Chapter 43

Eli and Damian entered, bringing the scent of winter with them.

Perhaps due to the cold northern weather, the cheeks and noses of the two children were flushed red.

Eli, wearing a cute pink bonnet, was so adorable that anyone would want to pinch her cheeks.

"We're back, Duke."

In response to Damian and Eli’s greetings, Erhardt nodded silently.

"Welcome back, Young Master. Miss Eli."

"Was your first outing enjoyable?"

Oberk and Amantha welcomed the two.

"It was good. I saw many interesting things!"

More than anything, it was most intriguing to see the methods used by the people in the northern back alleys.

'Of course, it was a bit disappointing that they were too sloppy.'

Eli smiled while holding back her last words.

And... that was it.

As the silence stretched, Ante, looking flustered, spoke up first.

"Um... did you not have anything else?"

"Anything else?"

Eli tilted her head.

Then, as if she had just remembered, she made an "Ah" sound and fumbled in her pocket to pull something out.

"I bought this."

Inside the small envelope was an earring with a blue gem.

'Earrings?'

'But the Duke hasn’t pierced his ears...'

The adults in the office quietly glanced at Erhardt.

Erhardt, who had been looking at the adorable gem, silently raised his hand to touch his earlobe.

Still, it was the child’s first gift. Not wanting to ignore it, Ante said in a bright voice,

"What a pretty earring."

"Isn’t it?"

Eli smiled widely.

When Erhardt’s lips curled up slightly at her warm smile, Eli said,

"Here, Damian."

Eli handed the earring in her hand to Damian. Erhardt’s body stiffened.

Damian’s eyes widened.

"Is... is this for me?"

"Yes, I bought it for you. I thought it would suit you."

This is my first gift for you.

Damian’s cheeks turned pink at Eli’s added words.

"Actually, I... I also..."

Damian fidgeted and opened his palm.

A green necklace jingled softly.

Eli’s eyes widened.

"Did you buy this for me?"

Damian nodded silently.

"Wow. Thank you so much, Damian. I’m really happy."

Eli smiled and held his hand tightly.

"So we both bought gifts for each other? It seems our hearts are in sync."

"Uh-huh."

Damian’s face turned even redder, as if it might burst.

"Let’s go do it then."

Eli led Damian’s hand and bowed to the adults, who were looking at her blankly.

"Then we’ll go first!"

Just before the door closed, Ante managed to catch Eli.

"Miss Eli, Miss Eli!"

Eli turned around at Ante’s call.

"Um, did you not have a gift for the Duke?"

Amantha and Oberk nodded in agreement.

Eli, blinking her big eyes, smiled brightly and said,

"Of course, I prepared one."

Just as everyone heaved a sigh of relief at her loving smile, the door opened with a knock, and Sir Reiner entered.

"I have discovered the hideout of the pickpocket gang that has been frequenting the estate recently."

"...A pickpocket gang?"

Ante asked stupidly, and Reiner nodded.

"Miss Eli caught them herself."

"It was just a coincidence..."

Eli laughed innocently and scratched her cheek.

"I didn’t know what the Duke would like."

Eli smiled and said, "Well, I’ll be going now," then left the room with Damian.

Thud. The door closed with a loud sound.

"..."

"..."

"..."

An oppressive silence settled in the office.

To bring back pickpockets as a gift for their first outing. And a set, no less.

"That... that’s... a really good gift."

"Jealous...?"

Amantha and Oberk tried to break the silence, but Erhardt’s stiff face remained unchanged.

It was a moment that clearly showed what Eli thought of Erhardt.

'After all, didn’t I tell you to be careful?'

Sigh. Ante let out a small sigh.

* * *

That evening.

After a thorough bath, I was drying Damian’s hair as usual.

It’s a task the maids could do, but every time I dry Damian’s hair, it feels like playing with a puppy, so I often do it myself.

Smelling the sweet rose-scented oil, I asked Damian,

"How was your outing today? Was it fun?"

"Uh-huh."

"What was the most fun?"

"Going out with Eli."

Out of everything, that was the best?

