Chapter 55

* * *

“Sigh, what if Uncle Joseph doesn’t come?”

As soon as I arrived at the island, I worried in my father’s arms.

Given Joseph’s stubborn reaction, it didn’t seem easy.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Unlike me, who was full of worry, my father was completely at ease.

He even whistled, as if Joseph’s presence or absence didn’t matter at all.

“Why are you so calm, Dad? You couldn’t even go far to pick up your friend!”

“Lilith!”

Father, who had been walking with light steps, suddenly stopped and stared at me.

“I’m curious, what’s got our daughter so worried?”

“Huh?”

“You’re talking as if something terrible will happen if Uncle Joseph doesn’t come. Do you know why I wanted to be friends with Uncle Joseph?”

I was taken aback.

Father’s expression was as gentle as always, and he even tilted his head as if genuinely curious.

But I could read his thoughts.

Beneath that calm exterior, there was a sharp and keen suspicion, the gaze of the ‘protagonist’!

‘Oh no, I’ve been too careless in front of the perceptive protagonist.’

I quickly made an excuse.

“Am I stupid? I know everything. Uncle Joseph told me a bit. He said, Dad, you need Uncle Joseph’s help for your work, right?”

Father stopped and looked into my eyes.

Silence fell.

Swallow,

I swallowed nervously.

“Right.”

Father smiled and started walking again.

“I’m trying to do some business so our princess can eat delicious food, wear pretty clothes, and live happily!”

“Ah, I see.”

Business: Engaging in a certain activity with a specific purpose and plan, or the activity itself.

Well, if that’s what Dad says.

Rebellion is also a kind of business.

I nodded with a cloudy expression.

“I hope the princess won’t worry.”

“Huh?”

“It’s okay if Uncle Joseph doesn’t come. If he’s not here, I’ll just think of something else.”

He kissed my cheek.

“So, our princess doesn’t need to worry. Dad’s the best, right? You know Dad can do anything, right?”

“Yeah, I know.”

I nodded, thinking.

Right, even if the original story has changed a bit, this is still a fictional world, and Dad is the protagonist with all the buffs.

If he were a stupid villain or a dark mastermind, things would have been more difficult.

‘Sigh, Dad’s right. I’ve done my part. Now I just need to hide my true identity well and secretly help Dad take the easier path sometimes.’

I clung to Dad’s neck with a more relaxed heart.

“Right!”

But Dad stopped again after a few more steps, looking shocked.

“Surprised? Why?”

“Our princess’s birthday gift!”

“Ah, it’s fine. I don’t need a gift. I’ll have another birthday next year, right?”

“No way. It’s the first birthday we’re celebrating since coming to the island. Dad feels bad for not thinking about it.”

“It’s fine, really.”

“I need to go prepare the princess’s birthday gift right away~!”

“Stop it. I have enough dresses and shoes to fill my closet.”

“Hmm.”

Dad wiggled his finger.

“Not that. I’m going to give our princess something she really, really wants~?”

“Huh? What is it?”

Dad smiled slyly.

* * *

The only daughter of the Rubenstein Duke.

The sole heir of the family.

Lilith Rubenstein’s first birthday on the island was a bustling affair for the Duke.

Nordic and Ordia, the mother and daughter, were inspecting the elaborately decorated mansion.

“Isn’t the gift Father prepared too much?”

“Not at all. Since the child is interested in riding, there’s no better gift. Your gift, on the other hand, is unnecessarily lavish and lacks substance.”

“Oh, Father, you’re so strict.”

Ordia countered.

“It’s the birthday of the Rubenstein Duchess. If we have a small family party at the townhouse, everyone will mock us. We need to give Lilith a gift that won’t make her feel inferior.”

Noble gatherings were a means to show off one’s power and status.

Lilith’s first birthday on the island.

Nordic and Ordia naturally planned to hold a lavish banquet at the estate and invite the nobles, but…

“What if the child doesn’t like it?”

