Chapter 13

“What did we just witness?”

Until now, the people had resented Aisha.

The child had nearly placed their master in danger with a blatant lie.

So when that lie was exposed, everyone expected her to be thrown out.

No—

they had prayed for it.

Protecting the Kreutz family was not solely Duke Calypse Kreutz’s duty. This estate was guarded by everyone who served within it.

And yet, instead of casting her out, he had registered her into the direct line?

No—he was even trying to tempt a child who clearly refused him with steak?

“...His Grace... with a child...”

The chef, having witnessed the shocking truth, muttered under his breath.

“He must like her very much.”

“More than we expected.”

“It almost looks like the child is the one who can’t stand him...”

Amid the dazed murmurs, the butler spoke with a troubled expression.

“That makes it even more suspicious. How in the world did she win him over like that?”

“Yes... but...”

The head maid trailed off.

It had simply been too long.

Too long since the Duke had removed his mask.

Too long since he had smiled with that kind of playful expression.

In the end, the head maid forced herself to a bitter conclusion.

“...He ordered that she be treated on the level of the young lady of the main line. There is nothing we can do.”

At her words, everyone nodded.

The observation of the Duke and his sudden adopted child came to an anticlimactic end.

And just after the others had left—

“...Still suspicious.”

A man who had been secretly watching everything from behind muttered.

“I’ll have to keep observing.”

Flash—

He adjusted his gleaming monocle and disappeared like a shadow.

***

I think I’ve been scammed.

The gardener... was Duke Calypse Kreutz.

...Which meant I had been adopted by Duke Calypse Kreutz.

“I tried to break the original story, and somehow I ended up closer to it—!”

Flap, flap—

After flailing on the bed for quite a while, I let out a long sigh and sprawled out flat.

That part couldn’t be helped anymore. What bothered me now was something else.

Something felt off.

“It makes sense that the situation around me changes depending on what I do. That already happened with Dorothy.”

But the young lady of the main line, who was supposed to be far away, suddenly disappearing?

“Hm.”

Impossible. Completely impossible!

I narrowed my eyes and pressed my tiny fingers against my temples.

I tried to recall the original story’s settings about the young lady, wondering if I had remembered something wrong—but compared to the other characters, her description had always been unusually sparse.

“The Duchess too.”

Aside from the fact that she disappeared together with the young lady, there was no information at all.

“...Hm. Something smells off. Really off.”

Former spy, age five.

A pathetic résumé, but my instincts are tingling.

There’s something about the Duchess and the young lady of the main line.

There was only one way to find out.

Test the Pose family.

I opened the small wardrobe in the bedroom and took out my sleepwear.

Even though I had abandoned the spy mission, the Pose family wouldn’t have realized my betrayal yet.

Because Dorothy—the only contact—had been captured.

My original mission had been to impersonate the young lady of the main line.

So even if I asked about her location, it wouldn’t seem strange.

[Adoption into the Kreutz family complete. What is Dorothy’s progress? Where is the true young lady of the main line?]

After writing the message, I sprinkled it with a potion infused with the power of poison, and before long, the crooked letters disappeared.

Just then—

Knock knock—

At the sudden sound, I dove under the blanket and instantly pretended to be asleep in perfect form.

Soon, the door opened, and the head maid’s businesslike voice followed.

“Wake up, Lady Aisha. It is already morning.”

“Mmm... okay...”

Rub, rub.

Childlike eye-rubbing, complete.

Childlike yawn, complete.

“......”

I had performed a rather thorough morning act—but the head maid showed no interest in me and simply prepared the meal she had brought on the trolley.

“For breakfast, we have prepared a light yuzu salad and mushroom soup.”

“Thank you! But this is a lot... would you maybe like to eat some together—”

“Yes, very well.”

I picked up a piece of chicken from the salad with my fork and held it out toward her—

Click—

The head maid had already closed the door and disappeared.

“......”

The chicken hovered awkwardly in midair.

“I guess I’ll eat it.”

Munch, munch—

It was a little embarrassing, but not surprising. I had expected this.

If I were them, I’d think I looked suspicious too.