I chuckled at his innocent words, and Damian continued hesitantly,

"And...?"

"..."

"Eli gave me a gift for the first time... that was the happiest thing."

Damian smiled up at me.

"I was also happy to receive a gift from you."

"Really?"

Damian looked up at me with a bright face.

Unable to resist his cute and adorable appearance, I pinched his cheek.

"Oh, you’re so cute."

"I, I’m not cute, I’m..."

Damian mumbled with his cheek pressed.

"No, you’re incredibly cute. Even cuter than me?"

As always, I praised him endlessly to boost his confidence.

"Actually, I don’t like being called cute."

To my surprise, Damian’s face turned gloomy.

"I’d rather be handsome. Like... the boy we met today."

Damian muttered, pouting slightly.

"Are you talking about the boy we met today, Grace?"

Damian nodded slowly.

"Eli said he was handsome. But to me... you said I was cute."

His glance at me was like a puppy that had done something wrong and was now looking for a reaction.

But he looked so serious that I almost burst out laughing.

'No, I shouldn’t tease him.'

I tried hard to suppress my laughter and answered seriously.

"Being handsome is good too."

"Like... for example?"

"Hmm..."

I thought hard.

Who is the most handsome person I can think of?

"Schwartz Duke?"

If I had to choose the most handsome person I’ve seen, it would definitely be Duke Schwartz.

He was younger than most other lords and had a very youthful appearance.

"Duke Schwartz is the epitome of a classic handsome man. Being handsome is the best, after all."

I muttered and nodded, but Damian’s shoulders began to droop.

I realized my mistake too late.

After praising him for being cute, I said being handsome was the best.

"But I still like cute better."

"..."

"And Damian, you’re both cute and handsome. You’re just naturally gifted."

Of course, he’s still a boy, but what I said was true.

After all, Damian’s beauty would surpass even Duke Schwartz.

Seeming to be pleased with my answer, Damian pursed his lips, his face turning red.

His mood changing so easily at a single word, he was undeniably a child.

Finding him too adorable, I stroked his head.

"Shall we go to bed now?"

At my words, Damian climbed into bed quickly.

'Parenting is tough.'

As I thought this and lay down, Damian’s eyes widened.

"Eli, your back..."

"Hmm?"

"Isn’t it going to hurt your back if you lie like that...?"

He seemed to still remember the incident in the square.

How innocent. I smiled and turned to face Damian.

"It doesn’t hurt at all. Actually, I was faking it."

"Faking... it?"

Damian’s eyes widened.

"Remember what I said at the orphanage? That it’s okay to lie. It’s better than being taken advantage of like a fool, right?"

Damian nodded.

"If I hadn’t cried out in pain, they wouldn’t have been caught."

"..."

"I exaggerated a bit, but in the end, we caught the bad guys, didn’t we?"

I smiled.

"So, Damian, if you want something, it’s okay to lie. Sometimes it’s fine. Well, as long as it’s not a big ethical lie."

In the story, Damian was so honest that he often fell victim to bad people.

'The most notable examples are the side male leads, Fabian and Matteo.'

Prince Fabian and Prince Matteo.

The two half-brothers were men who loved Ashabel.

'Well, partly to get the broken healing magic, but still.'

At least Prince Fabian was an honest and upright person, but Prince Matteo was despicable.

How many times did Damian suffer because of Matteo’s schemes?

If Damian had been just as evil as Matteo, he would have avoided half of his trials.

I hoped that Damian, who had lived a tough life, could have an easier time.

I held Damian’s hand.

"Damian, there’s nothing in this world that you can’t have."

"..."

"You can do anything. You’re not insignificant. So don’t give up and grab whatever you desire."

"..."

"Sometimes, don’t hesitate to use any means to achieve your goals. Understand?"

Did he understand?

Damian, who usually nodded promptly, did so a bit slowly this time.

"...Yeah. I’ll do that."

Even in the darkness, his blue eyes shone beautifully, like the moonlight had been sprinkled on them. I gently stroked his head.

As I closed my eyes and wished him goodnight, Damian’s gaze remained fixed on me.