Lilith insisted on celebrating only with the family, and the plan fell through.

“So, we need to give her a big gift. Lilith still lacks the awareness of being a noble. She says she has too many dresses, but she doesn’t even have fifty.”

Ordia stopped, having noticed something.

Nordic also stopped, shocked.

“What is he doing?”

A pile of thick logs in one corner of the garden.

Thud, thud—

The midday sun shone on the bare-chested man.

Ordia closed her eyes tightly.

“Oh, my. Enoch, you’re crazy.”

Yes, it was Enoch.

He was hammering away, wiping the sweat from his brow with a joyful expression—

“Thud, thud, thud.”

—hammering away!

“Oh, Father! What do we do?”

Ordia supported Nordic, who was swaying.

“Steward! What is he doing?”

“Well, he’s… making a gift for the young lady.”

“Making what? Why not just have the carpenters do it?”

“Why wouldn’t I have said that….”

Raim, supporting Nordic, made a grim face.

“The young lady said she really, really wanted it when she was in the south, and he insisted on making it himself….”

“Ugh.”

“Father!”

“Master!”

Nordic, whose blood pressure had risen again, swayed.

No matter what!

Is it right for a Duke to be hammering away with his shirt off….

Seeing the servants stop in shock as they passed by, Nordic’s blood pressure rose even more.

“Heyyyyyy!!!”

Nordic’s roar echoed.

* * *

“Cheshire! Stand there~?!”

“Don’t follow me!”

Lilith, dressed in the full set of gifts from the twins, was chasing Cheshire.

‘I can give the gifts and flowers later tonight.’

Cheshire sighed, looking at the single Aristata flower he had just bought.

He had been hiding well, but buying the flower had almost exposed him.

‘Birthday party… I don’t belong there.’

Even though it was supposed to be a small family gathering with a cake, it wasn’t a small affair for Cheshire.

Enoch and Ordia, and the twins, of course—

Nordic.

Lilith’s grandfather and the most senior member of the household was also coming.

“My name is Cheshire. He’s smart and handsome, isn’t he?”

On the second day of his arrival, Cheshire was introduced to Nordic by Enoch.

“…Since I’ve taken you in, you are part of our family until you leave on your own. Study hard.”

That was the end of the conversation.

Since then, Cheshire had never spoken to Nordic directly.

Perhaps Nordic found Cheshire distasteful, which was why he never paid him any attention.

It was natural, given that Cheshire was a half-breed from an unknown family.

But Lilith, who didn’t consider how uncomfortable Nordic might feel seeing Cheshire—

‘I’m sorry.’

Cheshire ran to the back of the stable, where there was a wall. Empty feed boxes were stacked like steps.

He quickly climbed up and leaped over the wall.

“Ahh! You idiot!”

Lilith’s anguished cry echoed.

“…I’m sorry. I’ll come to your room later tonight.”

“Ugh.”

“…?”

Cheshire was startled by the groan from the other side of the wall.

Surely, she wouldn’t try to follow him over?

“Are you crazy?”

Sure enough, Lilith was precariously perched on the wall, struggling to climb up.

“It’s dangerous!”

“Why, why…!”

“Hey!”

Lilith, precariously sitting on the narrow wall, shouted.

“Why are you avoiding me? Don’t you want to celebrate my birthday? Let’s eat cake together!”

“Alright, alright. Stay there. Hold on tight so you don’t fall. I’ll go back inside.”

At that moment.

“Oh no…?”

Lilith’s small body wobbled and tilted. Cheshire quickly moved to catch her.

“I, I’m falling… Ahh!”

“Lilith!”

Thud,

Fortunately, Lilith landed in Cheshire’s arms.

It was… a relief.

“…?”

“…!”

Except for their lips, which had accidentally touched.

* * *

…What is this?

Climbing over a wall and accidentally kissing the protagonist….

What is this…?

Could it be that the original story had no romance because the author was from a bygone era with outdated romantic sensibilities?

Did they know that adding a weak