”
“…….”
“What are you going to explain?”
Calips spoke first.
The slightly sharp low voice made Mai’s shoulders twitch, while Knox slowly lifted his gaze.
Those teal eyes were not looking at Calips but at me.
“During the time we couldn’t find the princess, I harbored the suspicion that Lady Aisha had intentionally approached the duke’s castle.”
I already knew that. Knox had especially shown open dislike toward me.
“But through the incident with the young master this time, I realized how complacent I had been.”
“…….”
“If I had trusted and believed in the princess, you would have told me about Young Master Lucas even if it was only to me. At that time, Your Grace was away on the monster extermination mission.”
After pausing for a moment, Knox asked cautiously:
“Princess. The strange report you wrote in the bedroom back then… did you write it on purpose to make me go to the circus?”
At that question, the duke’s gaze also shifted to me. Calips had also been curious about this.
I felt nervous for no reason.
I fiddled with my round fingers and nodded.
“…Yes.”
Then—
“As expected.”
“Haa.”
“…….”
Knox nodded.
Calips frowned slightly as if irritated.
Mai lowered her head like a criminal.
“I made a wrong judgment, and the princess was seriously injured because of it. I will accept any punishment you decide.”
It was a calm apology, but sincere.
“By the way, Princess?”
“Yes?”
“If you found Young Master Lucas, do you also know where the first young master is?”
Knox now seemed to believe my words. Asking such a question showed that.
Everyone’s attention turned to me.
“Hmm… that is…”
My fingers fidgeted.
“The first young master cannot be found.”
“Why is that?”
“…I don’t really know either. Hehe.”
I brushed it off awkwardly, but I actually know where the first young master is.
But—
“Princess.”
That was when Mai spoke.
She had been looking nervous and checking the mood.
“I will also accept punishment.”
“Mai, why are you…”
Calips looked puzzled, but Mai continued stubbornly.
“You asked me before, Princess. Whether His Grace would distrust you.”
“What? Who distrusts wh—”
“Uncle.”
Calips’ eyes widened.
But I interrupted him and tugged at his sleeve.
“I remember what I said to the princess then.”
“…….”
“‘Although they adopted the young lady out of pity, they probably won’t trust her. Because the young lady was the one who lied first.’”
“What? Mai, what on earth did you say to such a tiny child…”
“Uncle.”
I tugged his clothes again.
“…Ha, seriously.”
Calips glanced back and forth between me and Mai, then let out a hollow laugh and slowly rubbed his face with his palm.
The hands of Mai, folded on her knees, gradually turned pale.
“It was said in anger, but I have regretted it ever since. Especially when I heard that the princess died trying to save Young Master Lucas…”
Mai paused for a moment and swallowed.
“My heart sank.”
The atmosphere in the physician’s office grew heavy due to Mai’s confession.
The two people were still kneeling, waiting for my answer.
More precisely, waiting for the punishment I would declare.
Then—
“Let’s take the child outside for a moment.”
Trying to hide his confused expression, the uncle quietly lifted me up.
Huh? They are kneeling here. And he wants to leave?
“Why?”
“Let’s go out for a bit and talk.”
When I whispered into the uncle’s ear with widened eyes, a firm answer came back.