I got adopted by lying about knowing the location of the young lady of the main line. Of course I look like a complete scammer.

I understand, everyone. Even I think I look like a fraud.

Honestly, the strange one here was Calypse for taking me in at all.

But compared to the training I went through as a spy, this level of cold treatment was nothing.

I scraped the plate clean and left it spotless.

“A child who eats well gets loved!”

Then I pulled the cord to summon the maids—

“I finished everything without leaving a bite!”

My cheeks puffed out, I smiled brightly as I said it.

But the maids simply collected the dishes and trolley and left the bedroom.

Hmm. I guess they’re shy.

It’s fine. This is my fault!

Thinking that, I was about to climb onto the bed when—

“Who’s there?!”

Sensing a presence behind me, I sprang off the bed and took a fighting stance.

The squirrel fist technique.

A barehanded stance that made use of my smaller-than-average body.

But—

“...Did I imagine it?”

Through the open window, only sunlight streamed in peacefully. No one was there.

“I could’ve sworn I heard something by the window.”

I ran over and checked outside before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Well, who would climb up to a second-floor window anyway?

Thankfully, there was no one outside.

Or so I thought.

“...?”

When I leaned my head out—

A shadow quickly turned the corner of the building and vanished.

It had only been a few seconds, but I was certain.

An adult with tied hair.

Then it was most likely a maid.

“...I understand being suspicious of me, but watching me like that is not acceptable.”

I’m being watched? Me? A former spy? ℯℯ𝑙.

My pride stung, and a sense of unfairness welled up.

I need to clear up this misunderstanding quickly...

Whoever it was, for now—twenty-four-hour alert mode.

***

But contrary to that resolve, my days passed peacefully.

No—beyond peaceful.

Amazingly, no one paid me any attention at all.

“Lady Aisha, I will dress you.”

“Thank you! By the way, what color do you like?”

“...I don’t know.”

“I like blue. Maybe because it’s similar to my eye color?”

“......”

“What do you think? Does it suit me?”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“A lot.”

“How much is a lot?”

“......”

Silence fell.

Then, my ultimate technique—wide eyes.

Sparkle—

Come on, look at me. Don’t you want to fall for it?

No one had ever ignored these clear, lake-like blue eyes—

“A looot.”

With a long sigh, the maid answered vaguely.

“You are ready. I will take my leave.”

Then, as if avoiding even making eye contact, she lowered her head and quickly left.

...So there are people who ignore it. Even my acting instructor said this expression was perfect.

“I need to relearn acting.”

Feeling strangely bitter, I swung my chubby legs.

Whenever I tried to talk, whenever I asked for something—it was always like this.

Step... step...

Returning to the bedroom, I buried my face into the pillow.

I hadn’t even done anything, yet my body felt heavy.

“It feels like I’m talking to a wall.”

Ladies. If you’re going to ignore me like this, why were you watching me at the window earlier?

“...At least be wary of me. Come on... fight me or something...”

Thump, thump.

My limp legs dropped onto the mattress.

They say even negative attention is better than none. That was exactly how I felt.

Just then—

Knock, knock.

The familiar sound of a knock.

I wasn’t in the mood to face those blank, uncomfortable expressions right now.

“Aisha is asleep. Please come back tomorrow.”

I shut my eyes and made a faint snoring sound—

“What kind of child eats strawberry cake right before going to sleep?”

“...Hm?”

A low voice, completely different from the maids.

Slowly turning my head, I saw that the Duke had already opened the door and was standing there with a lazy smile.

He must have come straight from work—he was wearing glasses, making him look even more intellectual than usual.

“Oh? Before you were adopted, you ran around all day. Now that you’re adopted, you’ve become lazy?”

“That’s not—”

I tried to protest, but he pinched my cheek while I was lying down.

Then he tilted his head slightly, as if something was off.

“Hm. This little one doesn’t look too happy.”

Do you not think that might be because you’re pulling my cheek?

“What’s wrong?”

“Mmph—”

“...What is it? Too upset to speak?”

Do you not think it’s because you’re pulling my cheek that I can’t talk?