Chapter 46

* * *

The next day.

I was reading Riko's reply that Jetty had delivered.

[The friend who needed the antidote is much better now.

When I mentioned you, they said they really want to meet you.

Thank you.]

"Hehe."

I had asked about my little sister, but I didn't expect a reply...

Maybe Riko is more affectionate than I thought?

[The 'Joseph Ruttman' you were curious about is currently in the Balthrac territory in the central region.

Two years ago, he lost his entire family and left the city, now living half-mad.

If you go to the gambling house in Balthrac, you can find him. He spends his days there.

Since he's quite a wreck, you'll need to prepare yourself to deal with him.]

What was surprising was that Riko readily provided information about Joseph Ruttman.

Isn't information supposed to be a give-and-take?

[The payment for the transaction is usually upfront, but since you are a special client, I'll let you pay on credit.]

I was a bit moved. Almost to the point of tears.

[If you plan to pass the information to your father, please ask Jetty.

And I hope you do well in the equestrian competition.

Happy birthday in advance as well.]

After reading the entire reply, I asked Jetty to cut out the part from "equestrian competition" to "happy birthday in advance" for me.

To destroy the evidence, the paper needs to be burned, but it felt a bit wasteful. I should keep it separately.

"What should I write to the Duke, Miss?"

After burning Riko's reply, Jetty took out a new piece of parchment and unfolded it.

I started dictating to Jetty, who was ready to write.

"Listen, Duke Enoch Rubinstein!"

"…Huh?"

Jetty stumbled and chuckled.

"Are you not being a bit too arrogant?"

"It's fine."

"Ah, okay."

Jetty picked up the pen again.

The <Red Falcon> guild members each had their own unique skills, and Jetty's ability to write in multiple handwriting styles was particularly useful.

"Wow! Perfect!"

I smiled contentedly as I looked at the completed letter, which resembled a grand revolutionary declaration.

"Hmm…"

After a long look at the letter, Jetty folded it and put it in an envelope, then stared at me intently.

"Miss, may I ask you one thing?"

Seeing Jetty's curious expression, I hesitated.

'Hmm. Since she saw the content of the letter, it's natural for her to have questions.'

She seemed both excited and nervous.

"Miss, what exactly are you? First of all, you are in your second life, right? Unless it's some kind of magic, this is absolutely... No, more than that. Is my understanding of this letter correct? Then, Miss, could you possibly be...?"

"Sister."

"Yes, Miss."

Jetty's eyes sparkled like a loyal servant, clearly pleased with the letter's content and waiting for my answer.

I spoke with a serious expression.

"<Red Falcon>, Rule 1."

Jetty, who had been staring with her mouth agape, suddenly chuckled and slumped.

"If you want information, you must provide corresponding information. Yes... What information do I have that would make you tell me your true identity? I understand. I won't be curious."

"Ahaha."

* * *

At the Rubinstein Duke's residence, the training ground.

Enoch, who had been absentmindedly watching the training of the soldiers, was deep in thought.

"I only need Dad."

"Let's just live happily together, the two of us."

Lilith was so perceptive and mature. She probably said that to comfort her worried father.

Until now, he had thought that as long as he did well, they could manage without a mother...

'As a father, there are definitely things I can't provide. They will come up as she grows, especially since she's a girl.'

If it were a son, it might be different, but a daughter. The absence of a mother, which he had realized anew after meeting Selena, hit him hard.

"Haah."

Enoch, who had been sitting down randomly, sighed deeply and then paused, looking to the side.

There was Cheshire, who was on a break.

"..."

Cheshire looked uncomfortable. She kept poking her mouth with her tongue, making her cheeks bulge.

"Why are you doing that? Are you in pain?"

"No."

Cheshire, who had answered briefly, suddenly put her hand in her mouth. She seemed to be grabbing one of her left canines—

"Hey, hey! What are you...!"

—then pulled it out.

Enoch's eyes widened.

After a few moments of fumbling, Cheshire spat out the tooth along with some blood.

"..."

She then casually bit the cloth she was holding, apparently to stop the bleeding.

Enoch, who had been staring open-mouthed at the scene, suddenly realized.

"Oh."

"..."

"You still have your baby teeth."

It seemed the tooth was loose and she had pulled it out herself.

She didn't seem scared at all.

'Wait a minute. My princess...'

At that moment, single dad Enoch Rubinstein recalled the touching moment when his daughter's two bottom teeth had come out.

How amazing and cute it was, he had almost cried...

His neighbors, the Susans and Joes, had laughed, saying that young fathers are silly and collect all the lost baby teeth.

'My princess will soon lose her baby teeth too!'

"You, you. Cheshire. Have you been pulling out your teeth like this all by yourself?"

"Yes."

"Aren't you scared?"

"...What's there to be scared of?"

"You, you're brave. No, more than that."

Enoch fumbled to grab Cheshire's chin and examined her mouth.

"When did you first lose a tooth? How many have you lost so far?"

"..."

Cheshire thought for a moment and then said.

"I lost my bottom front tooth when I was six. Now, almost all of them are gone except for a few at the back."

"R, really?"

Six years old? Enoch grabbed his head in confusion.

* * *

Rustle.

The pages of the book flipped quickly.

On Enoch's desk, which he had returned to from the training ground, were piles of parenting books.

!Parenting Basics!

~When Do Baby Teeth Fall Out~

-Usually, baby teeth start falling out around 6 to 7 years old, and permanent teeth come in.

-By around 12 years old, all baby teeth are typically gone.