Chapter 27

Enoch was momentarily stunned, trying to grasp the absurd situation.

Lilis, who had been looking around the exhibition room, suddenly came to find the bastard child of the Duke, who was the purpose of today's visit.

'They said he was raised in secret... but a seven-year-old kid found out?'

The situation where he didn't need to step in himself.

It was absurd, but not bad. In fact, things became easier.

"Heehee, Daddy!"

The reception room, where everyone was struck by shock, fell silent.

The culprit, Lilis, ran to Enoch with an innocent face.

"The Duke's house is huge? There are so many rooms. I met him while wandering around!"

"Is that so?"

Enoch slowly examined Cheshire.

The child, who couldn't even open his right eye due to severe swelling, was on high alert.

His body was even thinner than the last time Enoch saw him, and his lips were split, as if he had recently been beaten.

'Damn it...'

Enoch clenched his teeth, barely suppressing his anger.

"Where did you meet him?"

"In a room in the basement! But it seems the Duke doesn't clean the basement. His room is dark, smelly, and has mice... Ugh. That's how it was."

"Ah, I see."

The Duke and his wife couldn't even speak, just trembling.

The words spilling out from the innocent Lilis sounded like a death sentence.

Finally, the Duke, regaining his composure, managed to speak.

"Sir, um... that is, that child is..."

"He looks like you."

Enoch's sharp voice made the Duke immediately shut up.

Enoch then knelt down to Cheshire's eye level and, very carefully, examined the child's face, muttering meaningfully.

"He looks a lot like you, Duke."

The child, who had been raised like an animal in the basement, had a face that was unmistakably the Duke's.

Given the social stigma of illegitimate children, anyone could see that this child was the Duke's hidden bloodline.

There was no room for excuses.

Of course, that didn't mean...

They could hold the Duke accountable for child abuse.

What the Duke feared was the damage to his image if the child's existence became public. That was all.

And Enoch knew this very well.

"Duke."

Enoch finally stood up.

"Let's talk alone."

* * *

Dad, who wanted the kids to be alone, tactfully separated Cheshire from the demons of the house and went to talk to the Duke.

'He'll take care of the aftermath, right?'

While waiting for Dad, I opened the tube of ointment I had.

'Why did Lizel give me the ointment?'

The ointment was inside the rolled-up note Lizel had given me.

Squeezing some ointment onto my finger, I looked up to see Cheshire staring at me.

"Bow your head. Your lip is split."

"...It's fine. It doesn't hurt much."

"Already scabbed over?"

"..."

Cheshire remained silent.

Probably, right? Carefully reaching out, Cheshire didn't refuse.

"Thanks for not leaving me behind and bringing me along..."

"..."

"But why did you take the beatings even though you could avoid them?"

"..."

"Don't want to talk to me?"

"Avoiding."

"Huh?"

"What would change by avoiding? It just makes him angrier. And even if I ran, there's nowhere to go. If I don't want to starve outside, I have to endure the beatings inside."

Cheshire sneered, as if my question was ridiculous.

"Ah..."

That's true.

No matter how capable he was, Cheshire was only eleven years old. Moreover, he had no status.

Surviving in this corrupt empire without a guardian would naturally be difficult.

"Right. Sorry. I asked a silly question."

I apologized for my naive question and continued to apply the ointment to Cheshire's lip.

"Your father was the Duke of Rubinstein?"

"Huh? Yeah, I know. You know?"

"I heard from Jonathan. He said he'll soon be close to my father."

"What? He's got big dreams. My dad wouldn't be friends with a guy who beats kids."

I closed the ointment cap and said,

"My dad brought me here to see the artworks. And I came here today not for the artworks but..."

"..."

"...for you."

"..."

"To save you. A friend told me you were here. Her name is Lizel, do you know her?"

When I asked, Cheshire was momentarily surprised but soon nodded.

Then he asked,

"But why did you want to find me? Do you know me?"

"No, do you not know me? We met before. You remember, right?"

"..."

"Come on, Cheshire... I've been thinking about you since then. I wanted to see you again."

"...Why?"

"Um, just? You can like someone for no reason. I like you."

Cheshire stared at me for a moment and then said,

"I understand."

"What do you understand?"

"You want me to be your toy, right? Then you'll give me food and a place to sleep at your house, right?"

"...What?"

I looked at him in disbelief, and Cheshire tilted his head slightly, as if to ask if he was wrong.

"What are you saying? How can someone be a toy... I want to be your friend!"

...And Dad will put you on the family register, so we'll be siblings eventually.

I swallowed the last part. Cheshire seemed puzzled.

"You're the Duke's daughter. How can you be friends with me?"

"We can."

"..."

"Do you not want to?"

"No."

