YOWV~27

Chapter 27

Calips carried Aisha out of the physician’s office. Then he asked in a cold tone.

“Is what Knox and Mai said true?”

At his question, the pair of big blue eyes blinked for a moment. Aisha seemed to think about what to say for a while before nodding.

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you tell uncle?”

“Uncle wasn’t at the castle.”

The child answered clearly and steadily.

“No. You wouldn’t have told me even if I hadn’t gone on the monster extermination mission.”

“…Huh.”

But at the second pressure question, her mouth turned into a triangle shape as if she had lost her words.

Roll. Roll.

Those large eyes rolled around, and it almost sounded like her brain was rolling along too.

Finally, the words that came out of the child’s mouth were:

“Uncle, you’re smart.”

Thumbs up.

“…….”

‘Is she acting innocent, or is she just naturally innocent?’

Either way, it was enough to break Calips’s heart.

Actually, when Knox knelt and apologized, he had a lot he wanted to say, but he held it in.

Knox had openly been wary of Aisha regardless of whether Calips was present or not. And since Aisha had been a spy, that level of caution was somewhat understandable.

But the moment Mai confessed about something he didn’t know—

“…….”

He felt something inside him collapse like a house of cards.

‘They adopted the young lady out of pity, but they won’t trust her. Because the young lady was the one who lied first.’

Adopted you out of pity? Me?

And since they couldn’t find the young lady, they didn’t trust her?
…Me?

“You believed what Aunt Mai said?”

The rough, harsh voice escaped before he could stop it.

This time, the child’s small lips closed tightly, as if she was thinking about how to answer.

So that meant she had believed it.

“Ha, seriously.”

How should he even start explaining this?

Calips let out a low, hollow laugh because he felt lost.

Thinking back, on the day he was heading to the monster extermination mission—

He remembered the little kid who had always been lively, smiling awkwardly and forcing herself into his arms.

‘Was it from that time?’

“Kiddo. No, Aisha.”

Calips carefully set the child down on the ground.

The tiny child who barely reached his waist opened her eyes wide.

He lowered his voice so it would clearly reach the child’s ear.

“Aisha. I trust you.”

“Eh?”

No. If he said it like this, it wouldn’t convey his sincerity properly.

Searching for words while frowning, Calips continued thinking.

“Aisha. If you weren’t around, I—”

“Yeah?”

“…I would.”

How should he say this? That he was going to die?

That on the day he met her, he had intended to end his own life?

Was that something you could say to a child?

A flood of thoughts crashed down like rain.

Standing at the edge of a cliff while holding a five-year-old child, Calips felt enormous helplessness.

How could he speak so she would understand?

How could he speak so she wouldn’t get hurt?

Then—

“Uncle.”

At the playful call, Calips opened his eyes.

A tiny thumb, like a toy, gently pressed his cheek.

“I can hear the sound of your brain thinking all the way here.”

“……?”

Only then did Calips begin to see the small child smiling with the corners of her mouth slightly raised through the blurred vision.

“Do you understand my heart now?”

“…What?”

And then—

“When I think hard, it’s because I’m worried. Uncle is thinking because you’re worried about me too, right?”

This kid was always one step ahead of him.

In honesty, and perhaps even in maturity.

“…Yeah.”

After a moment of hesitation, Calips quietly agreed.

Aisha almost felt like she had grown 10 centimeters taller for a moment.

Such a strange feeling blossomed in his heart.

“Yes, I’m worried. And I cherish you a lot.”

“Hehe.”

Hearing the honest answer, the child laughed.

Her small, petal-like smile tickled his heart.

To return that smile, Calips emphasized again.

“I cherish you a lot.”

“Hehe.”

“So, come here, kiddo.”

“Wow!”

She stretched out her arms, and like a frog jumping as always, the child leaped into his arms.

Calips finally burst into laughter.

“Uncle. Then can I go see Knox and Aunt Mai now?”

“How are you going to punish them? What punishment are you planning?”

“There’s no punishment.”

Wriggle, wriggle. The mischievous face popped out from Calips’s embrace, wearing a solemn expression.

“Actually, I felt really—really good.”

“I actually felt really—really good.”

At my words, uncle looked surprised, but I was sincere.

Not a joke. Not empty words.

When Knox and Mai sincerely apologized, I actually felt overwhelmed with happiness.

“…What are you talking about?”

Uncle quickly returned to his usual sharp, crooked demeanor.

He sighed and opened the door. Knox and Mai were still kneeling and turned their heads back.

“…I will accept any punishment.”

Knox even took off his monocle, looking ready to be hit if necessary.

What kind of punishment are they talking about?

“Hehe.”

I smiled brightly and stood in front of Knox and Mai.

They were kneeling politely, but since I was standing, our eye levels were almost the same, and I realized again that I was small.

“Mr. Knox. Ms. Mai.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“…So now, am I acknowledged?”

At my question, their expressions became slightly confused.

Honestly, I had felt a little hurt by Knox and Mai.

So I had resolved to gain their recognition, and I thought that if such a day came, I would strike them back once and feel satisfied.

But instead of feeling triumphant…

I felt happy.

“Tell me I’m acknowledged!”

Being recognized as a member of the Crost Duke’s family. It felt like the first step away from being a spy.

At the same time, I was grateful to them for accepting me.

“…Hehe. Hurry up and say it!”

As my body wriggled unconsciously, the quietly standing duke straightened me.

Knox responded seriously despite my reaction.

“Since Your Highness is the duke’s adopted daughter, it is only natural that you are acknowledged. In fact, since His Grace decided to adopt you, I should not have doubted Your Highness so carelessly…”

“I’m actually glad you doubted me.”

“…Pardon?”

Knox’s eyes slowly widened. The same went for Calips and me.

“Your duke’s judgment in choosing people must be really good. Keeping Mr. Knox as a close aide, and Ms. Mai as well.”

Though I added an explanation, Knox still looked puzzled.

Hmm.

I tapped my round chin and continued.

“You were acting like that because you were worried, right? It’s not easy to rebel against one’s master.”

“…….”

“I’m only five years old, but I’ve seen many people who abandon their own people to keep their positions in life.”

In Posa, during spy training too.

And even in my faint past life memories.

I always had to compete and reach the top.

I understood.

In such environments, how many people would sacrifice themselves for others?

“…But Mr. Knox and Ms. Mai didn’t do that.”

Because such people are rare.

“So I especially liked being acknowledged by the two of you.”

Hehe.

“So does that mean you’ll be nicer to me now?”

Ah, well. I was just in a good mood.

When I made that expression, even my spy instructors used to smile foolishly.

“Hehe. Heh.”

I tried to change the atmosphere by winking repeatedly with sparkling eyes, like glitter might fall out.

But—

“…….”

Knox and Mai still stared at me stiffly, like statues.

Ah, tsk. Such boring people.

“Then I’ll… go now…”

Feeling embarrassed, I walked awkwardly past the two—

“…Lu, Lucas–oppa and I are going to eat cake!”

And ran out of the corridor.

At the same time, when Aisha who had been wriggling her body ran away—

“Smile.”

“…Pardon?”

“Smile. That brat even gave you a wink that she never gave me.”

“…….”

Knox and Mai, who were already unable to easily speak, felt as if they had been struck on the back of their heads.

After a brief silence—

“Your Grace.”

“What, you idiot.”

“What does the young lady like?”

Knox, having made up his mind, demanded with intense eyes.

“What?”

Calips asked back, confused.

“Oh, scarf. Scarf! Young lady’s scarf!”

Mai suddenly screamed as if she remembered something.

Then she cried out, “Ahh!” and stood up, bending her knees, and ran somewhere.