Cheshire didn't seem to believe me.

He probably thought I was just a young noble girl showing a temporary interest in a peer.

'Sigh, as expected, his heart is tightly closed. He's like a fierce kitten...'

Just by looking at his expression, Cheshire was a fortress. He still seemed to have prejudices against my noble father and me.

'Well, there's nothing I can do. Time will solve this problem.'

If I treat him well, Cheshire will soon realize that not everyone is as bad as his father and brother.

"Lilis."

"Ah, Dad!"

Dad, who had finished talking to the Duke, entered the room.

He came close, silently examined Cheshire's condition, and then said with a sigh and a smile,

"Let's go home now."

* * *

"Seems like an illegitimate child. Since he caught my eye, his fate is obvious."

The existence of the hidden illegitimate child has been exposed.

They will try to suppress the rumors, so the child will certainly be dealt with soon.

"But I noticed that my daughter... seems to like the child. So, I'll take him with me."

"Y-Yes? No, Sir..."

"Well, it's unfortunate that he ended up with me, but it's probably a relief for the Duke. I don't particularly want to dig up other people's scandals. I have no interest in them."

"..."

"If you want to handle this quietly, my offer isn't bad."

The Duke had no choice but to accept Enoch's offer to make Cheshire his daughter's playmate.

He didn't want to cross someone like Enoch, and the Duke's existence now gave Enoch leverage.

"Then... Sir..."

The Duke, after much deliberation, said,

"If the young lady gets tired of him or finds him useless... please make sure the child is dealt with properly so that no rumors spread."

"..."

"Given how important reputation is to us nobles, Sir... I kindly request this."

...Disgusting.

Enoch almost said it out loud.

He couldn't understand how the Duke could so casually ask for his own blood to be killed.

"...I will."

Enoch, who had been angry recalling the conversation with the Duke, relaxed his expression when he saw the two children sitting opposite him.

"Try this too."

"..."

"Try this!"

The plates were piled high, and Cheshire, who looked like he hadn't eaten for days, was stuffing food into his mouth like a starving animal.

Next to him, Lilis was diligently moving food from her plate to his.

'How long have they starved this child?'

When asked what he wanted to do after leaving the Duke's house, Cheshire immediately answered,

"I'm hungry."

So, they found a restaurant and went in.

"Take it easy. You'll get a stomachache."

"..."

Cheshire, who had been staring at the water glass Lilis offered, finally took it and drank.

He was very cautious, but he seemed to be gradually getting used to the care.

Enoch smiled and said,

"Princess, eat quickly."

"Okay, I'm eating too. Here, try this."

Lilis, who seemed to really like Cheshire, smiled and offered a small sausage on her fork. This time, Cheshire opened his mouth and took it.

"Heehee."

"..."

Lilis, who seemed to really like Cheshire, smiled.

'That's good.'

Enoch felt relieved.

He had been worried about Lilis, who would soon have to enter a training facility for abilities, but it would be good for her to have Cheshire with her.

'Cheshire's mother was a non-ability user, right?'

As a mixed child of an ability user and a non-ability user, Cheshire's rank would probably be the lowest, 6th-class Dièze...

Or, at best, the next level up, 5th-class Nuvo.

'Even if it's low, having a rank means he'll be treated more humanely.'

Whatever Cheshire wants to do or wherever he wants to go in the future.

In this country where rank is everything, having an ability badge is essential to be treated as a human.

"Your name is Cheshire, right?"

When Enoch asked, Cheshire lifted his head, his eyes sharp and wary.

"Hmm. What do you want to do after you finish eating?"

"..."

"My house is big and nice... with many rooms."

"..."

"Don't you want to talk about it?"

"...No."

Enoch, knowing he couldn't just ask Cheshire to come with him, chose his words carefully, but Cheshire seemed hesitant for some reason.

'Does he have somewhere he wants to go? Maybe his mother? But I heard his mother abandoned him...'

Enoch, rubbing his forehead in thought, asked,

"Do you know where your mother is?"

"..."

Hmm, is that not it?

Cheshire's expression hardened, as if he didn't want to see his mother.

"Uncle."

"Uh-huh."

Cheshire, who had been holding his utensils, put them down and spoke.

"I don't have a mother. I don't know where she is, and I don't want to know."

"Oh, is that so."

"Um..."

Chewing her lip, Cheshire hesitated for a long time before, as if making a decision, opened her eyes wide and spoke.

"Uncle, if you make me a servant for your daughter, I'll do a good job. You brought me out for your daughter, right? I'll do whatever she asks. I'll play with her and do errands. So, please..."

What is he saying?

Cheshire, staring at Enoch, who was dumbfounded, added,

"...Just give me food and a place to sleep."